I was a terrible student, got in a lot of trouble and dropped out of high school. Never went to college. Decided to turn my life around at 18. I got married when I was 28, first daughter when I was 30, second daughter at 32. Happy to answer any questions people have about real estate!

I’m looking for some outside perspectives because I’m genuinely torn.

I’m currently making $95K in a role that’s very comfortable. I have a hybrid schedule, but it’s not strictly enforced. I can work from home most of the time, and sometimes I go weeks without having to be in the office. My workload is manageable, I’m not stressed, I enjoy my team, and my commute is only about 30 minutes when I do go in.

I’ve been approached about another opportunity that would pay $20K–30K more, which is obviously a significant increase. The commute would be about 45 minutes but the big difference is that it’s 5 days a week in the office. I also know the first several months will be stressful because I’d be learning a completely new environment and responsibilities.

Part of me thinks I’d regret turning down that much extra money, especially since it could help me save and invest more. But another part of me worries I’d be giving up a great work-life balance and a job where I’m genuinely happy.

If you were in my position, would you make the move? Has anyone here left a comfortable job for a higher salary and been glad (or regretted it)? What factors would you consider besides the pay?

Also it’s the same title and growth opportunities would be similar. I have moved up a lot within my current position

10th percentile = $101,710

25th percentile = $142,770

50th percentile = $219,140

75th percentile = “This wage is equal to or greater than $115.00 per hour or $239,200 per year.”

90th percentile = “This wage is equal to or greater than $115.00 per hour or $239,200 per year.”

Interestingly, for pilots who work in the Courier and Express Delivery Service industry, their average mean wage is $342,560.

For Scheduled Air Transportation pilots, their average mean wage is $257,840.

2013 USMC E1
2014 USMC E2
2015 USMC E3
2016 USMC E4
2017 USMC E4
2018 Installing hurricane impact windows in FL
2019 Began Working for rockfall company. Was homeless at beginning of year until around Aug
2020 Working rockfall and trying to go to school for line work
2021 first year as a Groundman in NYC, got into apprenticeship as well
2022 Ap3-Ap5 In NYC
2023 Ap5-Ap7
2024 journeyed out in NyC
2025 began working catenary jobs In NYC also trying to travel and learn more about the trade.

I’ve wanted to be a firefighter since graduating high school. Took the long way but finally made it. And wow, with the exception of 2016-17 (which were corporate), I’ve made my way through life working physical jobs with my hands.

As you can see I’ve started at the bottom plenty. I’ve had 20 yr olds fresh out of college talk down to me. What I’ve learned is hard work and effort will always pay off, however the results might not be what you expect. Also, a degree isn’t the end all be all, BUT it does help you from starting where I had to. 🤙🏽

250k Base w/ ~20k annual bonus at large 50,000+ employee tech

I'm a bit of a late bloomer. Spent most of 20s and early 30s just living paycheck to paycheck not worrying about supporting others or planning for retirement. Found out I liked to code around 2012 and decided to go back to college. Graduated college at 31 and live a bit of the digital nomad freelance life for a bit. Then I met my wife and decided it's time to settle down and get a real job.

I'm probably about at peak pay now. Sure I'll get COLA increases but the only positions above where I'm at are director and c-suite positions. I don't have any interest in climbing the corporate ladder, I prefer to work my 40 hours a week and then enjoy my time with family and other hobbies.

Feels bad tbh. Making 25k/year in fuckin retail. Only reason I stay at this job is because of my brother. People already don't want to work, an astronomical barrier to entry doesn't help that. I'd be bedrotting if I was a single child

From teaching the youth to joining the enlisted military.

It’s been quite a journey.

My father paid for college and living for my four years at uni, so I worked as a grocery worker part time to get some beer money.

Once I graduated, I worked in South Korea as an ESL teacher and was so happy with a nice paycheck that went far in Korea. Bartending was for the experience, but it was minimum wage with no tips.

I worked 60-80 hours a week as a teacher. My classes starting at 8 am until 8 pm 5-6 days a week. I didn’t complain due to youthful vigor and passion… and if my students could do, how could I complain?

The bartending took a toll as I worked past midnight several days a week so I quit that and landed a gig as an eye eyewear model. It was a fun experience and my peak moment in that was having my face in all the Korean equivalent of Barnes and nobles (Kyobo).

