How important is job satisfaction to you?

[dotfurio]

There has to be a balance. I made more as an x-ray tech than I did when I became a teacher, but the schedule of a teacher is much more family friendly.

That said, it's hard to justify investing years of time and a ton of money into a college degree when you can make a bigger salary doing a different job with just a high school diploma. Maybe retail and other unskilled workers should make more, but retail workers don't have to have degrees. Lots of careers are stressful. I feel in general jobs that require more investment in education or skills should offer higher wages.

 

[Colleen27]

What is your field? I can't help being curious.

I'm a reporter for a small weekly newspaper. The other participants in the conversation were an early childhood teacher (4 year degree), nursing aide (2 year degree), and a paraprofessional (2 year degree).

Those are huge, and worth an awful lot. Many people would love to have what you have! Don't look at it as a dollar value, per se. Think of it as, you met a personal goal, your degree, and you're doing the work you want to do, in a situation with a lot of flexibility. That's worth something! A lot, actually! Perhaps as you move forward, your compensation will improve. I wouldn't compare your situation to a WalMart worker's.

I know. This is a total first world problem and I said as much to DH yesterday when I was being sort of short with him because I was working on a breaking story on a tight deadline while he watched CNN talk about Walmart's new starting wage. I really shouldn't complain at all - few jobs would let me have the flexibility I have right now, and that has been immensely helpful as we all navigate the transition from me being home for so long to working full time. I'm doing what I want to be doing, what I've always wanted to do as long as I can remember, and there's a strong potential for much better pay in a few years when we are ready to either relocate or manage a longer commute/more demanding schedule. But it is hard not to get a bit um... witchy about it when I get to thinking about the finances of the current moment.

 

[georgina]

My nephew has a masters in journalism from Northwestern, and after years working for a small paper switched into web design for more money. I have several friends who teach preschool or early childhood, and the janitorial staff earn more money than they do. I suspect it is less than $11 an hour!

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I think there has to be some kind of balance. I have yet to find that balance. I do not think that making "great money" would make up for being miserable at what you do. However, some stuff just won't pay the bills.

 

[DawnM]

What is your field? I can't help being curious.

I'm a public schoolteacher in the state of Texas, and while I basically like my job, there have been many times in my life that I've wished I'd gone in for a more lucrative and less stressful profession. However, the way my life is now (single mom with special needs child in private school), I have absolutely no choice but to continue with my current career, as it pays the bills (though not handsomely, compared to the labor-intensity and importance of the work I do), and I don't have time to go back to school and get trained for a different career path.

The biggest perk my job offers is the summers off, which has provided me a good amount of time to work with my son and give him much-needed help with his special needs. I could see myself doing online grad school classes to qualify for a higher-paying, year-round administrative position after my son goes to college, but that would be several years from now.

So I guess my bottom line is that money matters, but so does having a job that fits with your life. And at the end of the day, I go to work because that's what I have to do to pay the bills.

The biggest perk for me is retirement benefits. I have been asked to do some other things, like go into publishing sales and travel and train teachers to use the curriculum, and the pay is much more than working in the schools, BUT, there are not benefits (yes a small 401K but no health benefits) and no health care in retirement, which the state job will provide.

I TRY to look at my job as not just my paycheck but the retirement pay as well, that makes me feel a little better.

But with stagnant salaries for 10 years, it can be hard.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Some friends and I were having an interesting conversation yesterday, in which we realized that after the announcements from Walmart and others about boosting their base wages, we're actually making the same or less than cashiers and stock boys in our skilled or semi-skilled positions. All four of us that were in this discussion have 2 or 4 year degrees and are working in our fields, so we're not the cliched "got a useless degree, working at Starbucks" set. We're just in low paying fields and so far, the pay scales aren't shifting to compete with low-skill employers.

I thought the conversation was interesting because my whole life I've heard that the true cost of raising minimum wage is exponentially greater than the impact on retail/food service because EMTs and nurses aids and para-pros won't work for $10/hr if they can make $11 at Walmart... and yet here we are, a group of women talking about how we're doing just that. And it made me wonder if this is where we're going, economically, where job satisfaction now comes with an actual price tag and the opportunity to use our skills and training is something that costs, rather than benefits, workers who want to avoid the retail/food service grind.

