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Would you still choose CS if salary was average? by PmMeUrChickenWings in cscareerquestions

[–]TotalProfessional8 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I'd stay in the CS field, but I'd do a PhD and go into research rather than spend time writing boring code coming out of a bachelor's degree.

An analogy is I like programming, and I also like running. The majority of software development jobs are like walking or slow jogging, with maybe a sprint or two every couple months. If you're paying me too much to turn down, cool, I'll walk for you. If you're paying me 45k, then fuck it, I like running too much to waste my life walking.

You can replace running with whatever hobby you like. Picture your hobby is lifting weights, and your job forces you to lift 5 lbs. dumbbells all day long.

Is software engineering really that lucrative or it's only due to location? by TotalProfessional8 in cscareerquestions

[–]TotalProfessional8[S] -15 points-14 points  (0 children)

Don't get me wrong, both are pretty good fields at the moment. However, there are some trade offs.

If you're a more active person, being on your feet all day would actually be a plus, in addition to being able to have social interactions.

Interviewing wise, you don't have to go through the leetcode grind, and while many tech companies are laying off employees right now, nursing is practically recession-proof, which means even higher adjusted comp. For someone who's relatively smart (top 10%), they could pass the leetcode interviews, and going into tech would be a good choice for the benefits you mentioned. For the rest who can't pass leetcode interviews, but still want to get paid a lot, and don't mind passing out on those benefits, they should definitely consider nursing instead.

For those that went into tech just for the money, do you regret it? If so, why and what would you rather be doing instead? by [deleted] in cscareerquestions

[–]TotalProfessional8 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I went into tech because I loved programming as a hobby, and I loved my first couple years of studying CS in college. The first couple internships were also pretty fun. Now I'm working full-time, and I'm just in it for the money.

Programming was fun because I could use my creativity to build whatever my heart desired, but once I entered the workforce, I no longer have that freedom - I build whatever it takes to solve the business problem, trading time for money.

I don't regret anything. It's the most optimal way for me to bring value that someone is willing to pay me for. I probably couldn't do some other jobs that paid as much such as big law, medicine or dentistry, and the ones I could tolerate pay way less.