I was actually planning on taking a pay cut when I was quitting my day job to work from home...I ended up getting a 100% pay increase...life is funny sometimes. 

 

 

I love your story and am so inspired by what you do!  I'm getting ready to graduate from my MA program in May and now is the time I have to start thinking about the long term.  Seeing posts like this, and posing hard questions are really getting me thinking...I have a lot to ponder with no direction in mind.

 

Get a job or strike out on my own?  I really need to think about this!

However, I find it interesting that so many people have a specific $$$ amount. If you moved from a rural area to NYC, a 20K increase may not do anything for you. Commuting is a big deal too. If you live in an area where there is relatively no commute, many people forget to figure in the additional expenses for gas and time pertaining to commuting.

Very perceptive.  In the past, if I was really happy with where I was, I would set a number, almost unreasonably high, as the number that would make me leave.  But in reality, I just didn't want to leave.  I think most of us are flexible and like to have options open so we set conditions that would make us alter our plans.  Honestly, your 10 to 20 percent sounds pretty reasonable.

Don't the employers you guys work for go with salary bands that are competitive for the market you are in? How can you get a 30-50% pay raise doing the same job you were doing before for another company without shattering all reasonable salary bands?

Or maybe you really just don't want to move?!

Personally, it would be tough to get me to move to an area that I didn't want to move to no matter how much money was offered. I like being close to family! 10-20% would probably get me to jump ship in the same or nearby city as long as the work environment and benefits were as good or better as what I already had.

Let's see, with further thought, we are vested in a pension after five years (I am just about at my three-year anniversary). We have to contribute 6.45% towards it, and the agency matches this. Also, I work a compressed schedule, so am off every Friday for the last two and a half years--this is huge.

However, it is widely known that my salary would about double by leaving...yet I kind of like my job. I feel like I am doing the air very good by analyzing permits, regulations, reports, and visiting sites. So I guess doubling my salary has not been enough for me to leave yet! I think it's because blogging is so important to me, and this job gives me the flexibility to really pursue blogging, on top of being something I am interested in and feel a purpose in doing.

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Buck Inspire said:

Hi Amanda,

 

You seem to be in a unique and enviable position.  Good for you!  Would like to hear your thoughts from your POV after you think it over.

Pension and lifetime medical is nothing to sneeze at!