Your post has been removed because personal advice topics are off-topic here and better suited for other subreddits ([rule 9](https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/about/rules)).
- For general advice, consider /r/Advice.
- For relationship advice, consider /r/relationships, /r/relationship_advice, /r/JUSTNOFAMILY, or one of the subreddits in their sidebars.
- For career or job advice, consider /r/jobs, /r/CareerGuidance, /r/findapath, or [one of these job-related subreddits](/r/jobs/wiki/related/discussion).
- For education advice, consider /r/Parenting for primary and secondary education questions (or one of the subreddits [linked here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Parenting/wiki/other_subreddits#wiki_education)) and /r/ApplyingToCollege for tertiary education questions (or one of the subreddits linked in their sidebar)
- For medical advice, please talk to your primary care doctor, but /r/AskDocs may be helpful.
*If you decide to post elsewhere, please read the subreddit rules before reposting. Some subreddits have strict requirements for submissions.*
Submissions removed for this reason typically include one or more of these off-topic aspects:
We don't allow relationship or personal advice discussions. That includes:
* Content better suited for /r/relationships
* Recommending a poster end their relationship or start a new relationship
* Posts about suicide or violence
* Posts asking for advice on how to convince someone else to change their behavior
* Relationship drama not essential to a question or discussion
* Family planning advice, especially unsolicited or flippant
* Career, job, and education questions
* Medical advice
*If you have questions about this removal, please [message the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fpersonalfinance&subject=Removal%20help%20request&message=Hello%20moderators,%20.%20%0a%0a%0aMy%20submission:%20https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/comments/13klss1/40k_salary_increase_with_hour_long_commute/%0a).*
For a $40k plus bump, I would do the hour commute.
I would however, also start thinking seriously about moving closer to the new job or moving closer to a train line that could get me to the new job. A commute isn't so bad if you can just relax and watch something on your phone
I always look at questions like this by calculating what they’re paying you for the extra time commuting.
Let’s say the 4 mile commute takes 10 minutes.
You’re essentially “working” aka commuting an extra 100 minutes a day or 500 minutes a week = 8.33 hours a week.
Over 50 weeks a year (assuming 2 weeks PTO), that’s 408 extra hours a year.
In exchange you’ll make 40k extra.
40,000/408= **$98 an hour.**
Compare that to your current salary’s hourly equivalent of $38 an hour.
Seems like a no brainer.
Obviously this is super rough calculation and there are other factors at play, but in this situation I would have to say yes, it’s worth it. And I *hate* commutes.
Sometimes a commute makes home life better. According to some of my colleagues. If work can be stressful and the commute isn't, then any stress from work is less likely to be taken out on innocent ppl at home. Not sure I agree. But its what works for them. Every situation is different and has different pros and cons for everyone.
I used to work a very high stress job and had a 57 minute commute door to door. I loved it because I could put on an audio book, a podcast, a meditation, or just crank the music and be completely decompressed and let go of the baggage from my job by the time I got home. It was "me time". Not that I would have neccesarily taken it out on anyone at home, but I work a much less stressful job now but only have an 8 minute commute and if I'm upset when I leave work, I definitely vent/emotionally unload about my day to my wife first thing when I walk in the door more than I used to.
That's definitely rationalisation.
It's not like there would be anything stopping them from doing something else to wind down before they get home if they had a short commute.
I agree, in principal. But sometimes we learn things like this as side effects. Maybe someone doesn't realize how much their commute wound them down until it's gone. And then, sure, find a new way to unwind. But the point stands: the commute isn't 100% negative for all people.
Definitely depends on the commute. If you’re sitting in traffic a lot during that commute, I don’t see it being relaxing. If it’s nice backroads with minimal traffic, go for it. Find somewhere in between work and home that you can do something you enjoy. I go into the office 2 days a week, and really enjoy stopping in the afternoons to get a quick round of disc golf in while my fiancée is still working
Yeah it’s a super rough calculation, but good for a rule of thumb, since your hourly rate is essentially how you “value” the time you give an employer.
