I am a 17-year veteran of the US Air Force who is looking to get into the computer industry when I retire in 3 years. I have a BS in Computer Science, and I'm considering getting a MS in Computer Science (the Air Force would pay the tuition).
My question for you in the industry: Is a Masters degree worth the effort? Keeping in mind that I'm married with kids, is it really worth the sacrifice of not seeing them much for a few years? Please note that I'm not looking to get a management position - coding is what I enjoy and thats what I want to do. So, how much will a Masters help me as far as getting a higher-paying job? Or will it help at all?
BTW, I have a Top Secret clearance, so I'm not worried about getting hired - there are lots of companies that will hire me on that alone. But I'm just wondering if the Masters would help me get paid more, and how much?