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 houses, factories and data centers. Get paid from your first week of training and never owe tuition.
Open career: ElectricianRegistered Nurse
About 3.5 million people work as registered nurses in the country. Two years of college can get you licensed, and the license works in most states.
Open career: Registered NurseSoftware Developer
You write the thing, then spend most of your time working out why it does not do what you meant.
Open career: Software DeveloperThe numbers
Typical pay
A year, once established
- Electrician$63,190
- Registered Nurse$97,550
- Software DeveloperHighest$135,980
Pay range
The lower end to the upper end, across everyone in the job
- Electrician$42,640 to $108,510
- Registered Nurse$68,940 to $137,470
- Software DeveloperHighest top$82,460 to $214,670
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 Nurse2 to 4 years
- Software Developer2 to 4 years
Cost to qualify
Tuition, fees, exams and kit, not living costs
- ElectricianCheapest$1,100 to $3,500
- Registered Nurse$8,800 to $48,000
- Software Developer$500 to $48,000
Demand
National outlook from government data; varies by region
- ElectricianVery high
- Registered NurseGood
- Software DeveloperVery high
License needed
Whether you must be licensed or registered to work
- ElectricianDepends: needed in 34 states
- Registered NurseYes, a regulated job
- Software DeveloperNo license to hold
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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