Is a lateral career move in GIS worth it if it means better pay and different experience?
I’ve been in my current entry level role as a tax mapper for 2.5 years now. The job is relaxed and stress free but the pay is crap ($43k) and I’m not going to learn anything newer about GIS at this point. There is another entry level role that opened up nearby with the public utilities department. It pays roughly $9k more a year, but the responsibilities are still basic and read like another entry level role. It doesn’t even require a degree, but I have a BS in Geography with a GIS certificate.
I have been trying to land a mid level role for over a year now, but nothing has panned out. Would it be worth my time to try for this job and make a lateral move to continue to build my resume for another year or two at a higher rate of pay? Or should I continue pushing for a bigger jump? I’m only 25 and still relatively new to the professional world, so I still have plenty of years left in the workforce, but I would appreciate some input from other GIS professionals if anyone has had similar experiences. Thank you!