$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$ $$$$$$ $$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$ The Sims 2 $$$$$ $$$ $$$ $$$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$$$ $$$ Career Analysis $$$$ $ $$ $$$$$ $$$ $$$ $$$ $$$$$$$ $$$ $$$$$$$$ $$$ $$$$ $ $$ $$$$$ $$$ $ $ $ $$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$ $$$ By Daniel Baker $$$$$ $$$$ $$$ $$ $$ $$$$$ $$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$ $$$ aka Trevlyn13 $$$$$$ $$ $ $$$ $$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$ $$$ Version 1.0 $$$$$$ $$ $ $$$ $$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$ $$$ Sept. 30, 2004 $$$$ $$$$ $$$ $$$$$$$ $$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$$ $$$ $$$$$$ $$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Copyright 2004 Daniel Baker This may be not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Table of Contents $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ [1] Introduction and Overview [2] Basic Statistics [2.1] Daily Salary (S) [2.2] Hours per Day (H) [2.3] Days per Week (D) [2.4] Skill Points Required (P) [2.5] Family Friends Required (F) [2.6] Basic Statistics Table [3] Calculated Statistics [3.1] Hourly Salary (HS)=(S/H) [3.2] Weekly Salary (WS)=(S*D) [3.3] Free Hours per Week (FH)=(168-D*H) [3.4] Salary per Free Hour (FS)=(WS/FH) [3.5] Free Time Ratio (FR)=(FH/D*H) [3.6] Calculated Statistics Table [4] Net Statistics [4.1] Daily Salary [4.2] Hours per Day [4.3] Days per Week [4.4] Skill Points Required [4.5] Family Friends Required [4.6] Hourly Salary [4.7] Weekly Salary [4.8] Free Hours per Week [4.9] Salary per Free Hour [4.10] Free Time Ratio [4.11] Net Statistics Table [5] Quality Statistics [5.1] Work (W)=(P+F) [5.2] Net Work [5.3] Quality of Life Score (QLS)=(FS*FR) [5.4] Net Quality of Life Score [5.5] Adjusted Quality of Life (aQLS)=(QLS/W) [5.6] Net Adjusted Quality of Life [5.7] Quality Statistics Table [6] Final Analysis and Summary [7] Questions and Answers [8] Contact and Legal Information [9] Other $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ [1] Introduction This faq was made after I decided to publish the results of some statistical career analysis that I did. All the figures are as accurate as I could find and pertain to the top level of each career. If I have made a mistake please email me at the address provided at the bottom of the faq. I would also like to mention that this analysis does not factor in three things: chance cards, career ladder, and time of hours. These things may change the total career value for you, either economically or otherwise. Also, hours at work considers that you leave for work at the last possible second. Leaving any time before that causes work value to decrease. Statistics are given variable symbols denoted in the section title. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ [2] Basic Statistics These are statistics that are given. They aren't calculated from anything, they are just what the game is. These are just here for general reference. [2.1] Daily Salary (S) This is the amount of simoleons you bring home a day in the given career. Athletics.......: $3033.00 Business........: $2100.00 Criminal........: $1925.00 Culinary........: $2170.00 Law Enforcement.: $1225.00 Medical.........: $1488.00 Military........: $1094.00 Politics........: $1313.00 Science.........: $2333.00 Slacker.........: $1400.00 +=Average.......: $1808.10 [2.2] Hours per Day (H) This is the amount of hours your sim must spend at work per day. Athletics.......: 6 Business........: 6 Criminal........: 6 Culinary........: 5 Law Enforcement.: 6 Medical.........: 7 Military........: 6 Politics........: 6 Science.........: 4 Slacker.........: 4 +=Average.......: 5.6 [2.3] Days per Week (D) This is the number of days your sim has to work per week. Athletics.......: 3 Business........: 