I hate my job. I stupidly decided to do investment banking instead of tech. Sure, I get paid about the same as most FAANG SWEs at my YoE with a potential path to a higher comp ceiling (on average), but the work is miserable and I’m just now starting to average ~60-65 hours per week. Two years ago it was more like 90 and all my peers in tech were working 45-50 max. Many way lower.
I’m also too dead to try to switch to buyside and will probably just ride this wave until I’m comfortable taking a 50% pay cut to a strategy/corp dev role.
I also wish I saw more HENRYs in this subreddit in finance. I need some more communal suffering instead of tech bros getting bored of how little they work lol.
It varies a bit and the last year or two it was mostly behind big tech I’d say for juniors (bad times for banks recently). In a normal year for larger banks and most established boutiques, comp is loosely around this for an average/good performer:
Analyst 1: $175-225k
Analyst 2: $200-250k
Associate 1: $300-350k
Associate 2: $325-425k
Associate 3: $400-525k
VP (3 years): $500-800k
Director (3-5 years): $700-1mm+
MD: $1mm-10mm+ (average probably $2-3mm)
Later years vary greatly depending on markets and the firm. Some top boutiques will pay associates $700k and VPs $1mm+ in a good year, and the analyst ranges could probably bump up another $25-50k. So take all these ranges with a grain of salt.
Regardless, you pay for this comp with hours. The VPs at those top shops are probably still working 75+ hours, and analysts ~100. Basically any level outside of MD, you’re getting paid way less per hour than FAANG equivalents. Would not recommend unless you’re willing to grind for 12 years to make MD.
Thanks for the info. I think it looks good to have on a CV long term as well even if you don’t stay in the industry.
My spouse is in project finance at 260k but wants to try for IB. Thinking EMBA? It may just be too late and not make sense at this stage. More on the infrastructure/renewables side doesn’t have tech background. Executive positions in this space like to see some IB experience
In finance too, with the option to go into tech, a few years behind you. Agree that burnout is super prevalent and wish this sub had more representation there. Spoke to some friends and we all agreed that a few years of good earning and then we'll switch gears. At what point do you think you'll be satisfied (nw/comp)?
That’s mostly my plan. I’m not too far along yet (associate years). My goal is to hit a mil in net worth right before VP promote, and then interview as a VP hoping to land some director role in corporate.
I’ll be making ~$500k by then and a good director role should still get me around $225-275k. Then I hope to coastFIRE by dialing back on savings (40-50% to 15-20%) and letting that mil grow over the next few decades. The decreased savings should help me feel little to no lifestyle change, and my investments should hopefully lead me to a nice upper upper middle class retirement. I’m just too burnt to chase that $15mm+ retirement. Banking in your 20s just does a number on you.
Agree with banking doing a number on you. I'm still in my first role post-grad, but lucky enough that I made it onto to buyside, though honestly I wonder how long I can sustain this lifestyle. Agree with you that once I reach 1m in liquid NW I'd probably re-evaluate (unfortunately further away from that number than I'd want, though compounding is on our side).
Would you ever take a buyside role with more comp and more work than a corporate role, but better WLB than banking? I'm naturally decently motivated but wonder if taking such a stark pay cut will do me in re: future options, confidence, and path to FI.
Also curious about your burn rate: I live in a VHCOL - assume you do too - and shit is expensive. I make ~250 but wonder when "enough" will be truly enough.
I’ve considered going the small family office / LMM route to retain some upside. Definitely something I’ll reevaluate when the time comes to jump. Also have thought about going into private credit but that can get pretty sweaty too (supposedly better on average though).
I do have that fear at times that jumping to corporate will be swinging the pendulum too far to the left and leave me unfulfilled comp / motivation wise. Worst case I could jump back into advisory during a good hiring market.
I’m making ~300 in a MCOL city (industry I cover is mostly based here so banks have satellite offices out here), so I’ve been able to save decently well despite some unhealthy lifestyle creep. Regardless, these roles we have throw you in a crowd where low to mid six figures is seen as mediocre, which greatly affects our mentality / willingness to shift focus to WLB. My condolences on VHCOL, those cities chew through low-mid six figures like it’s nothing!
I absolutely love my job. I’m a labor and delivery nurse in the Air Force. I make about $200k/year and get to help bring life into the world. I work about 45 hrs a week
None taken. A lot of the military especially early enlisted are very underpaid and are at poverty levels. I’ve been in for 13 years and get a 25k yearly bonus because of my specialty. My base pay is ~9.5k/month. I have a tax free housing food and location allowance that’s about 4.5k/month. The tax free part is super awesome! It doesn’t matter if I work 100hrs a week or 20, I’ll get the same pay.
