AIBU to take job in dream town but with huge pay cut?

[Waferbiscuit]

Have long been keen to move to lovely town where I know I'd love living. It's about 2 hours away from me.

Applied for job which is in my sector that is exciting and very desirable but salary wasn't stated in advert. Got offered the job but turns out the salary is a 30% drop in pay or less 15k pa or about 850 pounds/month after tax. My company also makes quite significant pension contributions of about 700/month so I'd lose that as well.

I could take the role just to make the move, settle and eventually look for something else at a higher salary. But the risk is that (a) there isn't 'anything else' at a higher salary or I just can't secure anything else and (b) I'm back at a lower salary so harder to climb up again or be seen as senior. I could, of course, wait for something else at a higher salary to come up but that's a risk too as it could be years...

Would welcome thoughts on what to do. I'm single, which means I'm flexible, but the drag is I don't have another income in the family to rely on.

I took a 10% pay cut to move to my current role.

But I cut my commute from over an hour on a motorway / busy city centre, FYI a 20 minute commute via country roads and quieter town. For me it was worth it for that alone as I have children and it reduced our stress levels significantly in the morning / evening. But I was offered the same benefits aside from the salary.

No idea where the FYI came from 😂

@CCSA

Negotiate super hard

This . They want you and your expertise. Why should they get you cheap.

Did they ask you what your salary expectations were in the interview, or even what you were earning?

Is there any relocation assistance or would you have to fund all the move?

If you moved 2 hours away would you have to shuttle your child back and forth at the weekends so they could see their other parent?

It seems too much of a drop in salary and pension, for all the upheaval of moving home and school, just to live in a “nicer” town.

Have you tried to negotiate the salary? If they could meet you half way it would probably be more viable. If that's a no-go then I'd stay where you are and keep looking for another job in that area.

I wouldn't take such a big drop as a single parent. Do you own or rent? If you have paid off your mortgage that's a different scenario

Thx for all comments. Spoke to the HR lead. They are going to see about salary so I'm waiting for something to come through. Very nice org though and keen to have me on so I'm interested to see what they offer. Whatever it is it will be a drop so I just need to sleep on it to see if it all makes sense.

No, I would not do it.

If the new salary is enough to live on, then I'd go for it. Life is too short and I think we should take opportunities like this.

As you're 50, and your child has 10 years before Uni, by which time you'll be 50, you're on a good salary and pension I'd maybe consider relocating or even retiring to dream town when child finishes school

@AndOtherStories

Personally I'd do it now if you can. DH and I had big plans for a comfortable retirement at 55. He died at 54.

Which, whilst very sad, is pretty rare. So not really relevant to OPs position unless all her family are short-lived.

Coming at it from a different angle as your later posts provide further detail that you are a single parent with a young child of 8.

Having been there myself and therefore understanding the weight of responsibility that entails:

Stability and Security - for your child and for yourself - are two very important considerations in addition to Money and Location.

A few facts to consider from someone coming out the other side in very similar circumstances to what you describe:

• Your child is on the cusp of Teenagehood, which is more expensive than you will realise whilst they are at primary.

• Not knowing their specific aspirations, university is an expense on the horizon, which in 10 years or so, will be at the same time that you will be looking to slow down towards retirement.

-You already have a significant pension contribution from your current employer scheme at 50, which your new employer will need to match to compete with your personal security needs, given there is noone else standing in for Plan B.

-You have a good salary therefore if moving, it will be a 30% paycut you are taking on, in the midst of economic uncertainty and known NI rises in the aftermath of Covid and Brexit - so not normal times.

-Employees have greater protections at 2 years plus service - you will be voluntarily surrendering that at a time when there is most upheaval and shifting in the general UK economy

• The job market is very different in terms of flexibility and prospects at the ages of 20/30 versus 50/60

It is impressive that you have got yourself into a good position at this stage of life and the decisions now will be key for the next phase - do consider the whole landscape given the external factors mentioned above.

Make hay whilst whilst sun shines is what I'd ask you to seriously consider before committing to moving.

no.

And also just to say congratulations on getting the job offer:) It is always nice to have that external validation.

Remember they are courting you and have to convince you that it is worth the risks you will be taking.

You do sound very considered and have done so well to date.

From your latest update, hoping that the additional information they provide will help give you the greater clarity you need. Wishing you all the best in your final decisions