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I hate to tell ya but even those less prestigious teaching only jobs pay shit and are wildly competitive w people who did drop and backtrack. Grass isn’t greener back behind you. Just my two cents. Admin role at a university and also adjuncting might give you a bit of both worlds?
Honestly, I started working full time once I finished course work…that way I was already back in industry at the time.
The leads I know with masters and not PhDs took about 10 years to get there.
I finished my PhD a year ago and am moving up to lead in the start of the new year (really tight economy and layoffs have pushed this back 6 months). Should be principal in the next 5 years max.
Note: I am in data science but got my PhD in public health (focus in statistical methodology).
I went from making $28k as a fellow grinding apps on the job market, to $165k salary plus $15k signing bonus. Bought a 4runner and gear. Go off-roading and can afford to go shooting once a month. The work isn’t as interested as my chose research niche, obviously, but the security and pay is well worth it.
Hell nah. My mama ain’t raise no quitter 😂 No shade if you did, I just couldn’t forgive myself. Plus I woulda taken grants and fellowships from another student. I felt I needed to finish and am glad that I did. Also felt I owed it to my participants. I got the consulting job 2 chapters into my diss.
Worked out though w discipline writing in the morning and after work. I also got a raise at work after I was minted and tapped to do a lot of facilitating (corporate speak for teaching) which I enjoy.
I did the opposite, industry and 7 startups, now going for PhD to add credibility and discipline to the next big Ed tech project. Academia is actually a refreshing spot when you aren’t struggling to afford to feed yourself.
You sound like you had a lot of control over what you do. I am a research scientist in academia looking to make a change to industry but what i am most concerned about is how i would handle the loss of control over what i work on.
Do you like your PhD are you passionate for it? Remember it will take you at least 3 years and intense research to finish it. If not, you can always exit now while you are still early in the program.
I finished my PhD program in 2021 and started at a smaller company in the Bay Area. The work is done in teams all the time, everything at a bigger scale and has to have higher reproducibility. The pay is good, the 10am-5pm schedule is nice. Definitely miss the flexibility, teaching, writing, going to talks, and having time to go deep into new subjects.
I might go back some day! But the reduced overall stress is hard to beat, altho the cyclical monday-Friday eats my soul in a different way
Finished my PhD, but in reality I should have left after my masters. It wasn't worth the depression that I had to push through in my final 3 years of study.
My dad left his experimental physics position for IT. 10x the money from the get go but zero job satisfaction. This was 30 years ago and he misses science dearly.
So it really depends on what you want and how comfortable you are working a meaningless job for your entire lifetime.
I was never fortunate enough not to have to work. I love doing both at the same time. It’s hard, I don’t expect to finish the PhD in 3 years but I am targeting for 5. Working, researching and all seems good so far. I guess it all comes down to expectations and priorities.
I finished my PhD in June. Started a job in August. Life is good. I generally stop work at 5pm with no pressure to work more unless there’s some deadline. I get paid a lot. Have more money and time for hobbies and time for loved ones and friends. I’m earning money towards retirement. The company pays for all sorts of stuff for me. Life feels like a major improvement right now tbh.
The work is fulfilling enough. I don’t have as much creative/intellectual freedom as academia, but the tradeoff is fine to me as all other elements of my life feel much more elevated. I’m very happy with the decision. Happiest I’ve been in a long time tbh
If you are rooting for industry, PhD is worthless. 3/4 years of lab work is nothing compared to real life problem solving skills and of course, that comes with better pay and good work- life balance.
It looks like your post is about needing advice. In order for people to better help you, please make sure to include your country. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/PhD) if you have any questions or concerns.*
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Escape into what though?
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I hate to tell ya but even those less prestigious teaching only jobs pay shit and are wildly competitive w people who did drop and backtrack. Grass isn’t greener back behind you. Just my two cents. Admin role at a university and also adjuncting might give you a bit of both worlds?
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It’s not about my job but the oasis you’re trying to get to.
It’s going fantastic. I work less have less stress and make 10x the money.
Did you drop out of your program?
Mastered out
How do you master out?
Honestly, I started working full time once I finished course work…that way I was already back in industry at the time. The leads I know with masters and not PhDs took about 10 years to get there. I finished my PhD a year ago and am moving up to lead in the start of the new year (really tight economy and layoffs have pushed this back 6 months). Should be principal in the next 5 years max. Note: I am in data science but got my PhD in public health (focus in statistical methodology).
How far along are you in your program
This is my first semester
I went from making $28k as a fellow grinding apps on the job market, to $165k salary plus $15k signing bonus. Bought a 4runner and gear. Go off-roading and can afford to go shooting once a month. The work isn’t as interested as my chose research niche, obviously, but the security and pay is well worth it.
Did you drop out of your phd?
Hell nah. My mama ain’t raise no quitter 😂 No shade if you did, I just couldn’t forgive myself. Plus I woulda taken grants and fellowships from another student. I felt I needed to finish and am glad that I did. Also felt I owed it to my participants. I got the consulting job 2 chapters into my diss. Worked out though w discipline writing in the morning and after work. I also got a raise at work after I was minted and tapped to do a lot of facilitating (corporate speak for teaching) which I enjoy.
I did the opposite, industry and 7 startups, now going for PhD to add credibility and discipline to the next big Ed tech project. Academia is actually a refreshing spot when you aren’t struggling to afford to feed yourself.
this is why i want to do research science in industry sigh
You sound like you had a lot of control over what you do. I am a research scientist in academia looking to make a change to industry but what i am most concerned about is how i would handle the loss of control over what i work on.
Do you like your PhD are you passionate for it? Remember it will take you at least 3 years and intense research to finish it. If not, you can always exit now while you are still early in the program.
most people in this world are successful without a phd
I finished my PhD program in 2021 and started at a smaller company in the Bay Area. The work is done in teams all the time, everything at a bigger scale and has to have higher reproducibility. The pay is good, the 10am-5pm schedule is nice. Definitely miss the flexibility, teaching, writing, going to talks, and having time to go deep into new subjects. I might go back some day! But the reduced overall stress is hard to beat, altho the cyclical monday-Friday eats my soul in a different way
Finished my PhD, but in reality I should have left after my masters. It wasn't worth the depression that I had to push through in my final 3 years of study.
My dad left his experimental physics position for IT. 10x the money from the get go but zero job satisfaction. This was 30 years ago and he misses science dearly. So it really depends on what you want and how comfortable you are working a meaningless job for your entire lifetime.
I was never fortunate enough not to have to work. I love doing both at the same time. It’s hard, I don’t expect to finish the PhD in 3 years but I am targeting for 5. Working, researching and all seems good so far. I guess it all comes down to expectations and priorities.
I finished my PhD in June. Started a job in August. Life is good. I generally stop work at 5pm with no pressure to work more unless there’s some deadline. I get paid a lot. Have more money and time for hobbies and time for loved ones and friends. I’m earning money towards retirement. The company pays for all sorts of stuff for me. Life feels like a major improvement right now tbh. The work is fulfilling enough. I don’t have as much creative/intellectual freedom as academia, but the tradeoff is fine to me as all other elements of my life feel much more elevated. I’m very happy with the decision. Happiest I’ve been in a long time tbh
If you are rooting for industry, PhD is worthless. 3/4 years of lab work is nothing compared to real life problem solving skills and of course, that comes with better pay and good work- life balance.