The career path explorer shows the typical progression levels for 10 major career fields, with salary ranges and key skills at each stage. Click any node to see detailed information about that role, required skills, and typical advancement timeline.
How to Use the Career Path Explorer
A clear picture of your career progression helps you set realistic goals, calibrate your compensation expectations, and identify the specific skills you need to build for the next level. The career path explorer maps out the typical advancement levels for 10 major fields with salary benchmarks at each stage.
Step 1: Select Your Career Field
Choose the field that best matches your current or target career. The tool shows 6-7 levels from entry-level to executive for each field, with branching paths where the career splits into individual contributor (IC) or management tracks.
Step 2: Find Your Current Level
Locate your current role on the chart. Click the node to see the full details: typical years of experience, salary range, key skills required, and what the role focuses on. This anchors your planning from where you actually are, not where you think you should be.
Step 3: Identify the Next Level
Click the level above yours to see its requirements. The gap between your current skills and the next level's required skills is your development roadmap. Focus on 2-3 skills from that list over the next 12-18 months rather than trying to develop everything simultaneously.
Step 4: Use Salary Data for Negotiations
The salary ranges reflect US national medians for 2025-2026. If you are below the range for your level, you likely have a case for a raise or offer negotiation. Use the Salary Negotiation Script Guide for word-for-word scripts to make that conversation effectively.
FAQ
Is the career path explorer free?
Yes, completely free with no account required. Explore all 10 career fields and their full progression paths at no cost.
Are the salary ranges accurate?
The salary ranges shown are US national median estimates based on industry data for 2025-2026. Actual salaries vary significantly by location (San Francisco pays 40-80% more than the national median), company size, and individual qualifications. Use these as directional benchmarks, not guarantees.
How long does it take to progress through each level?
Timeline estimates assume strong performance and active career management. Entry to mid-level typically takes 2-4 years in most fields. Mid to senior takes 3-5 years. Senior to principal or management depends heavily on opportunity, company size, and whether individual contributor or management track is chosen.
What is the difference between IC and management tracks?
IC (Individual Contributor) tracks, like Principal Engineer or Staff Scientist, reward deep domain expertise. Management tracks (Engineering Manager, VP) reward people leadership and organizational skills. Neither is superior — choose based on what energizes you. Transitions between tracks are possible but require deliberate skill-building.
How do I use this to plan my career?
Select your current field and find your current level. Look one level above yours to identify the skills gap. Focus on building 2-3 of the key skills for the next level before pursuing promotion. Use the salary data to calibrate your market value in salary negotiations.
Can I switch career fields after being established in one?
Yes, with the right framing. Adjacent field switches are most common: marketing to product management, finance to business analytics, engineering to engineering management. Pure pivot switches typically require additional education or starting closer to entry-level in the new field.