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Non Traditional Careers

An occupation is considered non-traditional for one gender when 25 percent or less of the people employed in that field belong to that gender. Examples of non-traditional careers for women include welder, mechanic, and engineer. Non-traditional careers for men include nurse, administrative assistant, and child care provider. More examples of non-traditional careers for men and women are given at the bottom of this page. Click here to view a few non-traditional career student profiles.

. Examples of non-traditional careers for women include welder, mechanic, and engineer. Non-traditional careers for men include nurse, administrative assistant, and child care provider. More examples of non-traditional careers for men and women are given at the bottom of this page.

For more information regarding non-traditional careers, please contact:
Valerie Zeigler, LBCC Outreach & Retention Specialist for Non-Traditional Careers at (541) 917-4485.

Why consider a non-traditional career?
Most people choose a non-traditional career because the work allows them to utilize their skills, interests, and talents.

Some additional advantages for women in male-dominated fields include:

Increased salary
Improved benefits
More opportunities for advancement

Some advantages for men in female-dominated careers include:

Improved working conditions
Less physical stress on the job
Increased job stability

What are some non-traditional jobs* for men?
Note: LBCC offers classes/training for all of the jobs that are undelined and in bold print.

Bank tellers
billing clerks
bookkeepers
accounting and auditing clerks
cashiers
child care workers
data-entry keyers
dental assistants
dental hygienists
dietitians
dressmakers
early childhood teachers’ assistants
elementary school teachers
file clerks
food batchmakers
general office clerks
health aides-except nursing
interviewers
legal assistants
librarians
archivists
curators
library clerks
licensed practical nurses
maids
nursing aides
orderlies and attendants
order clerks
occupational therapists
payroll and timekeeping clerks
personnel clerks-except payroll and timekeeping
prekindergarten and kindergarten teachers
public transportation attendants
receptionists
records clerks
registered nurses
secretaries
special education teachers
speech therapists
statistical clerks
stenographers
teachers’ aides
telephone operators
therapists
typists
underwriters
waiters and waitresses

(*Courtesy Brenda Turner, Oregon Employment Department, 2002)

What are some non-traditional jobs* for women?

Aircraft engine mechanics
airplane pilots and navigators
architects
automobile body and related repairers
automobile body and related repairers
automobile mechanics
brickmasons and stonemasons
broadcast equipment operators
bus-truck and stationary engine mechanics
cabinet makers and bench carpenters
carpenters
carpet installers
clergy
construction inspectors
construction laborers
correctional institution officers
crane and tower operators data processing equipment repairers
dentists
drafting occupations
drywall installers
electrical and electronic technicians
electrical power installers and repairers
electricians
electronic repairers-communications and industrial equipment
engineers
excavating & loading machine operators
farm workers and firefighters
funeral directors
garbage collectors
geologists and geodesists
grader
dozer and scraper operators
groundskeepers and gardeners
guards
heating
air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics
heavy equipment mechanics
industrial machinery repairers
industrial truck and tractor equipment operators
machinists
meter readers
millwrights
painters-construction and maintenance
parking lot attendants
pest control occupations
plumbers-pipefitters and steamfitters
police and detectives
printing machine operators
roofers
sales workers-motor vehicles and boats
sheet-metal workers
small engine repairers
structural metalworkers
surveying and mapping technicians
taxicab drivers and chauffeurs
telephone installers and repairers
timber cutting and logging occupations
tool and die makers
truck drivers
upholsterers
vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics and repairers
water and sewage treatment plant operator
welders and cutters
woodworking machine operators

'We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?' - Nelson Mandela

The Carl Perkins Act of 1984 provides funding for program development to eliminate gender stereotyping in vocational/technical education and to promote enrollment in non-traditional career programs. Non-Traditional Career Committee's Statement of Purpose: The Non-traditional Career Committee endeavors to promote, support, and prepare individuals for non-traditional careers and employment in areas identified as gender-imbalanced in the workforce. The committee will develop and implement activities that increase awareness for students, staff, and faculty and improve access to non-traditional occupation options.