CL2ALVR
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If you're a family man and value that time spent with them as opposed to working nights, weekends, and holidays, and can afford the financial hit, I would totally take a little less each month to have more time with my fam.
How much of a paycut would you take?
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I took a 70% pay cut to get out of a job I hated. I currently make probably 50-75% less than I would have had I stuck with a career in my college educated field, but life is full of turns and paths.
I've also learned that I can go most anywhere and double my pay within a few years by working hard and smart enough to not be a total suck-ass loser like a large majority of the current workforce.
If you hate and dread your current job, get the hell out. Working in one shithole until you die is a dead boomer BS dream that modern wages killed 20 years ago.
I've also learned that I can go most anywhere and double my pay within a few years by working hard and smart enough to not be a total suck-ass loser like a large majority of the current workforce.
If you hate and dread your current job, get the hell out. Working in one shithole until you die is a dead boomer BS dream that modern wages killed 20 years ago.
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1) You can't buy time at home. This has been my mantra for the last several years. I take home significantly less now that I've nearly given up overtime entirely, but I get much more time at home.
2) Percentage doesn't really help. I would take a 30% cut from 300K to 200K easy, but from 60K to 40K might put somebody on the street.
All that said, if you're socking plenty of money away for retirement consider sticking it out for a few more years then pulling the ripcord earlier.
OP
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Going from 12hrs shifts on a 24/72 fluctuating work week to straight 42/week. Hard to calculate because also going from 2190 hours/yr to 2080 hours/yr.Built in OT is a factor, extra OT per year is around 6-10K.
On paper, the hourly rates are a difference of about 12K, in practicality, closers to 21K
spcomerderp
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I just took a big pay cut a few years ago and am much happier with where I am at.
I work a job that I sort of enjoy but doesn't really seem to make much of a difference to anybody. It's not like anyone listens to me. But it also requires very little energy input from me and pays very well considering the difficulty. I can take off pretty much whenever I want and I can always pay all my bills. On days when my son's daycare is closed we go to the zoo or the aquarium or the fishing pier.
Job benefits can include ease of taking time off too.
DoubleOg
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Yep. Worked in a warehouse for 9yrs right out of HS. Took a $9hr cut to gtfo of that dead end work. 7yrs later I make over twice as much as I did and I’m in a white collar position now with a bunch of vertical movement.
Only you can decide how much of a pay cut is acceptable. Maybe the bigger question is how much is your peace of mind worth?
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That's my idea...well not Chicago, but in 10-15 years I can "retire" into a EM position in the desert somewhere.
It is an interesting time to go into EM for “less stress”, but it certainly can be a fulfilling field, with a lot of diverse opportunities to grow professionally and get great experience. It’s been pretty crazy the last few years, to say the least.
If you are confident in the culture of the organization you are moving to - or open to moving around within the field after some time in the new gig, I’d definitely consider it. I’ve seen that move work out well for people several times.
Best wishes, either way man.
Done it more than once, no regrets. If it looks like a good opportunity and you’re a good fit for it, its a no- brainer.
Dude,
Did not read the whole post of CFF'ers
Never forget this!
Job = bills paid.
Bills paid = low stress.
Excess cash is excess cash.
Be happy and you will never get a second back of time from your life. Time is very valuable.
Hope that helps
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OP
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I think "less stress" maybe could use better wording..... it's still a stressful job, but not a running 4 cardiac arrests a night, telling people their loved ones died or dealing with someone with toe pain for the 3rd time that night kinda stress.
Had the pandemic not occurred, I highly doubt this opportunity would have presented itself.
My feeling on it is that with a couple of years experience combined with what I have now, I'll be able to go anywhere I want and name my price. Huge market and demand now.
That's one of those things that has value but doesn't show up as a number in your paycheck. Add up all the pluses to the new job and try to put a $$ figure on it.
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It sounds like you know what you need/want to do.
If in 6 years, when you're still running 4 cardiac arrests a night and this position isn't available, are you going to regret not having taken it?
I can only speak for myself, but every career change I've pursued has made my life better and more interesting.
Is there another path that is lower stress and more money? For example, move up in the current organization, or look for a job at another company that places higher value on your skills? I think it's human nature to think that bailing on a job you've come to hate requires sacrifice. While you're in that dark hole, you may underestimate your value both at your current company and at the competition. Just my 2 cents having been in that hole a couple of times.
There will always be a demand for medics. Opportunities to jump into EM generally happen when someone retires or jumps ship for greener pastures. This coupled with retirement timelines can easily fast track people to the top just by being there when a position needs filling. Seen it multiple times. The downside is dealing with politicians and the political stupidity that goes along with them.