4 Criminal........: 4 Culinary........: 3 Law Enforcement.: 4 Medical.........: 4 Military........: 4 Politics........: 4 Science.........: 3 Slacker.........: 3 +=Average.......: 3.6 [2.4] Skill Points Required (P) This is the sum of all skill levels required. Athletics.......: 27 Business........: 24 Criminal........: 28 Culinary........: 28 Law Enforcement.: 27 Medical.........: 29 Military........: 25 Politics........: 27 Science.........: 29 Slacker.........: 14 +=Average.......:25.8 [2.5] Family Friends Required (F) This is the total numnber of family friends required. Athletics.......: 8 Business........: 8 Criminal........: 7 Culinary........: 7 Law Enforcement.: 10 Medical.........: 9 Military........: 6 Politics........: 10 Science.........: 8 Slacker.........: 13 +=Average.......: 8.6 [2.6] Basic Statistics Table Career (S) (H) (D) (P) (F) Athletics $3033.00 6 3 27 8 Business $2100.00 6 4 24 8 Criminal $1925.00 6 4 28 7 Culinary $2170.00 5 3 28 7 Law $1225.00 6 4 27 10 Medical $1488.00 7 4 29 9 Military $1094.00 6 4 25 6 Politics $1313.00 6 4 27 10 Science $2333.00 4 3 29 8 Slacker $1400.00 4 3 14 13 +=Averages $1808.10 5.6 3.6 25.8 8.6 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ [3] Calculated Statistics These statistics are a little more interesting. They consist of two or more values being calculated against each other. The variable designations and formulas are noted in the section title. [3.1] Hourly Salary (HS)=(S/H) The hourly salary is how much your sim earns for each hour spent at work. I consider this the simplest measure of career efficiency. Athletics.......: $505.50 Business........: $350.00 Criminal........: $320.83 Culinary........: $434.00 Law Enforcement.: $204.17 Medical.........: $212.57 Military........: $182.33 Politics........: $218.33 Science.........: $583.25 Slacker.........: $350.00 +=Average.......: $336.15 [3.2] Weekly Salary (WS)=(S*D) This is the measure of how many simoleons a sim will bring in over a week of work. It is the most basic measure of pure wealth. Athletics.......: $ Business........: $ Criminal........: $ Culinary........: $ Law Enforcement.: $ Medical.........: $ Military........: $ Politics........: $ Science.........: $ Slacker.........: $ +=Average.......: $ [3.3] Free Hours per Week (FH)=(168-D*H) This statistic is a count of how many free (non-work) hours this career has in a week. I have noted it in both absolute value and percentage. (There are 168 hours in a week.) Athletics.......: 150 (89%) Business........: 144 (86%) Criminal........: 144 (86%) Culinary........: 153 (91%) Law Enforcement.: 144 (86%) Medical.........: 140 (83%) Military........: 144 (86%) Politics........: 144 (86%) Science.........: 156 (93%) Slacker.........: 156 (93%) +=Average.......: 147.5 (88%) [3.4] Salary per Free Hour (FS)=(WS/FH) This basic measure of how well a sim is living. By dividing the weekly salary by the number of hours a sim has free in a week, you get the amount of money they can spend for each free hour. This roughly translates into how wealthy they are. Keep in mind that this doesn't factor in how much free time they have, and all the money in the world means nothing if you have no time to spend it. Athletics.......: $66.66 Business........: $58.33 Criminal........: $53.47 Culinary........: $42.55 Law Enforcement.: $34.03 Medical.........: $42.51 Military........: $30.39 Politics........: $36.47 Science.........: $44.87 Slacker.........: $26.92 +=Average.......: $43.02 [3.5] Free Time Ratio (FR)=(FH/D*H) This is a ratio of free hours to working hours. The value represents the number of free time hours the sim gets for every hour spent working. It is a relative measurement of how much time is spent at work. The lower the number, the more time spent working. Athletics.......: 8.3 Business........: 6.0 Criminal........: 3.0 Culinary........: 10.2 Law Enforcement.: 6.0 