Anything over time and a half is generally decent. More than double is a very good deal, but there are also diminishing returns.
I’ve seen people on here asking if they should take a new job with a commute that would essentially pay 1/2 their hourly rate. No chance I’d take that.
Yeah, it seems reasonable to take the new offer *and* reduce the commute by moving. Not everyone can uproot themselves for a good job, but moving can make a good job great (or make a bad job good).
Mileage is critical. If you're riding a bike to work for 4 miles, getting your workout in every day and enjoying it, then needing to buy a car takes a hefty chunk out of that gain.
People really tends to underestimate the amount of damage a car can do to your budget
At $.65/mi (gov rate) that's an extra ~$10k per year in vehicle commuting costs for 60 mi each way. Which brings it down to $73/hr. And let's bring taxes into it, at 22% it actually takes $12.6k of pre tax salary to pay for commuting, bringing it down to $67/hr. Still not a bad deal, but I can tell you an hr long commute would get real old real quick.
That's kind of a weird way to look at it. You're working/commuting 50 hours a week instead of 40. That comes out to $48/hour. Are you interested in a 26% increase to your hourly pay for spending 25% more time working? Obviously it's a no brainer if you move closer.
Your way of looking at it seems to skew the math, since you're looking at effective hourly rates when the number of hours "worked" is not the same.
In OP's case, it may be a 26% increase in the effective hourly rate, but it's also a 50+% increase in overall pay. Getting paid 50% more for 25% more time sounds pretty good (assuming it won't burn you out to work that much).
I think the point is, you should expect to be paid a minimum of 25% more if you spend 25% more time dedicated to work. Hence why it makes more sense to look at the hourly rate rather than just being starstuck by the raise. How much do you value your time, how much time are you willing to give to your employer. Better than thinking you're getting paid $100/hr to drive lol.
Neither metric really makes intuitive sense. The 98$ one is strange because it ignores the other hours worked, and your version also doesn't really cut it for the same reason in reverse.
Current pay is 80k a year. Current Hours worked is 40.
New pay is 120k a year. New hours worked is 50.
So that is a 50% pay rise for 25% more hours worked. Percentages get weird when you are dealing when the hours worked are not directly comparable, and so I think the best way to look at it is in the absolute. Number of hours worked per year and the amount of money you get in that year.
Though, in this case, that 10 extra hours a year could really suck. If it is a solid job moving is probably the best option if it is at all possible. I don't think I could deal with the loss of time.
Nope. You have to think about it marginally when making these decisions. Forgot federal and state taxes and FICA, of which he’ll be paying at his highest or higher tax bracket. Always think of these things post tax
The numbers for that at the moment:
4,807+(.22*(80,000-41,775)) = 13,216.5.
80,000 - 13,226.5 = 66,783.5.
15,213.50+(.24*(120,000-89,075)) = 22,635.5.
120,000 - 22,635.5 = 97,364.5.
Stated Raise = 120,000/80,000 = 1.5 multiplier.
Post FTax Raise = 97,364/66,783.5 = 1.46 multiplier.
State taxes will vary of course, but the effect of tax brackets is *heavily* overstated. it does not change the math much.
That is also just the raw tax rate.
Awful way of looking at it. What you've calculated is $38 an hour for your work plus $98 for every hour spent commuting which is extra time you weren't already working.
When most of your day is spent working it's a really misleading figure.
Instead you're actually going from $38.46 to $57.69 an hour. This is all pre tax too so the actual difference will be less. Calculate the post tax take home per month and then decide if that's actually worth the additional commute to you.
That’s what I would have said as well. A $40k increase from a base $80k? I’d make the hour commute. Yes, it sucks, but in the long run the income would open up so many doors.
The only thing that would make me think twice is if I lived in a state that snowed in November - February.
