QA engineer and more money or software engineer with less
I may be presented with the opportunity to be a part of an engineering-intensive QA team (unit/scenario test automation) for more pay. Currently, however, I am a software engineer, which sounds more prestigious to me. More money also sounds nice, though, but at what point is it worth it?
Answer
Prestige is irrelevant, in my opinion. I suggest you do a cost benefit analysis of doing the work you enjoy against earning more money.
It may be you don't mind QA that much is which case go for the extra money. If you think it would be horrible, don't do it (unless there's absolute bucket-loads of money changing hands).
I took a role as a PM for about 18 months for extra pay and hated it after about 6 months.
I'm now back in a tech role and enjoying it a lot. I wouldn't do PM work now unless they doubled my salary (and even then, I'd think twice about it).
My advice is to do what you enjoy first and foremost. You only get one shot at life and, even if you make a fortune, you'll still be dead in 100 years. One of my favorite quotes is: "the trouble with the rat race is, even if you win, you're still a rat".