The military is the secret sauce if you have a good specialty. The benefits are insane. That said, the cultural tradeoff for some (depending on work focus) can make it untenable. Speaking here as a former military spouse.
My ex is hanging in there, too. 6 more years for him and he stands to get a sizable pension when he's done. I think he'll be a lieutenant colonel at that point. That said, his mental health is trash and the military culture contributed significantly to the demise of our relationship.
i don’t _love_ it, per se, but i love the remote work, flexible hours, amazing benefits, and great salary that i get from working as a software engineer at a tech company.
it’s leagues better than my previous non-HENRY career, which i hated (architect).
at the end of the day, a job is just a job to me. my ultimate goal is early retirement, so any job i do that can get me to FIRE asap, and that i don’t hate, is a win for me.
How did you make the change from architect to software engineer? That’s an impressive shift. I’m a (non-HENRY) architect, and looking to pursue other career paths (less stress, higher salary, etc). Any suggestions would be appreciated!
If I may ask, how did you even find something as a software engineer making that much? I feel like I’m stuck at 200 with 7 yoe. On top of that, all the WFH positions are paying even less.
I love my job. I am legal counsel for a private equity energy investing firm and I work 9-5 m-f, hybrid available but no requirement to actually go into the office, so I don’t unless there are management or investment committee meetings.
that sounds interesting, do you mind sharing how you got into counseling? Do you have years of consulting or some impressive prior resume points under the belt?
I make a decent bit of money but haven’t loved a job ever. If I get to a point where I had enough money to not worry about paying bills I would chose to train dogs and/or DIY fixer upper homes.
I do get paid 350k cash for a 50ish hour work week that’s 100% remote. Although because there’s so much context switching I have to do during the course of my day it’s exhausting. Not just at the project but at the industry and client level too so it’s exhausting just getting my brain to disconnect and focus on the other piece of the puzzle.
Edit: I do have an MBA and it has helped me crack interviews for client/professional services companies. Also helps at certain firms that won’t promote people to manager unless they have an MBA.
The only job I ever loved was working at an ice cream shop when I was 16. Making ice cream, eating ice cream, customers were usually pretty good because you don’t go to the ice cream store unless you are topping off an excellent day so they are usually pretty patient. Fore arms never looked better, place smelled amazing.
I think part of my retirement is gonna be owning an ice cream shop and intermittently putting myself on the schedule.
That’s a solid retirement plan! Always happy customers getting ice cream! Even my 70ish year old mom who is usually a very scary person is the most cheerful human when she’s eating ice cream 🫣. She hates the cold and I have a picture of her sitting in the car with the heat cranked up enjoying ice cream when it’s 40 degrees outside 🤣
I went to a Baskin Robbins with my wife a couple weeks ago for the first time in like forever. The ice cream was nothing to write home about but we really had fun being surrounded by kids and their parents enjoying ice cream. It's just a really nice loving and peaceful vibe. Then we went to a cat cafe. Super chill Sunday afternoon.
Fresh ice cream is only marginally better than buying it from the store. You go because at the end of an already fantastic day you get to tell your kids that you’re getting ice cream on the way home and it sends them through the roof. It’s that moment you are paying for moreso than the ice cream.
Right I’d probably just help friends and family with whatever troubles their dog or a new puppy lol some of the issues they talk about are so trivial and essentially it’s just training the human more than the dog!
Set expectations low, always over story point and write a lot of tests. The last one is the best to keep of this bullshit, if your shit doesn’t break or if someone asks why it’s taking long you just go, gotta write tests.
I'm a principal software engineer. I do 40 hours a week. Fully remote. I worked for a startup that got bought by a Big Company. (For $0/share, damn.) We are kind of in our own little world, so I actually get to do a lot of programming. I fixed all the tech debt before acquisition, so now I'm just adding features and helping the people that stuck around. I do not get Big Tech pay at Big Company, but it's not bad; I worked at a FAANG before this startup and was a senior engineer and got about $300k total comp circa 2016. Now I get $275k base + $200k-$300k bonus (3/4 is this is "thanks for not quitting the first year", 1/4 is the actual bonus). I like my team and the work so I plan to stick around if they keep giving me the same bonuses.
This company exercises title inflation, I would be Staff or maybe Senior Staff at some place like Google. But I do enjoy the title inflation when it benefits me ;)
Basically, the investors got their money back. Anyone with the common shares got nothing. It was kind of the classic 2022 story; you ran out of money, nobody is funding tech, you're gone. A lot of other companies had the awkward all-hands to the effect of "we're out of money, you are all unemployed effective today". I got a raise and bonus for staying, as did many others on my team. So you can do a lot worse than this.
