Compare careers from 18 to retirement

Rank 12 US career paths by what matters to you, then see how money builds on each.

2026 dollars · US data · Modeled

Ranking

Provisional, 80% of weights

Access and Lifestyle count once you rate them for all 12 paths. Access rated 0 of 12, Lifestyle 0 of 12. Rate them in each career's details.

Careers ranked by opportunity score
#	Career	Score					0 of 12	0 of 12
	Your priorities	Share of score	25%	20%	20%	15%	10%	10%
1	74	74	Typical pay 100 of 100, $436K modeled typical pay	High pay 100 of 100, $584K high-pay reference	Time to earnings 43 of 100, $40K+ pay from age 26	Education cost 36 of 100, $222K tuition and fees
2	72	72	Typical pay 100 of 100, $280K modeled typical pay	High pay 95 of 100, $449K high-pay reference	Time to earnings 43 of 100, $40K+ pay from age 26	Education cost 36 of 100, $222K tuition and fees
3	72	72	Typical pay 73 of 100, $152K modeled typical pay	High pay 59 of 100, $225K high-pay reference	Time to earnings 71 of 100, $40K+ pay from age 22	Education cost 86 of 100, $47.8K tuition and fees
4	68	68	Typical pay 83 of 100, $184K modeled typical pay	High pay 84 of 100, $369K high-pay reference	Time to earnings 50 of 100, $40K+ pay from age 25	Education cost 45 of 100, $193K tuition and fees
5	64	64	Typical pay 58 of 100, $117K modeled typical pay	High pay 46 of 100, $172K high-pay reference	Time to earnings 71 of 100, $40K+ pay from age 22	Education cost 86 of 100, $47.8K tuition and fees
6	62	62	Typical pay 86 of 100, $193K modeled typical pay	High pay 80 of 100, $335K high-pay reference	Time to earnings 43 of 100, $40K+ pay from age 26	Education cost 23 of 100, $268K tuition and fees
7	60	60	Typical pay 53 of 100, $106K modeled typical pay	High pay 37 of 100, $144K high-pay reference	Time to earnings 71 of 100, $40K+ pay from age 22	Education cost 86 of 100, $47.8K tuition and fees
8	59	59	Typical pay 72 of 100, $150K modeled typical pay	High pay 53 of 100, $199K high-pay reference	Time to earnings 50 of 100, $40K+ pay from age 25	Education cost 55 of 100, $158K tuition and fees
9	58	58	Typical pay 47 of 100, $94.6K modeled typical pay	High pay 39 of 100, $151K high-pay reference	Time to earnings 71 of 100, $40K+ pay from age 22	Education cost 86 of 100, $47.8K tuition and fees
10	54	54	Typical pay 32 of 100, $71.7K modeled typical pay	High pay 25 of 100, $114K high-pay reference	Time to earnings 79 of 100, $40K+ pay from age 21	Education cost 99 of 100, $5,000 tuition and fees
Employer scenarios Only while in one employer role, then national software pay. Not ranked.
Unranked	90	90	Typical pay 100 of 100, $265K modeled typical pay	High pay 100 of 100, $850K high-pay reference	Time to earnings 71 of 100, $40K+ pay from age 22	Education cost 86 of 100, $47.8K tuition and fees
Unranked	82	82	Typical pay 87 of 100, $199K modeled typical pay	High pay 83 of 100, $360K high-pay reference	Time to earnings 71 of 100, $40K+ pay from age 22	Education cost 86 of 100, $47.8K tuition and fees

Compare

2 of 3

Net worth at67, start of retirement

Software$2.47MStart of retirementGap financing up to $163K

Family medicine$3.1MStart of retirementGap financing up to $345K

Modeled, in 2026 dollars. Balances are shown at each birthday.

Family medicine catches Software in net worth at 47 and does not fall behind through 67, the start of retirement. Conditional on the assumed gap financing. Modeled.

Conditional on funding. Software assumes $141K of gap financing beyond modeled loans; Family medicine assumes $261K of gap financing beyond modeled loans. Hypothetical, not approved credit.

At key ages

Net worth at key ages. Select an age to show it in the chart.
Career
Software	−$39.1K	$105K	$447K	$962K	$1.73M	$2.47M
Family medicine	−$458K	−$491K	$345K	$1.04M	$2.08M	$3.1M

Assumptions

These apply to every career, in September 2026 purchasing power.

Score is relative. Fixed anchors and your weights rank paths; the score does not predict your success. Scoring

Wealth is modeled. A year-by-year cash-flow ledger in constant 2026 dollars, including any assumed gap financing. Ledger

Sources are dated. Every figure names its source and period. Open a career to see them. Sources