Realistic Careers
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants, or animals. These careers involve practical, physical activities.
393 occupations
Agricultural Equipment Operators
+7.7%Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
-14.5%Automotive Body and Related Repairers
+1.6%Automotive Engineering Technicians
+0.0%Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers
+3.6%Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
+4.2%Avionics Technicians
+8.2%Bicycle Repairers
-2.3%Boilermakers
-2.4%Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
+2.4%Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
-1.6%Carpet Installers
-9.6%Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
+1.8%Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
+3.9%Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
+3.6%Commercial Divers
+8.5%Construction Laborers
+7.3%Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
+1.3%Crane and Tower Operators
+3.0%Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
+0.5%Dishwashers
+0.2%Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
-19.6%Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
+4.2%Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
+2.9%Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
+3.4%Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers
Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
+6.1%Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
-0.8%Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
+5.5%Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
+6.6%Electricians
+9.5%Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians
+1.1%Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers
Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles
-13.6%Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
+5.0%Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
-21.1%Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other
+1.5%Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
-0.4%Fallers
-7.3%Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians
+11.0%Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
-3.3%Fence Erectors
+4.6%Fishing and Hunting Workers
-4.6%Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
+9.5%Floor Sanders and Finishers
+2.6%Forest and Conservation Workers
-4.7%Furniture Finishers
-3.3%Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
-21.2%Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
-12.0%Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
+1.0%Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
+4.0%Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
-10.5%Helpers--Electricians
+0.2%Helpers--Extraction Workers
-1.7%Highway Maintenance Workers
+3.0%Home Appliance Repairers
+2.6%Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
-11.2%Industrial Machinery Mechanics
+16.1%Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
+1.1%Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
+3.6%Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
-13.6%Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
-22.3%Locomotive Engineers
+0.7%Machinists
+0.0%Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
+3.8%Maintenance Workers, Machinery
-2.8%Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
+5.5%Medical Appliance Technicians
+3.7%Medical Equipment Repairers
+12.9%Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
-14.4%Millwrights
+0.0%Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
+5.8%Model Makers, Wood
-4.5%Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians
+6.0%Motorcycle Mechanics
+5.3%Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
-0.5%Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
+3.6%Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics
+2.5%Painters, Construction and Maintenance
+3.8%Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
+3.2%Photonics Technicians
+1.5%Pile Driver Operators
+4.3%Pipelayers
-4.1%Plasterers and Stucco Masons
+4.1%Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
-13.6%Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
+4.5%Pourers and Casters, Metal
-4.7%Rail Car Repairers
+2.8%Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
+1.6%Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
+1.0%Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians
+11.5%Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
-16.9%Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
+0.9%Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
+4.6%Riggers
+3.2%Roof Bolters, Mining
-34.2%Roofers
+5.9%Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
+0.2%Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
+2.5%Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
-0.6%Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
+7.6%Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
+0.4%Sheet Metal Workers
+2.4%Solar Photovoltaic Installers
+42.1%Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
+4.5%Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
+2.2%Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing
+6.2%Stonemasons
-3.0%Structural Iron and Steel Workers
+4.4%Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
-16.3%Terrazzo Workers and Finishers
-11.1%Tile and Stone Setters
+10.1%Tire Builders
+2.3%Tire Repairers and Changers
+5.7%Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
-7.8%Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation
+1.7%Tree Trimmers and Pruners
+3.3%Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
+2.2%Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
-9.0%Wind Turbine Service Technicians
