[USER]

Career Advice Needed – Weighing a Job Offer
I’m currently in the job market and considering a new job offer, but I’m struggling with whether to accept it.

The role comes with great long-term benefits and stability but also a significant pay cut compared to my previous position. I’d love to hear from people who’ve been in a similar situation.

The Offer:
Salary: $104K (after step increases), which is a major drop from my last full-time role ($165K)

Car Allowance: $1,200/month ($14,400/year)

Retirement Contribution: Employer contributes 23.5% to a 401(k) plan + 3.5% 401(k) match (total: 27%)

Benefits: Strong health/dental/vision coverage

Job Security: This role offers more protection against termination, while past jobs were at-will with a severance package

FICA Taxes: The employer fully covers Social Security and Medicare taxes (7.65%), which increases my effective take-home pay

Other Factors:
• I have a very generous severance package that helped financially, but now I need stability.

• My spouse earns about $200K/year, so household income isn’t an immediate concern.

• A major plus is that this job would allow me to stay in the same location and not have to relocate.

• It’s a lower-level role than I’ve held before, but it’s with a much larger organization, which offers room for advancement.

• I do have other opportunities, but they would require me and my wife to move.

• We live in the Midwest and are trying to avoid relocating if possible.

• I have a part-time job that brings in around $40K per year, which helps balance out some of the salary loss.

• In my previous role, I also received stipends of about $1,000 per month ($12,000/year), which added to my total compensation.

The biggest concern is the $60K+ pay cut, plus losing the additional stipends I previously had, making the gap even bigger.

However, job security, career growth potential, and staying close to family are big positives.

Would you take a lower-paying but stable role with great long-term benefits, or hold out for a higher salary that might require relocation?

I’d love to hear thoughts from people who’ve faced similar decisions.

[Jeane’]

How do you really know this job is stable / secure? I don’t think any job is truly stable anymore.

[Stef]

Your past job isn’t really relevant, as that’s not your current job. Compare the new offer to what else is attainable for you today on the same terms (1099 vs W2).

Moving is expensive and living where you want is priceless in many ways.

W2 jobs typically pay less than 1099 jobs, sometimes considerably less, but there are reasons including benefits and stability.

[Wendy]

I took a 25% pay cut at one job which later led to another that paid nearly double.

Aside from the base pay, what you are describing sounds awesome

[Christina]

I took a job with a considerable pay cut. But only because I was burnt out and didn’t want any management responsibilities.

I also went to a larger organization and quickly advanced.

I’m now a team lead and making more than I did at my previous place of employment.

[Lynn]

If you add in the benefits, it seems like you’re less than $20k off
14.4 for car allowance

27.0 for 401k
7.7 for taxes

The $20k isn’t nothing … assume ~$2k/month, but if there is room to grow and you like the company, I’d give it a go

Moving is very $$ and is quite disruptive.

[Author]

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