People suitable for these careers are good at troubleshooting, determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Chemical Engineers
design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering.
$114820
Bachelor's degree
High job satisfaction
Applications Software Developers
develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency. May analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team. May supervise computer programmers.
$114270
Bachelor's degree
Strong job growth
Personality Match
Manufacturing Engineers
design, integrate, or improve manufacturing systems or related processes. May work with commercial or industrial designers to refine product designs to increase producibility and decrease costs.
$107060
Bachelor's degree
High job satisfaction
Personality Match
Robotics Engineers
research, design, develop, or test robotic applications.
$107060
Bachelor's degree
High job satisfaction
Computer Systems Analysts
analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to implement and improve computer systems. Analyze user requirements, procedures, and problems to automate or improve existing systems and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.
$99020
Bachelor's degree
Strong job growth
IT Administrators
install, configure, and support an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and Internet systems or a segment of a network system. Monitor network to ensure network availability to all system users and may perform necessary maintenance to support network availability. May monitor and test Web site performance to ensure Web sites operate correctly and without interruption. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software. May supervise computer user support specialists and computer network support specialists. May administer network security measures.
$89460
Bachelor's degree
Strong job growth
High job satisfaction
Elevator Installers and Repairers
assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.
$86200
No degree required
Strong job growth
Personality Match
Nuclear Equipment Technicians
operate equipment used for the release, control, or utilization of nuclear energy to assist scientists in laboratory or production activities.
$83810
Associate's degree
Strong job growth
Personality Match
Powerhouse Electrical Repairers
inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.
$83150
Post-secondary certificate
Ship Engineers
supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.
$81110
Post-secondary certificate
Signal and Track Switch Repairers
install, inspect, test, maintain, or repair electric gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, track switches, section lines, or intercommunications systems within a railroad system.
$75970
Associate's degree
Electrical Power-Line Technicians
install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers.
$74410
Post-secondary certificate
Strong job growth
Avionics Technicians
install, inspect, test, adjust, or repair avionics equipment, such as radar, radio, navigation, and missile control systems in aircraft or space vehicles.
$69180
Post-secondary certificate
Aircraft Mechanics
diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
$69040
Post-secondary certificate
Electrical Engineering Technologists
assist electrical engineers in such activities as process control, electrical power distribution, or instrumentation design. May prepare layouts of electrical transmission or distribution systems, supervise the flow of work, estimate project costs, or participate in research studies.
$68310
Bachelor's degree
High job satisfaction
Personality Match
Electronics Engineering Technologists
assist electronics engineers in such activities as electronics systems and instrumentation design or digital signal processing.
$68310
Associate's degree
High job satisfaction
Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
develop tools, implement designs, or integrate machinery, equipment, or computer technologies to ensure effective manufacturing processes.
$67640
Associate's degree
High job satisfaction
Personality Match
Commercial Electrical Repairers
repair, test, adjust, or install electronic equipment, such as industrial controls, transmitters, and antennas.
$63350
Post-secondary certificate
High job satisfaction
Personality Match
Electro-Mechanical Technicians
operate, test, maintain, or adjust unmanned, automated, servomechanical, or electromechanical equipment. May operate unmanned submarines, aircraft, or other equipment to observe or record visual information at sites such as oil rigs, crop fields, buildings, or for similar infrastructure, deep ocean exploration, or hazardous waste removal. May assist engineers in testing and designing robotics equipment.
$62800
Associate's degree
High job satisfaction
Personality Match
Robotics Technicians
build, install, test, or maintain robotic equipment or related automated production systems.
$62800
Associate's degree
High job satisfaction
Telecom Equipment Technicians
install, set up, rearrange, or remove switching, distribution, routing, and dialing equipment used in central offices or headends. Service or repair telephone, cable television, Internet, and other communications equipment on customers' property. May install communications equipment or communications wiring in buildings.
$61980
No degree required
High job satisfaction
Electricians
install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures and ensure that their work is in accordance with relevant codes.
$61550
Post-secondary certificate
Strong job growth
Personality Match
Mechanical Engineering Technologists
assist mechanical engineers in such activities as generation, transmission, or use of mechanical or fluid energy. Prepare layouts of machinery or equipment or plan the flow of work. May conduct statistical studies or analyze production costs.