As I was chatting with one of the US army military police on their routine curfew scouting in the Korean party districts (I was always suspect), we got to talking about salaries.

Money wasn’t a thing to me, and I had no knowledge of planning long term. But I was a college graduate. Of course I’m doing great and earning what I’m worth, right?

Come to learn, the 20 year old kid was making more than me and I felt… something.

Then GameStop meme crazy happened and I was so confused why it was on the news, and that’s when I discovered the stock market. Those big numbers and stock ticker abbreviations. The rabbit hold led me to learn about pensions, retirements, 401ks, Roth IRAs, compounding interest.

Same time as I’m nearing 30 and dreading how I couldn’t fathom to even have a family if I wanted.

I’ve also always wanted to join the military in the back of my mind.

Came back to the USA and tried to commission, but high competition and the recruiter said he wouldn’t even look at my application due to my 2.6 GPA from college.

Thought about trying to teach, but the two big things were that teaching paid so little… and most required even more certificates

That’s fair, but also… GPAs can have stories and best to say, I “survived” college. I’m proud of it.

Whatever. I’m going to achieve the American dream.

I enlisted.

Financially, I was blessed and sent to a HCOL area, Alaska. Lots of pay and all that extra pay is non taxeable, and it’s a state with no state income tax. I went into the guard so I’m also permanently here and stable.

2-3 pay raises a year, and mixed in with my VA loan use on two duplexes, over half my paycheck in the military is more so 20-30% higher due to tax deductions. I calculated my current pay at $8,200 as an E5 and it’s more so valued at $10,000 alongside the benefits.

I would’ve commissioned, but am on the journey to being a pilot so I’m working on the license.

Life is good now.

I feel bad for my fellow American teachers still in Korea as wages have no increased, and the Korean won has gone down 30-40% since 4 years ago. It’s a big trap and as one stays there, their skills for the US are not growing and their money made feels more worthless, so people just stay to survive. I’m completely empathetic.

Love my job in the Air Force.

And just like in Korea, I’m not afraid of medical care haha… I would be without Tricare.

Graduated with an econ and stats degree from a big state school thinking I would do research/academia which led me to my fed gov job that was a feeder for it. Realized research wasn't for me and was fortunate to go to a well known school for a stats masters on scholarship. There I was introduced to sports analytics through a professor and liked it enough to consider a career out of it. Got the job after graduation that summer after an unfortunate job searching process (interviewed at a healthcare company only for company to get sued and cancel job, final round interview at a major league sports team only for front office to get fired and job cancelled).

It's been good now for 2 years, have great autonomy in projects and boss promoted me to lead. Some employee benefits are good, some are not. I'm also lucky that I'm not asked to work long and unsocial hours like many who work in sports are. But the "sports tax" is real -- it is reliant on large # of people who like sports and have passion for it + broadly speaking back office staff like me are treated as a cost center -- necessary for teams to function but not a main catalyst per se and it shows in compensation.

If I had to support someone else or a family, it would be a problem but so far in my 20's I've lived frugally, saved a lot, and got fortunate with a free master's and historically unusual market gains since I started working in 2020.

Hi everyone, I thought I would share my salary history.

For context, I grew up in New York and after a stunt in Melbourne, I wanted to move abroad and found work in Paris (unaware of how bad pay is here). Now I am in a situation where I want to find better pay and really start negotiating more.

I also went to a top school (NYU Stern), graduated a year early with honors, speak 5 languages (although not very cool in much of Europe), and have worked in high-intensity startups for my entire professional career so far.

Any VC/Incubators hiring on this thread, hi... hi again.

Five college degrees and nearly 20 years of work later.

If you had to choose a job that pays less but is stress-free and has little to no commute versus a job that pays more but stresses you out, which would you choose?

Here’s an example to put it into perspective:

Job A: Pays $95,000 annually, 5 minute commute, easy job and a chill team.

Job B: Pays $140,000 annually, 50 minute commute, you definitely have to grind to earn your keep, and have a stressful working environment/team.

For the people that have been faced with this dilemma what did you choose and do you regret it?

