What Are the 16 Career Clusters? Definition and Guide
Updated October 31, 2023
Choosing the best career path is an important decision that involves your skills, educational background and interests. It's also a decision that may affect the education and training you pursue. Knowing the 16 career clusters can help you choose the most appropriate career path.
In this article, we explore the pathways and careers within each career cluster.
What are the 16 career clusters?
The National Career Clusters® Framework, created by the Career Technical Education (CTE) organization, is a system that groups careers into 16 clusters. The clusters include 79 unique pathways to pursue, and the framework helps you match your skills and interests to a career pathway.
The 16 career clusters are:
Agriculture, food and natural resources
Architecture and construction
Arts, A/V technology and communications
Business management and administration
Education and training
Finance
Government and public administration
Health science
Hospitality and tourism
Human services
Information technology
Law, public safety, corrections and security
Manufacturing
Marketing
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics
Transportation, distribution and logistics
Career clusters provide a framework for you to compare various industries and career paths against your interests and strengths. They help you answer the question of what roles or career you might want to pursue.
—Genevieve Northup, MBA, SHRM-CP, HCI-SPTD
Here are the 16 career clusters:
1. Agriculture, food and natural resources
The agriculture, food and natural resources cluster includes everything related to the creation of agricultural products. Job fields include farming, ranching, food processing, engineering and veterinary medicine. Some career pathways in this cluster require an associate's, bachelor's or master's degree in a specialized field, while others train people through on-the-job experience. The work environment is mostly outdoors, so most people who work in this field enjoy being outside.
Career pathways in this cluster include:
Agribusiness systems
Animal systems
Environmental service systems
Food products and processing systems
Natural resources systems
Plant systems
Power, structural and technical systems
Some jobs to pursue in this cluster are:
Read more: 12 Careers in Agriculture To Explore (With Salaries)
2. Architecture and construction
The architecture and construction cluster encompasses careers related to designing, building and maintaining homes, industrial facilities, streets or bridges. This cluster includes skilled tradespeople like carpenters and plumbers but also includes jobs as varied as interior designers, civil engineers and construction site managers. Education and interests vary from job to job, but most who work in this field enjoy working with their hands and seeing tangible results. The typical work environment can be an office or the homes and businesses of your customers.
Pathways in this cluster are:
Construction
Design/pre-construction
Maintenance/operations
Here are some jobs to pursue in this cluster:
Read more: 12 Careers in Construction (With Salaries and Duties)
3. Arts, audio/visual technology and communications
The arts, audio/visual technology and communications cluster includes journalists, performers and behind-the-scenes workers who make TV, film, media and live performances happen. Studying film or drama could be beneficial if you're interested in becoming an actor, and there are specialized certificates and degrees you could pursue to work in technical fields like sound or A/V engineering. The work environment can be a film, TV or recording studio or theater. Most people who work in this cluster have an authentic passion for music, dance, cinema or fashion.
Career pathways in this cluster are:
Audio and visual technology and film
Journalism and broadcasting
Performing arts
Printing technology
Telecommunications
Visual arts
Examples of jobs to pursue in this cluster are:
4. Business, management and administration
The business, management and administration cluster is vast, covering most of the functions required to run businesses effectively. It includes accounting, human resources, administrative support, operations and managerial roles.
The business, management and administration cluster is a great starting point for those interested in one day moving into leadership roles within organizations or wanting to start their own businesses.
—Genevieve Northup, MBA, SHRM-CP, HCI-SPTD
Many roles in this cluster require a bachelor's degree, and some accounting positions may also require a Certified Public Accountant license. The typical work environment is an office, and many roles work directly with customers or vendors. People who are interested in this career cluster usually have strong communication skills and business acumen.
This cluster has these pathways:
Administrative support
Business information management
General management
Human resources management
Jobs to pursue in this cluster include:
Read more: 120 Business Career Options for Professionals
5. Education and training
The education and training career cluster includes teaching roles as well as professional counselors, school psychologists and speech-language pathologists who offer support and guidance to students. Elementary and secondary school teachers require both a bachelor's degree and a license, while college instructors need an advanced degree in their subject area. The typical work environment is a school or college. This career cluster may be attractive to people who enjoy student development or want to act as role models for younger people. If you aspire to work in this field, it's beneficial to have a passion for the subject you plan to teach.
Pathways in this cluster are:
Administration and administrative support
Professional support services
Teaching/training
Here are some jobs to pursue in this cluster:
Read more: Popular Careers in Education You Can Pursue
6. Finance
The finance cluster includes careers in banking, investments and insurance as well as those who manage taxes and finances for businesses. Many jobs in this career cluster require a bachelor's degree or specialized certifications, such as a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor license. The typical work environment is an office. The workers in this field usually have strong math skills and the ability to explain difficult concepts to customers who don't work in the field.
The pathways in this cluster are:
Accounting
Banking services
Business finance
Insurance
Securities and investments
Jobs to pursue in this cluster:
Read more: 6 Types of Financial Careers (Plus Job Profiles and Salary)
7. Government and public administration
The government and public administration cluster includes everyone who works for a government agency at the local, state and federal levels. Jobs within this cluster vary greatly in their education requirements, from a high school diploma for entry-level workers to bachelor's or advanced degrees for those in finance, policy, tax and managerial roles.
The work environment is typically an office run by the city, county, state or federal government. A career in this cluster may be of interest to people who have great communication skills or an interest in helping the general public.
Career pathways in this cluster include:
Foreign service
Governance
National security
Planning
Public management and administration
Regulation
Revenue and taxation
Some example jobs are:
Read more: Guide to Public Administration Jobs: Finding Your Role
8. Health science
The health science cluster includes all types of health care providers as well as those providing research, diagnostics, data and utilization support to health care facilities. Specialized training is necessary for most roles in this cluster, including all nurses, doctors, pharmacists, technicians, dentists and other providers. Nearly all jobs require certification of licensure as well.
