Higher paying job with a longer commute or same paying job closer to home?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Higher paying job with a longer commute or same paying job closer to home? (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:01:30 PM EDT

Two positions opened that i am interested in, one pays 16k more a year but it will put me smack dab in the middle of rush hour Seattle traffic and double my commute length

The other pays a similar amount but is closer to home.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:02:12 PM EDT

[#1]

what kind of job? work environment?

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:03:17 PM EDT

[#2]

how much commute time for each?

long commutes in lots of traffic suck so the bigger the difference the bigger the money increase needs to be.

eta - F seattle

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:05:41 PM EDT

[#3]

One of my few complaints about my current job has been the commute. It wears on me, it wears on my vehicle, it exposes me to traffic risks and asshole drivers, and it's time that I'm not getting paid for.
I would easily choose the closer job for the same pay over driving even more.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:07:43 PM EDT

[#4]

Closer to home.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:08:14 PM EDT

[#5]

For me, more money isn't always better. I declined a job last year that would have easily been $15k more than in making now but the commute would have been almost 2 hours more a day and put my in Houston traffic. F that.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:09:03 PM EDT

[#6]

Closer to home, no doubt. The money will come, time just goes.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:10:42 PM EDT

[#7]

There are a lot more variables that are important (how much does $16k mean to you) but I probably wouldn't.

I've done that in the past and I don't mind driving but heavy traffic is just a motivation killer for me. It's out of your control and a different kind of hell each day.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:10:48 PM EDT

[#8]

Recalculate the wages in hours of your life dedicated for work, that way the compensation takes in to account the drive.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:12:28 PM EDT

[#9]

I went from a 5 mile commute to a 45 mile commute (each way) for a 3x larger house, and a back yard at 1/2 the price.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:13:52 PM EDT

[#10]

Didn't even read your post just the thread title.

Closer job, same money. I'm hunting a closer job, less money if I have to. I want to be right down the street from home. Fuck all this travel over bridges and through the woods and down the hwy shit to get to work anymore.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:14:33 PM EDT

[#11]

I made the mistake of going for more money and more traffic last year and regretted it.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:16:50 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
I went from a 5 mile commute to a 45 mile commute (each way) for a 3x larger house, and a back yard at 1/2 the price.

View Quote

Did almost the same thing...went from 22 miles one way to 61 miles one way. Time wise, added 5 minutes to the commute. But bought a house with land for a little more than I paid for rent...and the house is paid off now.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:18:49 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
I went from a 5 mile commute to a 45 mile commute (each way) for a 3x larger house, and a back yard at 1/2 the price.

View Quote

You are in Fucking NM!! How much traffic could you possibly have to contend with? Its not the distance it is the traffic, stress, and actual danger in the commute.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:19:42 PM EDT

[#14]

To me time>money.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:22:20 PM EDT

[#15]

Depends on your career plans and how far along you are. IF you see this downtown job as a significant step up in resume building and it will eventually lead to even better opportunities that may be closer then it might be worth the commute hassle. If it is a lateral transfer with little resume building then the commute will eat up that $12,000 after tax increase, plus a lot more stress and strain on your health and at home time.

I commuted from Olympia to Seattle for a year when I went from State employment to private consulting. That experience opened up a LOT more opportunities in any major city, and I ended up west of Portland, OR. I commuted four years from suburbs into downtown Portland (nothing as bad as Seattle!) which ultimately lead to a contract and then employment with a tech firm 3 miles from home. Ran one car into the ground as with longer commutes and long work hours had no time for regular maintenance. Overall well worth the temporary sacrifice but a high price was paid in health, expenses, and family wear and tear.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:22:22 PM EDT

[#16]

That depends on whether the lower salary is enough to satisfy your needs. If you stick with the lower paying job that has a shorter commute, do you still make enough money that you'll probably never need to worry about money? If your salary and savings are low enough that some sort of emergency would financially cripple your family, it might be worth putting up with a shitty commute to put your family in a better position.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:22:35 PM EDT

[#17]

I have commuted into Seattle from the North. It wears on you....

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:25:42 PM EDT

[#18]

It depends on a lot of things. The biggest factor for me is retirement savings.

If that extra $16k allowed me to max my 401k every year, I would sit in traffic.

