Compare careers
Pick up to four careers and see them side by side: what they pay, how long and how much it takes to get there, the path in, a typical day, and the honest pros and cons.
Electrician
Wire homes, buildings and industry. Earn a paycheque from your first year of training.
Open careerRegistered Nurse
Care for patients in hospitals, clinics and homes. In demand everywhere in Canada.
Open careerThe numbers
Typical pay
A year, once established
- Electrician$76,000
- Registered Nurse$90,000
- Software DeveloperHighest$95,000
Pay from start to experienced
Starting pay to the top of the usual range
- Electrician$40,000 to $105,000
- Registered Nurse$62,000 to $113,000
- Software DeveloperHighest top$58,000 to $160,000
Years to qualify
From the end of high school
- Electrician4 to 5 years
- Registered Nurse4 years
- Software DeveloperFastest1 to 4 years
Cost to qualify
Tuition, fees, exams and kit, not living costs
- Electrician$2,350 to $5,550
- Registered Nurse$30,000 to $44,000
- Software DeveloperCheapest$1,000 to $60,000
Demand
National outlook from government data; varies by region
- ElectricianGood
- Registered NurseHighestVery high
- Software DeveloperGood
Licence needed
Whether you must be licensed or registered to work
- ElectricianYes, a regulated job
- Registered NurseYes, a regulated job
- Software DeveloperNo, anyone can do it
The real thing
Where you'd work
Electrician
Construction sites, homes, factories, utilities
Registered Nurse
Hospitals, clinics, long-term care, home care
Software Developer
Offices, remote, startups, banks, government
The path in
Electrician
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Registered Nurse
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Software Developer
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A typical day
Electrician
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Registered Nurse
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Software Developer
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The good
Electrician
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Registered Nurse
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Software Developer
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The hard parts
Electrician
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Registered Nurse
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Software Developer
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