+49.9%Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
-1.8%Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders
+7.2%Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
+2.3%Lighting Technicians
-4.6%Rock Splitters, Quarry
+4.4%Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
+0.7%Biomass Plant Technicians
-11.2%Continuous Mining Machine Operators
+0.6%Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
-3.8%Sailors and Marine Oilers
+2.3%Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
+8.1%Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
+4.9%Machine Feeders and Offbearers
-13.0%Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
+4.3%Brickmasons and Blockmasons
+3.2%Helpers--Roofers
+5.7%Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
-11.2%Robotics Technicians
+1.1%Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers
-3.8%Tool and Die Makers
-10.8%Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers
-15.1%Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
+1.4%Segmental Pavers
Insulation Workers, Mechanical
+4.7%Potters, Manufacturing
+6.2%Wellhead Pumpers
-4.7%Helpers--Carpenters
+4.5%Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
-0.9%Hoist and Winch Operators
-1.1%Light Truck Drivers
+7.3%Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
-2.3%Mechanical Door Repairers
+11.4%Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
-12.1%Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
+0.6%Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
-18.2%Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers
+6.6%Pest Control Workers
+4.9%Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
-2.5%Power Plant Operators
-11.2%Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
+3.0%Logging Equipment Operators
-1.4%Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers
+5.9%Agricultural Technicians
+4.3%Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
+0.6%Foundry Mold and Coremakers
-25.9%Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
-12.8%Upholsterers
-1.8%Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers
+6.2%Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
-5.0%Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
+3.8%Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
+0.3%Sewing Machine Operators
-10.8%Medical Equipment Preparers
+10.0%Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
-10.1%Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
-8.3%Carpenters
+4.5%Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
-6.5%Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
+4.2%Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
-18.9%Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters
-17.5%Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
+2.0%Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers
+8.6%Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
-2.3%Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
-3.7%Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
+9.1%Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
+4.0%Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
+1.2%Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
+2.6%Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
+10.4%Agricultural Engineers
+5.9%Gas Plant Operators
-8.8%Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
+6.2%Dredge Operators
+1.2%Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
+4.5%Slaughterers and Meat Packers
+2.2%Dental Laboratory Technicians
-4.7%Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
-5.5%Patternmakers, Wood
-5.0%Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
+3.3%Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
-6.8%Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
-6.3%Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
+2.0%Helpers--Production Workers
-8.9%Motorboat Operators
+1.4%Watch and Clock Repairers
-1.1%Forest and Conservation Technicians
-3.2%Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
-6.3%Animal Trainers
+5.1%Etchers and Engravers
-0.7%Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
+2.3%Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
+3.8%Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
-1.1%Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs
+6.7%Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
-9.0%Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
+1.0%Firefighters
+3.4%Signal and Track Switch Repairers
+1.7%Tapers
+0.1%Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
-5.4%Sewers, Hand
-7.0%Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
-3.1%Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
+8.1%Endoscopy Technicians
+3.5%Healthcare Support Workers, All Other
+3.5%Precision Agriculture Technicians
+4.3%Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
-1.3%Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
-10.7%Ship Engineers
+1.6%Civil Engineers
+5.0%Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers
-4.2%Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
+1.5%Security Guards
+0.4%Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants
-1.0%Fish and Game Wardens
-6.0%Food Preparation Workers
-3.4%Semiconductor Processing Technicians
+10.9%Mechanical Engineers
+9.1%Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
+1.4%Geothermal Technicians
+2.4%Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other
+2.4%Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
+5.4%Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials
-13.5%Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
+2.3%Parking Enforcement Workers
-1.5%Animal Breeders
+2.4%Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