What price would you pay to have a satisfying job? Is it worth earning less than even the lowest-wage employees to have a job you enjoy or a better work-life balance? I'll admit, I was seriously annoyed yesterday when I first heard that Walmart greeters will be making just about what I make in a position that requires a four-year degree, but I still wouldn't trade my position for theirs. And maybe that's the problem, because it gives my employer absolutely no incentive to pay more than they do right now.

I'm definitely in the satisfaction over money camp! I was making more than I do now at 30, but I stepped out of corporate life to be a SAHM and then went back to work several years later as a substitute teacher. I make less, but the flexibility was absolutely key to our family. I was good at my old job, and I enjoyed some aspects of it, but I have more of a passion for teaching.

The question also reminds me of a book I read back in high school. I can't remember the name, but it was one of those anti-utopia novels, where the supposedly perfect society falls apart. One thing I remember thinking they'd gotten right, though, was that the more unpleasant the job, the fewer hours you had to work for the same "money" (I don't really think it was a money-based economy, but I don't remember the details) - so someone like a trash collector did a messy job for a few hours, but had more free time.

I think it comes down to whether or not you have the luxury to make that choice.

Job satisfaction is EXTREMELY important to me. I'd much rather be in a career I love than greeting people at Walmart. However, if we are talking a significant pay differential, then you might see me greeting at Walmart. It's very important to be happy in your profession; however, you also need to be able to put a roof over your head and not stress about paying the water bill. Having financial security is important to me and it could be more important than job satisfaction. Just depends where I am in life.

If I'm living in a dual-income household and my SO's salary affords me the luxury of taking lower pay for more gratification, then that would be my choice.

Exactly. I also couldn't have made the choices I made without DH's job being part of the equation.

My job is no where close to where i expected to be or what I studied - I'm currently working in insurance licensing with a music degree. Shockingly to me, I LOVE what I do, but it definitely has more to do with the environment than the actual job as my boss is amazing and is super lenient as long as your job is getting done. Would I get more enjoyment out of a job in my field? YES. But would I be able to pay the bills? NOPE!

So true! I think a lot of the time, who you work with is way more important than what you actually do.

 

[Mizzoufan]

I think you need to be happy in a job in order to stay. No ones going to stay at a job they hate no matter how great it pays.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I left a job in insurance billing at a hospital where I made decent money (for this area) and took a job at my son's school where I made minimum wage to start and now make just a hair over that. The pay is almost half of what I was making before, but I am no longer miserable and I enjoy my job. I was good at insurance billing and I like the work there but we were treated terribly and I finally quit after 11 years of it. I do have an associates degree in office administration which I sort of use now. I don't think I could work retail (unless it was a have-to situation) even though it pays more than I make now. My husband left engineering after almost 10 years to work as a paramedic for similar reasons. Our income isn't nearly as high as it used to be, but we have enough and are happy.

 

[Shanti]

I think you need to be happy in a job in order to stay. No ones going to stay at a job they hate no matter how great it pays.

Um, they will if they really need the money and don't have other viable alternatives.

 

[Mizzoufan]

Um, they will if they really need the money and don't have other viable alternatives.

I personally don't know anyone who would stay at a job they hated no matter how bad they need money. Would you

 

[morgan98]

I personally don't know anyone who would stay at a job they hated no matter how bad they need money. Would you

Yes, if the alternative was no income, not being able to pay your bills and or relying on some type of government assistance. Sometimes, responsibility wins out.

If one were truly miserable, you would hope they would be looking for something better while still being employed.

Anyway, it is called WORK for a reason. I like my job, am respected, have received numerous promotions over the years, but it is still high pressured and I would rather be doing something a little less stressful. But, I am not willing to give up significant pay to do so. As it stands now, I can afford pretty much all of my wants, and that in and of itself is a food feeling.

 

[dosekies]

I personally don't know anyone who would stay at a job they hated no matter how bad they need money. Would you

Of course they would. I had a horrid job right after graduation, but it was somewhere to work with great hours and pay while looking for a more permanent full time job. I worked for a small business as a front desk attendant, but basically became a manager but without the actual title or pay. The owner was an ***, the manager he ended up hiring was even worse, and I was basically running the place on my own during the day. They were extremely rude and verbally abusive to employees, would drink on the job, show up late, etc. I am always able to hide my real feelings at work, but eventually even I would begin to argue with them. But the money was good and I needed to pay my student loans. Luckily I ended up finding something better after a few months, but when I needed additional money and the old job asked if I wanted to continue working there because for some reason they loved me and I was good at what I was doing, I agreed and continued to work there a few nights a week after my regular job. You do what you need to do to pay the bills. I can have fun and relax and be happy when I'm not a work, but when I am at work it is to make money to pay for things I need.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I would stay at any job i need be. Luckily most o the time I am happy at work.

