I've done all three in my life:
- Miner in australia, earning a 6 figure salary with all travel, expenses and accommodation paid for. Working 12 hour days, 7 days a week, shifting bags of cement in the australian desert
- Campaign manager for a marketing start up, managing 50+ campaigns across 30 client accounts, basically stealing customer money and dealing with their phone calls every day. 60+ hours of mental hell
- Current job - software consultant for a software dev company. Cruisiest job I've ever had. 38 hours a week, always leave on time, 1 hour for lunch, virtually no KPIs, management is very easy going. About half the paycheck of the first two.
If I could go back to my early 20s I would work the first job again and this time be really sensible with my money. If I was financially literate back then I could be set for life now. I don't think I could do that job now, too physically taxing and not stimulating enough.
I would never take the second job again. Worst job I've ever had. Paid decently and I got to live in the city, but the anxiety was overwhelming every day.
My current job is pretty good. pay could obviously be better, but I never feel stressed about going to work and that is invaluable.