Exploring Careers

Career Cluster Survey

Career clusters are groups of occupations in the same field of work that require similar skills. Sift through dozens of activities and career tasks to determine which roles you already enjoy, or those which you think you might.

No software can tell you what you should or should not do with your life. However, by considering the day-to-day realities of various professions—and examining all 16 career clusters—you may gain a better understanding of the types of work that will most appeal to you.

Take the Career Cluster Survey

Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

Do you enjoy working with plants and animals? Interested in working to conserve natural resources or protect the environment? This cluster includes careers in the production, processing, distribution, financing, and marketing of agricultural products including food, plants, fiber, animals, wood, and other plant and animal resources.

Career Pathways
Food Products and Processing Systems | Plant Systems | Animal Systems | Power, Structural & Technical Systems | Natural Resources Systems | Environmental Service Systems | Agribusiness Systems
Two trucks in an agricultural field harvesting crops.

Architecture & Construction

Do you want to design, build, and maintain structures where people live, work, and play? This cluster includes careers in designing, planning, managing, building, and maintaining the built environment.

Career Pathways
Design/Pre-Construction | Construction | Maintenance/Operations
A closeup of beams on a building being constructed.

Arts, A/V Technology & Communications

Do you like to perform? Do you love to use your artistic creativity on the job? This cluster includes careers in designing, producing, exhibiting, performing, writing, and publishing multimedia content, including visual and performing arts and design, journalism, and entertainment services.

Career Pathways
Printing Technology | Visual Arts | Performing Arts | Journalism and Broadcasting | Telecommunications
A closeup of paintbrushes with various colors of paint on them.

Business Management & Administration

Are you entrepreneurial? Do you like to plan and organize activities? This cluster includes careers in planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating business functions essential to effective and productive business operations.

Career Pathways
General Management | Business Information Management | Human Resources Management | Operations Management | Administrative Support
An empty conference room with a large table and many chairs surrounding it.

Education & Training

Do you enjoy teaching others? Are you comfortable with public speaking? This cluster includes careers in planning, managing, and providing education and training services and related learning support services, including administration and library services.

Career Pathways
Administration and Administrative Support | Professional Support Services | Teaching/Training
A closeup of seats in a classroom with stadium seating.

Finance

Do you like to work with numbers? Do you want to help people plan for their financial futures? This cluster includes careers in financial and investment planning, banking, insurance, and business financial management.

Career Pathways
Securities & Investments | Business Finance | Accounting | Insurance | Banking Services
A smartphone with a calculator app open sitting on top of a notebook.

Government & Public Administration

Are you interested in government and politics? Does the idea of protecting our country appeal to you? This cluster includes careers in planning and providing government services at the federal, state, and local levels, including services related to national security, legislation, foreign service, revenue and taxation, and regulations.

Career Pathways
Governance | Planning | Public Management and Administration | Regulation | Revenue and Taxation
A closeup of columns on an ornate building.

Health Sciences

Do you enjoy helping people feel better? Would you like to work in a hospital or other medical facility? This cluster includes careers in planning, managing, and providing therapeutic services, diagnostic services, health informatics, support services, and biotechnological research and development.

Career Pathways
Therapeutic Services | Diagnostic Services | Health Informatics | Support Services | Biotechnology Research and Development
A closeup of a doctor wearing a white jacket and holding a stethoscope.

Hospitality & Tourism

Do you want to help other people enjoy their leisure time? Would you like to work in a hotel or in a restaurant? This cluster includes careers in the management, marketing, and operations of restaurants and other food services, lodging, attractions, recreation events, and travel-related services.

Career Pathways
Restaurants and Food/Beverage Services | Lodging | Recreation, Amusements & Attractions
An open suitcase full of clothes and travel supplies.

Human Services

Do you like to help families solve problems? Would you like to connect people with the assistance they need? This cluster includes careers that provide family and individual services such as counseling and mental health, personal care, and consumer advice.

Career Pathways
Counseling & Mental Health Services | Family & Community Services | Personal Care Services | Consumer Services
A closeup of two people shaking hands.

Information Technology

Do you like technology? Do you enjoy working with computer hardware, software, multimedia, or network systems? This cluster includes careers related to the design, development, support, and management of hardware, software, Internet, multimedia, and systems integration services.

Career Pathways
Network Systems | Information Support and Services | Web and Digital Communications | Programming and Software Development
A closeup of html on a computer screen.

Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security

Do you like to help protect other people's safety? Do you want to help enforce the law? This cluster includes careers in planning, managing, and providing legal, public safety, corrections, protective services, and homeland security, including professional and technical support.

Career Pathways
Correction Services | Emergency and Fire Management Services | Legal Services | Security & Protective Services
A closeup of a gavel.

Manufacturing

Do you like to design and make things? Are you comfortable working with machines? This cluster includes careers in planning, managing, and performing the processing of materials into intermediate or final products and related professional and technical support activities, such as production planning and control, maintenance, and manufacturing/process engineering.

Career Pathways
Production | Manufacturing Production Process Development | Maintenance, Installation & Repair | Logistics Planning and Management Services | Environmental Service Systems
Products going down a manufacturing line.

Marketing

Do you like to sell products or services? Are you friendly and outgoing? This cluster includes careers in planning, managing, and performing marketing activities to reach organizational objectives.

Career Pathways
Marketing Management | Professional Sales | Merchandising | Marketing Communications
A closeup of a laptop with a data dashboard on the screen.

Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

Do you like science or math? Do you enjoy solving problems? This cluster includes occupations and careers in planning, managing, and providing scientific research and professional and technical services (e.g., physical science, social science, engineering), including laboratory and testing services, and research and development services.

Career Pathways
Engineering and Technology | Science and Mathematics
A closeup of a pipette dispensing liquid into a beaker in a tray of beakers.

Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

Would you like to fly planes, drive trucks, or pilot ships? Does the idea of fixing these vehicles appeal to you? This cluster includes careers in planning and managing the movement of people, materials, and goods by road, pipeline, air, rail, and water. Professional support services like logistics services and mobile equipment and facility maintenance are also part of this cluster.

Career Pathways
Transportation Systems/Infrastructure Planning, Management and Regulation | Transportation Operations | Logistics Planning and Management Services | Facility and Mobile Equipment Maintenance | Sales and Service
A large industrial boat carrying many shipping containers.