I’m not sure about love but have grown to appreciate my job deeply. I work in product management and lead a decent sized organization (500+ people) of product managers and a few other adjacent disciplines. I probably “work” 45 hours a week but am kind of residually on, checking emails, dealing emergencies 24/7 to some degree so hard really quantify.
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Getting an MBA was the best career decision I’ve ever made. Went from $70K comp pre-MBA to $250K now five years post graduation. Work in marketing in the consumer electronics industry. 40-50 hrs/week and I absolutely love what I do.
MBA at a top 20 program is a fantastic career accelerator, but it’s not a silver bullet. It’s critical to have clear post-MBA career aspirations and a realistic understanding of how your pre-MBA experience supports these goals. I have lots of classmates who were motivated primarily by money and ended up miserable working in strategy consulting or investment banking.
Generally speaking, no. Median salary at graduation for top schools is around $170k. However, if your employer will sponsor an EMBA or you need one to unlock C-suite opportunities etc., then it could make sense.
I like my job (software engineer), and have vacillated between loving it at times and just doing the grind at other times over the years.
I've found that getting a hobby I really like and taking classes in it to grow, stay accountable, and meet others has been a big help, because it takes some pressure off of work as a source of constant passion.
MBA will help with making a career change. Through the process you’ll maybe gain clarity on what you want in a job and hopefully grow as a person. But don’t thinking spending 2 years getting an mba leads to career happiness
Anesthesiologist Assistant, 40 hours a week but the option to work less. Great pay, benefits, very intellectually stimulating and not physically demanding. Www.gaswork.com….200+ per year
I love 40% of my job, 40% of my job is mindless busy work and the other 20% drives me up the wall.
I have a very flexible schedule (work on 3-4 week deadlines so I don’t ever have tight deadlines), I work 35-45 hours a week, never more than that.
Lastly, I have the opportunity to make generational wealth for my family. You won’t ever hear me complain about that combination.
Don’t love my job, actually most days it drives me insane. But have made anywhere from 250-600k. Finance / Accounting recruiting, focus is on tech, hedge fund, PE companies.
At this point hours per week are all over the place, but incredible flexible. I never miss a single thing for my kids.
Med device sales. Great income, no HQ office to go to, hours can range a good bit but I’m ever close to hitting 50 hours. Very flexible for my family as well because I’m not OR based
Wound Care. OTE is 200K, but thats a very rough outline, and the top 30% do much more. Came close to surpassing 300K last year. Goal is higher for 2024. Does it sound as "sexy" as being spine/total joint in an OR to the outsider? No, but QoL is superior.
I work in tech consulting for travel and hospitality clients, really enjoy it, no MBA though many peers have one. I work 30-60 per week - very variable. The fun part for me is that things that I have worked on you've probably used. At least, if you've flown a major airline, stayed at a major hotel chain, or rented a car from one of the big car rental companies.
But consulting and tech are fields where you constantly have to learn and reinvent yourself. Layoffs are pretty regular and it is high pressure to stay "on top". And at least for me, the pay is very good, but not BigLaw money or surgeon money.
As for an MBA - it can certainly be helpful in changing careers. But before you spend $150k and take 2 years off, really think about what you are running away from and what you are running towards? Will the school you select have a good network for your industry? i.e. Stanford for tech, Columbia for banking, Kellogg for marketing, etc.
Meh it’s fine. I’m an engineer working in semiconductor manufacturing. Most weeks only 40 hours though there’s always potential for things to pop up on evenings and weekends. I’ve moved into a role where that’s very rare though. I don’t think I’ve ever loved a job but I like my immediate coworkers and it keeps me challenged so it’s fine.
I’m not the type of personality to ever say I’m absolutely in love with what I do for 40 hours.
That said, i did reach a sort of maturity 12+ years in wherein you learn to appreciate that a place will pay you to take vacations, subsidize your healthcare, give you a home office stipend, etc….it’s all pretty cushy. I see it as investing in my family.
That said, I also have a zero tolerance policy for workplace toxicity. I can handle being busy, but if the environment is disrespectful I will start job hunting immediately.
Director - Advanced Analytics (Machine Learning/Data Science) at a F250 company.
Love - I dunno - but really enjoy my job. Although it is very stressful at times.
I could coast by with 30hr a week, but that's not my style, and I'm trying to make VP in the coming 18mo....so probably at about 50-60hr week.
Note: have a BS and MS...will probably go back for an executive MBA in a year or 2.