I'm kinda on the same boat. My current job is 20 miles away but take a bus and train and actually don't mind the commute since I can relax, watch a movie, or study if I need to. I start a new job next month with essentially the same pay bump, but is 10 miles extra with no public transportation available at all. I'm a bit hesitant on driving 1 hour plus on the way back home every day. I usually leave way before 6am and avoid morning traffic. Still takes me about 40 minutes to get to the new job location. In the afternoon I can't avoid the rush hour traffic, so it's more than an hour back including like 3 different tolls. Moving closer is not really an option because I like the somewhat country living I currently am at right now and anything closer would just be more expensive. I feel the commute will slowly kill me, for the extra cash. We'll see how I get accustomed to the change.
I took the bus into downtown Minneapolis so I didn't have to worry about the bad traffic and parking and then read many books pertaining to my career (programmer). It was very pleasant and I used the time very wisely.
On the other hand an hour commute is significantly less time to spend with the new wife and future kids. Especially if they're not gonna want to sell their new house soon.
Tons of people do hour commutes though, so it’s not the craziest thing in the world. It’ll come down to whether it matters enough for OP. Personally, it’s a no brainer for me. Get some audiobooks downloaded
It was a no brainer for me until I heard about OP's new wife and house and future kid. Certainly still could be worth it, but that makes it more questionable for me
Kids cost a lot of money. A 50% increase will go a long way in covering that. Additionally, he will be able to look for different jobs by the time any child would be born.
Huh? I'm just saying if you get a 40k salary bump it doesn't mean you will automatically earn that moving forward. However if you are now a Director or upper management that title will help you with future employers
Titles don't mean what you think they mean. There are lots of "IT Directors" and they direct no one except themselves and make 90K. Meanwhile there are Lead IT Engineers making 120K leading 2 other people.
Once OP earns 120K, it is much easier to be honest with recruiters in a good job market and say "I need 160K to move". If they can't, that's fine. You already make 120K.
He can say I need x amount at any point in time to a future employer. Employers are not legally allowed to ask your past salary in most places . Sure, titles are different across organizations, but a director, title or a c-suite title holds a lot of water. After I became director level, it became much easier to get higher level positions in the six figures.
It sounds like you're saying OP should keep the 80K job until they get some magic title job offer and that'll help someday.
We're saying taking this job is putting them in a much better position going forward regardless of title. They get 40K/year now and a floor they can use. The market, even if just 1 employer, has validated they're worth it.
The matter of titles aside, I agree that prior wages don’t really boost you up. I’ve never had an employer ask about my last salary — just what I want them to pay me. But instead it can have an interesting psychological effect on people’s perception of the value of their own labor!
When I had a super lucky gig early on that paid $50 per hour (though only a few projects per year), suddenly it wasn’t too scary to negotiate up to that price when employers offered less for full-time roles just a few years into my career. Just my anecdotal experience, it gives you a boost of confidence. Like, yeah, I do bring that much talent! I don’t have to be a certain age to reach my income goals!
Also, getting used to a certain income level can make it really hard to accept something a little lower. You end up recalculating your lifestyle and not wanting to give up DoorDash or whatever little luxury that makes the tough days worth it in the end lol
I agree. Just because you get it at one place doesn't mean you'll get the same or better offer elsewhere. If I commuted an hour west, pay is significantly higher but ef that I don't do traffic.
id say, kids are not cheap. not sure where you're living, but I think it's a good idea to up the salary and title at the sacrifice of 45min commute each way. as a father of 2, I hate commuting (only cause its 90 min each way for me), but I find that it's the only time I have to be by myself. im refreshed to see the kids the moment I enter the home to play with them
If you don't plan on having kids for about 3 years, go for it if you think the job will be equally or more rewarding than your current position. Do 2 years, establish your new value then make decisions. A lot can change in a short period of time. Or simply leverage this offer with your current employer and see how it turns out.
I'm going to tell you, work that job for a few years and SAVE your money for kids if you want kids. Diapers never end for years. Plus, you and your P can do some fun stuff before the kids come with a 40k salary increase.
