20 careers
Best Careers for Career Changers
Switching careers is easier when training is short and your existing skills transfer. Each career here can usually be entered with a year or less of training and pays a solid median wage.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| # | Career | Median pay | Growth 2025–35 | Training time | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Makeup Artist | $97,150 | +6.1% | 3–12 months | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| 2 | Refinery Operator | $96,710 | -1.9% | 6–18 months on the job | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 3 | Railroad Signal Technician | $92,460 | +1.8% | Railroad training plus months on the job | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 4 | Subway Operator | $86,380 | +3.7% | Transit academy plus on-the-job training | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 5 | Roof Bolter | $78,540 | -18.9% | Months of on-the-job training | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 6 | Auto Damage Appraiser | $78,240 | -8.7% | Training program plus months on the job | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| 7 | Chemical Plant Operator | $78,120 | -5.2% | 6–18 months on the job | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 8 | Railroad Conductor | $78,000 | +0.9% | 3–6 months of railroad training | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 9 | Claims Adjuster | $78,000 | -5.5% | 3–12 months | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 10 | Gas Compressor Operator | $77,320 | +2.1% | Months on the job | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 11 | Network Technician | $76,220 | +1.2% | 6 months–2 years | Associate's degree |
| 12 | Police Officer | $76,210 | +3.5% | 6–12 months (academy + field training) | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 13 | Underground Mining Loader Operator | $74,500 | -15.8% | Weeks to months of training | No formal educational credential |
| 14 | Control Valve Technician | $74,340 | +4.3% | Months to years of training | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 15 | Pile Driver Operator | $73,300 | -5.7% | Months to years of training | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 16 | Sound Engineer | $73,130 | -3.1% | 6 months–2 years | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| 17 | Commercial Diver | $72,990 | +4.8% | Diving school plus tending experience | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| 18 | Wholesale Sales Representative | $72,080 | -0.9% | 1–6 months | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 19 | Railroad Track Equipment Operator | $70,070 | +1.5% | A few months of training | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 20 | Account Executive | $69,990 | +2.7% | 1–6 months | High school diploma or equivalent |
1. Makeup Artist
Makeup artists apply makeup and prosthetics for performers in film, television and theater, and for clients at events and photo shoots.
- Median pay: $97,150 ($46.71/hr)
- Training: 3–12 months: postsecondary nondegree award
- Growth: +6.1% (faster than average), 600 openings/yr
Makeup Artist career guide · Makeup Artist training
2. Refinery Operator
Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators and gaugers control refinery units, pumps and tanks that process and move crude oil and petroleum products.
- Median pay: $96,710 ($46.50/hr)
- Training: 6–18 months on the job: high school diploma or equivalent
- Growth: -1.9% (a projected decline), 2,700 openings/yr
Refinery Operator career guide · Refinery Operator training
3. Railroad Signal Technician
Signal and track switch repairers install, inspect, test, maintain or repair electric gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, track switches and related equipment.
- Median pay: $92,460 ($44.45/hr)
- Training: Railroad training plus months on the job: high school diploma or equivalent
- Growth: +1.8% (slower than average), 800 openings/yr
Railroad Signal Technician career guide · Railroad Signal Technician training
4. Subway Operator
Subway and streetcar operators operate subway, elevated suburban trains or electric-powered streetcars to transport passengers.
- Median pay: $86,380 ($41.53/hr)
- Training: Transit academy plus on-the-job training: high school diploma or equivalent
- Growth: +3.7% (about as fast as average), 900 openings/yr
Subway Operator career guide · Subway Operator training
5. Roof Bolter
Roof bolters, mining, operate self-propelled machines to install roof support bolts in underground mines.
- Median pay: $78,540 ($37.76/hr)
- Training: Months of on-the-job training: high school diploma or equivalent
- Growth: -18.9% (a projected decline), 100 openings/yr
Roof Bolter career guide · Roof Bolter training
6. Auto Damage Appraiser
Insurance appraisers, auto damage, inspect damaged vehicles, estimate repair costs and help determine settlement amounts for insurance claims.
- Median pay: $78,240 ($37.61/hr)
- Training: Training program plus months on the job: postsecondary nondegree award
- Growth: -8.7% (a projected decline), 700 openings/yr
Auto Damage Appraiser career guide · Auto Damage Appraiser training
7. Chemical Plant Operator
Chemical plant and system operators control or operate chemical processes and equipment, including reactors, distillation columns and mixing systems.
- Median pay: $78,120 ($37.56/hr)
- Training: 6–18 months on the job: high school diploma or equivalent
- Growth: -5.2% (a projected decline), 1,300 openings/yr
Chemical Plant Operator career guide · Chemical Plant Operator training
8. Railroad Conductor
Railroad conductors coordinate train crews, verify cars and paperwork, switch and inspect cars, communicate with dispatchers and make sure trains follow operating rules.
