Do you ever wonder what your life would have been like if you had taken a different path? What if you had studied something different in college or worked in a different industry? What if you had a different role at work?

When I was in graduate school, a professor casually suggested I should go into consulting at a big firm. I had no idea what that meant. I never asked, and he never explained. I have wondered what my path would have been like if we had just one conversation.

In the past, I would have said career differences don’t matter much. You simply need to end up in a job that would pay the bills. But a disturbing trend is becoming more apparent with growing pay gaps. This trend can also be seen in our economy as a whole.

Many indicators say the economy is doing well. But someone making less than $50,000 per year most likely doesn’t feel that way. They are probably struggling to make ends meet.

On the flip side, those who are doing well seem largely untouched by our current economic challenges. They also often make $200,000 or more.

What are these different groups doing differently? It can be more random than you might think.

It’s not necessarily that the higher paid person is working harder or longer hours. And, it’s not necessarily that they are any smarter than anyone else. Often, it’s the particular educational and career path that they happened to end up on pays more.

If you are a parent of a teenager or young adult, this column is for you. Do your research if you’re helping your child pick the best career. Look at sites like Glassdoor.com to see what various jobs pay. If your child is looking at certain colleges, look up what is called a “post-graduation report.” It will tell you which fields their graduates are working in and how much money they are making.

Two different degrees might cost the same amount of money. However, the careers they lead to may be very different. And, one career might pay $50,000 per year, while the other pays $200,000.

Don’t get me wrong. Money isn’t everything. But, if there are two jobs that would be a good fit for a person, and one pays four times what the other pays, wouldn’t you want to select the higher paying option?

If you are already in your career path and feeling financially strained, do some research. First, learn if you are underpaid for your position. If you aren’t underpaid, but are still not making enough money, look at other options.

Consider what transferrable skills you have that you can take to another field that will pay more. This can help you to close the salary divide.

Angela Copeland, a leadership and career expert, can be reached at www.angelacopeland.com.