$60880
Bachelor's degree
High job satisfaction
Radio, Cellular and Tower Technicians
repair, install, or maintain mobile or stationary radio transmitting, broadcasting, and receiving equipment, and two-way radio communications systems used in cellular telecommunications, mobile broadband, ship-to-shore, aircraft-to-ground communications, and radio equipment in service and emergency vehicles. May test and analyze network coverage.
$60790
No degree required
Radio Mechanics
test or repair mobile or stationary radio transmitting and receiving equipment and two-way radio communications systems used in ship-to-shore communications and found in service and emergency vehicles.
$60790
No degree required
Personality Match
Wind Turbine Service Technicians
inspect, diagnose, adjust, or repair wind turbines. Perform maintenance on wind turbine equipment including resolving electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic malfunctions.
$59340
No degree required
Strong job growth
Millwrights
install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings.
$59080
No degree required
Strong job growth
High job satisfaction
Rail Car Repairers
diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.
$58250
No degree required
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. May also install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to plans.
$57350
Post-secondary certificate
Strong job growth
Personality Match
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics
diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.
$57000
Post-secondary certificate
Strong job growth
Medical Equipment Repairers
test, adjust, or repair biomedical or electromedical equipment.
$55090
No degree required
Strong job growth
Personality Match
HVAC Installers
install, service, or repair heating and air conditioning systems in residences or commercial establishments.
$53410
Post-secondary certificate
Strong job growth
HVAC Technicians
install and repair industrial and commercial refrigerating systems.
$53410
Post-secondary certificate
Strong job growth
Bus and Truck Mechanics
diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines. Includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines.
$52090
No degree required
Strong job growth
Machinery Maintenance Workers
lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance.
$51960
No degree required
Strong job growth
Personality Match
Electric Motor Repairers
repair, maintain, or install electric motors, wiring, or switches.
$49250
Post-secondary certificate
Personality Match
Automotive Master Mechanics
repair automobiles, trucks, buses, and other vehicles. Master mechanics repair virtually any part on the vehicle or specialize in the transmission system.
$46760
Post-secondary certificate
Strong job growth
Personality Match
Auto Technicians
repair only one system or component on a vehicle, such as brakes, suspension, or radiator.
$46760
Post-secondary certificate
Strong job growth
Geothermal Technicians
perform technical activities at power plants or individual installations necessary for the generation of power from geothermal energy sources. Monitor and control operating activities at geothermal power generation facilities and perform maintenance and repairs as necessary. Install, test, and maintain residential and commercial geothermal heat pumps.
$46160
No degree required
Strong job growth
Medical Appliance Technicians
construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.
$45630
Associate's degree
High job satisfaction
Personality Match
Motorboat Mechanics
repair and adjust electrical and mechanical equipment of inboard or inboard-outboard boat engines.
$45490
Post-secondary certificate
Farm Equipment Mechanics
diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul farm machinery and vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, dairy equipment, and irrigation systems.
$45350
No degree required
Strong job growth
Personality Match
Electronic Systems Technicians
install, repair, or adjust audio or television receivers, stereo systems, camcorders, video systems, or other electronic entertainment equipment in homes or other venues. May perform routine maintenance.
$44850
Post-secondary certificate
High job satisfaction
Personality Match
Home Appliance Repairers
repair, adjust, or install all types of electric or gas household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and ovens.
$43810
No degree required
Personality Match
General Maintenance and Repair Workers
perform work involving the skills of two or more maintenance or craft occupations to keep machines, mechanical equipment, or the structure of a building in repair. Duties may involve pipe fitting; HVAC maintenance; insulating; welding; machining; carpentry; repairing electrical or mechanical equipment; installing, aligning, and balancing new equipment; and repairing buildings, floors, or stairs.
$43790
No degree required
Strong job growth
Personality Match
Photographic Technicians
repair and adjust cameras and photographic equipment, including commercial video and motion picture camera equipment.
$42740
No degree required
Personality Match
Motor Vehicle Electronic Technicians
install, diagnose, or repair communications, sound, security, or navigation equipment in motor vehicles.
$41250
Post-secondary certificate
Personality Match
Motorcycle Mechanics
diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes, or similar motorized vehicles.
$40390
Post-secondary certificate
Personality Match
Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
repair percussion, stringed, reed, or wind instruments. May specialize in one area, such as piano tuning.
$39770
Post-secondary certificate
Personality Match
Outdoor Power Equipment Mechanics
diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul small engines used to power lawn mowers, chain saws, recreational sporting equipment, and related equipment.
$39090
No degree required
Personality Match