[abstractspoon]

As someone who went from structural engineering (in the UK) to software (in Australia) I can say that that path is trivial because it's possible to get a job in software without substantial qualifications or training. I was a self taught programmer, took a computing master's just to have a piece of paper and then started working. The reverse is much harder because you wouldn't get a job without a dedicated degree and the process of gaining your professional qualifications is very onerous. So unless you made the switch in your 20s you are going to be playing catch-up for a very long time. Just my 2c