13 Fields to Explore for Your Career

Choosing a career path is easier when you know what options you have. Knowing the various career fields will help you be able to choose the right job based on your talents, education and interests. In this article, we list common career fields and the example jobs within each category.

What are career fields?

Career fields are ways of categorizing different types of jobs based on common similarities. These categories help people to narrow down their career choices so they can choose a specific path that suits them. Career fields help people to easily organize the different types of labor for easier understanding. Each career field has unique requirements and duties associated with its professions. When looking for a new job, you should consider what career path you would like to follow.

Related: Explore Potential Career Paths

13 career fields

Below are some common career fields and examples of jobs that belong to each category:

1. Architecture and engineering

People in the architecture and planning fields are responsible for designing new structures or creating aesthetically pleasing, practical and structurally sound environments. Many positions require an undergraduate or graduate degree. Jobs in this field include:

• Architect

• Civil engineer

• Landscape architect

• Sustainable designer

• Biomedical engineer

Related: 19 Types of Architects (Plus Related Careers To Consider)

2. Arts, culture and entertainment

This career field is dedicated to enriching people's lives through culture and the sharing of arts and self-expression. There are formal educational programs for these fields, but these careers also include self-taught people who have natural talent. Some jobs in this field include:

• Singer/songwriter

• Music producer

• Art curator

• Animator/video game designer

• Filmmaker

• Graphic designer

• Fashion designer

• Photographer

Related: Careers In the Creative Arts Industry: The Best Jobs for Creatives

3. Business, management and administration

The business, management and administration career fields are best for business-minded individuals with a penchant for communication. They work to execute various processes necessary for the functioning of businesses. It usually involves working in an office environment. Here are some of the positions in this field:

• Human resources manager

• Marketing assistant

• Accountants

• Secretary

• Entrepreneur/small business owner

• Real estate agent

• Business development manager

Related: 15 Best Business Jobs To Consider (With Salaries and Job Outlook)

4. Communications

The communications career field is about mastering the art of delivering a targeted message to diverse groups of people. Some positions in this field include:

• Journalist

• Copywriter

• Communications manager

• Public relations specialist

• Meeting/event planner

• Social media manager

• Brand manager

Related: 16 Top Jobs For Graduates With Communications Degrees

5. Community and social services

The community and social services career field include jobs that offer tangible support to people and communities to enrich the lives of people.

Based in ideals of social justice and equality, this career path is for people who want to improve social systems and services. Often, people go in this field because there is a specific group of people they wish to advocate for or help.

Some jobs in this field include:

• School counselor

• Speech pathologist

• Rehabilitation counselor

• Licensed clinical social worker

• Child welfare social worker

• Palliative and hospice care worker

Related: 15 Types of Social Work Jobs

6. Education

The education field is dedicated to the art of skillfully disseminating knowledge and information to people. The most obvious job in this field are teachers, but it is not just limited to teaching. There are also management, administrative and board member jobs, for example.

Here are some jobs you can find in this field:

• Special education teacher

• School principal

• Superintendent

• College professor

• School librarian

• Substitute teacher

Related: Popular Careers in Education You Can Pursue

7. Science and technology

Science and technology is a diverse career field that generally involves scientific research and the development of innovative technologies that benefit humanity.

Scientific professions often involved some degree of mathematics or computer science knowledge.

These professions all belong to this career field:

• Archeologist

• Software engineer

• Laboratory technician

• Microbiologist

• Physicist

Related: 31 Jobs in Technology and Science

8. Installation, repair and maintenance

The installation, repair and maintenance career field is dedicated to helping customers operate specialized machinery. Workers in this field have a vast knowledge of their trade. They help to install, maintain, troubleshoot and repair a variety of different objects in the modern world.

Jobs in this career field include:

• Auto mechanic

• Landscaper and groundskeeper

• Bicycle repairer

• Wind turbine technician

• Plumber

Related: 15 Above Average and High Paying Maintenance Jobs

9. Farming, fishing and forestry

The farming, fishing and forestry career fields are ideal for people who enjoy the outdoors. Providing food for people, this career field is an essential part of society. These professions work directly with ecosystems and manage them in various ways. People get the opportunity to be close to wildlife and nature. It includes the growing and harvesting of plants and animals for human consumption.

Jobs in this career field include:

• Agricultural worker

• Animal breeder

• Nursery worker

• Forest and conservation worker

• Fisher

Related: 10 Outdoor Jobs That Pay Well

10. Government

The government career field comprises jobs where you work directly with government institutions on a federal, state or local level. It is a diverse career field with a variety of different occupations. Sometimes, people who seek to advance in this profession pursue an education in political sciences.

Jobs in government can include:

• Cafeteria worker

• Congressional staff

• National park ranger

• Mail carrier

• Firefighter

Related: Government Jobs Explained (and Rewarding Roles To Consider)

11. Health and medicine

This career profession involves healthcare services that provide care for people. They are an essential part of our society. This professional field often requires specialized training and certification.

Here are some examples of professions in health and medicine:

• Anesthesiologist

• Dental assistant

• Nurse

• Veterinarian

• Physical therapist

Related: 32 Medical Careers In Demand (Plus Salary Info and Duties)

12. Law and public policy

Within the law and public policy field, occupations include criminal justice, public policy advocacy and political lobbying. This career field comprises all the employment sectors. You can find a job working for the government, nonprofits, think tanks and large for-profit companies.

Here are some jobs in this career field:

• Lobbyist

• Public administrator

• Paralegal

• Lawyer

• Labor relations specialist

Related: A Guide to Public Policy Careers

13. Sales

Choosing a career path in sales involves working to sell items or services to individuals and businesses. People require in-depth knowledge of what they are selling. This field is customer service oriented and it often helps to have good interpersonal skills.

Jobs in this career field include:

• Sales associate

• Sales development rep

• Account executive

• Regional sales manager

• VP of sales

Related: Top 11 Types of Sales Jobs: Which One Is Right for You?