DevRanters, which one would u choose?

Marginal increase in salary and climb up the corporate ladder.

OR

Substantial increase in salary but climb down the corporate ladder.

also depends on where you like more. Money is not the only factor

A few years ago I turned down a job offer with ~2x the salary I had back then. Only because I really liked my current employer and the environment I was in.

Also, when I came to work for my current employer I decreased my salary 2x, because I wanted to change my career path more than I wanted that extra €s.

Money is not the only factor to consider. And we can't know how you feel about either of the two positions.

If the work isnt mindnumbing, the 2nd

@netikras Finally someone who speaks English.

I have been a dev for 5 years and made my way up to Tech Lead.

Now I have two job options - Stay at Tech Lead or get promoted for a marginal salary raise.

Next one is a company that is asking me to be a dev again but they are offering 3x my salary that I have now.

I'm really torn between deciding.

If both were spherical positions in a vacuum, the second choice would be the best, hands down.
But as @netikras and @Sid2006 and @dakkarant and probably someone else in the future hinted at, money and title are not the only factors.

The lower-in-the-ladder position might be under an incapable jerk. The first option might free you to make serious project decisions and avoid your planning being stampeded into oblivion by panicking non-tech leaders. The first position might have been vacated and have such marginal payment increase because it is an incompetent company that can't hold or attract talent. Or is about to go bankrupt. Same for the second option.

Thus, you will need to consider the other factors. Frankly, if the current money being paid is OK I would choose the environment where people are nicer. If the current pay does not makes ends meet comfortably I would choose the highest paying option.

@Sid2006 3x salary bump is not that bad of a motivation, actually :)

Have you passed the interviews yet? Got an offer?

@netikras Yeah ... I've already been working with them on a contractual basis for 3 months now.

They are asking me to convert to a full time dev since few weeks now

@Sid2006 oh, so you have even less uncertainty about the potential position - you've already got your toes dipped in their pool!

IDK, if they seem alright, I'd probably make the switch. After all, corp doesn't really care about talents and their future - they tend to only care about the job being done and $ spent to get it done. Unless your employer is different (doubt it)

the corporate ladder is a trap.

Been tryin to climb ladders unsuccessfully for 26 years. I’ll take the increase in pay and a junior position (as if such a thing could exist).

@MeowHeart

<personal opinion>

Is it though?

Everybody seems to think that they need **more** money. And more money == better job == better life.

But then life comes to an end and you realise you've spent it all in a demeaning and exhausting job and you've neither enjoyed nor achieved anything substantial ("substantial" -- anything that will not disappear when that company goes bankrupt). You've only helped the fat get fatter.

Try replacing "more money" with "enough money". Then days will get brighter, work will become less annoying and life will stop revolving around salary.

Do you have enough to live comfortably? If yes - that's all you really need. With *more* you can buy a fancier coffin in the end and leave the rest to spoil your relatives.

I changed my mindset years ago when I realized I was spending my days slaving for my bank account numbers w/o seeing the daylight, breathing the mid-day air, enjoying the sunshine n the park. It's not how I want to live.

Well, if you want leadership experience, go for it. May be beneficial in the long run.

But you can also take 3x the money and try to climb the ladder there.