People-first care under real pressure
Career decisions, made visible
Compare the work.
Not just the salary.
PathGraph turns official career data into clear trade-offs—pay, opportunity, work environment, skills and the reality of changing paths.
O*NET 30.3BLS May 20252024–34 outlook
Labour market
United StatesBuild your comparison
Which path fits your priorities?
Pick any two. Every number below updates instantly.
PathGraph46.7experimental similarity
Technical systems, creative problem-solving
Software Developer
$135,980median annual earningsHigher medianSoftware Developer
More annual openingsRegistered Nurse
Lower physical-demand signalSoftware Developer
Exploration tool
What matters to you?
Move the controls from off to essential. PathGraph recalculates the fit without hiding the trade-offs.
Fit and similarity scores are experimental PathGraph calculations, not official labour-market statistics or career recommendations.
Your current mixSoftware Developer leads by 5
Its strongest weighted advantage here is higher pay.
Ten-year projections and openings. Market momentum uses the country registry’s declared signal and stays neutral when none is available. Entry-path scoring is a transparent editorial band used by this exploration tool, based on the typical education and credential route shown below.
01
At a glance
Money, demand and entry
Registered Nurse
United States data
Software Developer
$97,550Median annual earnings$135,980
$68,940–$137,470Published salary range$82,460–$214,670trade-off
3.4MCurrent employment1.7M
4.9%Projected growth15.8%
189.1KAnnual openings115.2K
Bachelor’s degreeTypical educationBachelor’s degreetrade-off
Licensure requiredTraining / credentialNo typical OJTtrade-off
United States figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 and 2024–34 employment projections.
02
Beyond job titles
What the work may feel like
These are occupation percentiles—not ratings of whether a career is good or bad. Select a signal to understand what it contains. Work signals are native O*NET occupation percentiles.
03
Shared foundations
Similar doesn’t mean interchangeable
46.7/100
Experimental model similarity
A PathGraph calculation across skills, interests, work context and education signals. It is not an official statistic or a measure of transition feasibility.Skills59.7
Interests63.1
Work context41.9
Education75.3
Registered Nurse foundations
- Active listening
- Critical thinking
- Social perceptiveness
Software Developer foundations
- Programming
- Systems analysis
- Complex problem-solving
Transition reality check
A shared foundation is not a shortcut.
PathGraph separates occupational similarity from transition feasibility. Licensure, apprenticeships, formal education and missing technical knowledge still matter—even when two careers share useful skills.
Career library
Twenty careers. Seventy-six approved comparisons.
A quality-gated universe spanning healthcare, technology, trades, finance, design and education.
01 · Healthcare
Registered Nurse
A people-intensive clinical career centred on patient care, communication and sound judgment.
$97,550 / yearExplore this career →02 · TechnologySoftware Developer
A technical career focused on building software systems through analysis, design and problem-solving.
$135,980 / yearExplore this career →03 · Skilled tradesElectrician
A skilled trade combining electrical systems, practical troubleshooting and hands-on work.
$63,190 / yearExplore this career →04 · Business & financeAccountant
An analytical career built around financial records, controls, reporting and professional judgment.
$83,680 / yearExplore this career →05 · HealthcareDental Hygienist
A focused oral-health career combining preventive clinical care with patient education.
$98,100 / yearExplore this career →06 · HealthcareMedical Sonographer
A medical-imaging career combining diagnostic equipment, technical accuracy and patient contact.
$96,590 / yearExplore this career →07 · Skilled tradesPlumber
A skilled trade focused on installing, maintaining and repairing water and piping systems.
$63,800 / yearExplore this career →08 · DesignGraphic Designer
A creative career using visual systems, communication and production tools to shape information.
$62,960 / yearExplore this career →09 · TechnologySecurity Analyst
A technical career protecting digital systems through monitoring, analysis and risk management.
$129,180 / yearExplore this career →10 · EducationSecondary Teacher
A people-oriented career combining subject expertise, communication and classroom leadership.
$72,040 / yearExplore this career →11 · HealthcareEnrolled Nurse
A practical nursing career supporting patient care under the direction of registered health professionals.
$62,340 / yearExplore this career →12 · HealthcareRadiologic Technologist
A diagnostic-imaging career combining technical equipment, clinical procedures and direct patient support.
$77,660 / yearExplore this career →13 · HealthcareOccupational Therapist
A rehabilitation career helping people participate more fully in daily, school and working life.
$98,340 / yearExplore this career →14 · HealthcarePhysiotherapist
A rehabilitation career focused on movement, physical function, injury recovery and prevention.
$101,020 / yearExplore this career →15 · Skilled tradesHVAC Technician
A skilled trade installing and maintaining heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems.
$59,810 / yearExplore this career →16 · Skilled tradesWelder
A fabrication trade joining and cutting metal with close attention to precision, safety and specifications.
$51,000 / yearExplore this career →17 · Skilled tradesCarpenter
A construction trade building, installing and repairing structural and finished components.
$59,310 / yearExplore this career →18 · Skilled tradesAutomotive Technician
A technical trade diagnosing, servicing and repairing mechanical and electronic vehicle systems.
$49,670 / yearExplore this career →19 · Business & financeFinancial Analyst
An analytical finance career evaluating performance, investments, risk and business decisions.
$101,910 / yearExplore this career →20 · TechnologySystems Analyst
A technology career analysing organisational needs and designing improvements to information systems.
$103,790 / yearExplore this career →How PathGraph works
Facts first.
Calculations explained.
- 1Official inputs
Wages and outlook from BLS. Skills, interests and work context from O*NET.
- 2Experimental comparison model
Work descriptors become percentiles across covered occupations; model outputs are clearly separated from official inputs.
- 3Visible trade-offs
No magic “best career.” You see each factor and decide what matters.