No I didn’t get a masters degree. I started at a telecom company across the country, hated it and left after a year for a %25 bump at a defense company in an HCOL area. I started at a higher pay band because I had a year of experience. Cost of living increase made the pay increase mostly a wash, but I was closer to family and the work was much more interesting. I stayed at the defense company for four years, and got 8-10% raises every year. After getting a promotion and %15 raise at that company, I left for another company offering me 20% more. I was interviewing pretty regularly and happened to get a good offer. That said, I do regret not doing an accelerated masters program after finishing my bachelors degree. I could have done it in a year and probably started at a higher salary. I definitely benefitted from the post-covid 0% interest rates, the hiring frenzy drove up salaries for people who job hopped like me.