to take a 50k paycut

[RiddleyW]

Bit if a WWYD I suppose.

I currently earn lowish 6 figures and a really really interesting job has come up but it's a significant paycut, around 50k at least (and more if I assume I get my max bonus in current job).

It has a somewhat better pension and 2.5 days more holiday a year. Probably similar hours to what I do now and similarly flexible.

In many ways I think this might be complete madness but honestly it is working for my absolute dream organisation.

As a family we could afford it but would mean some cutting back and definitely saving less for DS' future.

Feels selfish to even consider it really but I'm sooooo tempted!

So, would I be unreasonable to go for this job?

Op, go for the other job. Work satisfaction is really important

I think it’s bizarre that ppl are assuming the OP will have more job satisfaction in the other role.

How could anyone know?

Its hard to say if you're being unreasonable or not. I'd suggest that you continue in your current job but reduce your spending to the level that it would have to be in the lower paid job, save the rest and retire much earller.

I took a roughly similar payout (around £45K), but to go part-time (5 to 3 days), starting from September.
Paying the higher rate tax on those extra hours AND childcare fees to cover them simply did not make any sense.
Now hello 30 free hours and tax-free childcare, at least the books will balance by the end of the month. By reducing my hours and refusing promotion, I made around £600 pm net at the end.
I know plenty of professional women who do the same. I don't know why there is such disbelief on the thread.

To be fair, Laurie, the OP has described it as a really really interesting job and her dream organization, so it's probably reasonable to assume that the OP predicts better job satisfaction.

These things are hard to quantify, granted, but these ^^ factors are good starting points for possibly increased job satisfaction.

Disappointing to see so many sarcastic and mean comments

I don't know why there is such disbelief on the thread

Yes. Some of the comments are rather dispiriting.

so it's probably reasonable to assume that the OP predicts better job satisfaction

Personally I think the OP is being naive.

I’ve seen many others move to ‘dream’ organisations only to find the reality/people/working culture not what they expected.

If you have managed to squirrel away fifty per cent of your current salary after tax salary every year and save it then you can afford to take the new job. If not, you are not disciplined enough not to feel the loss of income and you would regret the loss of money and status. You would never get back to your current income level either.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush . The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence and so on. The ancient wise sayings skewer human nature so well.

I’ve seen many others move to ‘dream’ organisations only to find the reality/people/working culture not what they expected

Yes, I'm sure that can be the case. However, this thread has a number of examples (my own included) where something similar has proved a positive move.

I tend to think that jobs and happiness are about so much more than just the salary, and we shouldn't be cowed into not taking the odd calculated risk, if we think there's a good chance it might work out.

50k a year drop!! Poor you I just don’t know how you will manage!!

Disappointing to see so many sarcastic and mean comments

But absolutely par for the course on MN. And if it happens to be the woman earning big bucks instead of the man, the comments get worse. I just don't understand it.

Obviously there are many people struggling financially. I understand that. What I don't understand is why some of them seem to be so angry that not everyone is as poor as they are. It's very depressing, and in my experience, people of that mind set will stay poor. And forever bitter about people with more money than them

I find this a fascinating question! Agree with those who find the mean comments depressing. Yes, it's awful for those in poverty but high earners paying taxes are what fund public services without which we'd all suffer more surely?
Is there any scope to change your current role to take away the jaded feeling? If so I'd keep the salary and investigate that. If your at a dead end in your current job I'd try for the new role.

OP would your company consider a ‘reverse’ secondment?
My organisation supports secondments for people who want to gain experience elsewhere and come back 1-2 years later.
It doesn’t have to be secondment into a higher paying role, you might be seconded to gain new skills and come back with fresh ideas etc

Why not? I have, more than once - if it’s something you want to do and can still at least pay the bills, sometimes tightening the belt even more does no major harm???

Can’t believe the bare faced jealousy and bitterness! God forbid someone earns a good salary and is unsure whether to change career!!! Why does any post where people aren’t moaning about how hard done by they are have to be a ‘stealth boast’?