If I could already afford to max out my retirement savings, I would go with the closer job.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:26:53 PM EDT

[#19]

I would feel like a failure as a manager if I hired people who made career decisions based upon random people on the Internet.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:30:40 PM EDT

[#20]

For $16k no way, but everyone has to run the numbers for themselves. Also are you willing to lose out on this, that, and the other thing given you will be in the car longer.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:32:58 PM EDT

[#21]

Take the job closer to home!

Your happiness, time and stress levels are worth money. As is the lack of wear and tear on the car.

No question. $16k is nothing, bust your butt in the new job and make the difference up.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:36:41 PM EDT

[#22]

the time is important. If it doubles a 5 minute commute to 10, for 16K, do that.

If it doubles a 45min commute to 1.5 hours, take the closer job, without even thinking of the higher paying job, commuting sucks your soul out and drains your will to live.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:47:00 PM EDT

[#23]

Well, I just started back at a job with a shorter commute and higher pay.
I had been away for 15 months, just called my old boss and they said sure, come on over.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:48:20 PM EDT

[#24]

Seattle traffic... fuck no

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:50:14 PM EDT

[#25]

Traffic has gotten waaaay worse in the last year, and getting worse..... no f way would i do it for 16k and its not a matter of if you crash its when, everyone is driving like its 3 to go at daytona, you know what happens with 3 to go right!? ..... been doing it for 29 yrs put a fork in me!

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:50:15 PM EDT

[#26]

Figure that half that $16k will disappear in taxes.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:51:25 PM EDT

[#27]

Lots of variables... what are the actual commute times, what would the extra money mean for you financially, could this be something you could do for 2-5 years and have it benefit your career after that...

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:51:51 PM EDT

[#28]

Quoted:
rush hour Seattle traffic and double my commute length

View Quote

Been there, done that, never again.

Posted: 3/18/2019 5:53:03 PM EDT

[#29]

How long exactly is doubble the length? Also how much do you make. If I make $150k I'm not driving two extra hours a day for another $16K. I probably would if I was making $35k.

Posted: 3/18/2019 6:05:59 PM EDT

[#30]

oh and if your working in the core of town add 30/50 mins or more if she gridlocks, which seems be the norm more these days to just get to the freeway... they added all the bicycle and bus lanes and it totally fucked the town up

Posted: 3/18/2019 6:11:18 PM EDT

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:
Closer to home.

View Quote

This, don't waste your life in traffic any more than you have to

Posted: 3/18/2019 6:14:33 PM EDT

[#32]

"Similar amount"? Then the answer is easy; closer to home. Commuting sucks. I did for a couple years. One hour each way. I don't miss it at all.

The similar amounts might actually be closer in scale, when you factor in gas money, wear and tear on your vehicle, and time.

Posted: 3/18/2019 6:19:30 PM EDT

[#33]

I make less by design, as quality of life trumps an uptick in revenue. ymmv.

Posted: 3/18/2019 6:22:13 PM EDT

[#34]

I just quit a second shift job further away for a first shift job 4 miles from home.

Posted: 3/18/2019 6:24:09 PM EDT

[#35]

Nope, wouldn't do the traffic thing. I value my time more than that.

Posted: 3/18/2019 6:24:21 PM EDT

[#36]

1300 a month more. How long of a commute we talking? You should calculate trip during rush hour. 1,300 is not that much more if the time is crazy and gas/maintenance costs go up.

Posted: 3/18/2019 6:24:44 PM EDT

[#37]

Quote History

Quoted:
oh and if your working in the core of town add 30/50 mins or more if she gridlocks, which seems be the norm more these days to just get to the freeway... they added all the bicycle and bus lanes and it totally fucked the town up

View Quote

It once took me five hours to get home from Seattle: Friday afternoon in the summer. RVs were broken down on Tukwila hill, busses have to cut across traffic from on ramp to commuter lane at the bottom and then back across to the next exit at the top. A couple of guys were pushing their broken down pickup across six lanes of jammed traffic! Mess. Four hours was just to get to Federal Way from Lake Union, then just an hour to Oly. Needed a bathroom break badly after downing a Vente Mocha on the drive. I typically drove in around 5am to miss the worst of the jam, then worked late and headed home around 6:30pm when all the wrecks have happened! If you have flex hours and can work much earlier than most and leave earlier the traffic is tolerable. If you work 8-5 just suck on the exhaust pipe to end it easy.