Keep up your hours, maybe work some part time with another provider to stay up on skills. If the greener grass turns out to be over a septic tank, you haven’t lost anything. You can always go back to the field. Look at the bright side, the pandemic planning should already be in place, just get ready for hurricane season and be prepared to live at the EOC for a bit lol.
Good luck on your new adventure!
Keep up your hours, maybe work some part time with another provider to stay up on skills. If the greener grass turns out to be over a septic tank, you haven’t lost anything. You can always go back to the field. Look at the bright side, the pandemic planning should already be in place, just get ready for hurricane season and be prepared to live at the EOC for a bit lol.
Good luck on your new adventure!
"Stress" is very subjective. For some, moving into EM would be a stressfilled environment requiring new coping mechanisms. For others (like you) it would be a cake walk. If you can handle the stress the rest of the job will be fine. Becoming known as the EM guy who remains calm when the shtf will be a major career boost IMHO. Just be sure you can handle "death by meetings"; the higher you go the worse it will get.
But for more time with the family I would give a lot. Eta: took about 18% cut when I retired from active duty; passed on about a 30% raise a few years later because it came with short notice travel and time away from the family.
But for more time with the family I would give a lot. Eta: took about 18% cut when I retired from active duty; passed on about a 30% raise a few years later because it came with short notice travel and time away from the family.
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I took about a 15% paycut for my current job.
BUT - no more weekends, no more holidays, no more on-call. No more crawling in customer's attics or laying on nasty basement floors.
When I went from hourly to salary, my salary was computed using my hourly rate plus 8%. But that was x40 hours. I had worked an average of 55 hrs a week for so many years that it became normal income. So without the OT it equated to a 15% cut.
Fast forward 2 years and I got a 15% raise. So now I'm making in ~40 hrs what I used to work 55 for.
Was it worth it? I'm about 50/50 on it. I'm working with a whole different set of people. Some of the guys I used to work with for almost 15 years. I work from home now but I travel a lot.
I miss some of the things I used to do but I like what I do now.
Weigh it out. Pros/Cons. Think it through. Put it on paper. Only you can decide
BUT - no more weekends, no more holidays, no more on-call. No more crawling in customer's attics or laying on nasty basement floors.
When I went from hourly to salary, my salary was computed using my hourly rate plus 8%. But that was x40 hours. I had worked an average of 55 hrs a week for so many years that it became normal income. So without the OT it equated to a 15% cut.
Fast forward 2 years and I got a 15% raise. So now I'm making in ~40 hrs what I used to work 55 for.
Was it worth it? I'm about 50/50 on it. I'm working with a whole different set of people. Some of the guys I used to work with for almost 15 years. I work from home now but I travel a lot.
I miss some of the things I used to do but I like what I do now.
Weigh it out. Pros/Cons. Think it through. Put it on paper. Only you can decide
Being happy is what counts.
Now I understand whut you are contemplating. IMHO EM is going to get more and more important as these weird days continue. I don't know what your financial situation is but EM people are going to be in big demand. They even offer degrees in it.
Emergency Management Degrees in North Carolina – Emergency Management Degree Program Guide
www.emergency-management-degree.org
I don't understnad why you can't go back to EMS as short as they are on help.
Depends how much a pay cut I could afford. The most I could would be my answer, if I knew I would enjoy the job much more than my current one, and that I could eventually regain or surpass my current pay.
Me and my girlfriend both have switched careers, both with initial pay cuts. Both of us are happier.
If you can tolerate the decrease in pay, I say go for it.
Me and my girlfriend both have switched careers, both with initial pay cuts. Both of us are happier.
If you can tolerate the decrease in pay, I say go for it.
Took 4 job changes to get to retirement with 33 years service. Took a pay cut between 1st and 2nd job and another pay cut between 3rd and 4th job. Never looked back, paid my bills and never regretted the changes. You know what is best for you. Pull the trigger,you will survive.
I’ve spent a bunch of time up there. There is nothing good until you hit the arctic circle. 🥺
Just north of Chicago sucks. But the paycheck probably sounds nice. Until the Lightfoot era.
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Probably.
My degree is in Emergency Management.
I can certainly go back to EMS or stay part time somewhere. I just wouldn’t be able to go back to my current supervisor position.
I took a $15k pay cut to take my current job. still not where i was when I left my previous position. Lots of factors beyond pay made it worth it to take the cut. Your milesge may vary.
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Chuckman
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I've no love for that area: I went to boot camp at Great Lakes. I have family in Wisconsin, my objective is to get through Illinois as fast as possible.
