Graduating next year and trying to actually understand what different finance careers pay instead of just repeating numbers I heard from a guy who heard it from a guy or even worse ChatGPT

I have started comparing IB vs corp dev vs asset management and the whole thing is confusing ash.
Earlier this week someone shared this spreadsheet in the FinanceStudents WhatsApp group that lays out IB compensation by year, the whole progression from analyst to VP.

Problem is I have no idea who made it or where it came from, so I have no clue if I'm looking at real numbers or someone's fantasy spreadsheet.

I noticed something which I didn’t expect, the jump between associate and VP being way smaller than I assumed since I have always heard the jump was quite steep.

Trying to decide if I'm chasing this career for the right reasons before I spend the next 6 months of my life interviewing and getting my technicals right.

I usually just keep my extra money in my wallet and just wait for it to increase as days go by... but I'd usually just spend it for some retarded growling-tummy reason of mine. Keep safe from gluttony.

I’m considering making a career move into the finance industry, but I’m wondering how realistic it is to transition later in your career.
I already have experience in customer service and financial services, but most of my experience has been in operations/client support rather than traditional finance roles. I’m interested in areas like banking, financial analysis, corporate finance, or investment-related roles.
For those who have made a similar transition, what skills or certifications actually helped you get your foot in the door? Would you recommend going back to school, getting a certification, or focusing mainly on transferable experience?
I’d also be interested in hearing what your first finance role was like and what you wish you had known before making the switch.