 

[Southernmiss]

For me, it's work-life balance that has been the most important. I left a 12 year job in banking that I was good at 20 years ago to become a part-time worker at our church and mostly a mom. The banking job as requiring long hours and the culture of that bank was changing in a manner that I was not comfortable with.

Now that the the kids are almost grown we are seeing the benefits of that decision. The kids are good kids and becoming productive citizens and have done well in school.

I've been a full-time office manager in our church for the last 3 years. This has allowed me to flexibility I need with my family.

My flexibility has allowed dh the opportunities he has needed to succeed in 2 careers to support all of us.

This arrangement has given our household peace, harmony, happiness and our needs are met and some of our wants.

 

[GreatLakes]

I'm a reporter for a small weekly newspaper. The other participants in the conversation were an early childhood teacher (4 year degree), nursing aide (2 year degree), and a paraprofessional (2 year degree).

Sorry for the off topic question but I thought you had posted here that you went back to school for an IT degree and we're working in that field. Am I mixing you up with someone else?

 

[Happyinwonerland]

For me, salary is always a big part of the equation. If I can't pay the bills, no amount of job satisfaction would be worth it.I have a stressful job that requires long work days, but is only 3 days a week. I get paid fairly and have good benefits. I like my position and the company I work for.

That said, if tomorrow they dropped my pay or walmart raised wages to be greater than what I make, I'd leave in a heartbeat. My main goal for working is to maximize my profit for time invested. My job would pretty much be the same no matter where I work, might as well make as much as possible while doing it.

I have worked as a CNA before, it is hard work. At the time I made $12/hr, no benefits and it was a paycut from my previous office job, but I needed the "in" at the hospital while I was earning my RN license. Had walmart paid $11/hr, I would not have been as likely to work as a CNA.

 

[Mokat76]

Job satisfaction is great. Often I am quite satisfied in my job. However, I work for DOD and military bosses change often. Most are terrific people and a pleasure to work for. Others, well, are jerks out to make their next rank or whatever and they do it on the backs of those who serve under them. They demean and belittle; they take credit for others’ work; they won’t listen to advice/counsel from folks who’ve been around he block a few times. Fortunately, they, too, move on (or ideally are bitten by karma). So, yeah, while job satisfaction is important, as Gumbo said, it doesn’t pay the bills. Overall, it’s a long term game. In the long run, I love what I do, but there are some 2-3 year periods that have been awful. This was true when I was on active duty and as a civilian employee.

 

[Shanti]

I personally don't know anyone who would stay at a job they hated no matter how bad they need money. Would you

Absolutely. I have done so in the past, teaching at a bad school with terrible working conditions. I left school crying sometimes, dreaded going to work most days, but I was a single mom- no way I could just walk out midyear- you'll never get hired again as a teacher if you do. Providing for my son comes first. I finally was able to get a better position, but I couldn't just leave the job I hated when I first really wanted to leave it. A lot of people are in similar circumstances.

 

[sk!mom]

What is your field? I can't help being curious.

I'm a public schoolteacher in the state of Texas, and while I basically like my job, there have been many times in my life that I've wished I'd gone in for a more lucrative and less stressful profession. However, the way my life is now (single mom with special needs child in private school), I have absolutely no choice but to continue with my current career, as it pays the bills (though not handsomely, compared to the labor-intensity and importance of the work I do), and I don't have time to go back to school and get trained for a different career path.

The biggest perk my job offers is the summers off, which has provided me a good amount of time to work with my son and give him much-needed help with his special needs. I could see myself doing online grad school classes to qualify for a higher-paying, year-round administrative position after my son goes to college, but that would be several years from now.

So I guess my bottom line is that money matters, but so does having a job that fits with your life. And at the end of the day, I go to work because that's what I have to do to pay the bills.

I'm also a public school teacher in Texas. I love my job but also sometimes think that for the amount of stress and work, I should have gone into something more lucrative. But then I circle back to- I love my job.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I think you need to be happy in a job in order to stay. No ones going to stay at a job they hate no matter how great it pays.

Yeah, no. Leaving isn't always an option.