30 year old thinking to start phd vs MBA

PhD In what? For engineering work it’s not worth it I think

Do you want to get into research or management?

Leetcode

I’d go with MBA.

Depends. PhD is like a difficult technical project with almost zero TC along with lost opportunity cost running to at least 1mill. MBA pushes you to study subjects you haven't studied before. It's total cost is less than a million. Does that help?

I’ve posted this link in other threads so I know I have some haters, but I personally found this article very useful: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2018/05/29/do-i-need-an-mba-to-be-a-product-manager-in-tech/#3f359dcb7a4f Full disclosure: no connection to the author other than sharing the same employer

At some point you need to leave higher education and get a real job.

Where do you want to be in 10 years. PhD isnt going to increase your 380k comp at this point and has a huge opportunity cost. Only do it if you want to spend the rest of your working life doing research. MBA isnt needed to jump to management nor to move to a PM role, but it likely makes the ascendence up the managerial ladder faster and raises your overall ceiling - at your comp and YOE, I would only bother for HBS or Stanford GSB. Other top 7 might be useful but less immediate or obvious.

Before you take the GMAT, answer this question: Is a Harvard or Stanford MBA worth 975k (380k * 2 + 215k tuition, fees, books, room & board)? Maybe it is to you? How long will it take for your new job that is only available to you after your HBS or GSB MBA to pay it off?

I think the opportunity cost to pursue such a route given your current TC is too high to make it worthwhile