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Original poster

Would you leave a job you love for double the salary?

62 replies

Hendion · 19/09/2025 20:03

Hi all, I have been headhunted by a recruiter recently, who reached out to me about a job doing the same kind of thing I’m doing now.

i wasn’t looking for another job, and I actually really love where I work now and the people. I decided to interview wirh this other company, because I was enticed by the doubled salary. They’ve offered me the job.

im torn. Extra money would always be nice, but there’s the risk of leaving my current place and ending up in a job I hate. My current company wouldn’t have the means to offer me anywhere close to that salary, so I can’t really use it to bargain for a pay rise either.

would you leave a job you love for a doubled salary?

OP posts:
MasterBeth · 19/09/2025 20:05

For double? Hell, yes.

Laura95167 · 19/09/2025 20:06

If its doing a comparable job - probably. Id ask Qns about the things I value (like flexible working, holiday allowance, sick pay, pension contribution) to decide for definite

Perimenoanti · 19/09/2025 20:07

What the salary? If from 30 to 60 yes. If from 70 to 140 not sure.

YouCouldFallOutWithYourselfInAnEmptyRoom · 19/09/2025 20:08

Nope. Not if I was in a job I loved and had enough to live on.

I had experience of being in a place I hate. It nearly destroyed me. I would be driving to work praying I’d get hit by a truck and sustain an injury bad enough I didn’t have to go back. There’s a lot to be said for being in a job you love. Money isn’t everything.

Handsomesoapdish · 19/09/2025 20:08

Not a chance I have the best job ever twice the money not a chance…. Three times maybe.

user593 · 19/09/2025 20:10

It would depend on a number of things such as if I needed the money and the reputation of the company I’d be moving to.

Notdanishsusan · 19/09/2025 20:10

Yep.

I currently earn 35% more than my last job that I loved. I don’t like it as much, but I do feel the financial difference. I’m about to pay my mortgage off even earlier than planned and the extra means I’ll get to retire earlier as well.

HowardTJMoon · 19/09/2025 20:10

It has to depend on the job. If I could leave my current job and do much the same for twice the money then I'd do it in a heartbeat. If it meant going somewhere that I'd have to look someone in the eyes and sack them every day then I'm not sure I could. That being said I've never moved job and regretted it.

MrsTerryPratchett · 19/09/2025 20:12

Perimenoanti · 19/09/2025 20:07

What the salary? If from 30 to 60 yes. If from 70 to 140 not sure.

This. Above 80K the difference in responsibility t extra money isn’t worth it.

Also, why is it double? Shit organisation that has to pay more? Much more work?

I have been headhunted for a lot more money a couple of times. I know the manager in that role and I know why as well. Not worth a million. A year.

Iwantsandybeachesandgoodfood · 19/09/2025 20:13

Perimenoanti · 19/09/2025 20:07

What the salary? If from 30 to 60 yes. If from 70 to 140 not sure.

I think this is really relevant. Do you need the extra money or are you in a position that it wouldn’t particularly be life changing? If it’s the former then absolutely, if the latter then not necessarily.

Jerseycreamtea · 19/09/2025 20:14

No. I did this when I was younger and within 6 months I’d left. They lied to me and wanted their pound of flesh. The stress was horrendous as was the lack of support.

luckily my previous employer offered me a similar job to the one I’d left but in a different location. I didn’t take it because the whole experience turned me off my sector and I changed my career.

Same happened in this new career and I stayed put. It’s paid off. Money is not the be all and end all.

DoYouReally · 19/09/2025 20:26

I do love my job but would absolutely move for double the salary.

If you are satisfied with new role, working patterns, company culture, policies, pension, health insurance & benefits (is the overall package double or is it not as good is it sounds If the other benefits are reduced?).

The other thing I would do is check and understand the financial accounts for the new company. Too many people move for what looks great in theory but it's often an underfunded start up or a struggling company dispretedly hiring in talent to try turn it around (then they are let go either before probation and without redundancy).

Also, are you worth it? For example, I'm worth max 33% more than I'm currently earning. I know I'm not worth double. (Would still take it but realise it's risky it's probably an overstretch of my skillset!).
Are you currently underpaid or unpromoted?

