Career Simulator
Model staying at your job vs changing company vs learning new skills vs starting a business. Compare potential outcomes.
Enter Your Values
Using shared profile · 3,500/mo · EUR — edit on Dashboard
Results update automatically as you change values.
What-If Scenarios
Results update instantly10-Year Career Path Comparison
Click chart to expand
Side-by-Side Comparison
Bars show relative size · ✓ marks the better option- 10-Year Total Earnings
- €40,124
- Final Year Salary
- €4,704
- 10-Year Total Earnings
- €42,021
- Final Year Salary
- €5,181
- 10-Year Total Earnings
- €39,023
- Final Year Salary
- €5,701
- 10-Year Total Earnings
- €71,063
- Final Year Salary
- €14,159
| Factor | Stay | Change Company | Learn New Skill | Recommended Start Business |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Total Earnings | €40,124 | €42,021 | €39,023 | €71,063 |
| Final Year Salary | €4,704 | €5,181 | €5,701 | €14,159 |
Start Business yields the highest 10-year earnings (€71,063.014). Starting a business has higher risk but potentially higher reward.
Scenario Analysis
How the outcome shifts if your assumptions turn out better or worse than expected.
Best-case outcome with favorable assumptions.
Most likely outcome based on your inputs.
Conservative outcome with cautious assumptions.
Compare Scenarios
Pin up to 3 and see them side by sideSet your inputs, then Pin current to save this scenario. Pin a few variations to compare their scores and outcomes here.
What Moves the Needle Most
How much each factor changes your Start Business (10yr total) across its full range. Time Horizon has the biggest impact.
Focus your attention on Time Horizon — getting it right matters most. Factors lower down move the result less, so rough estimates there are fine.
Confidence & Assumptions
The outcome is fairly stable across best and worst cases — this is a robust decision.
Stay (10yr total): €40,124 (worst) → €40,124 (expected) → €40,124 (best)
These are the estimates the result depends on. Adjust them (and the Advanced inputs) to match your real situation — the closer they are to reality, the more reliable your decision.
These estimates are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. Actual results may vary based on factors not captured in this calculator.
How This Calculator Works
What this calculator does
Compare four career paths over 10–30 years based on your salary assumptions.
How the calculation works
Projects total earnings for each path with compound salary growth over your chosen time horizon.
Formula
Total Earnings = Σ(Salary × (1 + Growth)^year) for each year
Example
A mechanical engineer at €55k: changing company to €62k with 4% growth beats staying at 3% over 10 years.
How to Use This Calculator
- 1Enter your numbers
Fill in the inputs for Career Simulator. Defaults are realistic starting points — replace them with your actual figures.
- 2Understand the calculation
Projects total earnings for each path with compound salary growth over your chosen time horizon.
- 3Review results and scenarios
Check metrics, cost breakdown, comparison tables, and best / expected / worst scenarios. Use sliders to stress-test assumptions.
- 4Decide with the verdict
Read the decision engine recommendation and FAQ. Example: A mechanical engineer at €55k: changing company to €62k with 4% growth beats staying at 3% over 10 years.
Factors to Consider
- Job switching often gives biggest immediate bump
- Skills compound over decades
- Business has highest risk and reward
Common Mistakes
- Assuming linear career progression
- Ignoring switching costs and risk
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I learn Python?+
Model it here — enter your expected salary after learning the skill and compare total earnings against other paths.
This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making important financial decisions.
Related Calculators
Explore other tools that might help with your decision.