/career-path

Get personalized career path recommendations based on your interests, experience, and goals.

Description

The /career-path command provides tailored career guidance, including role progression, salary expectations, required skills, and learning timelines.

Usage

/career-path
/career-path junior-to-senior
/career-path specialization <role>
/career-path salary-growth
/career-path remote-options

Common Career Paths

🚀 Frontend Developer Path

Junior Frontend (0-2 years)
↓ (2-3 years)
Mid-level Frontend (2-5 years)
↓ (3-5 years)
Senior Frontend (5+ years)
↓ (optional)
Tech Lead / Staff Engineer / Engineering Manager

Skills to Master:

• HTML/CSS/JavaScript (Strong)
• React or Vue (Deep)
• TypeScript
• Testing (Jest, Cypress)
• Performance Optimization
• Accessibility
• UI/UX principles

Salary Range:

• Junior: $60k-90k
• Mid: $90k-140k
• Senior: $130k-200k+

🔧 Backend Developer Path

Junior Backend (0-2 years)
↓ (2-3 years)
Mid-level Backend (2-5 years)
↓ (3-5 years)
Senior Backend (5+ years)
↓ (optional)
Architect / Tech Lead / Engineering Manager

Skills to Master:

• Primary Language (Python/Node.js/Go)
• Database Design & Optimization
• API Design (REST/GraphQL)
• System Architecture
• DevOps Basics
• Security
• Microservices

Salary Range:

• Junior: $65k-95k
• Mid: $95k-150k
• Senior: $140k-220k+

🌐 Full Stack Developer Path

Junior Full Stack (0-2 years)
↓ (2-4 years)
Mid-level Full Stack (2-5 years)
↓ (3-5 years)
Senior Full Stack (5+ years)
↓ (optional)
Architect / Tech Lead / Product Engineer

Skills to Master:

• Frontend (React/Next.js)
• Backend (Node.js/Python/Go)
• Databases (SQL & NoSQL)
• DevOps Basics
• System Architecture
• Project Management

Salary Range:

• Junior: $70k-100k
• Mid: $100k-160k
• Senior: $150k-240k+

🤖 AI/ML Engineer Path

Junior ML (1-2 years)
↓ (2-3 years)
Mid-level ML (2-4 years)
↓ (3-5 years)
Senior ML / ML Architect (5+ years)
↓ (optional)
ML Engineering Manager / Research Lead

Skills to Master:

• Python (Expert)
• Statistics & Mathematics
• Machine Learning
• Deep Learning
• Data Analysis
• MLOps & Deployment
• Research Papers

Salary Range:

• Junior: $80k-120k
• Mid: $120k-180k
• Senior: $180k-300k+

☁️ DevOps / Cloud Engineer Path

Junior DevOps (1-2 years)
↓ (2-3 years)
Mid-level DevOps (2-4 years)
↓ (3-5 years)
Senior DevOps / Cloud Architect (5+ years)
↓ (optional)
Infrastructure Director / Cloud Lead

Skills to Master:

• Linux
• Docker & Kubernetes
• Cloud Platform (AWS/GCP/Azure)
• CI/CD Pipelines
• Infrastructure as Code
• Security & Compliance
• Monitoring & Observability

Salary Range:

• Junior: $75k-105k
• Mid: $105k-160k
• Senior: $155k-250k+

👔 Engineering Manager Path

Senior Engineer (5+ years)
↓ (transition)
Engineering Manager (5-8 years)
↓ (3-5 years)
Senior Manager / Director
↓ (optional)
VP Engineering / C-Level

Skills to Master:

• Technical depth (your specialization)
• Leadership & Communication
• Hiring & Team Building
• Strategic Planning
• Business Acumen
• Mentoring
• Project Management

Salary Range:

• Manager: $130k-200k
• Senior Manager: $160k-280k
• Director: $200k-400k+

🏗️ System Architect Path

Senior Engineer (5+ years)
↓ (transition)
Solutions Architect / Tech Lead (5-8 years)
↓ (3-5 years)
Enterprise Architect / Chief Architect
↓ (optional)
VP Technology / CTO

Skills to Master:

• Deep technical knowledge
• System Design
• Architecture Patterns
• Scalability & Performance
• Security Architecture
• Cost Optimization
• Strategic Thinking

Salary Range:

• Architect: $140k-220k
• Senior Architect: $200k-300k+
• Chief Architect: $250k-400k+

Usage Examples

Get personalized path

> /career-path

👋 Welcome to Career Path Builder!