Medical.........: 5.0 Military........: 6.0 Politics........: 6.0 Science.........: 13.0 Slacker.........: 13.0 +=Average.......: 7.95 [3.6] Calculated Statistics Table Job (HS) (WS) (FH) (FS) (FR) Athletics $505.50 $9099.00 150 $60.66 8.3 Business $350.00 $8400.00 144 $58.33 6.0 Criminal $320.83 $7700.00 144 $53.47 6.0 Culinary $434.00 $6510.00 153 $42.55 10.2 Law $204.17 $4900.00 144 $34.03 6.0 Medical $212.57 $5952.00 140 $42.51 5.0 Military $182.33 $4376.00 144 $30.39 6.0 Politics $218.83 $5252.00 144 $36.47 6.0 Science $583.25 $6999.00 156 $44.87 13.0 Slacker $350.00 $4200.00 156 $26.92 13.0 +=Averages $336.15 $6338.80 147.5 $43.02 7.95 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ [4] Net Statistics These statistics are comparisons against the averages. It gives a relative view of how the numbers compare, career to career. It should be noted that in the presentation of hours per day, days per week, skill points required, and friends required, the value is positive if the career is lower than average. This is to keep with the trend in this set that positive is better than the average value. [4.1] Daily Salary This is a basic comparison of how much each career brings home a day. Athletics.......: +$1229.90 Business........: +$291.90 Criminal........: +$116.90 Culinary........: +$361.90 Law Enforcement.: -$583.10 Medical.........: -$320.10 Military........: -$714.10 Politics........: -$495.10 Science.........: +$524.90 Slacker.........: -$408.10 [4.2] Hours per Day How long the shifts for each career are, relative to the others. Athletics.......: -0.4 Business........: -0.4 Criminal........: -0.4 Culinary........: +0.6 Law Enforcement.: -0.4 Medical.........: -1.4 Military........: -0.4 Politics........: -0.4 Science.........: +1.6 Slacker.........: +1.6 [4.3] Days per Week How many days a week a career requires. Athletics.......: +0.6 Business........: -0.4 Criminal........: -0.4 Culinary........: +0.6 Law Enforcement.: -0.4 Medical.........: -0.4 Military........: -0.4 Politics........: -0.4 Science.........: +0.6 Slacker.........: +0.6 [4.4] Skill Points Required A comparison of how many points are required for the career. Athletics.......: -1.2 Business........: +1.8 Criminal........: -2.2 Culinary........: -2.2 Law Enforcement.: -1.2 Medical.........: -3.2 Military........: +0.8 Politics........: -1.2 Science.........: -3.2 Slacker.........: +11.8 [4.5] Family Friends Required A comparison of how many family friends are required. Athletics.......: +0.6 Business........: +0.6 Criminal........: +1.6 Culinary........: +1.6 Law Enforcement.: -1.4 Medical.........: -0.4 Military........: +2.6 Politics........: -1.4 Science.........: +0.6 Slacker.........: -4.4 +=Average.......: [4.6] Hourly Salary This is a comparison of the first real calculated statistic. This gives a relative comparison of the hourly salary, the most basic efficiency statistic. Athletics.......: +$169.35 Business........: +$11.85 Criminal........: -$15.32 Culinary........: +$97.85 Law Enforcement.: -$131.98 Medical.........: -$123.58 Military........: -$153.82 Politics........: -$117.32 Science.........: +$247.10 Slacker.........: +$13.85 [4.7] Weekly Salary A relative comparison of the first calculated wealth value. Athletics.......: +$2760.20 Business........: +$2061.20 Criminal........: +$1361.20 Culinary........: +$171.20 Law Enforcement.: -$1438.80 Medical.........: -$386.80 Military........: -$1962.80 Politics........: -$1086.80 Science.........: +$660.20 Slacker.........: -$2138.80 [4.8] Free Hours per Week A comparison of how many hours a week a sim with this career will be free. Athletics.......: +2.5 Business........: -3.5 Criminal........: -3.5 Culinary........: +5.5 Law Enforcement.: -3.5 Medical.........: -7.5 Military........: -3.5 Politics........: -3.5 Science.........: +8.5 Slacker.........: +8.5 [4.9] Salary per Free Hour The basic