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.
Prefer to browse careers? See them all
Electrician
Wire homes, buildings and industry. Earn a paycheque from your first year of training.
Open career: ElectricianRegistered Nurse
Care for patients in hospitals, clinics and homes. In demand everywhere in Canada.
Open career: Registered NurseSoftware Developer
Build apps, websites and systems. No licence required, many roads in.
Open career: Software DeveloperThe numbers
Typical pay
A year, once established
- Electrician$73,000
- Registered Nurse$90,000
- Software DeveloperHighest$100,000
Pay range
The lower end to the upper end, across everyone in the job
- Electrician$42,000 to $100,000
- Registered Nurse$62,000 to $113,000
- Software DeveloperHighest top$62,000 to $160,000
Years until fully qualified
From the end of high school. Some careers pay you from the first day of training
- Electrician4 to 5 yearsPaid while you train, from day one
- Registered Nurse4 years
- Software Developer1 to 4 years
Cost to qualify
Tuition, fees, exams and kit, not living costs
- ElectricianCheapest$2,700 to $6,350
- Registered Nurse$30,000 to $44,000
- Software Developer$1,000 to $53,000
Demand
National outlook from government data; varies by region
- ElectricianModerate
- Registered NurseHighestVery high
- Software DeveloperModerate
Licence needed
Whether you must be licensed or registered to work
- ElectricianYes, a regulated job
- Registered NurseYes, a regulated job
- Software DeveloperNo licence to hold
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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