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What is a Job Zone?
A job zone is the term used to categorize the amount of career preparation that is usually needed for specific occupations. Job zones are classified by the U.S. Department of Labor and contain up-to-date information gathered by employers and employees.
A job zone is classified by what is required to do the work:
What is each job zone?
Expand each one to learn more.
Job Zone 1: Little or No Preparation Needed Summary: As little as zero preparation and no more than 3 months of combined preparation (combination of education, related experience, and on-the-job training). Education: Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Related Experience: Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before. Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job. Job Zone Examples: These occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include food preparation workers, dishwashers, floor sanders and finishers, landscaping and grounds keeping workers, logging equipment operators, and baristas. Job Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed Summary: More than 3 months but less than 1 year of combined preparation (combination of education, related experience, and on-the-job training). Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma. Related Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public. Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. Job Zone Examples: These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians. Job Zone 3: Medium Preparation Needed Summary: At least 1 year and not more than 2 years of combined preparation (combination of education, related experience, and on-the-job training). Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Related Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. Job Zone Examples: These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants. Job Zone 4: Considerable Preparation Needed Summary: At least 2 years and not more than 4 years of combined preparation (combination of education, related experience, and on-the-job training). Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. Related Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. Job Zone Examples: Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators. Job Zone 5: Extensive Preparation Needed Summary: Over 4 years of combined preparation (combination of education, related experience, and on-the-job training). Education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). Related Experience: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. Job Training: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training. Job Zone Examples: These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, physician assistants, and veterinarians. Job Zones & Salaries
Higher job zone does not necessarily equal a higher salary. There are plenty of entry-level occupations in Job Zone 3 that make way more money than occupations in Job Zone 5!
Example: Diagnostic Medical Sonographers is a fast growing field that requires an associates degree. Nationally, entry-level workers in this field earn about $61,000 a year, while experienced workers earn around $107,000 a year. And that’s the national average - in some states, those numbers are much higher!
What does increase salary? On average, the following is true:
Getting at least an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree drastically increases entry-level salary. Getting a graduate degree does not usually mean extra lifetime earnings when compared with workers who had an associates or bachelor’s degree. Pay over time increases with more on-the-job training and related experience. Investing in on-going training and education related to your career leads to increased salary. Choosing an occupation that workers are in-demand and have the power. This is basic supply and demand economics: If there are 100 jobs that need to be filled and only 70 workers qualified to fill them, the employers are going to have to compete with each other to find people to fill those jobs. They will have to draw workers in with higher pay and better benefits! Choosing a job zone
Your job zone is not universally applied to every occupation. You could have a Ph.D in Physics, which would be Job Zone 5 for the occupation Nuclear Engineer, but without experience related to construction, you would be in Job Zone 1 for Construction Laborer.
When exploring occupations, you can either choose your current job zone, or you can choose the job zone that you would be willing to invest in.
Expand each one to learn more.
Transitioning/Starting Career If you would be entering that occupation entry-level, you would be classifying the job zone mostly based upon just the education required (since you wouldn’t have any on-the-job training), although if you do have any related experience you may be able to count that (transferable skills or experience with that industry).
If you are looking to continue in your current career path, then consider all of the education, experience, and on-the-job training that you currently have in that career. If you want to invest in some additional education, add that in, as well.
Not sure how much preparation you are willing to, or can, invest? Engage in some goal-setting activities. Ask yourself WHY you do or don’t want to take invest in career preparation. Visit the link below to explore this question further.
