Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I'm currently making mid-80k at the age of 25 working at my current position; at this rate I will move up into the $105-$115k range by the time I'm 27. The work I do is rather mundane but I do not hate it. I have an opportunity to move into a job which I feel would be more interesting but the pay cut will be substantial.
Anyone ever share similar experiences and what did you end up deciding?
My best advice would be to make sure that you can really afford a pay cut that is so drastic. Yes money can't buy happiness but if you can't afford to live it may not be worth it.
If you feel that you would be happier at the new position and can afford it then go for it.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,656 posts, read 81,386,567 times
Reputation: 57906
The time to get started in a career you enjoy is while you are young and independent. Once you are married with kids, it's a lot harder to take a pay cut. Can you afford your house payment/rent on that lower pay? Another concern is that in the future, a drastic step back like that will not look good on your resume.
I'm currently making mid-80k at the age of 25 working at my current position; at this rate I will move up into the $105-$115k range by the time I'm 27. The work I do is rather mundane but I do not hate it. I have an opportunity to move into a job which I feel would be more interesting but the pay cut will be substantial.
Anyone ever share similar experiences and what did you end up deciding?
You want this forum to believe that you are actually considering lowering your annual salary by $50,000.00? Are you trolling, here?
Koale
You want this forum to believe that you are actually considering lowering your annual salary by $50,000.00? Are you trolling, here?
Koale
Roughly $50k to start. I'm pretty sure with annual raises I'll get up there in pay in the next couple of years but yes, the amount I gave is how much I would probably start with.
Why not keep the job that will pay $100k, live on $50k a year, save and invest the rest, retire early and then do whatever you want that interests you more?
What would really suck is if the job you "feel" would be more interesting turns out to be just as boring as your current job.
I took that pay cut to have the more interesting job only to find it's not as interesting from the inside. Now I'm trying to go back...in a bad economy with old experience and that is tough. My vote is keep the $100K job, save as much as you can and take really nice vacations unless you know you're going to love the $50K job. Trust me. The pay cut sucks if that job turns out not to be everything you think it will be.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
question...
I took that pay cut to have the more interesting job only to find it's not as interesting from the inside. Now I'm trying to go back...in a bad economy with old experience and that is tough. My vote is keep the $100K job, save as much as you can and take really nice vacations unless you know you're going to love the $50K job. Trust me. The pay cut sucks if that job turns out not to be everything you think it will be.