measure of how well a sim is living, compared relatively. Athletics.......: +$17.64 Business........: +$15.31 Criminal........: +$10.45 Culinary........: -$0.47 Law Enforcement.: -$8.99 Medical.........: -$0.51 Military........: -$12.63 Politics........: -$6.55 Science.........: +$1.84 Slacker.........: -$16.10 [4.10] Free Time Ratio A comparison of the relative amounts a sim has of free time. Athletics.......: +0.4 Business........: -2.0 Criminal........: -2.0 Culinary........: +2.2 Law Enforcement.: -2.0 Medical.........: -3.0 Military........: -2.0 Politics........: -2.0 Science.........: +5.0 Slacker.........: +5.0 [4.11] Net Statistics Table (S) (H) (D) (P) (F) Athletics +$1224.90 -0.4 +0.6 -1.2 +0.6 Business +$291.90 -0.4 -0.4 +1.8 +0.6 Criminal +$116.90 -0.4 -0.4 -2.2 +1.6 Culinary +$361.90 +0.6 +0.6 -2.2 +1.6 Law -$583.10 -0.4 -0.4 -1.2 -1.4 Medical -$320.10 -1.4 -0.4 -3.2 -0.4 Military -$714.10 -0.4 -0.4 +0.8 +2.6 Politics -$495.10 -0.4 -0.4 -1.2 -1.4 Science +$524.90 +1.6 +0.6 -3.2 +0.6 Slacker -$408.10 +1.6 +0.6 +11.8 -4.4 (HS) (WS) (FH) (FS) (FR) Athletics +$169.35 +$2760.20 +2.5 +$17.64 +0.4 Business +$13.85 +$2061.20 -3.5 +$15.31 -2.0 Criminal -$15.32 +$1361.20 -3.5 +$10.45 -2.0 Culinary +$97.85 +$171.20 +5.5 -$0.48 +2.2 Law -$131.98 -$1438.80 -3.5 -$8.99 -2.0 Medical -$123.58 -$386.80 -7.5 -$0.51 -3.0 Military -$153.82 -$1962.80 -3.5 -$12.63 -2.0 Politics -$117.32 -$1086.80 -3.5 -$6.55 -2.0 Science +$247.10 +$660.20 +8.5 +$1.84 +5.0 Slacker +$13.85 -$2138.80 +8.5 -$16.10 +5.0 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ [5] Quality Statistics These are some statistics I worked up to paint a more accurate picture of each career, as compared to many fragmented statistics. These statistics are basically a summation of all that has been presented here. If you don't want to analyze all the basic, calculated, and net statistics, this is the easy way to tell which careers are superior (economically) to others. [5.1] Work (W)=(P+F) This is almost a calculated statistic in that it is just the sum of skills required and friends required, but I only use it here in the quality section so I have placed the statistics here. Athletics.......: 35 Business........: 32 Criminal........: 35 Culinary........: 35 Law Enforcement.: 37 Medical.........: 38 Military........: 31 Politics........: 37 Science.........: 37 Slacker.........: 27 +=Average.......: 34.4 [5.2] Net Work This is just a net comparison of the work statistic. Athletics.......: -0.6 Business........: +2.4 Criminal........: -0.6 Culinary........: -0.6 Law Enforcement.: -2.6 Medical.........: -3.6 Military........: +3.4 Politics........: -2.6 Science.........: -2.6 Slacker.........: +7.4 [5.3] Quality of Life Score (QLS)=(FS*FR) If I were to rank all of the careers based on one statistic, I would use this, the Quality of Life Score. It the product of the free time ratio and the salary per free hour. It measures both the amount of free time and money that a sim will have for that free time. A high score can be achieved in this by either a high paying, work intensive career, or a career in which you have a lot of free time and average pay. This is the best overall numerical statistic that I could calculate to compare the careers. Athletics.......: 506 Business........: 350 Criminal........: 321 Culinary........: 434 Law Enforcement.: 204 Medical.........: 213 Military........: 182 Politics........: 219 Science.........: 583 Slacker.........: 350 +=Average.......: 336 [5.4] Net Quality of Life Score This is just the net comparison of the QLS. Athletics.......: +169 Business........: +14 Criminal........: -15 Culinary........: +98 Law Enforcement.: -132 Medical.........: -124 Military........: -154 Politics........: -117 Science.........: +247 Slacker.........: +14 [5.5] Adjusted Quality of Life (aQLS)=(QLS/W) I figure that one should take into account how hard a career