Mid-Level

Career Development Technician

A Career Development Technician typically delivers career services to clients in workforce or education settings — assessments, resume support, job-search coaching, and connections to training or employer resources.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
C
S
I
A
R
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Career Development Technicians
Employment concentration · ~392 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Career Development Technician

Daily rhythm mixes individual coaching sessions, group workshops, assessments, and case documentation. You'll often see clients across stages — career-changers, displaced workers, recent grads — and flex approaches accordingly. Pacing depends on program structure and funding cycles.

The systems navigation can surprise newcomers — workforce funding, training providers, and employer connections all have rules and quirks. Coordination with employers, training providers, and case management is constant. Outcome reporting often shapes program decisions in ways that feel disconnected from individual cases.

People who thrive here typically have steady warmth, comfort with structured services, and patience for varied client needs. The temperament to keep showing up for clients across many stages of career change usually matters more than prior career-coaching credentials.

RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportAbove avg
AchievementAbove avg
Working ConditionsModerate
RecognitionModerate
IndependenceModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Career Development Technicians (SOC 13-1071.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Career Growth OptionsBusiness Operations track →
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$45K–$127K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
917K
U.S. Employment
+6.2%
10yr Growth
82K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$74K$71K$68K$65K$62K201920202021202220232024$62K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

SpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingWritingService OrientationSocial PerceptivenessActive LearningJudgment and Decision MakingInstructing
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
13-1071.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.