Teams
Forum List
Toggle sidebar

Would you leave a job you like for more money?

gocy444

gocy444

Well-Known Member
Dec 15, 2008
2,374
4,515
113
Ames, IA
I’m currently at a company I really like and a job that I enjoy for the most part. It’s a smaller company and the role provides a few minor headaches, but for the most part is a good gig. The pay is average for the industry. The job does have great benefits and unlimited PTO.

I recently came across a somewhat similar role for a large company that I feel I would have a decent chance at landing. The pay is almost double what I make now.

I’m stuck on the old phrase “money isn’t everything”, but also doubling my income would allow a lot of extra fun. Would you ever leave a job you like strictly for more money?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: motorcy90
If you don't have to move I'd take double the money and have beers with old colleagues
 
There is a point of indifference between any set of options here.

Your current job would have to be *really* cushy and the new one have to come with an absolutely gob-smacking number of headaches to turn down twice the money, though. Larger companies tend to have superior benefits packages, too, and I am unsure if you are factoring that into your "double" figure or not. If it is double the salary *and* the additional benefits, then that is really hard to look away from.

I do not know how old you are or your general financial situation, either. If you are young and in debt or without much for savings, it is almost an imperative to take the money. If you are close to retirement and have ample resources squirreled away, then maybe it would not be worth the stress after all when the marginal benefit of the additional income *relative to your total wealth* is much lower. Those should factor into it.
 
Hard to turn down double the cash, but if it is a cross-country move to somewhere you don't want to live that's a big factor. As @Rabbuk said, if you don't have to move, you can probably find pleasure elsewhere. And if you are doubling the cash and saving/investing that cash, you are buying back years of your life without work later on to do whatever you want to do.
 
You have unlimited PTO, but how much do you really use?

Would leaving for this job burn bridges with your current employer?

Do you have a lot of debt that needs to get paid off?

How do you know your benefits are so great?
 
Is your pay really “average” within the industry if this new company can double your salary?

As others have said, doubling of pay will be very difficult to turn down. And agree that you should interview and go try and get it. That doesn’t cost you anything. And then once you have the offer, you can always go to your current employer and see what they can do.
 
gocy444 said:
I’m currently at a company I really like and a job that I enjoy for the most part. It’s a smaller company and the role provides a few minor headaches, but for the most part is a good gig. The pay is average for the industry. The job does have great benefits and unlimited PTO.

I recently came across a somewhat similar role for a large company that I feel I would have a decent chance at landing. The pay is almost double what I make now.

I’m stuck on the old phrase “money isn’t everything”, but also doubling my income would allow a lot of extra fun. Would you ever leave a job you like strictly for more money?
Click to expand...

Never left a job because of money and never looked for a job because of money. I'm wired differently but I was always happy finding a role where I was challenged, engaged, and growing personally and professionally, adding value to my company. For me the compensation has always followed after finding those things.

That said I am NOT paid at the top of my industry - but honestly I haven't looked. My current job has a traditional pension (since phased out for new folks), 401(k) with a healthy match, great insurance and in a place that is desirable. I'm comfortable with that part of my compensation plan...

Reminds me of the adage - marry for money and you will earn every penny...
 
CtownCyclone said:
You have unlimited PTO, but how much do you really use?

Would leaving for this job burn bridges with your current employer?

Do you have a lot of debt that needs to get paid off?

How do you know your benefits are so great?
Click to expand...

Current manager vs unknown temperament of new manager?

Office culture?

Commute? Typical hours?

Bonuses?
 
  • Like
Reactions: cowgirl836
May be hard to gauge without working at the new company, but if it's not twice the headaches, take the double income.
 
Unlimited time off at a job you like and you know you don’t hate the people you work with? PRICELESS.
 
gocy444 said:
I’m currently at a company I really like and a job that I enjoy for the most part. It’s a smaller company and the role provides a few minor headaches, but for the most part is a good gig. The pay is average for the industry. The job does have great benefits and unlimited PTO.

I recently came across a somewhat similar role for a large company that I feel I would have a decent chance at landing. The pay is almost double what I make now.

I’m stuck on the old phrase “money isn’t everything”, but also doubling my income would allow a lot of extra fun. Would you ever leave a job you like strictly for more money?
Click to expand...
Take the money, I did, life has been pretty great since then. Now if you're happy with where you are, sometimes the grass isn't always greener.
 
I think you need to ask yourself, what are your goals? Is it to retire early? Or to keep a steady paycheck and retire at a standard retirement age?

Me personally, I want to reach financial independence so I'm not beholden to any company in order to pay the bills.
 
Took me about 8 years to double my income.

If I could do it with a job offer, I'd heavily consider it.

First things first: Apply & interview.
 
What is the catch? Why it pays almost double than you current salary? What’s the workload? What are the tradeoffs? How stable is the company? How is the culture?
Think about the big picture. Money is important but not everything.

On the other hand, don’t always believe when a company says “we don’t pay really well but we offer stability” - have seen situations like that and everytime things went difficult, they laid off people.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Help Support Us

Become a patron
Top Bottom
Back