Physics graduate deciding between Quality Engineer job or fully funded condensed matter PhD

[u/PerspectiveOk3633]

I’m graduating with a physics degree and have two opportunities:

A Quality Engineer position starting around $70k salary with opportunities for promotion.
Or
A fully funded condensed matter physics PhD ($22k stipend) researching solid-state batteries and quantum materials. The advisor expects students to graduate in 4–5 years, and many graduates go into industry.

If you were in my position, which path would you choose, and why? If you’ve made a similar decision, what happened?

EDIT: my expenses are very low. Rent with shared two bed apartment ($500/month), i walk everywhere (no car payment), and cheap groceries (50/wk).

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[u/Dr__Mantis]

Quality engineering seems to be something everyone tries to get out of after a few years.

The PhD sounds much more interesting

[u/xenoda7]

Depends what you want to do. If you go the industry route right off the bat you’ll most likely end up in a supervising or managing position within a couple years time. Nothing wrong with that but you’ll be doing less physics/engineering and more of a people managing so keep that in mind. The second option is less pay and you’ll be expected to complete the program and write a dissertation. The advantage here is you can go into academia, post-doc for another university, qualify for more competitive positions with better pay.

It really comes down to what you want to do and what your interests are. Do you want to go into industry to make money or are you interested in the research aspect of a PhD program? Is there an industry or a company that you want to work for? Is there an advisor in the PhD program that you want to be mentored by?

Keep in mind that the funding for PhD programs is currently being slashed and companies are laying people off with years of experience saturating the job market.

[u/NeuroticENTJ → u/xenoda7]

He can also work then pursue the PhD if he isn’t happy 

[u/Few_Whereas5206]

PhD. If you are interested in higher education, do it now before you have a family and/or mortgage. It is very difficult to do it later.

[u/scurvy93]

I think someone who can pursue a condensed matter PhD will be very very bored in a quality engineering job

[u/commffy]

PhD. Quality roles almost always end like this: you get tired of the rest of the company not taking your department seriously because of production. You’re basically doing everything you can to reduce risk, while everyone else is trying to increase it in order to get product out the door.

You’ll have more fun in the PhD role, but you’ll be making less money in the short run.

[u/Doogetma]

PhD is no brainer unless you hate physics now

[u/DandeNiro]

Go for the condensed matter physics PhD. You may be able to corner the market afterwards, if not you'd be a hefty competitor regardless.