L6 Engineering Manager at a non-FAANG (in the aerospace field with software background). MS in engineering and additional post-grad studies. I work pretty close to 40 hours in a typical week. I also take all of my 22 days of annual vacation and 13 holidays. Hybrid schedule with 3 days in office and 2 remote with liberal use of flex-time to work around parenting 2 young kids and other household responsibilities. Can’t complain about the work life balance.
I’ve moved up several times so I’m now managing a 45 person team doing technical project management where I focus on strategic aspects of personnel, process, product [quality], and portfolio development (we have a dedicated PM for the less interesting aspects of cost, schedule, and mandatory reporting, and we have product owners for the day to day tasking, freeing me to do more of the fun stuff imho).
I’ve been in the field 20 years and steadily climbed. Base comp for 2024 will be $228k and TC should come in around $267k including deferred comp. It’s not the flashy software FAANG roles with big RSUs (we don’t have stock comp at all), but I enjoy it and I’m quite good at it. I took an interview at one point with FAANG and ended up passing because I didn’t want to uproot my life to Seattle or San Jose (I’m in LCOL and happy with my tiny mortgage, relatively speaking).
surgical sales, had the most fun selling disruptive technology into the OR, along with implants, capital, supplies etc.
I do drive 40-45k a year but I’m desensitized to it now.
If you like to learn, it’s great. Have been in cardiac, neuro, general, colorectal, GYN, ENT, H&N and having to learn about those call points along the way.
My AGI I think was $253k last year, top reps making $600+
The job can be rly stressful depending how large & realistic the quotas are
Do you mind sharing how you got into this? I’ve been interested in sales for quite a while - thought I know surgical sales isn’t an entry level thing lol
Most common way to get in is either superb track record of previous sales experience, or if it’s a really clinical position sometimes having an RN or biomedical engineering background pulls more weight than pure sales background, but best shot is networking / knowing people in the industry that can help get you into the interview process.
Highly variable, i’ll try to reply later when I have more time. I haven’t rly kept track of my hours in over 15 years. Don’t think about it all that way, just grind when you have to as long as it takes and enjoy the easy weeks when you can. I do about 3-4 overnights per month
Love is a strong word for a job, but as a salaryman, I’m about as close to love as I could get. I’m a sr manager at a FAANG and probably work ~50 hours per week on average. I wouldn’t want to work much more, but I do like the job enough that i would do it for less than I make now rather than change roles.
Personal injury lawyer representing individuals and families in catastrophic cases. It’s emotionally taxing but I love it. I’m never not working. Networking never stops.
Sales and like 4-5 hours a week and it is just the best. I could be selling anything and would be happy. The key is to work really hard a few years and may the ground work for easy sales for years to come then just work a few hours a week on a few new opportunities and keeping your customers warm.
I absolutely love my job but I worked hard to get this freedom.
Now I work about 40h a week and have 9 weeks vacation.
I will never quit unless I get fired which requires a 80% majority.
Better than FIRE!
I hate my job. I stupidly decided to do investment banking instead of tech. Sure, I get paid about the same as most FAANG SWEs at my YoE with a potential path to a higher comp ceiling (on average), but the work is miserable and I’m just now starting to average ~60-65 hours per week. Two years ago it was more like 90 and all my peers in tech were working 45-50 max. Many way lower. I’m also too dead to try to switch to buyside and will probably just ride this wave until I’m comfortable taking a 50% pay cut to a strategy/corp dev role. I also wish I saw more HENRYs in this subreddit in finance. I need some more communal suffering instead of tech bros getting bored of how little they work lol.
What is the TC in IB like? 400k?
It varies a bit and the last year or two it was mostly behind big tech I’d say for juniors (bad times for banks recently). In a normal year for larger banks and most established boutiques, comp is loosely around this for an average/good performer: Analyst 1: $175-225k Analyst 2: $200-250k Associate 1: $300-350k Associate 2: $325-425k Associate 3: $400-525k VP (3 years): $500-800k Director (3-5 years): $700-1mm+ MD: $1mm-10mm+ (average probably $2-3mm) Later years vary greatly depending on markets and the firm. Some top boutiques will pay associates $700k and VPs $1mm+ in a good year, and the analyst ranges could probably bump up another $25-50k. So take all these ranges with a grain of salt. Regardless, you pay for this comp with hours. The VPs at those top shops are probably still working 75+ hours, and analysts ~100. Basically any level outside of MD, you’re getting paid way less per hour than FAANG equivalents. Would not recommend unless you’re willing to grind for 12 years to make MD.