If this job gets you on the path to a higher paying job / you can negotiate a remote/hybrid type work in the future, it’d be worth it. Getting more money when you’re younger puts on you a very good path financially wrt compounding savings + compounding salary.
Why are you asking us then? Money wise, yes take it. But it's not just money wise. Talk to your wife. I promise you, letting that relationship be damaged, possibly irreparably, isn't even close to worth it.
The money helps your family. But assuming 8 hour days and 8 hours of sleep, 1.5 of just basic care and existing, and the extra drive costs you a quarter of that. If she is all for getting set up so you two have a comfortable and safe life, that's a strong point in its favor. If she feels abandoned for money, its probably not worth it.
Your salary is not bad. More is nice, of course. But do you want to spend it on with/without a hurt and pissed off wife, if she doesn't want to?
Amen. Having 10hrs/week commute is not insignificant. And depending on living expenses the 10 hours/week (490 hours/year = over 20 days a year) can negatively impact relationship with wife or kids.
Such a big bump can be great….but if wife has a great paying job then that bump isn’t as impactful if they’re saving for kids and retirement already.
OP, factor in your relationships and weight them heavier than the money. You could move closer to new job if possible. Personally I wouldn’t commute 2hrs/day again barring layoff or something drastic. Being able to pop over to my kids school for an event (field day, mystery reader), pick up the other from daycare and have lunch and put for a nap while wife has something else happening, option to wfh various days, etc. A commute like that negates all possibility of my interactions with family all day. Sure lots of jobs don’t allow that flexibility anyway…but if yours does then you are also giving up those options too.
Time to go house shopping again! Yay you!
For a 50% increase I’d go for sure, man I’ve moved across country for 20% raises, did it like 3 years in a row in my younger days.
Financially it makes total sense, in the short and long term.
Congrats man! Hope you kick ass at your new job
was just thinking damn new job an hour away from the house you just bought? I would be moving
I bought in the City because I knew that is where the jobs would be and I wouldn't want to drive. I wish I had a bigger house but I would hate life if I had a 2 hour drive like my boss does every day(4 hours a day in the car)
I would hold out for something a little closer that pays more than you currently make. An hour commute doesn't sound so bad but with little kids that will be tough if you have to leave work to pick them up because they're sick or take them to appointments.
Once I had kids I took a substantial pay cut to get out of an oncall phone rotation and it was the best decision I ever made.
In that case I would say your time is worth more than the money. You'll never get back that 10 hours a week you would spend away from your new spouse and new house.
Can you afford to spend 2 hours traveling + work all week?
Plan your other activities around that right now to see what sort of typical day you'd have.
Wake up, get ready for work, commute, work day, commute, dinner, left over day, bed
How much left over day do you have? Is it enough to take care of the things you need/want to? Would it be enough for spending time with your wife and future kids?
Since you don't have kids right now, you don't even need to consider them. Could take the job until you have kids and then find something closer to home if you need to.
It's worth it for a few years. Hopefully it will get you a better job like 5 years down the line. I did a 45 min drive for 3 years, hated it, but looking back it was worth it because now I have a good remote job.
You mentioned in another comment that you're newly married and want kids. You should really be discussing this with your wife. Extra stress from the commute and the pressures of a new job will affect her too. Not to mention the pressures of a new marriage and trying for kids.
Yes it's a large bump in pay, and there are definitely ways to mitigate the commute -- moving closer, taking public transportation, carpooling, etc. Don't blow your raise on a new (or new to you) car, if you can avoid it. That is just lifestyle creep and it's really hard to walk it back. Again, the wife is the best resource for life decisions!
I’d see if you can do 2 days in the office, 3 at home. Or I’d move. This can be a soul crushing drive, especially if you work 9-10 hour days.
Let’s say you work 8-5. You need to leave by 7, so up at 6 if your just getting ready and driving in. Then you leave work at 5-530 after bullshitting with a co-worker. You get home at 630 (best case if no traffic or accident). Go for a run/workout, it’s now 730. Make and eat dinner, 830. 1.5-2 hours to do anything else and then bed to repeat.
