Right now, my job pays $40/hr as a base, but since I only work Friday to Sunday, my total pay with differentials is about $45/hr. My commute is around 20 minutes one way, and I work 12-hour shifts in the medical field.
I just got an offer at another hospital about an hour away. The base pay is $52/hr, and the location is in a less populated area. I can’t move for at least 3 years because of my partner’s job, so relocating isn’t an option for now.
We don’t have kids yet but plan to in the future. My schedule would let me be home Monday to Thursday, so I don’t think I’d miss too much time with them.
Would the higher pay be worth the commute, or would the extra money just get eaten up by gas and time on the road?
That’s a 2-hour round-trip commute, so that’s 6 extra hours driving every week. The extra pay before taxes is about $480 a week.
Do you think it’s worth $480 to spend 6 more hours per week on the road? Factor in gas, wear on your car, and being more tired after shifts. Only you can decide if the trade-off is worth it.
Rosalie said: @Barbara
Wow, when you put it that way… 6 hours in the car every week is a lot.
Honestly, I don’t mind driving. I used to drive an hour each way for summer shifts, and I actually enjoyed it. The only difference is that this new location is in the mountains, so there might be more wildlife on the road.
@Griff
There are other things to consider beyond just pay and commute time. Are you early in your career? A higher salary now could give you more leverage in future negotiations.
What about the work environment? Do you like your current coworkers? How long have you been in your current job? Are there many jobs in your area, or is this a rare opportunity?
I took a similar risk early in my career, and it paid off big time. Within two years, my salary doubled, and it set me up for early retirement. Sometimes, taking a step outside your comfort zone can open doors you didn’t expect.
@EvelynMason4
Completely agree. Don’t just think about the short-term pay increase. Consider if this job sets you up for more growth and better opportunities later.
Rosalie said: @Barbara
Wow, when you put it that way… 6 hours in the car every week is a lot.
For me, it depends on the kind of drive. I had a 50-minute commute for years, but it was on a quiet highway, and I used the time to catch up on podcasts. If it had been city traffic, no way I’d have done it.
A good way to look at this is to include your commute time in your total work hours.
Right now, your commute is 20 minutes each way, so that’s 40 minutes a day, 2 hours a week. With the new job, you’d be commuting 2 hours a day, 6 hours a week. That’s an extra 4 hours per week spent on work-related time.
Factor that into your pay, and your true hourly wage increase might be smaller than you think.
I took a job with a long commute once. At first, I didn’t mind it, but after a few months, it started wearing me down. After a year, I couldn’t take it anymore. Think about whether you’ll still be happy with that drive after six months.
@Skye
That’s one of my concerns too. I really like my current job and the flexibility I have. If I take this job and end up hating the commute, I might not be able to go back to what I have now.
Something else to think about—commuting more means more time on the road, which increases the risk of accidents. Also, being farther from home can be inconvenient if you need to handle personal stuff during the day.