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 houses, factories and data centers. Get paid from your first week of training and never owe tuition.
Open careerRegistered Nurse
The biggest health profession in the country. Two years of college can get you licensed, and the license works in most states.
Open careerSoftware Developer
You write the thing, then spend most of your time working out why it does not do what you meant.
Open careerThe numbers
Typical pay
A year, once established
- Electrician$63,190
- Registered Nurse$97,550
- Software DeveloperHighest$135,980
Pay from start to experienced
Starting pay to the top of the usual range
- Electrician$42,640 to $108,510
- Registered Nurse$68,940 to $137,470
- Software DeveloperHighest top$82,460 to $214,670
Years to qualify
From the end of high school
- Electrician4 to 5 years
- Registered Nurse2 to 4 years
- Software Developer2 to 4 years
Cost to qualify
Tuition, fees, exams and kit, not living costs
- Electrician$1,100 to $3,500
- Registered Nurse$4,500 to $45,000
- Software DeveloperCheapest$500 to $44,000
Demand
National outlook from government data; varies by region
- ElectricianVery high
- Registered NurseVery high
- Software DeveloperVery high
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, nursing homes, schools, home visits
Software Developer
Tech companies, banks, hospitals, government agencies, remote teams
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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