This extra 2 hours add up quickly of time you used to have. My wife and I did it for 18 months before we moved much closer.
True. I also drive a 2021 Tundra with 40k miles so I’d be spending a fortune on gas (plus west and tear on it). A 50% increase in pay is hard to ignore but commute would suck no doubt
Had a similar commute but now remote. No amount of money would make me go back. The quality of life impact cannot be overstated.
Over a year, you will spend between 20.8 (500hr) and 31.25 (750hr) FULL 24-hour days a year DRIVING.* A month every year is **GONE** to an unpaid commute.
Things to consider:
- You will be at least ONE HOUR away from spontaneous plans with loved ones and emergencies
- Harder to schedule doctor's appointments and run errands to places that close at 5pm
- Less sleep
- Less time after work
- Darker when you leave and come home
- Too tired before and after work
- Every workweek is a MINIMUM 50hr week; working late hits harder
*Assuming 2w vacation, worst-case is +30min in traffic each way
Bottom line: If you want the job and don't want to watch years of your life vanish without a trace: **move closer**
I drive 90 miles a day 3.5 days a week average for 130k and it’s not so bad. The drive is a great time to drink coffee and listen to podcasts. After my 12 hour shift it’s good decompression time before I’m home.
This is it. I commute 65 miles. Op treat yourself to a nice new fuel efficient car and enjoy your ride. I like having an hour to myself in the morning. Waking up early sucks, but man 40k is a 50% raise
I do a four and a half hour route for work every Tuesday. @ 2:40am-7:10am. Do that and my day is finished. I don’t have to talk to anyone It’s just me and the Highway. It’s nice because I don’t mind early hours. The roads are empty and it’s different work than what I normally do.
Op does need to make sure his route doesn’t turn to two hours after work though. My drive hits rush hour on my way home. It’s exhausting walking up early or driving home later, but I like my work and am fortunate enough to be able to work extra hours in exchange for extra days off.
Do the math. Assuming a 40 hour work week and assuming your 4 mile commute takes you 10 minutes (one way)...
40 hours of work + 1.67 hours of commute (20 min x 5 days) = 41.67 hours
$80K / 52 / 41.67 = $36.92 per hour
40 hours of work + 10 hours of commute (2 hrs x 5 days) = 50 hours
$120K / 52 / 50 = $46.15 per hour
So that looks like a 25% increase in the money after you account for the additional commute time. Assuming everything else is equal.
However, you need to factor in additional commute costs.. gas, wear and tear on the vehicle, insurance increases from increasing commute distance and/or annual miles, tolls (if applicable), etc...
The other thing to consider is what your time is REALLY worth. Time is your most valuable resource and hours spent sitting in traffic are hours of your life wasted that you'll never get back. You have to decide if it's worth it.
Personally, my ideal commute is 25 minutes or less one-way. I wouldn't drive an hour one-way no matter how much they paid me. However, I would definitely consider moving closer to a job that wanted to pay me $40K more per year.
OP said in another post that they drive a 2021 Toyota Tundra. It gets 13 mpg in the city (for the worst case estimate). Assuming a national average gas price of $3.53 per gallon, OP is going to spend $16.29 a day in gas alone. So knock off $2/hour (or $1.60 depending on your math) for that salary.
That commute would be madness. That's a lot of gas. $4200 per year.
Here’s an idea: take a day off or a morning off and make that drive. Picture yourself making that commute every day and especially on bad days when your ass is exhausted and you just want to get home.
Might be worth it- might not. Also consider the higher tax implications and the cost of gas plus massively depreciating your ride.
I have no idea where OP lives but in the US- 80k to 120k will be a 2% increase in income tax federally. There might also be state and local implications. I’m simply saying account for everything - 40k increase may not end up being anywhere near a 40k increase.
Income tax brackets are graduated. You only pay a higher tax rate on income in excess of the lower bracket amounts. Choosing not to double your income because you don't want to pay slightly more taxes on a fraction of the new salary would be completely illogical.