-11.7%Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
+14.6%Cooks, Fast Food
-13.5%Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
+4.4%Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
+8.7%Glaziers
+3.3%Calibration Technologists and Technicians
+4.7%Bakers
+5.6%Histology Technicians
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
+1.2%Recycling and Reclamation Workers
+1.5%Chemical Engineers
+2.6%Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
-1.3%Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
+5.8%Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
-4.3%Butchers and Meat Cutters
+1.0%Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
+0.6%Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
+0.0%Surgical Technologists
+4.5%Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
-18.1%Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
+6.2%Chemical Plant and System Operators
-6.1%Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
-24.4%Robotics Engineers
+2.1%Animal Caretakers
+12.1%Automotive Engineers
+9.1%Construction and Building Inspectors
-0.8%Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
-2.8%Prosthodontists
+4.5%Transit and Railroad Police
+3.0%Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians
+1.7%Bridge and Lock Tenders
-3.3%Conveyor Operators and Tenders
-3.4%Cooks, Short Order
-5.6%Aircraft Service Attendants
+5.1%Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
-7.7%Food Batchmakers
+6.9%Locksmiths and Safe Repairers
-8.3%Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers
-2.9%Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
+0.4%Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
+0.7%Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
+1.5%Electrical Engineers
+7.2%Construction and Related Workers, All Other
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
Weatherization Installers and Technicians
Orthotists and Prosthetists
+13.3%Nuclear Medicine Technologists
+3.0%Veterinarians
+9.6%Solar Energy Systems Engineers
+2.1%Crematory Operators
+3.3%Mechanical Drafters
-6.5%Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
+4.3%Surveying and Mapping Technicians
+4.5%Animal Control Workers
+3.9%Subway and Streetcar Operators
+3.4%Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
+2.0%Photonics Engineers
+2.1%Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
+4.3%Wind Energy Engineers
+2.1%Materials Engineers
+5.7%Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
-4.5%Biofuels Processing Technicians
+1.6%Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
+13.0%Plant and System Operators, All Other
+1.6%Crossing Guards and Flaggers
+3.6%Paperhangers
+5.3%Solar Energy Installation Managers
+5.3%Embalmers
+1.3%Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers
-0.9%Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
+4.0%Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
+1.1%Range Managers
+3.4%Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
+2.1%Nuclear Technicians
-7.7%Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
+5.8%Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
+0.0%Taxi Drivers
+11.1%Surgical Assistants
+5.1%Computer Hardware Engineers
+7.3%Mechatronics Engineers
+2.1%Museum Technicians and Conservators
+5.4%Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
-10.2%Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
-5.4%Parking Attendants
+3.0%Parts Salespersons
+3.1%Cooks, Restaurant
+14.9%Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
+6.3%Manicurists and Pedicurists
+7.0%Electrical and Electronics Drafters
-5.6%Water/Wastewater Engineers
+5.0%Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
+0.5%Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
+3.0%Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
+1.5%Packers and Packagers, Hand
-5.4%Baristas
+6.1%Food Science Technicians
+4.8%Architectural and Civil Drafters
+4.1%Photographers
+1.8%Fuel Cell Engineers
+9.1%Shampooers
+5.5%Bus Drivers, School
+0.2%Geodetic Surveyors
+4.4%Fire Inspectors and Investigators
+3.8%Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
-2.6%Hydrologic Technicians
-2.1%Skincare Specialists
+6.7%Gem and Diamond Workers
-5.5%Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
+7.1%Motion Picture Projectionists
-3.7%Phlebotomists
+5.6%Landscape Architects
+3.5%Orderlies
+3.3%Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
+5.2%Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
+5.6%Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
-15.3%Barbers
+4.1%Hydroelectric Production Managers
+1.9%Petroleum Engineers
+1.3%Team Assemblers
Transportation Engineers
+5.0%Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
+3.1%Agricultural Inspectors
+1.5%Geothermal Production Managers
+1.9%Driver/Sales Workers
+8.8%Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
+1.7%Correctional Officers and Jailers
-7.8%Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
+19.8%Foresters
+1.2%Manufacturing Engineers
+11.0%Exercise Physiologists
+9.5%Audio and Video Technicians
+3.3%Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
+2.1%Power Distributors and Dispatchers
-3.2%Athletes and Sports Competitors
+5.5%Sound Engineering Technicians
-1.7%Floral Designers
-5.9%Respiratory Therapists
+12.1%Cooks, Private Household
+5.1%Radiation Therapists
+1.9%Funeral Attendants
+3.1%Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
+3.9%Baggage Porters and Bellhops
-1.6%Traffic Technicians
+3.7%Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
+3.0%Bailiffs
-2.2%Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
+3.9%Bartenders
+5.9%