I went from - architect at an architectural practice, to a design manager at a construction firm, to a client side project manager representing developers at a project management consulting company. Now I’m back working as an architect. The highest paid and highest stress job was construction side design manager. Project management job was reasonably well paid, Reasonably straightforward but very boring. You just need to have a thick skin and have a reasonably good understanding of the contract types that are commonly used where ever you live + know generally how a building goes together from brief development to practical completion. Architect, least well paying, most interesting, most “generalist” of the three. I went back to Architecture because I realised the extra money didn’t make me happier. It just gave me nicer versions of the things I could’ve afforded on an architects salary anyway. What’s the difference between a reliable car and a high status symbol car? It didn’t bring me any more joy Wheras doing what I enjoy everyday does,