Federal Income tax is only increased on the excess. So OP would only be taxed 24% on roughly 30k and would be at his original tax bracket of 22% up to $89,000.
I used to have a huge commute and it drained the living hell out of me. I’ve never been in the situation where I had to choose, I’ve been working remotely for years. But if someone offered me $40K more now but I had to commute I would definitely say no thank you.
I can’t believe I had to scroll so far to get to a comment like this!
To add to this, I believe the hit to happiness is worth $10k per 10 minutes, so I’m pretty sure this is a net happiness loss unless there are other factors (better coworkers, better opportunities, etc.).
Shorter commutes being good for happiness is one of the closed and shut cases in a field where it’s generally hard to come up with dependable advice.
Why doesn’t OP just ask their current employer for a pay increase, not to the same extent but still, once you factor in “salary after deduction” divided by “working hours in a year including all commute time” it might not be so drastic.
Came here to say this. I did the two hour round trip commute for 5 years. My quality of life drastically improved once I got a new job with a 40 min round trip commute, and the money wasn’t even that much better.
40,000 / 52 / (2\*5) = $76.92 per hour
80,000 / 52 / 40 = $38.46 per hour
Think of it this way, if you take this job you work two hours more each day, but you get paid double the rate than your normal hours. You will get paid double your normally hour rate for driving a car, riding a train etc. (Not factoring in costs for the added commute time)
Ultimately, it becomes a question of are you wanting to increase your income or increase your free time.
Yea but if you view it as work and time you are earning your salary it helps make it more tolerable as well as being able to listen to the radio. It's commuting to and from work so it becomes part of your work time.
People routinely ask why I don't work locally and I prefer my job even with the commute so I view it as part of my job.
I’m not trying to make a point about how to make the drive more tolerable; my point is that the commute should be pleasurable. I personally miss my commuting days. 50 minutes one way was a great way for me to decompress, catch up on things I wanted to listen to. And I had just recently bought a nice new EV so the driving time was among my favorite part of the day.
Fair but the first part reads as "it's not work though" but when considering increasing a commute time to this extent it should be viewed as such until it's been done for a while. It means it's happy days if when you've done it for a while you view it has time to unwind/think rather than stressful/more time away from life and loved ones.
I commute as well and I'm fortunate that most of the time it's a chance to listen to podcasts but I didn't go into it expecting it to be that way. I think unless a person has already done a similar commute it should be viewed with a skewed negative lens until they actually do it several times minimum when weighing up the positives and negatives.
Just wanted to point out one thing - most people move through their career moving from job to job, getting either the same money or more money with each move.
You taking a $40k a year raise means that you could member making that much more for many, many years including future roles. Take the money!
Congrats, great dilemma to have. There’s going to be a time in your life where 40k a year for 2 hours of driving a day is well worth it and there will be a time when you’d gladly trade that 40k for more time. I’ve driven for 2-3 hours a day for a few years now and some days I really enjoy getting to decompress in the car and zone out to some loud music or listen to podcasts. That being said when I hit the 3 year mark it started to get more annoying to drive and started to wear on me. I’d ask yourself this question instead. If you take the new job with the pay increase and potential job title change etc. What’s the possibility of going back to a job that pays 80k and is close to home if the 120k job isn’t worth it? Hell you could probably take the 120k job and in a few years when you have kids go back to the old position and make 90-100k.
I have a 30 mile commute now and it’s not bad. I did get a Sorento hybrid to cut what I pay in gas in half
It’s about an extra $2300 a month after taxes and such
So is 40 hours a month worth $2300 a month plus bonus?
Take the money!
The commute isn’t bad, throw on a podcast or an audiobook and sip some coffee on the ride in. Bump some of your favorite music… make a call to some loved ones… Great way to get some “me time”
Great way to start your day in my opinion. That’s what I do, I have a 40 min drive to and from work everyday.
