is it worth driving 20 miles to work to get paid 6 dollars more?

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hi all

i need your opinion on this. currently my work is only 2 miles away from my home. when i searched for more jobs, i located a job that pays 6 dollars more an hour than my current job but its 20 miles aways from my house. do you think its worth driving 20 miles more to get paid that more money or do you think the money is going to be wasted on the gas? what would you do?

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I drive about 24 miles to work one way....have done this for over 6 years. Of course, I love the job, so....no problem!

Suebird :p

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It sort of depends where you are and where the job is. For example, 20 miles in one direction (for me) is fairly easy. In that case, the extra cash is nearly a no-brainer.

Headed into the city, however, it gets pretty ugly. Once there, you'll easily burn $10k/year just to pay for parking. Tag on the cost of maintenance, gas, etc., and there's no way I'd move.

Finally, there's the time element. A commute that takes an hour each way suddently means the two hours you used to spend at your kids soccer game, workout at the gym, or pursue whatever hobby keeps you sane is no longer available. So don't limit your consideration to just the cash.

Short answer: it depends.

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Finally, there's the time element. A commute that takes an hour each way suddently means the two hours you used to spend at your kids soccer game, workout at the gym, or pursue whatever hobby keeps you sane is no longer available. So don't limit your consideration to just the cash.

Then there's another flip side ... what are the benefits.

I'll drive a lot more than 20 miles not only for the extra money but, if a hospital has an excellent retirement plan because ... I don't want to work another 20 years and end up with no retirement. The hospitals closer to me have little to no retirement benefits because, they figure people won't bother to commute.

But what will those people think about commuting in 20 years when they have little money to retire on and they still have to work?

I live in SoCal where commuting is a way of life. The job options and benefits are so much better when you commute that ... it's almost crazy not to in my area.

:typing

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.

Also, look at how they treat their staff. Is there

a reason that they pay $6 more an hour? Just a thought....

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Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.

This is the real issue for me. Do you want to switch jobs for $6.00 an hour. Recently I switched for more money. The new company forced me to resign after 8 weeks. Got 5 weeks severance, went back to my old employer in a new position. Am really happy.

But, is the switch worth it ? You will be sitting in your car at times while driving to the new job thinking I could be at work right now. And while $6.00 an hour seems like alot, it may take you an extra hour for the commute. Depending on what you figure your time is worth that may or may not be such a great deal. I make around $38.00 an hour everytime I work. If you figure in benefits, gas money, wear and tear on your vehicle, taxes, the anxiety of changing job and vestments maybe the $48.00 an hour extra per shift is not worth it.

Also, look at how they treat their staff. Is there

a reason that they pay $6 more an hour? Just a thought....

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Full time workers put in about 2,000 hours/ yearly. 2000 hours x extra 6 dollars an hour=$12,000 a year.

Balance that against the cost of gas. And commute time. would the extra 20 miles be through bad traffic? 20 miles in that case can take 45 minutes to drive. But if it's not rush hour type driving, 20 miles could take

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It's a 20 mile drive just to go to school and I have to pay them to go. I think that if you will be making $6 more and hour, then it is SO worth it.

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I live up in the mountains so the traffic wouldn't be an issue . . .at first I though no, I wouldn't do it just for the money because I only live 1 mile from work. But then I thought that most of the folks I work with drive from the nearest two towns and they are each about 20 miles from work.

The other thing I'd have to think about though is my shift starts at 2:45 a.m. and would I want to get up earlier than 1:45 a.m.?

I dunno - it would have to be more than a money issue for me. Is the new place a better place to work?

steph

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Specializes in Neuro ICU, Neuro/Trauma stepdown.
If found a job that paid me $6/hr more... I'd WALK 20 miles to work.

right on!! $6/hr is significant, but why does the job pay so much more, could be getting yourself into something...:uhoh21:

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Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.

AAA estimates that in 2004, it cost an average of $.56 a mile to drive a car. Add on a couple of extra cents for inflation and you're looking at $.58 a mile. This includes all of the expenses associated with operating a motor vehicle, maintenance, insurance, depreciation, etc. Using this figure, you're looking at an increase from the $2.32 you spend driving to work a day now to $23.20 to get to the new job. Over five days, that is around $104 in increased transportation. Weigh that against the extra $240 you'd make a week less taxes and you're still coming out ahead. Now you just need to decide if the extra time spent driving is worth the extra $.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2005/fcvt_fotw365.shtml

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20 miles is nothing if u want more money to improve your life standard.

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Teehee. You must not live in a rural area! I have to drive over 20 miles just to get to Wal-Mart. We drove 20 miles last night for Taco Bell.

I've had 2 jobs in the past that I drove 55 miles to each way.

20 miles is nothing. $6 is A LOT! Go for it!

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