Career Information

Once you know the amount of income required to meet your family’s basic needs (your self-sufficiency wage), you can consider promising DC area jobs and learn about the training and education necessary for the particular jobs.

Below are two types of jobs:

  • jobs that require on-the-job training or work experience
  • jobs that require education and training beyond high school – usually a formal certificate or a two-year degree (Associate’s) earned at a community college or trade/technical school

These jobs pay self-sufficiency wages at the entry level or provide clear career paths to jobs that pay self-sufficiency wages. All of the jobs are currently available in the DC metro area, and the number of such jobs is expected to grow.

Click on job titles that interest you for information on:

  • The usual pay for the job (median wage)
  • The training required for the job
  • The number of people in the DC metro area who currently have the job
  • The current and expected number of openings for the job in the DC metro area
  • A description of the job and the most important skills used on the job
  • Education and training providers in the DC metro area

Click on education and training providers to view their websites.

Then, if you haven't already, use the Calculator to determine your family's income needs and what the jobs below could mean for your economic future.

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Jobs Requiring Work Experience
or On-the-Job Training

    

Jobs Requiring Post-Secondary Training (training after high school) or an Associate's Degree (two years of college)

       
   
       

Green Jobs

    
MORE INFO
Other Online Resources - organizations which may be helpful to you in planning your career:

The Beehive by One Economy

Employment and training information pages for DC residents:

DC Department of Employment Services

Employment and training information for Maryland residents:

Maryland Department of Labor

Information on adult and training programs in the DC metro area:

Read Out Loud   Phone: 1-866-READ-OUT (732-3688)

Virginia Electronic Labor Market Access (VELMA) employment and training information for Virginia residents:

Virginia Employment Commission

The National Network for Women’s Employment: Career Center, with education, training, and career resources:

Women Work!

 

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Work Skill Descriptions:

  • Active Learning – Understanding new information for both current and future problem solving and decision-making
  • Administration and Management – Knowledge of business and management principles
  • Biology – Knowledge of plants and animals, and their tissues, cells and functions
  • Chemistry – Knowledge of chemicals and how they change when combined
  • Building and Construction – Knowledge of materials, methods, and tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads
  • Clerical Skills – Ability to type and use computer word processing and other systems, copy, file, manage files, answer phones and take messages accurately
  • Computers and Electronics – Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming
  • Computer Software Skills – Typing, word processing (ex. Word), use of email, Microsoft Windows applications, etc.
  • Critical Thinking – Using logic and reasoning to identify the best way to perform a task or solve a problem
  • Customer and Personal Service – Providing customer and personal services
  • Deductive Reasoning – Ability to apply general rules to specific problems
  • Design – Knowledge of design techniques and tools to produce technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models
  • Engineering and Technology – Knowledge of engineering science and technology
  • Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed
  • Information Ordering – Ability to arrange information according to specific rules
  • Installation – Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications
  • Judgment and Decision Making – Considering the choices presented to create the best possible outcome
  • Law and Government – Knowledge of laws, court procedures and government rules
  • Manual Dexterity – The ability to (quickly) move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble
  • Mechanical – Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance
  • Medicine and Dentistry – Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities
  • Oral Comprehension – Ability to listen to speech and understand information and ideas
  • Oral Expression – Ability to communicate information and ideas by speaking so others will understand
  • Psychology – Knowledge of human behavior and performance
  • Public Safety and Security – Knowledge of rules and laws designed to protect people, data, property, and buildings
  • Quality Control Analysis – Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to make sure that the product or service is high quality
  • Reading – Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents
  • (Selective Attention) – The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted
  • Repairing – Repairing machines or systems
  • Speaking – Talking to others to pass on information effectively
  • Telecommunications – Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems
  • Troubleshooting – Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it
  • Writing – Being able to communicate well in writing

Sources: Definitions of skills adapted from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections (Training Level, Educational Attainment); National Center for Statistics (Typical Instructional Programs)