Money does make some things easier. People make job choices based on:
- lifestyle - how much does this job affect my work/life balance? Do I have to travel far / work late?
- challenge - how hard is it? Will I enjoy the work?
- impact - what's the mission of the company? What am I contributing to?
- salary - how does the job fit with my financial goals?
- prestige - can I talk about / be celebrated for what I do?
Possibly other factors as well. But if everything is equal, but one job pays more than another (and if it's Jane Street, one year's work might be 3 years' work somewhere else) then it makes sense to take it.
- lifestyle - how much does this job affect my work/life balance? Do I have to travel far / work late?
- challenge - how hard is it? Will I enjoy the work?
- impact - what's the mission of the company? What am I contributing to?
- salary - how does the job fit with my financial goals?
- prestige - can I talk about / be celebrated for what I do?
Possibly other factors as well. But if everything is equal, but one job pays more than another (and if it's Jane Street, one year's work might be 3 years' work somewhere else) then it makes sense to take it.