is to obtain for the returns it provides. If I can get the same QLS in two careers, which- ever career is easier to obtain is obviously economically superior. To factor this into the scores, I divided the QLS by the work statistic, and multiplied by ten to get a nice number. Athletics.......: 144 Business........: 109 Criminal........: 92 Culinary........: 124 Law Enforcement.: 55 Medical.........: 56 Military........: 59 Politics........: 59 Science.........: 158 Slacker.........: 130 +=Average.......: 99 [5.6] Net Adjusted Quality of Life This is a net comparison of the adjusted QLS. Athletics.......: +46 Business........: +11 Criminal........: -7 Culinary........: +25 Law Enforcement.: -43 Medical.........: -43 Military........: -40 Politics........: -39 Science.........: +59 Slacker.........: +31 [5.7] Quality Statistics Table (W) Net(W) (QLS) Net(QLS) (aQLS) Net(aQLS) Athletics 35 -0.6 506 +169 144 +46 Business 32 +2.4 350 +14 109 +11 Criminal 35 -0.6 321 -15 92 -7 Culinary 35 -0.6 434 +98 124 +25 Law 37 -2.6 204 -132 55 -43 Medical 38 -3.6 213 -124 56 -43 Military 31 +3.4 182 -154 59 -40 Politics 37 -2.6 219 -117 59 -39 Science 37 -2.6 583 +247 158 +59 Slacker 27 +7.4 350 +14 130 +31 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ [6] Final Analysis and Summary After all these numbers and comparisons, what does it all mean? Well, I think a couple things are clear. Some careers are superior to others. Better pay and less hours is always better than less pay and more hours. But which ones are at the top of the list? Here is a list of careers, as sorted in descending order of QLS. 1. Science 2. Athletics 3. Culinary 4. Business 4. Slacker 6. Criminal 7. Politics 8. Medical 9. Law 10. Military Looking at this list, the top careers balance a high salary with a high relative amount of free time. Remember that the Science career hours are very late at night, but I didn't factor this into the scores. Also, note that Business isn't really higher than Slacker, it is tied with it. That list shows which is purely the best, but which is the best in terms of economics? That is, which is the greatest output (QLS) with the least cost (W)? That is the aQLS. Here is another descending list, ranked by aQLS. The position change is noted in the parentheses. 1. Science (0) 2. Athletics (0) 3. Slacker (+1) 4. Culinary (-1) 5. Business (-1) 6. Criminal (0) 7. Military (+3) 7. Politics (0) 9. Medical (-1) 10. Law (-1) There are a couple interesting things about this list. First of all, due to the low work requirements for the Military and Slacker careers, they both jumped up in position. Some of the more work intensive, such a Medical and Law took a dive. Note that Science is still at the top of the list. I think these lists both give very good overall representations of how efficient each career is. Take in mind that this is the final level of each. career, and the career ladder and chance cards are not taken into effect. I hope that this helps in your career decisions, or just gives you a little insight into the numbers behind the careers. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ [7] Questions and Answers None so far, write to me at d_baker_13@yahoo.com if you have any. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ [8] Contact and Legal Information The best way to reach me is my email: d_baker_13@yahoo.com Email me if you have any comments, questions or suggestions. This may be not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. I would like to thank SnootySims for some of the career data they have. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ [9] Other I would like to thank: Maddison: I <3 you.. Maxis: For creating one of my favorite franchises in history. Coke: For making Diet Coke. The 80s: Greatest decade, EVER. Life: In general, you are pretty great. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$