Careers

Explore our large database of careers. Get the specifics on salaries, education requirements, the odds of obtaining your dream job, and much more. And if a given career is going to be rough, we won’t sugar-coat it. That stuff will rot your teeth anyway.

Shmoop’s unparalleled and ruthlessly honest financial literacy advice will break down what you need to know about careers, debt, equity, and what it takes to retire. We are unvarnished and will help you estimate your needs given specific lifestyle expectations. (Note: If you choose to become an actor, this doesn’t apply, as you won’t have any money to worry about.)

Learn what it would be like to wake up in the morning as a Navy Seal. Or a Travel Agent. Or a Funeral Director (provided you wake up at all)*. We give you the blow by blow of what you can expect to see on a daily basis in your career of choice. We think transparency helps. Plus, it gives us a chance to get in touch with our inner Charles Dickens.

*morbid funeral director humor

Find out what you need to earn that first job, or what you need to get that plum promotion. Whatever your line of work, Shmoop outlines the certificates, degrees, and badges of honor you need in order to attain your dream. If, however, your dreams still involve unicorns and rainbows, you’re...probably not ready for a career.

Learn how much your chosen career path will help you in your quest for power, fame, and glory. If your end goal is world domination, this is the section for you. If you’re more of the help-others-help-yourself kind, maybe take a pass.