I was manager of the surgery-trauma ICU, considered one of the top nurse manager jobs. I got a hefty raise. I hated it--no, I loathed it. I liked the people, but when you are scheduled for meetings at 6:00 a.m. and don't get home until 10:00 p.m. and you have to spend 2 hours on the computer every Saturday to do work, that's a problem.
One of the happiest days of my professional life was when I quit. I went back to three 12-hour shifts working clinically in the emergency department and dropped about $18,000 in salary, but I was happy and I saw my family.
I left one EMS job for another, took a pay cut there. But left for better leadership and a better culture. Never looked back.
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TRaGiK
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It's worth any amount of money to get out of a job you hate, as long as you can afford it.
2 years ago at age 39, I sold my half of a auto repair shop. After running and co owning the shop for 11 years, I was absolutely miserable there.
I originally had plans to return to work doing anything but working on cars, and knew I'd likely take a pay cut. Now I'm a full time homesteader and ended up taking a ~95% pay cut. And it was worth every penny.
2 years ago at age 39, I sold my half of a auto repair shop. After running and co owning the shop for 11 years, I was absolutely miserable there.
I originally had plans to return to work doing anything but working on cars, and knew I'd likely take a pay cut. Now I'm a full time homesteader and ended up taking a ~95% pay cut. And it was worth every penny.
I used to work for a company that had a plant close to the camp at Great Lakes. The CEO asked me to move to Chicago. Had another job in a week and said adios. Felt good about. Now all the guys that went are making huge $. And here I am. Oh well, sanity has a price I guess.
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If I took a pay cut I'd be living in a cardboard box lol
However that's because I have chosen work that is minimal effort per hour.
However that's because I have chosen work that is minimal effort per hour.
As I've gotten older, quality of life holds a lot more value. Making sacrifices is a part of life and advancement in employment, its up to you to put a value on the sacrifices...
I heard Mike Rowe say that kids shouldn't e asked what they want to be when they grow up, they should be asked, what type of lifestyle they want to live. BIL is an Anesthesiologist and makes over 10 times what I do, but I know for a fact I'm overall 10 times happier with my life than he is.
Chuckman
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In the nursing world CRNA (nurse anesthetist) is seen, by some, as a pinnacle job because of the money it commands. Not MD-anesthesiologist money, but not abnormal to make $150K or better. But the work conditions often suck, and and they are often regarded as little more than bottom-level help in the MD world. Yeah, not my cup of tea.
I’m sure there has been some good advice already posted, but I’ll add my perspective:
Unless you are one of those lucky few who have legit turned your life’s passion into a way to make money, then it’s just a job. No matter how loyal or dedicated to your current company, or even the new company you may feel, you are just a number. If you left, your replacement would likely be in action before your last paycheck clears the bank.
Now, we are currently traveling thousands of miles an hour on a massive rock through space. You are a small fleck of space dust that is going along for the ride. There is a massive volcano in the Rockies that could go at any minute and end all life as we know it. At any given time there are millions of meteors hurtling through space with a bullseye painted on the Earth. The Lord could have the trumpet sounded at any moment and poof, it’s all over.
With all that in mind, it’s a few K in salary really that big a deal when it comes to actually enjoying your ride on this rock? So I say, as long as you aren’t starving and your kids have shoes, then go do exactly what you want with this time you have. And, regardless of the pay cut, you will still be making more money than probably 95% of the Earths population.
Unless you are one of those lucky few who have legit turned your life’s passion into a way to make money, then it’s just a job. No matter how loyal or dedicated to your current company, or even the new company you may feel, you are just a number. If you left, your replacement would likely be in action before your last paycheck clears the bank.
Now, we are currently traveling thousands of miles an hour on a massive rock through space. You are a small fleck of space dust that is going along for the ride. There is a massive volcano in the Rockies that could go at any minute and end all life as we know it. At any given time there are millions of meteors hurtling through space with a bullseye painted on the Earth. The Lord could have the trumpet sounded at any moment and poof, it’s all over.
With all that in mind, it’s a few K in salary really that big a deal when it comes to actually enjoying your ride on this rock? So I say, as long as you aren’t starving and your kids have shoes, then go do exactly what you want with this time you have. And, regardless of the pay cut, you will still be making more money than probably 95% of the Earths population.
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So just to update everyone who provided feedback and thoughts....I accepted the offer. My last day, well night is this Saturday and I start the new job Monday morning. Kind of bittersweet, but the pros outweigh the cons and I think it's a good move as well as a good time....so we'll see what happens.
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I took a $10,000 pay cut to better prepare for my career (PE exam) and to get away from a toxic cesspool of a work environment. I am still alive and not in jail, plus I have my PE license. So I'd say it worked out.