The work environment is most often a hospital, private clinic or laboratory. people who are interested in this cluster usually have a natural predisposition to help others.
This cluster includes these career pathways:
Biotechnology research and development
Diagnostic services
Health informatics
Support services
Therapeutic services
Jobs to pursue in this cluster include:
Read more: 10 Jobs in Health Science
9. Hospitality and tourism
The hospitality and tourism cluster includes jobs within restaurants, bars, tourist attractions, resorts, hotels and travel agencies. Entry-level positions may not even require a high school diploma, but more specialized roles like a tour guide or travel agent may require a bachelor's degree and knowledge of multiple languages.
The typical work environment can range from restaurant kitchens to hotel lobbies to airports. Most roles have heavy interaction with customers, so this is a good cluster for people who enjoy meeting and talking to other people. It is also helpful to have an interest in the specific field you work in, such as food, culture or travel.
Here are the career pathways in this cluster:
Lodging
Recreation, amusements and attractions
Restaurants and food/beverage services
Travel and tourism
Examples of jobs to pursue in this cluster are:
Read more: 21 Jobs for Hospitality and Tourism Management
10. Human services
The human services career cluster includes professionals who provide social, consumer or personal services to people. This cluster encompasses fields as diverse as cosmetology, counseling, social work, real estate and personal banking. The career pathways that relate to counseling and mental health require a minimum of a bachelor's degree and a license. Those related to beauty and wellness require specialized training.
The work environment varies greatly based on the specific career path but it typically involves an office or dedicated workspace like a salon. The workers in this cluster usually have strong interpersonal skills, patience and empathy towards others.
Pathways in this cluster are:
Consumer services
Counseling and mental health services
Early childhood development and services
Family and community services
Personal care services
Jobs to pursue in this cluster include:
11. Information technology
The information technology cluster is home to computer-related professions, including software development, network administration, information security and systems administration. Specialized training or industry certifications are helpful to qualify for a specific job in this cluster.
People who work in this field often need ongoing training since technology evolves at a fast pace. The work environment is typically an office, and an IT career may interest people with a curiosity for websites, apps, data, wireless technology and computer hardware.
Pathways in this cluster are:
Information support and services
Network systems
Programming and software development
Web and digital communications
Jobs to pursue in this cluster include:
Read more: 21 Different Types of IT Careers To Explore
12. Law, public safety, corrections and security
Workers in the law, public safety, corrections and security cluster protect citizens. Professions include emergency services, security/surveillance, law and law enforcement. Attorneys must have a bachelor's degree, law degree and bar licensure. Police officers and federal agents pass the entrance exams and graduate from special academies. Other careers require a variety of training or apprenticeship.
The work environment can be a jail, courthouse, police station or public place where people need to be protected. Others work in office environments. Working in this cluster may be of interest to people who have a strong desire to protect and defend others.
Pathways for this cluster are:
Correction services
Emergency and fire management services
Law enforcement services
Legal services
Security and protective services
Jobs to pursue in this cluster include:
13. Manufacturing
The manufacturing cluster includes people involved in the processing and production of goods. These roles usually only require on-the-job training, but there are other pathways in safety, engineering or quality that may require a bachelor's degree as well as specialized certifications.
A typical work environment is an industrial facility such as a factory or warehouse, often with fixed schedules and hours. A career in manufacturing may be suitable for people who have strong manual skills and enjoy physical work.
Career pathways in this cluster are:
Health, safety and environmental assurance
Logistics and inventory control
Maintenance, installation and repair
Manufacturing production process development
Production
Quality assurance
Jobs in this cluster include:
Read more: Manufacturing Jobs: Definition and Examples
14. Marketing
The marketing cluster includes careers in sales, public relations, merchandising and marketing, regardless of industry. A degree in marketing, even if not required, can be beneficial, and some people may benefit from marketing and sales training like the HubSpot Inbound Sales certification or the Google Analytics Individual Qualification. The work environment can be an office, a retail store or customer sites for jobs requiring frequent travel. A career in this field may interest those with excellent organizational and communication skills.
Career pathways in this cluster are:
Marketing communications
Marketing management
Marketing research
Merchandising
Professional sales
Here are some jobs to pursue in this cluster:
Read more: 14 Common Careers in Marketing and Sales
15. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics
The science, technology, engineering and mathematics cluster includes highly technical fields in biology, astronomy, chemistry, scientific research and all engineering disciplines. All roles require a minimum of a bachelor's degree in an appropriate field, and professional engineers must also earn a state license. The work environment can be a laboratory, an industrial facility or a field location like a power plant. People who are interested in this career cluster are usually passionate about science and math and are willing to continue training and education.
Career pathways for this cluster are:
Engineering and technology
Science and mathematics
Jobs include:
Read more: 50 Careers in STEM
16. Transportation, distribution and logistics
The transportation, distribution and logistics cluster includes people who plan and move people and goods. Some jobs require certification or licensure, such as truck drivers, pilots or inspectors. Other jobs in logistics, engineering and planning may require a bachelor's degree.
The work environment can be an office, a factory, a vehicle or a depot. The careers in this cluster may be attractive for people who have strong analytical skills or a passion for vehicles.
Career pathways in this cluster are:
Facility and mobile equipment maintenance
Health, safety and environmental management
Logistics planning and management services
Sales and service
Transportation operations
Transportation systems/infrastructure planning, management and regulation
Warehousing and distribution center operations
Example jobs are:
Read more: 9 Careers in Transportation To Explore
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