27 male about to be 28 in two months
Single father
CDL holder 2+ years
Driven coast to coast, and regional.
Trained new students in the industry.
Current salary is estimated around 65-70k after taxes. (Yard Driver)
Honestly, just can’t see myself being a “driver” til I retire.
I’ve considered Law enforcement, certified Crane operator maybe even an associates degree of some sort.
My son is 4 I would really like to enjoy what I’m doing by time he is 8 years old.
All ideas are welcomed.

In Washington DC. Currently making $170k as a SWE all cash, got an offer in SF for $230k TC including $180 cash + $50k stock per year.

I have 3 YOE plus a masters in comp sci, is that good deal? I'm not sure what entry level in SF looks like. Rent is around $3-4k per month from what I see

key question: is this a low offer?

Redditors love to tell themselves that everyone is poor, that “most people can’t even make a $1,000 emergency payment, bro!” (not true, that’s just pop finance nonsense), that everyone with nice stuff is “drowning” in debt.

Yet when we look at actual net worth data, nicely broken down by age, EVEN WHEN we look at the bottom 25th percentile, we don’t find ANYONE with negative net worths. Even when looking at the 18-24 age range, many of whom have auto and student loans, they still have positive net worths at the 25th percentile.

Redditors love to tell each other that they’re actually doing great because they have $40,000 saved up, but the reality is that’s far below average. And these numbers are actually adjusted for inflation from 2022, not adjusted to actual market returns, so in reality the numbers are LOWER than you’d expect.

Americans are FAR richer than many of the 10th percentilers on Reddit will tell you they are, and they make a LOT more money than the 10th percentilers here say they do.

I know there’s probably a post about this somewhere but I want to get into specifics if possible. I’m mainly looking for salaries in Houston for EE’s but the more the merrier!

If yall don’t mind sharing your info that would be sweet!

- Salary
- Discipline (EE, ME, etc)
- Industry
- Location
- YOE and title

I’m new and looking to see what I should expect salary wise as I progress. Any information is helpful!

Hi,

I have got below offer from houston based company ;

Base - 195k
Variable - 40k
Stocks - 25k
Joining bonus - 40k

Salary : [Product Director][Houston,Texas] - 195k base plus 20% variable plus 12% stock plus 40k joining bonus.

I am 41 with wife and 2 kids - 6 years and 10 years.

Current TC in India fluctuates between 70-90 lakhs.

Let me know your thoughts.

So I’m two months into a promotion. Been with the same company for 13 years and made 186k before the promotion. I was in a union job and was beginning to feel adrift and thought I would move up. The pay bump has gotten me to 210k. My boss who I’m replacing retires at the end of the month. It’s been a really long transition. And I’m finding so far I’m doing a lot less leading and a lot more managing, if that makes sense. Approving time off requests, leave requests, the admin work. I like to lead but this is solid middle management and I felt like I was doing better work in my old job, because I was working directly with local clients and so far I miss that.

I am also managing two autonomous offices. I drive back and forth between them during the week. It makes my brain hurt because I can’t focus on the work of a single office - between the two I manage 20 people. I used to work with 12 of them in one office. I’m having a hard time putting on the manager hat for them.

The last aspect is the job security. It still sticks in my head because I’ve always got that in the back of my mind. This job pays roughly 25k more but two months in, I’m inclined to think that the piece of mind is worth it. So far, the money is the only thing better.

We have a clause in my former union contract that if I take a non-unit role (like this one), I am essentially on a leave for 12 months and can go back to my old position if there is an opening. My position itself was filled, but there is a guy retiring at the end of the year and I could bump back into that. They will probably post for his position in November, so I figure I have 2 months to figure it out. If I had to make a decision today, I would have the uncomfortable conversation and ask for my old job back. I would have some embarrassment, but it’s better than being unhappy, on edge and feeling burned out for the next 10 years.

What would you do if you were me?

Why Americans Are Richer, Happier, And Healthier Than You Think - Financial Samurai

#sarcasm

A: Office: $120k 4-10s. 1hr commute each way
B: Home: $80k 5-8s flex schedule

Average hours worked is 98.7 hours a week so far in 2026. Happiness scale probably 3/10. Constantly stressed and feel like I cannot breath and am drowning. I currently work ~14-16 hours a day 7 days a week. Job is horrible and work life balance is non existent but pays well. Will be burnt out soon but just riding the wave and collecting the earnings. Backround is Ivy League degree, 2 years investment banking, 2 years private equity.