Finally, if you are really good, existing employer will often take you back if it doesn't work out and they have capacity too.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Original poster
Hendion · 19/09/2025 20:28

Thanks all! It was be going from 70 to 130k, so a huge jump.

im not struggling currently, but I am saving for a house and the extra money would help accelerate it. But yes, I do worry about the expectations and stress

OP posts:
Moonnstars · 19/09/2025 20:29

No I wouldn't. Being happy in a job is more important to me than money. Assuming you earn enough in your current role then I would stick with it, as there is always the possibility the new job won't be as described and you will wish you had stayed put.

MrsTerryPratchett · 19/09/2025 20:33

Hendion · 19/09/2025 20:28

Thanks all! It was be going from 70 to 130k, so a huge jump.

im not struggling currently, but I am saving for a house and the extra money would help accelerate it. But yes, I do worry about the expectations and stress

The happinesss/money graph levels off quite close to the start of that range. Would your current job give you an extra 10K?

Original poster
Hendion · 19/09/2025 20:37

MrsTerryPratchett · 19/09/2025 20:33

The happinesss/money graph levels off quite close to the start of that range. Would your current job give you an extra 10K?

Show quote history

Yes in a couple of years, I’d expect so!

OP posts:
Mew2 · 19/09/2025 20:43

From 70k to 130k- you may find not actually much difference in take home pay- as you lose the basic tax allowance....
I would look into this before even thinking of it
I am not sure I would do it. From 30k to 70k deffo worth it, from 70k to 130k- probably not much more than 1k take home pay a month.... Not worth it ....

CoffeeCakeAndALattePlease · 19/09/2025 20:50

I don’t think so, I really do love my job.

SpottyAardvark · 19/09/2025 20:51

If the extra money was going to make a significant difference to my life or my financial security, yes.

If the pay rise would place me into a tax trap and most of the extra was going to be confiscated by Rachel Reeves, no.

MagneticSquirrel · 19/09/2025 20:57

Like others said what is the actual take home pay difference? Will you have to work extra hours unpaid for that extra pay? Are there any extra costs, commuting / lunches or travel time with new role?

Perimenoanti · 19/09/2025 21:26

So this is the same kind of job, not a promotion type job? If it's the same kind of job it sounds too good to be true or it means you are currently being underpaid by a lot. Which one is it? Even in a job I love I couldn't handle being underpaid massively. It would erode my morale. I definitely think they'd want their money's worth at 130k. It would be different from your current culture.

If it's a promotion type job, well do you ever want to go for this kind of promotion or not?

What exactly do you love about your current job, especially if it's the same kind of job you have been offered?

Perimenoanti · 19/09/2025 21:27

Mew2 · 19/09/2025 20:43

From 70k to 130k- you may find not actually much difference in take home pay- as you lose the basic tax allowance....
I would look into this before even thinking of it
I am not sure I would do it. From 30k to 70k deffo worth it, from 70k to 130k- probably not much more than 1k take home pay a month.... Not worth it ....

Goes without saying that anything above 100k needs to go into pension. It will make a big difference in a few decades, not now.

TheGoodOnesAreAllGone · 19/09/2025 21:39

Could you do 4 days instead of 5 at the new job to reduce the salary to £104k?
Then you could stick £5k into pension to stay below £100k.
That's what I would do if it's possible

Kellykukoo · 19/09/2025 22:22

It is disheartening to see women so actively discouraging one of their own from taking advantage of a fabulous career opportunity. It is the same women who refuse to believe other women can be super high earners.
OP, every new career move is a risk. It is up to you how you navigate it. Nothing is insurmountable if you put your mind to it. The job is not brand new. You will find someone has done exactly the same job before or something similar. You will find people and situations you can learn and grow from. Grab it with both hands. Opportunities like this don't come round often. Put 31k in your pension if you want to avoid the tax cliff edge, you will still be nearly 30k better off. Building your pension now will give you much more choices in 10 years.
First stop 130k, next stop 200k. Go and make your mark and bank the money.

Simplestars · 19/09/2025 22:26

No. Never.

What you have money can't buy.