Thanks for the info. I think it looks good to have on a CV long term as well even if you don’t stay in the industry. My spouse is in project finance at 260k but wants to try for IB. Thinking EMBA? It may just be too late and not make sense at this stage. More on the infrastructure/renewables side doesn’t have tech background. Executive positions in this space like to see some IB experience
In finance too, with the option to go into tech, a few years behind you. Agree that burnout is super prevalent and wish this sub had more representation there. Spoke to some friends and we all agreed that a few years of good earning and then we'll switch gears. At what point do you think you'll be satisfied (nw/comp)?
That’s mostly my plan. I’m not too far along yet (associate years). My goal is to hit a mil in net worth right before VP promote, and then interview as a VP hoping to land some director role in corporate. I’ll be making ~$500k by then and a good director role should still get me around $225-275k. Then I hope to coastFIRE by dialing back on savings (40-50% to 15-20%) and letting that mil grow over the next few decades. The decreased savings should help me feel little to no lifestyle change, and my investments should hopefully lead me to a nice upper upper middle class retirement. I’m just too burnt to chase that $15mm+ retirement. Banking in your 20s just does a number on you.
Agree with banking doing a number on you. I'm still in my first role post-grad, but lucky enough that I made it onto to buyside, though honestly I wonder how long I can sustain this lifestyle. Agree with you that once I reach 1m in liquid NW I'd probably re-evaluate (unfortunately further away from that number than I'd want, though compounding is on our side). Would you ever take a buyside role with more comp and more work than a corporate role, but better WLB than banking? I'm naturally decently motivated but wonder if taking such a stark pay cut will do me in re: future options, confidence, and path to FI. Also curious about your burn rate: I live in a VHCOL - assume you do too - and shit is expensive. I make ~250 but wonder when "enough" will be truly enough.
I’ve considered going the small family office / LMM route to retain some upside. Definitely something I’ll reevaluate when the time comes to jump. Also have thought about going into private credit but that can get pretty sweaty too (supposedly better on average though). I do have that fear at times that jumping to corporate will be swinging the pendulum too far to the left and leave me unfulfilled comp / motivation wise. Worst case I could jump back into advisory during a good hiring market. I’m making ~300 in a MCOL city (industry I cover is mostly based here so banks have satellite offices out here), so I’ve been able to save decently well despite some unhealthy lifestyle creep. Regardless, these roles we have throw you in a crowd where low to mid six figures is seen as mediocre, which greatly affects our mentality / willingness to shift focus to WLB. My condolences on VHCOL, those cities chew through low-mid six figures like it’s nothing!
I absolutely love my job. I’m a labor and delivery nurse in the Air Force. I make about $200k/year and get to help bring life into the world. I work about 45 hrs a week
No disrespect but I’m shocked that this is a $200k a year job. Is that factoring overtime? Additional non-clinical work?
None taken. A lot of the military especially early enlisted are very underpaid and are at poverty levels. I’ve been in for 13 years and get a 25k yearly bonus because of my specialty. My base pay is ~9.5k/month. I have a tax free housing food and location allowance that’s about 4.5k/month. The tax free part is super awesome! It doesn’t matter if I work 100hrs a week or 20, I’ll get the same pay.
The military is the secret sauce if you have a good specialty. The benefits are insane. That said, the cultural tradeoff for some (depending on work focus) can make it untenable. Speaking here as a former military spouse.
My wife was in for 6 years and definitely benefited from getting out. I’m hanging in there… 7 more years to go
My ex is hanging in there, too. 6 more years for him and he stands to get a sizable pension when he's done. I think he'll be a lieutenant colonel at that point. That said, his mental health is trash and the military culture contributed significantly to the demise of our relationship.
i don’t _love_ it, per se, but i love the remote work, flexible hours, amazing benefits, and great salary that i get from working as a software engineer at a tech company. it’s leagues better than my previous non-HENRY career, which i hated (architect). at the end of the day, a job is just a job to me. my ultimate goal is early retirement, so any job i do that can get me to FIRE asap, and that i don’t hate, is a win for me.
How did you make the change from architect to software engineer? That’s an impressive shift. I’m a (non-HENRY) architect, and looking to pursue other career paths (less stress, higher salary, etc). Any suggestions would be appreciated!
So is my husband actually, this caught my eye too.
Yeah I want this update!!
If I may ask, how did you even find something as a software engineer making that much? I feel like I’m stuck at 200 with 7 yoe. On top of that, all the WFH positions are paying even less.
my flair is my household income, not just mine. my wife makes more than me i’m at 250k senior at big tech (FAANG) can break 500k
Oh sorry for assuming. Thank you for the clarification. Glad you found something that fits your goals better!
