I've taken a pay cut to move (back) into a career with limitless growth, as opposed to the basically maxed out line of work I was in. My timing was awful, was working on the transition when covid blew up, and everything I was applying to dried up and I had already been replaced in my current role and was training my replacement. They eventually let me go when there wasn't anything else for me to do and I couldn't land any of the (very few) openings there were.

Anyways, stayed the course on my goals after that though, and while it took 2+ years to replace that income, as of this year, I'm actually significantly over that amount.

The setback was real, but I'm here now, and have - like I said - unlimited opportunity to grow, especially getting my own business going, but even as a traditional employee I could climb the ladder.

As much as it sucked for those couple years, I have zero regrets. Work/life balance (as long as I'm disciplined) is manageable, money is finally improving, and I have a lot to work hard for, whereas before there was no where left to go.

I would consider a paycut if there were things such as growth; remote work; work/life balance; commute savings; general enjoyment of the work (hard to say until you're on the inside though); working in a field/role that aligns with my natural strengths rather than where I have to rely heavily on my natural weaknesses.