Current Events > Should people be looking at other things besides salary in a job?

(+) Yeah! (+)

For example, I'm a high school English teacher in NC. I make $47K for a 10 month contract, and then I work in CA in the summers managing a summer camp. I make around another $4000 every summer from doing that. I also do not pay for food, housing, laundry, etc. while I'm there, and my flight there is paid for.

That means my income (which goes up by around $1000 each year as a teacher) is around $51K. I still get every major holiday off and paid, I get 3 days at Thanksgiving, 2 weeks at Christmas, a week plus two days for spring break the first week of April, and the freedom to do whatever I want in the summer if I choose to not work in CA.

My total amount for bills a month is around $1700. That's rent, car payment, insurance, groceries, Netflix, Game Pass, etc. Everything.

I turn 28 on Tuesday. I have about $6200 in checking and $45,000 in savings. Most people would probably say I'm doing quite well, despite being in what is usually considered a low wage job.

I was offered a technical writer job in Fairfax, VA in January of 2022. They offered me $66K a year. That sounds nice on paper, but then you realize just my rent would be double. (I declined that position because both my Dad and grandmother have terminal cancer and I wanted to spend more time with them. My grandma died on July 30, 2022 when I was still in CA.)

Do you think people look too far into the actual salary of a position without considering other factors like cost of living, health, family, etc.? Or do you think people make calculated decisions? Because honestly, I'm not sure how much longer I want to teach because this year has been garbage, but I'm having a hard time finding more pros in other positions. Since my ultimate dream goal is to just be a writer, and I do that on the side as well.

Hmmm... just been thinking a lot. Hope you're all well, CE. :)

"holyshit the cost of living there" is a perfectly valid consideration, yes, as is "I got shit going on right now I don't want to leave".

Questionmarktarius posted...

"holyshit the cost of living there" is a perfectly valid consideration, yes, as is "I got shit going on right now I don't want to leave".

Agreed. I guess I'm trying to find more purpose in my life that is not related to my job title. Does that make sense? I find weekends to be a constant..."what am I supposed to be doing?" I've been trying to go to the gym every day and get healthier mentally to deal with all my anxiety.

Its now what you make that makes you comfortable, but the leftover amount after all bills are paid. I rather have that extra money to travel and go out whenever I feel like.

JuanCarlos1 posted...

Its now what you make that makes you comfortable, but the leftover amount after all bills are paid. I rather have that extra money to travel and go out whenever I feel like.

Do you live in a place you like? Because I think for me it's I strongly dislike the place I live at now.

Of course. Salary is only one of many factors to consider.

whitelytning posted...

Of course. Salary is only one of many factors to consider.

Do you think it's the main thing that people look at?

Spiritlittle posted...

Do you think it's the main thing that people look at?

Probably so. Some people work based on location (if they can walk to work or something). Some people probably want health benefits as their main priority (someone who already has some money).

Spiritlittle posted...

Do you think it's the main thing that people look at?

Yes obviously

Salary is one of the last things I look at. I don't care about money

MarcoRubio posted...

Salary is one of the last things I look at. I don't care about money

Interesting. So what do you look at?

Kloe_Rinz posted...

Yes obviously

Well not really because $60K in Los Angeles wouldn't even get you a studio apartment. $60K where I live would get you a NICE house.

Depends. If you're just starting out, you're all about that money. Once you've got some years under your belt and you've got a comfortable amount of money to live on with some nice savings, I think vacation time and work-life balance and benefits become more important than just the paycheck alone. At this point in my life, I could move up and make a ton of money, but it's a ton more hours. I'm living comfortably and rather have that free time than more money.

Go to SECU and open an STC/Treasury account pronto.

hyperskate65 posted...

Go to SECU and open an STC/Treasury account pronto.

Particular reason?

Spiritlittle posted...

Well not really because $60K in Los Angeles wouldn't even get you a studio apartment. $60K where I live would get you a NICE house.

Yes but thats contextual. $60k in rich area is less than $60k in a poor area. Its still about the money

Spiritlittle posted...

Particular reason?

As a finance officer I can't imagine any other normal savings account you have in NC touching those returns.