To OP, I think you should think very carefully as the grass is very rarely greener in reality and that’s a large drop in salary in proportion to what you are on at the moment. That said if you are very unhappy then it is worth exploring!

It’s not unreasonable- quality of life is not about money

Youaremysunshine6 I completely agree.
It’s ridiculous
Between my OH and I we earn around 140k and now I wonder whether I should relocate to a special forum for ‘high earners’ not to upset people here.
Is there criteria?
Are slim people allowed here?
What about happy people?

I wouldn't. You're used to earning what you do and I think you'd dislike having to adjust that.

I'm really intrigued as to what you work as. I know you won't want to give too much info but I'm interested to know if you have a degree, is this a specialised area or did you work up from scratch?

I left school very young and didn't go to uni but I'm very ambitious

Youaremysunshine6
Can’t believe the bare faced jealousy and bitterness! God forbid someone earns a good salary and is unsure whether to change career!!! Why does any post where people aren’t moaning about how hard done by they are have to be a ‘stealth boast’?
--

I completely agree! Why can people not be glad for someone who is earning well?

Laurie, only OP knows what is likely to give her satisfaction in her job.
Doing something you find really interesting is not easy to find.

Yes it would be a big change, but not impossible. I would repeat OP, that you should consider the likelihood of getting back to your current earnings within 5 years. Yours as in your and your DH’s earnings because maybe he can plug the gap himself.

Lots of very useful advice and sharing of personal experience from other posters. OP, I hope it will all help with making the right decision for you.

I find it staggering some people are still dismissive of such a question.
Yes, 50k cut is substantial, but as you earn more, you are taxed more. For example, a couple where each partners earns 40k might be better off than a household with a single income of 80K. And the 50k may well be part of the package not salary or net salary, it may include work benefits, pension etc etc..
And when someone earns £100k they don’t bring home £100k. A lot of it goes towards tax (some of these earners might never use the state school system, they would make use of the private medical cover and dental cover for all the family, they might have a house which falls into a higher council tax bracket, they might own a car with a high road tax charge etc so they make a substantial contribution to ALL public services without actually always using such public services (they would not be entitled to absolutely any benefits of any kind whatsoever starting with child benefit).
So there’s absolutely no point in judging someone for what is perceived as a higher salary. They keep the country running and when they retire they pay for their own care. They are big contributors to services a lot of people use for free, a lot of people who sometimes have not or could not contributed themselves.
And OP is rightly considering supporting her child’s development progression financially so she is investing in creating another individual who will be supported to hopefully get a well paid job so that they can continue to contribute to society in this way whilst being able to have a standard of living they are comfortable with.
There are lots of people who contribute to the society in many other very valuable positive ways (volunteering etc) and they are always applauded. Well, why is paying high taxes looked upon with envy or suspicion?!
There is plenty of money in this world for everyone, sometimes is luck, most of the time is very hard work, sometimes circumstances, so not everybody will always end up with a decent salary. But nobody is hindered to try. There’s absolutely no need to be jealous. As long it is not stolen or obtained by illegal means (drugs etc), let people earn as high a salary as possible. The whole country would benefit.

I’m sorry I wrote such an epic, but I got a bit annoyed with the some of the snide remarks and blinkered opinions.

There is more to life than money. As long as you have enough to cover bills etc then I personally would go for it. I halved my working hours, better pension and less stress but I had to take a 25% pay cut. I have been there 12 years and I dont regret a second.

Once you earn over 100K you get taxed so much you're kind of better off being on a lower salary. Sickening how much tax is

However, this thread has a number of examples (my own included) where something similar has proved a positive move.

Sure.

But posters on this thread are making like this move is guaranteed better job satisfaction. It definitely isn’t

Let me guess, you’re a lawyer thinking of going from private practice to the Government Legal Service? I’ve thought of doing that too, but reckon it’s probably not that much more interesting and just as stressful.

only OP knows what is likely to give her satisfaction in her job.

But she doesn’t really have a clue if this job will deliver on that.

No one really knows the culture of a workplace until they’re in it. And even that can differ hugely according to team.