Did a PhD in CS straight from undergrad. Stayed in academic research until I was 37 and was then offered a job in the automotive industry. Pays much better.

Did a PhD in CS straight from undergrad. Stayed in academic research until I was 37 and was then offered a job in the automotive industry. Pays much better. Benefits are much better. Off-work time is respected. The work I did in academy felt more fulfilling, but I got over that after a year.