Tell us about yourself:

1. Current experience level?
   a) Just starting / Bootcamp graduate (0-1 year)
   b) Junior (1-2 years)
   c) Mid-level (2-5 years)
   d) Senior (5+ years)
   e) Want to transition

> b (Junior)

2. Current specialization?
   a) Frontend
   b) Backend
   c) Full Stack
   d) Mobile
   e) DevOps / Cloud
   f) AI/ML / Data
   g) Undecided

> a (Frontend)

3. Career goals?
   a) Become a specialist (stay technical)
   b) Leadership (engineering manager)
   c) Architecture (system design)
   d) Specialization (specific domain)
   e) Undecided

> a (Specialist)

4. Timeline?
   a) 2-3 years
   b) 3-5 years
   c) 5+ years

> a (2-3 years)

---

📋 YOUR PERSONALIZED CAREER PATH

Current: Junior Frontend Developer
Target: Mid-level Frontend (2-3 years)

CURRENT SKILLS
──────────────
✓ HTML/CSS (Good)
✓ JavaScript (Good)
✓ React basics (Good)
✓ Problem solving (Good)

SKILLS TO DEVELOP (Priority Order)
───────────────────────────────────
1. TypeScript (3 months) ← START HERE
   - Advanced types
   - Generics
   - Apply to your projects

2. React Advanced (3-4 months)
   - Hooks mastery
   - Performance optimization
   - Testing (React Testing Library)

3. Accessibility & Performance (2 months)
   - WCAG standards
   - Web Vitals optimization
   - Lighthouse improvements

4. System Design (Basics) (3 months)
   - Architecture patterns
   - Component design
   - Scalability thinking

5. Leadership Basics (Ongoing)
   - Code reviews
   - Mentoring juniors
   - Communication skills

TIMELINE
────────
Months 1-3: TypeScript + React advanced
Months 4-6: Testing + Accessibility
Months 7-9: Performance + System Design
Months 10-12: Leadership + Specialization
Months 13-18: Deepen expertise, lead projects

PROJECTS TO BUILD
──────────────────
1. Refactor existing app with TypeScript
2. Build complex UI with advanced React patterns
3. Create accessible design system
4. Performance optimization challenge
5. Lead a team project

LEARNING RESOURCES
──────────────────
/skills typescript-advanced
/skills react-modern-frontend
/skills web-accessibility
/skills web-performance
/projects intermediate

SALARY EXPECTATIONS
───────────────────
Current: $60k-90k
Target (2-3 yrs): $90k-140k
Growth: +50-55% increase

JOB MARKET
──────────
Frontend roles: Very High Demand (5000+ US jobs)
Market Trend: Growing 20% YoY
Remote Options: 80%+ roles offer remote

NEXT STEPS
──────────
1. Start TypeScript learning today
2. Apply TypeScript to current projects
3. Complete /projects intermediate challenges
4. Get code review from senior developers
5. Report progress monthly

Salary growth analysis

> /career-path salary-growth

💰 SALARY GROWTH BY EXPERIENCE

Frontend Developer Salary Progression:
├─ Junior (0-2y):    $60k-90k   (baseline)
├─ Mid (2-5y):       $90k-140k  (+50-55%)
├─ Senior (5-8y):    $130k-200k (+45-50%)
├─ Staff/Architect:  $150k-250k (+15-25%)
└─ Manager:          $130k-200k (varies)

Total Growth (0 → 8 years):
From $60k → $200k = 233% increase

Annual Raises by Level:
├─ Junior:  3-5% annual
├─ Mid:     5-10% annual
├─ Senior:  8-15% annual
└─ Manager: 10-20% annual

Highest Paying Roles (2024):
1. Staff Engineer/Architect: $250k+
2. Engineering Manager: $200k+
3. AI/ML Engineer: $180k+
4. Senior Full Stack: $150k+

Geographic Salary Variations:
├─ San Francisco: 1.5-2x average
├─ New York: 1.4-1.8x average
├─ Austin: 1.2-1.4x average
├─ Remote-First Companies: 1.1-1.3x average
└─ Midwest/South: 0.8-1.0x average

Negotiation Tips:
✅ Get competing offers
✅ Document your impact
✅ Know market rate
✅ Negotiate equity + salary
✅ Ask for more than you expect

Remote work analysis

> /career-path remote-options

🏠 REMOTE WORK BY ROLE

Most Remote-Friendly:
1. Full Stack Developer - 95% remote
2. Backend Developer - 90% remote
3. Frontend Developer - 90% remote
4. DevOps Engineer - 85% remote
5. AI/ML Engineer - 80% remote

Hybrid Roles (1-3 days/week):
- Engineering Manager
- Senior Engineer
- Architect

In-Office Only:
- Some hardware teams
- Embedded systems
- Some startups (early stage)

Remote-First Companies:
- Stripe
- Gitlab
- Zapier
- Buffer
- Many others...

Time Zone Flexibility:
- US-based companies: Most flexible
- EU-based: Some flexibility
- Global companies: Flexible
- Startups: Often flexible

Career Decision Tree

START
  ↓
Stay Technical?
  ├→ YES → Deep Expertise Path
  │        (Staff Engineer, Architect)
  │
  └→ NO → Leadership Path
           (Engineering Manager, VP)

Tips for Career Growth

✅ Always learn something new ✅ Build projects (portfolio) ✅ Get code reviews ✅ Contribute to open source ✅ Network with other developers ✅ Document your accomplishments ✅ Negotiate salaries/raises ✅ Switch jobs strategically (2-3 year intervals) ✅ Find mentors ✅ Mentor others

See Also

• /learn - Skill development paths
• /trending - In-demand technologies
• /skills - Skill details
• /compare - Technology evaluation