Academia vs. Industry for Machine Learning
Other engineering disciplines can have a vaguely similar pay gap, especially when comparing with a top industry job as you describe (and doubly so when comparing living in SF to a college town)
A common argument is for the freedom offered in an academic job. Another is that industry jobs are often more boring. I think there is also something to be said for being able to potentially &quot;leave your mark&quot; in academia in a way that isn't necessarily possible working an industry job. Lastly, I'll point out that some cultures think very highly of professors, in the same way US culture tends to think most highly of doctors.