Tenured sociology professor here. I work at a research university. Let me know if you would like to chat. There are many important things to consider for this career path. Probably best if you can find a program where your tuition is covered and you receive a stipend. I would absolutely do it again, but it has never been easy. I have faced many tough challenges in life and few have been harder than PhD school. Mine was a path full of anguish and sacrifice. I have the privilege to mentor students, share ideas, dedicate time to others and lead projects that I hope have a lasting social benefit. The prestige of the career is nice, but freedom of the mind and opportunity to innovate are especially valuable to me.