I have some thoughts about this. I once took a big pay cut for similar reasons and it turned out to be a good decision imo. I may write about it soon

Managing people is a pain in the ass but I wouldn't take 30% just not to manage people. I would suggest he gets better at managing people so he doesn't hate it so much.

30% pay cut is too much. That's like all of my money for bitcoin gone, and I'd do a lot of shit if hate right now to keep on stacking.

I'm in the process of considering something like that. I'd like to get back to teaching on a flexible academic schedule (not the kind of rigid schedule you have to keep). I don't find the current economic research environment very rewarding, although I like doing some parts of it.

I probably brought the most to my job in a math tutoring center. It was an open room with students working on all different levels of math and various other related courses. Bouncing between students struggling at completely different levels and who had totally different personalities required a lot from my analytical and interpersonal capacities.

Really comes down to what matters more to him, money or peace of mind. Some people like being in charge, while others just want to do their job without the stress of managing people. If he can afford the pay cut and would be happier, it might be worth it. But if he cares about career growth, stepping down could make things harder later.

I know people who took less money for less stress, and they were glad they did. Others regretted it because they felt stuck. Maybe he could try to negotiate for something in between, like a senior role without having to manage people.

I think it's important to step back every so often and detach the value of your life from the number amount of your salary.

This is a multi-factorial matter. If the salary cut does not affect my family's livelihood, I will definitely choose it. Yes, I have had this happen before. At my previous job, I had to choose between receiving the same salary as before (but with this I would have had to perform new tasks, which would have meant several days of delegation per month) or staying in my previous role in exchange for a salary cut. I chose the pay cut primarily so I wouldn't have to be away from my family for 6-7 days a month, and the "new" salary wasn't that bad either.

Ah, I think if it were my friend, they'd have to think it through. If they're really tired of managing people and it's affecting their well-being, maybe the 30% pay cut is worth it, you know? Staying in a job just for the salary and hating what you do doesn't make sense, right? Especially if they like the technical side of accounting more. Less stress, less pressure to chase people... sounds like a relief, honestly.

Of course, if the pay cut isn't a huge financial problem for them, it's a chance to focus on what they enjoy more, and that could be more satisfying than staying in a job they don't like just for the money. The big thing is seeing if, in the long run, they'll stay motivated in this new role, and if they have a chance to grow, or if they'll be a bit stuck because of the lower pay.

Personally, I've seen people go through this, and they end up choosing work that really fits their lifestyle, even if the pay isn't the same. The thing is, sometimes when the money drops too much, people start missing the luxuries, right? So, they have to see if it's worth making that "sacrifice" for a more relaxed job.

If they don't care much about the money and want a more peaceful life, I think the pay cut could be a good move, but it's a very personal choice. The vibe of a job that gives you mental peace can be worth more than any fat paycheck!