Which job would take?

[Topsy1980]

Hi, little dilemma. I currently have two part time jobs and am in a situation where I have to choose one full time… Job A is teaching and has better benefits inc school hols with my kids (but they’re now 12 & 14 so I don’t need childcare). Job B is a lot less stressful and the one I would prefer to do but lower starting salary and fewer benefits. Out of these, which would you do…
Pension
A they pay in 28%, I pay in 9%
B they pay in 14.5%, I pay in 6%

Holidays
A 65 days
B 37 days

Full time Salary
A 50k - 55k
B 45k - 55k

Thoughts welcome!!

The salaries are not very different now, but does job A have more scope for promotion (eg taking a senior leadership position) in the future?

Good point. Job B is lecturing so also has opportunities for promotion although more difficult and rare. But also would allow me to move back into a more senior teaching position in future perhaps.

Any teacher will say Job B

I dropped down unfortunately and now can only dream of these salaries 😭

Are the pensions defined contribution or defined benefit?

Does Job B have flexibility on when you can use annual leave?

The benefits in B are still pretty good if you're swaying towards that job, I think it's close enough to choose the job you want to do more, but perhaps depends on your overall household income.

Defined benefit. In both.

Yes job B I can take 30 days of the holidays when I like.

Ha! This is what my teacher friends say too!

My parents are telling me to go with the better pension & school holidays.

My husband says do whatever makes me happy!

Ignore parents. They don't know about the day to ray realitiea of teaching.

Definitely go B!

Job B! Teaching isn't for the weak and being able to take holidays when you like is a huge blessing. I miss having the flexibility.

If the teaching job is in an independent school, you can’t bet on the pension remaining a good prospect. A lot of independent schools are leaving the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and the alternatives they offer are not defined benefit schemes.

It’s complicated a bit that job A is a state school but an out of class role, so it’s a rare and fortunate opportunity but the funding for the role is not going to last forever.

Your replies and thoughts are helpful.

Only you can decide. You say role A may not receive funding in the future so that you need to consider.
Think about your worse days and best days in both roles. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Good luck in your decision!

I see you can take hols when you want in role B, your children won't need school hols in the future therefore not being tied to TT hols with be a massive saving cost wise.

If both are defined benefits then you need to consider those pension contributions relative to the defined benefit - do you have that detail?

Job B is clearly the one you want to do. Money isn't everything- you're the one who'll be getting up every morning to do the job. Choose the one you want to do

Thank you for all the replies. The Christmas break has been a good time to think about this. Longer term I see myself in job B so that’s the one I think… although giving up the holidays after 20years of teaching is really scary.

Your husband has it right!

I was just about to say job B and see you've picked that one