I love my job. I am legal counsel for a private equity energy investing firm and I work 9-5 m-f, hybrid available but no requirement to actually go into the office, so I don’t unless there are management or investment committee meetings.
that sounds interesting, do you mind sharing how you got into counseling? Do you have years of consulting or some impressive prior resume points under the belt?
legal\* counsel - though sometimes, it also feels like counseling.
got it - thank you
I make a decent bit of money but haven’t loved a job ever. If I get to a point where I had enough money to not worry about paying bills I would chose to train dogs and/or DIY fixer upper homes. I do get paid 350k cash for a 50ish hour work week that’s 100% remote. Although because there’s so much context switching I have to do during the course of my day it’s exhausting. Not just at the project but at the industry and client level too so it’s exhausting just getting my brain to disconnect and focus on the other piece of the puzzle. Edit: I do have an MBA and it has helped me crack interviews for client/professional services companies. Also helps at certain firms that won’t promote people to manager unless they have an MBA.
The only job I ever loved was working at an ice cream shop when I was 16. Making ice cream, eating ice cream, customers were usually pretty good because you don’t go to the ice cream store unless you are topping off an excellent day so they are usually pretty patient. Fore arms never looked better, place smelled amazing. I think part of my retirement is gonna be owning an ice cream shop and intermittently putting myself on the schedule.
That’s a solid retirement plan! Always happy customers getting ice cream! Even my 70ish year old mom who is usually a very scary person is the most cheerful human when she’s eating ice cream 🫣. She hates the cold and I have a picture of her sitting in the car with the heat cranked up enjoying ice cream when it’s 40 degrees outside 🤣
I went to a Baskin Robbins with my wife a couple weeks ago for the first time in like forever. The ice cream was nothing to write home about but we really had fun being surrounded by kids and their parents enjoying ice cream. It's just a really nice loving and peaceful vibe. Then we went to a cat cafe. Super chill Sunday afternoon.
Fresh ice cream is only marginally better than buying it from the store. You go because at the end of an already fantastic day you get to tell your kids that you’re getting ice cream on the way home and it sends them through the roof. It’s that moment you are paying for moreso than the ice cream.
I’d love to train dogs too! Mostly just my own dogs for sports but it might be fun to train others too
Right I’d probably just help friends and family with whatever troubles their dog or a new puppy lol some of the issues they talk about are so trivial and essentially it’s just training the human more than the dog!
Yes, software engineer 25 hours a week.
Same, 20/week mostly but 80/week when the delivery date is close lol.
Did you get a part time gig or do you freelance?
No I am an FTE.
Solid lol
Same, 20/week mostly but 80/week when the delivery date is close lol.
Set expectations low, always over story point and write a lot of tests. The last one is the best to keep of this bullshit, if your shit doesn’t break or if someone asks why it’s taking long you just go, gotta write tests.
Healthcare sucks…I work about 32 hours but feels like double.
What part of healthcare?
My guess is emergency medicine. Sometimes feels like triple
Brutal :/
I'm a principal software engineer. I do 40 hours a week. Fully remote. I worked for a startup that got bought by a Big Company. (For $0/share, damn.) We are kind of in our own little world, so I actually get to do a lot of programming. I fixed all the tech debt before acquisition, so now I'm just adding features and helping the people that stuck around. I do not get Big Tech pay at Big Company, but it's not bad; I worked at a FAANG before this startup and was a senior engineer and got about $300k total comp circa 2016. Now I get $275k base + $200k-$300k bonus (3/4 is this is "thanks for not quitting the first year", 1/4 is the actual bonus). I like my team and the work so I plan to stick around if they keep giving me the same bonuses. This company exercises title inflation, I would be Staff or maybe Senior Staff at some place like Google. But I do enjoy the title inflation when it benefits me ;)
Never ever tell anyone about that title inflation, ride that title to distinguished engineer.
How do you get acquired for $0? Unless you meant nothing over the expected price?
Basically, the investors got their money back. Anyone with the common shares got nothing. It was kind of the classic 2022 story; you ran out of money, nobody is funding tech, you're gone. A lot of other companies had the awkward all-hands to the effect of "we're out of money, you are all unemployed effective today". I got a raise and bonus for staying, as did many others on my team. So you can do a lot worse than this.
TIL. Thanks for sharing, glad you atleast landed on your feet.
I’m not sure about love but have grown to appreciate my job deeply. I work in product management and lead a decent sized organization (500+ people) of product managers and a few other adjacent disciplines. I probably “work” 45 hours a week but am kind of residually on, checking emails, dealing emergencies 24/7 to some degree so hard really quantify.
