12 years ago I was just about to graduate with my Associate's Degree in Systems Administration worried about my future. My wife and I had two kids, she worked in a call center making $10/hr and I had to find my first IT job. The previous 3 years had been a massive struggle as I went to school full time and worked part time. We had to use programs like WIC and daycare assistance to make ends meet. Our best year we earned $30k combined.
Since then, my career has skyrocketed and I should clear over 10x this year what we made 12 years ago.
However, the amount of stress I feel today is easily 10x what I felt as a new Systems Admin back then and, being in sales, I'm never really "off the clock."
Is the extra money making me happier? Yes, and I love the feeling of accomplishment from having a kick ass career. I truly love my job and it pushes me to improve myself on a personal level all the time.
That being said, it takes a toll. My wife resents the time I work. Occasionally I have to travel out of town or take customers to a HH or dinner. Sometimes I have to answer the phone or work on a proposal, RFP, or presentation in the evening. While she hates the time I'm away, she thoroughly enjoys not thinking twice to get her nails done, buy clothes, or the fact that we'll likely spend $65k+ renovating our kitchen in February.
All in all, I think I can do a better job managing my time between work and home, I'm immensely happy in what I do, but it is a definite two edge sword. Of my 13 coworkers in town, all of whom also enjoy comparable success, I am only one of 4 that have never been divorced.