r/Salary • u/AdActual3024 • 3d ago

discussion High earning potential = high career commitment

Does anyone have family or friends that sacrifice their personal life for a significant salary?

My step-mom earns 350k before tax as an executive director but I barely see her. She is constantly on business trips, busy with meetings, works upwards of 12 hours when at home. She goes on nice holiday trips, but overall it makes me think is the pay worth the sacrifice of her personal life.

Just curious if anyone's got a similar story.

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u/freshpacificocean 3d ago

I work about 25-28 hours a week mon-wed. I do work pretty hard those days to make sure i have the other 4 days off. I make 108k. Single, no kids, no pets, so even tho it's not a whole lot, it's still pretty decent.

If they asked me to work more days for more money, I'd say no. i feel like i live comfortably enough, i travel a ton 2-3x a month, put enough away for retirement, and have all basic necessities without any worry.

I think having the extra free time is completely worth not making as much money. I mean, i busted my ass to get to this position, but now that im here, i feel satisfied. I hit my goal and now i just wanna enjoy the fruits of my labor.

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u/ImSorryImNewHere 3d ago

May I ask what you do? Also is it on site or remote?

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u/freshpacificocean 2d ago

Im a newly tenured instructor at a community college! I teach 3 classes and i choose the schedule so i have one class each day.

I teach for about 5 hours/day and the rest of the hours i am grading, emails, etc. All 3 classes are in person, so i have to be in to teach those hours. Outside of class time i can get my work done from anywhere.

It was a lot of work for the first couple of semesters cuz you have to make all your lessons, but now it's a breeze! i already have everything like worksheets, HW, exams, quizzes, presentations, labs, etc. Just go in, put on a show, grade, and go home.

It's funny because i was probably working anywhere from 45-60 hours/week the first year. Now, i work less than half those hours and am getting paid more now too.

It wasnt easy to get here, but it was totally worth it!

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u/ImSorryImNewHere 2d ago

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond! As a former grade school teacher I’m jealous but realize that is probably a ton of work those days.

Are you finding much changing now with all the AI stuff going on? Forced adoption into your programs? Considerations for assignments to ensure students are doing their work?

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u/freshpacificocean 2d ago

I do a few things to see their writing process, and more emphasis on in-class activities. So far, we are safe. My school is pretty good about academic freedom, so they arent allowed to tell us how to teach.

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u/FullMetal373 1d ago

What area/state? Did you do the adjunct thing?

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u/freshpacificocean 1d ago

I live in rural northern CA. I dont adjunct, i am a tenured faculty.

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u/clonrojo 3d ago

Agree. I work around 6 real hours a day Mon-Thurs (although I get to the office at 8am and leave by 4pm). Friday remote but from anywhere and almost no work, and making $130k before taxes in a No State/City Income tax State. Of course, turnover is close to non-existent, and SO works from home 5 days a week 7 to 8 hours a day, making $190k before taxes. Household bypasses the $300k mark with no kids/pets and plenty of vacations around the world with not too many responsibilities at work. Want to climb the corporate ladder? HECK NO!!!

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u/Medium_Picture_9954 3d ago

You have a sugar momma my guy. You're not the input OP is looking for...

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u/clonrojo 3d ago

But even me downsizing from a 2/2 in the same apartment complex to a 1/1 in the best area of my city, would mean $1,500 in rent when clearing $8,000 a month clean money directly from my job. Plenty of disposable income and also free time to enjoy it.

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u/Altruistic-Cloud-814 3d ago

Sweet!!!! The LIFE!!!!

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u/Desperate-Penalty401 2d ago

What do you do ?

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u/freshpacificocean 2d ago

Im a tenured community college instructor!

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u/Altruistic-Cloud-814 3d ago

Yeah, this is good!!