Career choice guide
Editorial snapshots of product, engineering, design, sales, and ops careers: US pay midpoints, growth, AI exposure, and how the résumé should read. Not job offers and not advice.
8 roles in this first cut — we keep the list short on purpose.
Product
$165k
$120k–$220k · US
Defines what to build and why, then stays until the metric moves.
Entry bar
Degree need
Competition
Growth
Stability
AI-resilient
Mobility
Software & AI
$175k
$130k–$250k · US
Turns product intent into systems that survive contact with users.
Entry bar
Degree need
Competition
Growth
Stability
AI-resilient
Mobility
Data & Analytics
$95k
$75k–$130k · US
Collects, cleans, and explains the numbers operators use to decide.
Entry bar
Degree need
Competition
Growth
Stability
AI-resilient
Mobility
Design
$140k
$110k–$185k · US
Makes software usable, and makes the case with research, not taste alone.
Entry bar
Degree need
Competition
Growth
Stability
AI-resilient
Mobility
Sales
$180k OTE
$120k–$280k OTE · US
Takes a qualified opportunity to a signed contract.
Entry bar
Degree need
Competition
Growth
Stability
AI-resilient
Mobility
People & Ops
$120k
$95k–$155k · US
Runs the employee system of record and the human moments around it.
Entry bar
Degree need
Competition
Growth
Stability
AI-resilient
Mobility
Finance
$110k
$85k–$150k · US
Forecasts, explains variance, and tells the truth about the plan.
Entry bar
Degree need
Competition
Growth
Stability
AI-resilient
Mobility
Education
$95k
$75k–$125k · US
Designs adult learning that changes what people do at work.
Entry bar
Degree need
Competition
Growth
Stability
AI-resilient
Mobility
Disclaimer: pay bands are rough US totals for experienced hires in major metros. Scores are editorial estimates, not advice.