Should I Switch to a NOC Analyst Role for a Path into Cybersecurity?

Hey everyone! I'm trying to decide if moving to a NOC Analyst role is the right step for my long-term goal of getting into cybersecurity, like SOC or threat intelligence positions. Currently, I'm an Application Support Engineer earning around $78k. While my job is stable, I'm not really enjoying it or my team, and it doesn't feel like it pushes me closer to a cybersecurity career. I recently interviewed for a NOC Analyst position with a pay of about $39–$40/hour and a schedule of 3 days on and 4 days off for 12-hour shifts, totaling around 36 hours a week. This would be a slight pay cut for me unless I find additional work. My background includes a B.S. in Computer Science, an M.S. in Cybersecurity, troubleshooting skills, and some experience with logs and tools like Datadog, plus a little scripting with Python. I'm considering this NOC role because it could be a stepping stone into cybersecurity, but I'm unsure how beneficial it actually is in today's job market. My main concerns are the pay cut, the fact that it's a contract position (which feels less stable), whether NOC work will actually help me transition into cyber roles, and getting used to a new schedule. Should I go for this NOC position or keep hunting for direct cybersecurity roles? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!