- Median pay: $78,000 ($37.50/hr)
- Training: 3–6 months of railroad training: high school diploma or equivalent
- Growth: +0.9% (little or no change), 3,000 openings/yr
Railroad Conductor career guide · Railroad Conductor training
9. Claims Adjuster
Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators evaluate insurance claims, inspect damage, interview people, review policies and determine coverage and settlement amounts.
- Median pay: $78,000 ($37.50/hr)
- Training: 3–12 months: high school diploma or equivalent
- Growth: -5.5% (a projected decline), 20,900 openings/yr
Claims Adjuster career guide · Claims Adjuster training
10. Gas Compressor Operator
Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators operate steam, gas, electric motor or internal combustion engine driven compressors to transmit, compress or recover gases.
- Median pay: $77,320 ($37.17/hr)
- Training: Months on the job: high school diploma or equivalent
- Growth: +2.1% (slower than average), 300 openings/yr
Gas Compressor Operator career guide · Gas Compressor Operator training
11. Network Technician
Computer network support specialists maintain and troubleshoot local and wide area networks, internet connections and network hardware, helping users and administrators keep systems connected.
- Median pay: $76,220 ($36.64/hr)
- Training: 6 months–2 years: associate's degree
- Growth: +1.2% (slower than average), 9,000 openings/yr
Network Technician career guide · Network Technician training
12. Police Officer
Police officers protect lives and property by patrolling communities, responding to emergency and non-emergency calls, investigating crimes, enforcing laws, writing reports and testifying in court.
- Median pay: $76,210 ($36.64/hr)
- Training: 6–12 months (academy + field training): high school diploma or equivalent
- Growth: +3.5% (about as fast as average), 51,500 openings/yr
Police Officer career guide · Police Officer training
13. Underground Mining Loader Operator
Underground mining machine operators, including loading machine operators, operate machines that load coal, ore or rock onto shuttles or conveyors underground.
- Median pay: $74,500 ($35.82/hr)
- Training: Weeks to months of training: no formal educational credential
- Growth: -15.8% (a projected decline), 400 openings/yr
Underground Mining Loader Operator career guide · Underground Mining Loader Operator training
14. Control Valve Technician
Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door, install, repair and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices such as valves and meters.
- Median pay: $74,340 ($35.74/hr)
- Training: Months to years of training: high school diploma or equivalent
- Growth: +4.3% (about as fast as average), 3,600 openings/yr
Control Valve Technician career guide · Control Valve Technician training
15. Pile Driver Operator
Pile driver operators operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads and foundations.
- Median pay: $73,300 ($35.24/hr)
- Training: Months to years of training: high school diploma or equivalent
- Growth: -5.7% (a projected decline), 200 openings/yr
Pile Driver Operator career guide · Pile Driver Operator training
16. Sound Engineer
Sound engineering technicians operate equipment to record, mix, edit and reproduce sound for music, movies, TV, games and live events.
- Median pay: $73,130 ($35.16/hr)
- Training: 6 months–2 years: postsecondary nondegree award
- Growth: -3.1% (a projected decline), 1,000 openings/yr
Sound Engineer career guide · Sound Engineer training
17. Commercial Diver
Commercial divers work below the surface of water, using scuba or surface-supplied air equipment to inspect, repair, remove or install equipment and structures.
- Median pay: $72,990 ($35.09/hr)
- Training: Diving school plus tending experience: postsecondary nondegree award
- Growth: +4.8% (about as fast as average), 400 openings/yr
Commercial Diver career guide · Commercial Diver training
18. Wholesale Sales Representative
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods such as food, building materials, industrial supplies and consumer products to retailers, contractors and businesses.
- Median pay: $72,080 ($34.65/hr)
- Training: 1–6 months: high school diploma or equivalent
- Growth: -0.9% (little or no change), 99,800 openings/yr
Wholesale Sales Representative career guide · Wholesale Sales Representative training
19. Railroad Track Equipment Operator
Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators lay, repair and maintain track for railroads, using machines such as tampers, spike drivers and ballast regulators.
- Median pay: $70,070 ($33.69/hr)
- Training: A few months of training: high school diploma or equivalent
- Growth: +1.5% (slower than average), 1,200 openings/yr
Railroad Track Equipment Operator career guide · Railroad Track Equipment Operator training
20. Account Executive
Sales representatives of services sell business services such as software, telecommunications, staffing, security and marketing, managing the sales process from prospecting to close.
- Median pay: $69,990 ($33.65/hr)
- Training: 1–6 months: high school diploma or equivalent
- Growth: +2.7% (about as fast as average), 115,700 openings/yr
Account Executive career guide · Account Executive training
Methodology
Rankings use national data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025; BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35)) for the 709 careers profiled on Career Education Institute. Lists are not exhaustive of all U.S. occupations. Data checked October 15, 2026.
About this list
What is #1 on the list of careers for career changers?
Makeup Artist, with a median wage of $97,150 per year and about 3–12 months of training.
How was this list made?
We ranked careers from our 709 profiles using BLS May 2025 wage data and 2025–35 employment projections, applying the criteria described on this page.