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Median Salaries by Career Path (BLS May 2024)
$93,600
Registered Nurse
ADN (2 years)
$65,280
Electrician
Apprenticeship (4 years)
$57,300
HVAC Technician
Certificate (6-24 months)
$51,000
Welder
Certificate (6-18 months)
$43,460
Cosmetologist
License (9-24 months)
$132,270
Software Developer
Bachelor's (4 years)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
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How GradeToGrad Helps You Choose the Right School
GradeToGrad helps students compare 6,429 colleges and trade schools using real data from the College Scorecard and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Every school profile includes tuition costs, graduation rates, and career earnings — whether you're researching nursing programs, welding certifications, cosmetology schools, or four-year universities.
Use our Pathway Comparison Calculator to compare colleges and trade schools near you side by side — see tuition, time-to-career, and salary outcomes in one view. Our state-by-state guides cover nursing schools, community colleges, welding programs, HVAC training, and cosmetology schools in all 50 states, with BLS salary data so you can see exactly what each career path pays before you enroll.