Career choices? Engineering? Accounting? Banking? etc?

Hey guys,

So I'm a senior in college with a double major in computer science and math and I'm trying to decide on a career. Lifetime earning potential is fairly important to me.

So far I've received 2 offers in the 70-80k range as a software engineer in the Boston area. Solid offers, but i do know that software engineers tend to top out at ~120k as individual contributors. I'd have to either join the management ranks or get an "architect" job to get more money, both of these would be 10-15 years out.

So now I'm entertaining other possibilities. As far as lifetime earning potential goes, would it be wiser to bypass engineering and work for a "big 4" accounting firm? Or what about banking or consulting?

I think auditing software development projects could be something to look into.

I read once that people need to make a certain amount of money to be happy. Beyond that the extra money really does not make them more happy. $70K is plenty. I think you need to find a job you like. Why work 60 hours a week doing something you hate just so you can have money that does not really make you happy?

I would look at getting on with a larger company where you have the potential to advance. Work there a few years and see if you like the work. Think about how your first job can help you get your next job, which is quite common today. I don't think I could stand doing the same thing all day long. I like variety in my work, even if it does not pay as much as some other jobs I could have.

Additional Note:
The February, 2007 issue of the IEEE Spectrum has an article on 10 dream jobs. Probably not something you can do right now, but worth reading.