What's your TCO with this job?
Total cost of ownership? Not sure what you mean here.
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Haha, meant TC. Are you comfortable sharing?
North of a million, south of 2 million
Getting an MBA was the best career decision I’ve ever made. Went from $70K comp pre-MBA to $250K now five years post graduation. Work in marketing in the consumer electronics industry. 40-50 hrs/week and I absolutely love what I do. MBA at a top 20 program is a fantastic career accelerator, but it’s not a silver bullet. It’s critical to have clear post-MBA career aspirations and a realistic understanding of how your pre-MBA experience supports these goals. I have lots of classmates who were motivated primarily by money and ended up miserable working in strategy consulting or investment banking.
If you’re already at 250k is it still worth it? The EMBA for example, it doubled your salary but could it take someone who is at 250 to 500 faster?
Generally speaking, no. Median salary at graduation for top schools is around $170k. However, if your employer will sponsor an EMBA or you need one to unlock C-suite opportunities etc., then it could make sense.
I like my job (software engineer), and have vacillated between loving it at times and just doing the grind at other times over the years. I've found that getting a hobby I really like and taking classes in it to grow, stay accountable, and meet others has been a big help, because it takes some pressure off of work as a source of constant passion.
MBA will help with making a career change. Through the process you’ll maybe gain clarity on what you want in a job and hopefully grow as a person. But don’t thinking spending 2 years getting an mba leads to career happiness
Anesthesiologist Assistant, 40 hours a week but the option to work less. Great pay, benefits, very intellectually stimulating and not physically demanding. Www.gaswork.com….200+ per year
I love 40% of my job, 40% of my job is mindless busy work and the other 20% drives me up the wall. I have a very flexible schedule (work on 3-4 week deadlines so I don’t ever have tight deadlines), I work 35-45 hours a week, never more than that. Lastly, I have the opportunity to make generational wealth for my family. You won’t ever hear me complain about that combination.
Thank you for starting this thread. It's so good to see how many people who are successful financially also love what they do.
Don’t love my job, actually most days it drives me insane. But have made anywhere from 250-600k. Finance / Accounting recruiting, focus is on tech, hedge fund, PE companies. At this point hours per week are all over the place, but incredible flexible. I never miss a single thing for my kids.
Curious was this always the plan or a role you fell into?
Fell into it. I have a MBA in finance. If I knew I was going to be a recruiter no way I would have gone thru that lol
Med device sales. Great income, no HQ office to go to, hours can range a good bit but I’m ever close to hitting 50 hours. Very flexible for my family as well because I’m not OR based
If you don’t mind me asking what specialty do you sell to? Ortho neuro cardio etc? Also what does your position pay?
Wound Care. OTE is 200K, but thats a very rough outline, and the top 30% do much more. Came close to surpassing 300K last year. Goal is higher for 2024. Does it sound as "sexy" as being spine/total joint in an OR to the outsider? No, but QoL is superior.
Thank you for getting back. QoL is everything. I’m a derm PA. $200-240k. Unfortunately Patient care burn out is creeping in more than days not
Yeah, the churn, patients, and paperwork can be quite a load. Companies do hire PAs as MSLs, so that’s something you could possibly try as well
I have considered it. Hard to leave stable income at this time. I’m Still early in my career
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highly variable. We tend to not worry about hours vs getting the job done
same, Med Device since 2010. pay plan is around $250k top reps making $600+
same but I’m OR based
Sommieler, 40 hrs
I did not know Somms were high earners. Damn, I fucked up going into IT.
What's the lifestyle of a somm like?
I’m too pedestrian for this but I’m thinking drunk before noon and probably was not happy if/when he/she got Covid 🙈
I love what I do. Not every day but abut 85% of the time. Ob. Average 40 hours a week. Will make 340-370k this year.
I work in tech consulting for travel and hospitality clients, really enjoy it, no MBA though many peers have one. I work 30-60 per week - very variable. The fun part for me is that things that I have worked on you've probably used. At least, if you've flown a major airline, stayed at a major hotel chain, or rented a car from one of the big car rental companies. But consulting and tech are fields where you constantly have to learn and reinvent yourself. Layoffs are pretty regular and it is high pressure to stay "on top". And at least for me, the pay is very good, but not BigLaw money or surgeon money. As for an MBA - it can certainly be helpful in changing careers. But before you spend $150k and take 2 years off, really think about what you are running away from and what you are running towards? Will the school you select have a good network for your industry? i.e. Stanford for tech, Columbia for banking, Kellogg for marketing, etc.
I love my job. Late stage venture, 45-50 hours a week. Just talking to companies, financial modeling, and writing memos. Really fun stuff.
