Regret brand management bc of low salary any other options?
Graduated in 2022 from T15 and I got a brand management job working on a decent product. I always thought I wanted this career and still do love it, but I’m broke. I have $40k in student debt which isn’t that bad bc I got a scholarship, but I live in nyc and am only making $110k including bonus. When I graduated I thought I’d start making more relatively quickly.
I knew my friends in consulting and finance would make more and I thought that was the trade off for more fun and calmer work. I worked in media before this and had offers to go back to media for $130k and didn’t take them bc I wanted to be ‘innovative’ and create products. I never have worked more than 40 hrs a week and travel 4-5 times a year. The work is easy and my coworkers are nice. I’m trying to be grateful, but regretting my career path.
I don’t really see a pivot out at this point. I have interviewed a bit and can jump and make $135k at a different CPG, but are there any other options? I’m going to be stuck making $135k then for another three years. I truly can’t see any ways out other than product marketing manager, but I never get a first round when I apply to those.