Quote:
Originally Posted by 1968Cayman
Er . . . don't go into a field just because of the pay. Consider the environment you'll be working in and think about whether or not you can continue in that type of position for 30 years.
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Not disagreeing, but a counterpoint...
I went into IT precisely because of the pay. I came to realize that the things I enjoy all cost me money, so I decided on a career that could support my hobbies.
I was a double-major in Finance and what essentially amounted to computer programming. Entry-level finance jobs are low-paying, long-hours, and high stress. There's something like a 98% washout rate in the first ten years. Lots of cold-calling and Glengarry Glen Ross. Don't make your quota on some BS product no one wants to buy? You're gone. But if you are in the 2% that make it, you have a small chance of making big money and being setup for life. In 2000, when I graduated, an entry-level finance job would pay about $15,000 a year plus commission, but you wouldn't be making a whole lot of commission your first year.
In 2000, an entry-level programming position paid $40,000 - $150,000, depending on your specific skills. I came in at the low end of that scale, but I got 8 hour days and a relatively secure job. Now, those at the high-end were for dot-coms that mostly no longer exist.
I decided that I didn't want to work in a high-pressure environment, and had the luxury to make that choice. But to this day, I will tell people that I work to live.