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I am sometimes ashamed about my choice really since it seems like taking the easy route instead of pursuing something more meaningful. But almost 4 times the net income and a lot less anxiety and pressure are hella compelling when you want to start a family some day. I even saved up money for pursuing a PhD without feeling like I have to compromise financially all the time but remembering the stress academia caused me I am not sure anymore.

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I'm an applied mathematician, and faced with the same choice years ago I stuck with academia. I have no regrets, but don't think I would have regretted (too much) leaving either.

For me personally, the money hasn't been a hard thing to let go. (Professors in the US get paid relatively well compared to academics in other countries, even places with much higher cost of living.) Nor the stress. The thing that's been hardest is not being able to pick where you live. But even if academic jobs were more plentiful, fact is there just aren't that many cities with multiple research universities.

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