Career Path Lab

Explore any career: the full salary range, what the education costs, the break-even point and how pay grows over time.

Questions this answers

  • How much does this career pay at entry, mid and senior level?
  • How long until the education pays for itself?
  • Is this career worth the cost of the degree?
  • How does pay grow over a career?
  • Which careers have the best return on training?
Calculator Learn FAQs
1

Your Profile

Your situation anchors every number here. Age and retirement age together determine your earning runway: changing retirement from 65 to 70 can add hundreds of thousands to lifetime earnings. State adjusts salary estimates for your local market without affecting tuition.
Many careers run well past 65.
Scales all salary estimates. Does not affect tuition.
Reduces opportunity cost. Many nurses, engineers, and tradespeople work during training.
2

Career Explorer

Search any career or click a featured card. Salaries are adjusted for your state. Each career has three salary tiers (Conservative = 25th percentile, Typical = median, Optimistic = 75th percentile) and a career-specific growth rate applied to the first 10 years. After year 10, growth tapers to 2.75%/yr (inflation-adjusted) to avoid unrealistic compounding over a 40-year horizon.
What matters most to you in a job?
Select all that apply. These feed your Career Match Score: shown below after you pick a career.
3

Education Pathway

Tuition + fees only: no room and board. Opportunity cost is the income you give up during school, reduced by your school income % setting. Uses 2025-26 College Board / NCES averages for the chosen school type.
College Board avg. 4-yr public in-state, 2025-26
Know your actual school's cost? Enter total tuition here.

Select a career above to see education pathways.

4

Financial Projection

Conservative = 25th percentile salary. Typical = median. Optimistic = 75th percentile. Break-even uses true net worth comparison: the year cumulative new-career earnings exceed what you'd have earned staying put. Salary growth is two-stage: career-specific rate for the first 10 years, then 2.75% (inflation-adjusted) for years 11+ to avoid unrealistic compounding. Current income grows at 2.5%/yr (raises + promotions + inflation). NPV discount: pick 3% (optimistic), 5% (typical, default), 7% (conservative): or turn off for nominal dollars.
Lifetime Earnings to Retirement Age
Stay Current Path
New Career
Difference
Target Salary
select scenario
Ed. Investment
tuition + net opp. cost
Break-Even
years from today
Net Gain
over modeled period
Cumulative earnings: new career vs. staying put (after education cost)
Annual income trajectory
Education investment breakdown
5

Reality Check

Compares your target career against national typical averages across six quality-of-work factors. A career that conflicts with your lifestyle leads to burnout regardless of pay.

Select a career above to see the reality check.

6

Your Career Report

Plain-English takeaways combining your fit, financials, and education requirements into a personalized recommendation.

Complete the sections above to generate your report.

This tool is for educational and informational purposes only. Salary figures are estimates based on BLS and publicly available data and vary by employer, location, and experience. Results are not professional career, financial, or educational advice. Always consult a qualified advisor for decisions involving education financing or career changes.

Where to go next

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Frequently asked questions

Where do the salary numbers come from?

The salary ranges are based on published U.S. wage data for each occupation, shown from entry level to experienced. Your own pay will depend on location, employer, specialty and negotiation, so use the range to compare careers rather than as a promise for one job.

What does the break-even point mean?

It is the year when the extra earnings from a career catch up with what the required education cost, including tuition and the income you gave up while studying. A shorter break-even means the training pays for itself sooner.

Does it include student loan interest?

Use the cost inputs to reflect what you will actually pay. If you borrow, interest raises the true cost of the education and pushes the break-even later. Pair it with the Student Loan Repayment Optimizer to see the payment side in detail.

Should I pick a career based on pay alone?

No. Pay is one input. Job satisfaction, demand in your area, the risk of automation and your own strengths matter just as much over a long career. The lab helps make the money side clear so you can weigh it honestly against the rest.

Can I save my results?

Yes. Save keeps your choices in this browser on this device, with no account needed, so they are there next time you visit.

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