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Three-career starter database

Search, filter, and select two or three occupations to compare side by side. Pay figures are national medians for May 2025 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

3 of 3 occupations shown · 0 selected for comparison

  • Healthcare

    Registered nurses

    $97,550

    May 2025 U.S. median annual pay

    Registered nurses coordinate and deliver patient care across a wide range of settings. The pathway runs through an approved nursing program followed by state licensure, and the work rewards clear communication and disciplined recordkeeping as much as clinical knowledge.

    Outlook:
    6% projected employment growth, 2025–2035
    Education:
    An approved nursing degree or diploma pathway.
    Detail →

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm · retrieved September 27, 2026

  • Skilled trades

    Electricians

    $63,190

    May 2025 U.S. median annual pay

    Electricians install and maintain electrical systems, most often entering through a paid apprenticeship instead of a degree. Earnings build with licensure and specialisation, and the day-to-day work leans heavily on methodical troubleshooting and safety discipline.

    Outlook:
    9% projected employment growth, 2025–2035
    Education:
    Typically an apprenticeship rather than a degree pathway.
    Detail →

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm · retrieved September 27, 2026

  • Business & finance

    Accountants and auditors

    $83,680

    May 2025 U.S. median annual pay

    Accountants and auditors prepare, examine and explain financial records. Most enter with a bachelor's degree, and the work spans public accounting firms, in-house finance teams and government; with a strong premium on being able to explain numbers to non-specialists.

    Outlook:
    5% projected employment growth, 2025–2035
    Education:
    Typically a bachelor's degree.
    Detail →

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm · retrieved September 27, 2026

Comparison

Select at least two occupations above to compare them on pay, outlook, education, workplaces and skills. You can compare up to three at a time.

Practical

Career-transition checklist

A move between occupations usually fails on logistics rather than ambition. Work through these six items in order.

  1. 01

    Define the target role precisely

    Write down the exact job title, the sector and the level you are aiming for. "Nursing" is not a target; "registered nurse on a hospital medical-surgical ward" is.

  2. 02

    Map required qualifications and licensing

    List the qualification, the approving body, the licensing authority in your state and the realistic time to complete each. Confirm every item against the official source rather than a summary.

  3. 03

    Gather evidence of the skills you already have

    For each skill the role requires, name one concrete thing you have done that demonstrates it, with a date and a result. Gaps you cannot evidence are the ones to close first.

  4. 04

    Calculate a financial runway

    Work out months of essential costs covered, any reduction in income during training, and the fees involved. Use the purchasing-power tool to see what the target pay is worth in today's dollars.

  5. 05

    Apply deliberately, in batches

    Track where you applied, what the posted range was, and what response you got. Batches make patterns visible; one-off applications do not.

  6. 06

    Review on a fixed date

    Set a date three months out to re-read this checklist. Change one variable at a time (target level, geography, or evidence) rather than restarting.

Explore purchasing powerRead the transition article

Occupational data retrieved September 27, 2026. This is a starter database of three occupations; it contains no job listings and no employer directory.