Posted: 3/18/2019 6:49:20 PM EDT

[#38]

Quote History

Quoted:
How long exactly is doubble the length? Also how much do you make. If I make $150k I'm not driving two extra hours a day for another $16K. I probably would if I was making $35k.

View Quote

The long commute would be about 30 miles compared to my current 15, the closer job would be 10 miles.

I make over 72k now.

Posted: 3/18/2019 6:51:24 PM EDT

[#39]

Quote History

Quoted:
I would feel like a failure as a manager if I hired people who made career decisions based upon random people on the Internet.

View Quote

You’re absolutely right, good thing that no internet opinion has ever played a role in someone’s personal life

Posted: 3/18/2019 6:57:00 PM EDT

[#40]

You will NEVER get the time back or be able to invest it while sitting in your car going 5mph.

Posted: 3/18/2019 7:03:22 PM EDT

[#41]

No way I would do Seattle rush hour for 16k.

Posted: 3/18/2019 7:13:44 PM EDT

[#42]

Quote History

Quoted:

The long commute would be about 30 compared to my current 15, the closer job would be 10 miles.

I make over 72k now.

View Quote

$15k for 15 extra minutes each way? Not even a question man, it's worth it.

Posted: 3/18/2019 7:18:03 PM EDT

[#43]

That’s only about 8 grand takehome.

No way in hell.

Posted: 3/18/2019 7:20:31 PM EDT

[#44]

Quote History

Quoted:

The long commute would be about 30 compared to my current 15, the closer job would be 10 miles.

I make over 72k now.

View Quote

let's do the math.

20% raise to 'work' an extra half-hour per day?

i'd take that so fast it'd make your head spin.

Posted: 3/18/2019 7:40:42 PM EDT

[#45]

You are doing it wrong.

I got one that was closer for more money..

Do that.

If you cant then do the closer to home one.

Spending half your day in traffic isnt worth the money

Posted: 3/18/2019 7:41:42 PM EDT

[#46]

Quote History

Quoted:
let's do the math.

20% raise to 'work' an extra half-hour per day?

i'd take that so fast it'd make your head spin.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

The long commute would be about 30 compared to my current 15, the closer job would be 10 miles.

I make over 72k now.

let's do the math.

20% raise to 'work' an extra half-hour per day?

i'd take that so fast it'd make your head spin.

Ever see traffic in Seattle?

Posted: 3/18/2019 7:50:20 PM EDT

[#47]

Quote History

Quoted:

$15k for 15 extra minutes each way? Not even a question man, it's worth it.

View Quote

This.

It's not like you are going from a 1 hour commute to a 2 hour commute. You are going to 30mins. I already do that and in reality, 30 mins is about perfect. Enough time to break up work and home, yet not so long that you hate life.

To be fair, my AM commute is about 20 mins, my afternoon is 30mins, give or take. To me, it's in the goldilocks range...not too long to be arduous and not too short to make work think that "you can be here in 5 minutes, come in and fix this and you will be home in no time."

Posted: 3/18/2019 8:01:14 PM EDT

[#48]

Quote History

Quoted:

The long commute would be about 30 compared to my current 15, the closer job would be 10 miles.

I make over 72k now.

View Quote

I would take that unless I really liked my current job. 30 minutes really isn't a bad commute, start listening to podcasts in the car.

Posted: 3/18/2019 8:03:01 PM EDT

[#49]

Quote History

Quoted:
The long commute would be about 30 compared to my current 15, the closer job would be 10 miles.

I make over 72k now.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
How long exactly is doubble the length? Also how much do you make. If I make $150k I'm not driving two extra hours a day for another $16K. I probably would if I was making $35k.

The long commute would be about 30 compared to my current 15, the closer job would be 10 miles.

I make over 72k now.

Miles or minutes? 15 miles in Montana is 13 minutes, it's slightly different than NYC.

Posted: 3/18/2019 8:08:05 PM EDT

[#50]

Earn and save while you can.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Higher paying job with a longer commute or same paying job closer to home? (Page 1 of 2)

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