How much of a pay cut is too much? Personal opinion

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi all,

I am just wondering what you personal opinion is on how much of a pay cut is too much? Say you're unhappy in a job and you want to get into something else, or get back into something you used to do - if you knew there were a pay cut, how much lower would you go? Assuming you could afford it what would the limit be for a pay cut if you thought/knew you would be happier in a position?

Thoughts?

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I was willing to go as low as $30 from $46ish. The fact that I didn't have to was "icing".

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

For me that would be zero dollars and zero cents unless I was so miserable I was at risk of losing my license. Worth noting I don't place a high value on the whole life balance thing and don't mind being moderately uncomfortable at baseline especially if I'm busy, stimulated and raking in the dough.

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I would only take a pay cut if being unemployed were the only other option.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I would definitely accept a pay cut if I were really unhappy in my current job. (I am not unhappy now.) I spend too much time at work to be miserable. I would rather live a more frugal lifestyle and be happy -- than make more money and be miserable.

As long as I could have a safe home and life's basic necessities -- and enough to save some money for retirement and emergencies -- I would take a pay cut.

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oh wow! Are you happier now where you are at?

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Oh wow. very interesting. I am super opposite! I would rather be happy in a job with lower pay than unhappy/slightly unhappy with better pay. Hope you are happy where you are now though :)

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That's how I feel. If I spend 40+ hours a week at a job I am not happy with I can justify a pay cut for sure. I live frugally as it is, granted I want to start travelling when things are more steady for me (wedding, house, etc) but even then I wouldn't do expensive travelling or outrageous trips. I am very big on happy work life happy life in general because when I am bogged down at work I bring it home and bring down my boyfriend because he hears about it and it's a cycle.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

For me, quality of live is WAY more important than more money. I can't imagine dragging myself out of bed every day to go to a job that I hate, just because it pays more. I currently work part time as a school nurse, even though I am an NP. The hours are perfect, I love my school and the teachers/staff I work with. We are like a family. My job allows me to drop my two kids at school in the morning and be home when they get home in the afternoon. It is only a 15 minute drive from home. I could be making triple what I am now in another job, but there is no way I would have what I have now.

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That is so great you are happy where you are! I truly agree that dragging yourself to a job you hate everyday is not worth the money. Life is TOO short!!!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I worked at a physical rehabilitation hospital for nearly six years. I increasingly hated the idea of reporting to work and was on the verge of burnout.

Last year I accepted a $13,000 yearly pay cut to work from home as a case manager. For me, it is worth it to work a job with flexible scheduling that I do not despise.

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I totally agree with you!!!! I went from a family med clinic to utilization review and now employee health and got a $13,000 increase but I know if I leave I will probably take a cut that steep or close

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