Transparency
How we source and label career data
Where our career information comes from, what our labels mean, and what they don't promise.
Two kinds of information
Sourced facts
Figures and requirements taken directly from authoritative sources. Each one has a numbered citation you can check.
Median pay · required certifications · typical education · job outlook
BWTD labels
Simple browsing labels that we assign by applying written rules to occupational data. They are our interpretation, not labels used by the government sources themselves.
Hands-on · Desk-based · People-focused · No degree required
Where our data comes from
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Pay, job outlook, number of jobs, and typical entry-level education.
O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor)
What the work is like: physical demands, working conditions, and how much the job involves working with people. Based on surveys of people in each occupation.
Government regulators
Licensing and certification rules, such as the FAA for aircraft mechanics or the EPA for refrigerant handling. Where requirements differ by state, we say so instead of picking one state.
We don't use blogs, career-advice sites, or employer marketing for factual claims. When we can't find reliable data, we leave it blank and show “Data coming soon” rather than guess.
Reading pay figures
- Median
- Half of workers in the occupation earn more, and half earn less.
- Middle 50%
- Half of all workers earn somewhere in this range.
- Top 10%
- One in ten workers earns more than this amount.
- Top earners: $100k+
- The top 10% of workers nationally earn more than $100,000. It describes top earners, not typical pay.
These are national figures for everyone in the occupation. They are not starting pay and not a guarantee: pay varies with location, experience, employer, and hours.
What our labels mean
Labels like Hands-on, Desk-based, and People-focused help you browse by the kind of life you want. We assign them by applying the same written rules to every career, using O*NET and BLS data. They are directional tools for discovery, not guarantees: any individual job can differ by employer, location, and role.
- We only show a label when the evidence supports it. Unknown stays blank.
- We never add a label just so a filter has results.
- We describe the occupation as a whole, never one employer or one person.
- Each career page cites the data behind its labels.
Detailed rules and thresholds
O*NET ratings below are averages from worker surveys on a 1–5 scale (for example, 1 = never and 5 = continually, or 1 = not important and 5 = extremely important).
No degree required / Degree often required
From BLS typical entry-level education. No degree required: up to a postsecondary nondegree award or some college. Degree often required: bachelor's or higher. Associate's degrees are reviewed case by case.
Training time
The duration BLS or the regulator states for the typical entry path, placed in a range (learn on the job, under 6 months, 6–24 months, 2+ years). Blank if no duration is stated or it spans ranges.
Earn while you learn
Shown when BLS or a regulator states that a common entry path includes paid training, such as a paid apprenticeship.
Hands-on
O*NET “time spent sitting” below 3.0, and either “using your hands” at least 3.5 or “performing general physical activities” importance at least 3.5.
Desk-based
O*NET “time spent sitting” at least 3.5, “using your hands” below 2.5, and “performing general physical activities” importance below 2.5. Careers with data that fit neither rule are labeled a mix.
People-focused
O*NET “dealing with external customers or the public” at least 4.0, and at least one of working directly with the public, assisting and caring for others, or selling or influencing others with importance of 3.5 or more.
In person / Remote possible
In person: a hands-on occupation whose core tasks require physical work on equipment, structures, aircraft, or emergency scenes. Hybrid or remote is shown only when an authoritative source says it is common. The O*NET database does not measure remote work.
Travel
Shown only when an authoritative source says the job requires travel away from home base. Local service calls and nearby client meetings don't count. The O*NET database does not measure travel.
Thresholds are applied identically to every career and are never changed to make more careers qualify. Version 1.
Personal stories
- Pay and details in personal stories come from the person interviewed, unless we say otherwise. One person's earnings are not a guarantee for anyone else.
- Stories may be edited for clarity and length. We never make up quotes.
- Sponsored or partner-supported content is always clearly labeled.
How we use AI
When an interviewee has been told and agrees, we may use an AI tool to help organize their interview transcript into a first draft. A person reviews and edits every story before it is published and checks it against what the interviewee actually said. AI doesn't decide what gets published, and it isn't used for our career data, which comes separately from the sources listed above.
Check before you commit
Licensing, certification, education, and hiring requirements change and vary by state and employer. Always confirm them with the relevant licensing board, school, or employer before making a decision.