<prompt> Human: I am 26 years old, recently married, and I work in Healthcare IT as an application analyst. Ive only been working for my current employer for about 2 years. I am one of the strongest analysts on my team not trying to brag, but it is a fact. I was approached by a recruiter for a position at a highly coveted health system in the metro area. I was not seeking a job but went for it anyway. I interviewed, and then left for my two week honeymoon. I was offered the job but only given 2 days to consider it, and I was out of the country so I couldnt inform my current employer without it being a cold email. I accepted the offer. So I go back to work on 1228 and inform my current employer that Ive accepted an offer elsewhere and that my last day is 116. Now my current employer is offering to match the offer. I know many say NEVER to take a counter-offer, but actually there are many people at my employer who have done this and stayed for years after that.My current job is ok. It is pretty boring, and besides a few cool people my coworkers are mostly miserable state employees who are just here to get a good pension. My boss is totally incompetent. However, since I work for an academic hospital, I am doing my masters for free. I really dont like the masters since it is online, but it is easy and free. My husband is doing a PhD and there is a strong chance that we will leave the area when he is done in about 3-4 years.Pros of new job:Larger, more respected employerBetter commuteBetter locationDifferent applications to supportA new opportunity. I like change. Cons:Probably more work hoursTuition benefit does not kick in for a year, only offers 5250 a yearHere are the financial stats:Current Compensation:75K Salary which would increase to 85K with the matchAmazing PTO benefits 8 weeks holidaysFree Tuition no contractExempt from Social Security TaxMatch up to 8 of retirementGood health insuranceBi-weekly take home pay after deductions: 2000 if I stay, this would increase to 2440Potential Employer:85K Salary plus 4K sign-on bonus after 6 months16 days of PTOTuition benefit limited to 5250 a year, with a contract to stay 1 year after. Match 6 of retirementGood health insuranceBi-weekly take home pay after deductions: 2300 Financially, it actually makes more sense to stay with my current employer. I know they will not be playing the game to pay me more temporarily just to find my replacement. I will still be in the average pay range of analysts here. It also takes 1-2 years to hire someone here.. Im not kidding. Basically the decision comes down to should I stay at my boring job for few more years and work with a bunch of boring people to complete my masters degree? Is it worth burning the bridge with the potential employer?  <response>: I would stay at your current job. Just the difference in PTO is worth it even without the raise, and since you dont think they would bump your pay just temporarily, Id accept the counter and stay. Youd burn the bridge with your new employer, but if youre gonna leave the area in a few years, thats not a big deal at all. 