<prompt> Human: Summary in the EDIT, final decision at very bottom paragraph. Im having a hard time deciding if I have a bad misconception of how important salary is in the long run. Heres as brief as I can make it: Recently obtained BS in electrical engineering. Manufacturing company I interned for is offering me 73k with a 12k signing bonus, however, I would rate the work a 510 and it has nothing to do with what I really want to do-- PLCs and automation. Ive recieved two other job offers from a larger and smaller PLC company that does exactly what I love... PLCs, controls, automation, machine programming, etc. However, Ive found their offers to be weaker at around 65k. This is pretty average for beginning EEs like myself Ive discovered. Ideally, Id like to snag the signing bonus contingent on working for a year and finish up some of my intern projects,working at the manufacturing company for a year, and then leave for a PLC company like the two I mentioned. Am I selling my soul for a one time payment from the manufacturing place, which wont make a big difference in the long run almost 20k...? Will this just hinder my progress in the engineering fields I actually enjoy? How about looking bad to future employers for only working at a company for a year? Im new to financial freedom and large salaries, so any help in making this decision is appreciated. Ive been lurking on posts and the sidebar about starting my 401k and such. Thanks!! Edit: Thank you for all the comments and advice! Although I am not responding to everyone, I promise Ive been reading every comment and will continue to do so this weekend. Id like to post a summary of the most popular points in this thread so far, for the curious and people in similar situations: Advice FOR higher salary position: A big jump on your 401ksavings plan can turn into a lot of money for retirement. More money in the beginning of your career means a lot compared to 10 years down the road. Higher salary gives more room for negotiation with companies later on, however, the difference field of experience wont necessarily make you more valuable than a college graduate for example. Time is money, and if work is just work, than the better compensation gives you more for your time and allows you to enjoy personal time more. Advice FOR lower salary position: Doing what you like in a job is very important, and in a situation like this you get into the territory of diminishing returns. Job progression happens fast, and the experience in a desired field makes a 10-20k difference negligible in the long run. Better personal interest in a job gives more room for progress and better opportunities based on meaningful work. As long as youre financially comfortable, having a more enjoyable life can make life better in general and prevent stress and soul-sucking day-to-day involvement. There are a lot of other factors Ive been considering and have evaluated each companies benefits as well. Ive decided to take the majoritys advice and go with the PLCAutomation company. Im still waiting to hear about their offer negotiation but I will likely end up taking whatever their final offer is. The experience and quality of the work seems like the more important aspect this early in my career, and I would recommend the same to anyone in a similar position. I appreciate all the comments, especially considering I got a great mix of educated responses on financial strategy as well as fellow engineers in similar fields.Assistant: One thing to consider is that the higher salary is a great starting point for an upward trajectory with a diagonal move. During negotiations, its much easier mentally to ask for what youre worth if youre coming from a higher salaried job previously.Human: Yeah, maybe that will make a difference after being a full-time employee. I feel like companies havent been very open to negotiating salaries with me, which is understandable. Maybe with a legitimate job already, my negotiations will mean more rather than asking to match a little closer to a pending offer.  <response>: I may be in the minority here but I recommend to you to get the job you like even if it pays less. Automation is in high demand right now and only a few can do it well. You can easily get 6 figures in the Bay Area, if you have that work experience. I would say be bold and apply to big companies right now. 