IMHO A thirty year career resulting in 15 years as an FO and 15 Years as a CA was a good career. I could have upgraded at 4 years but M88 plug NYC was not the QOL I wanted. The absolute earliest isn't always the most desireable. I finally went NBA at 12 years and was still well below my FO QOL. Thankfully things moved quickly after that. I made NBA money as an senior 7ERB working about as much with way more QOL control with buyoffs and GSs. Just one data point, but I thought I'd offer it up for those who want the left seat ASAP. That's really an emotional or ego decision rather than an earnings efficiencey and QOL decision but there's nothing wrong with that.