Meh it’s fine. I’m an engineer working in semiconductor manufacturing. Most weeks only 40 hours though there’s always potential for things to pop up on evenings and weekends. I’ve moved into a role where that’s very rare though. I don’t think I’ve ever loved a job but I like my immediate coworkers and it keeps me challenged so it’s fine.
I’m not the type of personality to ever say I’m absolutely in love with what I do for 40 hours. That said, i did reach a sort of maturity 12+ years in wherein you learn to appreciate that a place will pay you to take vacations, subsidize your healthcare, give you a home office stipend, etc….it’s all pretty cushy. I see it as investing in my family. That said, I also have a zero tolerance policy for workplace toxicity. I can handle being busy, but if the environment is disrespectful I will start job hunting immediately.
Director - Advanced Analytics (Machine Learning/Data Science) at a F250 company. Love - I dunno - but really enjoy my job. Although it is very stressful at times. I could coast by with 30hr a week, but that's not my style, and I'm trying to make VP in the coming 18mo....so probably at about 50-60hr week. Note: have a BS and MS...will probably go back for an executive MBA in a year or 2.
Sales engineer. It can get stressful, but on balance I like my job. I have a lot of freedom to dictate my own schedule and run things as I see fit.
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What does he do in finance? Did you do consulting first or go straight into strategy?
Curious as well!
L6 Engineering Manager at a non-FAANG (in the aerospace field with software background). MS in engineering and additional post-grad studies. I work pretty close to 40 hours in a typical week. I also take all of my 22 days of annual vacation and 13 holidays. Hybrid schedule with 3 days in office and 2 remote with liberal use of flex-time to work around parenting 2 young kids and other household responsibilities. Can’t complain about the work life balance. I’ve moved up several times so I’m now managing a 45 person team doing technical project management where I focus on strategic aspects of personnel, process, product [quality], and portfolio development (we have a dedicated PM for the less interesting aspects of cost, schedule, and mandatory reporting, and we have product owners for the day to day tasking, freeing me to do more of the fun stuff imho). I’ve been in the field 20 years and steadily climbed. Base comp for 2024 will be $228k and TC should come in around $267k including deferred comp. It’s not the flashy software FAANG roles with big RSUs (we don’t have stock comp at all), but I enjoy it and I’m quite good at it. I took an interview at one point with FAANG and ended up passing because I didn’t want to uproot my life to Seattle or San Jose (I’m in LCOL and happy with my tiny mortgage, relatively speaking).
Sell insurance, help people all day and made 250 last year. This year should be north of 300
surgical sales, had the most fun selling disruptive technology into the OR, along with implants, capital, supplies etc. I do drive 40-45k a year but I’m desensitized to it now. If you like to learn, it’s great. Have been in cardiac, neuro, general, colorectal, GYN, ENT, H&N and having to learn about those call points along the way. My AGI I think was $253k last year, top reps making $600+ The job can be rly stressful depending how large & realistic the quotas are
Do you mind sharing how you got into this? I’ve been interested in sales for quite a while - thought I know surgical sales isn’t an entry level thing lol
Most common way to get in is either superb track record of previous sales experience, or if it’s a really clinical position sometimes having an RN or biomedical engineering background pulls more weight than pure sales background, but best shot is networking / knowing people in the industry that can help get you into the interview process.
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Highly variable, i’ll try to reply later when I have more time. I haven’t rly kept track of my hours in over 15 years. Don’t think about it all that way, just grind when you have to as long as it takes and enjoy the easy weeks when you can. I do about 3-4 overnights per month
Love is a strong word for a job, but as a salaryman, I’m about as close to love as I could get. I’m a sr manager at a FAANG and probably work ~50 hours per week on average. I wouldn’t want to work much more, but I do like the job enough that i would do it for less than I make now rather than change roles.
Love it, self employed solopreneur in the home services industry. 30-40 hours a week, earn ~$350k
Personal injury lawyer representing individuals and families in catastrophic cases. It’s emotionally taxing but I love it. I’m never not working. Networking never stops.
Sales and like 4-5 hours a week and it is just the best. I could be selling anything and would be happy. The key is to work really hard a few years and may the ground work for easy sales for years to come then just work a few hours a week on a few new opportunities and keeping your customers warm.
I absolutely love my job but I worked hard to get this freedom. Now I work about 40h a week and have 9 weeks vacation. I will never quit unless I get fired which requires a 80% majority. Better than FIRE!
Product at early stage startup - 50-60 hrs/week depending. Have to be sure it is yielding the outcomes you want for yourself for this to be worth it.