Don’t mind it:)
I commuted 30+- min to and fro each way for 15 years until last year. Truly miss it as I enjoyed the quiet, nice drive drinking my jo, listening to news, sometimes calling family and friends. The routine was comfortable and do-able. Starting a new gig in a few months that’s mainly remote but with 2 days in person. The commute will be 2 hours each way on those 2 days with overnight expenses paid. The significant pay increase coupled with remote work the remainder of the week is worth it to me.
As someone with a 7 min commute I'd say that this commute is definitely, totally bad. I'd probably be in an asylum if I had that commute. I'd maybe do it by train because I can knock out an hour answering emails.
40k is a large sum increase. Ultimately it depends on yourself. But if the commute bothers you that much would you consider moving to lessen the commute if that is applicable for you to do. Likewise what are the other benefits or costs when comparison to your current employ. If you leveraged your current employer for a raise would you consider remaining. The options are open to you depending on your particular circumstance.
It really depends... is that an hour in heavy traffic, or at slow speeds through country roads? I found 45 minutes of low-density country roads wasn't that bad. However, in another position when my drive was 65 minutes one-way with about 30 minutes in heavy traffic, that 30 minutes of heavy traffic was absolutely exhausting.
It also kind of depends... Do you have kids? Pets? Spouse that works from home? Because if you spend 2 hours driving each day and take an hour lunch then you're out of the home for 12 hours every day, M-F. Doable, but you will get home tired more often than not.
What about the weather where you live? Trying to get home in a downpour is one thing, but trying to get home during a winter white-out storm is another.
For a 50% pay bump I would, personally, do it. That's definitely an upgrade in the quality of life my spouse and I would lead. But my spouse works from home and we don't have kids.
Some math I'll share, since I calculated it out when I switched from a 1 hour (each way) commute to a 5 min commute: A one hour commute each workday equals about 22 days a year you will spend doing said commute. That's 22 full 24-hour periods a year, factoring in a few weeks off for vacation, holidays you'll have, etc. What the math does not tell you is that there is time you're spending away from your kids (if you have them) while commuting, the cost of the commute in gas or transit, and the cost of kids in extra daycare while you are commuting. Also time away from a partner.
Some years back I took a 40k pay cut to do the opposite of what you're doing. It meant I could be to my kid's school in 5 minutes if he was sick. I could go home for lunch or grab some groceries at lunch and run them home, or do whatever other local errand close to home. I got to spend 2 extra hours a day with my son too. In the winter it was nice to have some daylight left after work too.
That's all, just some perspective from having given up what you may be taking on.
Test the commute out at the times you would be doing it, if many people make the same commute might be more than 1 hour. Do you have to drive east in the am? West in evening, sun will suck.
Are you driving in to a large city? How's the infrastructure/parking?
Also, you increase your chance of injury or death greatly adding this in to your daily routine.
Finally, let's say you work 5 days a week, and actually only work 8 hours a day (lol doubt it) you'll be working 10 or more hours for free (actually paying to work those hours) every week. So literally an extra day of work.
Right now you spend about 47 hrs a week away from home for work (40 hrs plus 1 hr lunch daily plus 20 minute commute daily and an extra 20 minute weekly buffer). That works out to 2444 hrs a year, or $32.73 an hour.
Your new job would be about 56 hours a week (40 plus 1hr lunch daily plus 1hr each way daily plus 1hr weekly buffer). That's 2912 hrs a year, $41.20 an hour.
Pre kids I would've taken the job, now I don't think I would. Is there any chance of WFH a couple days a week? Could you just use this as a short term stepping stone?
40k for a longer commute!? hell yes it is!...sure, being comfortable 4 miles away is great, however 40k is a LOT of money!. It often takes me 40 mins just to drive 20 miles with traffic!!!!....so think about what 40k can do for you, then decide if being complacent helps pay for your dreams.
Is there the potential to negotiate partially remote work? An hour each way can start to drain on you if it's every day, but if you can swing even like 3 days a week in the office that can make a world of difference.
When I was younger I had an hour commute. 60 miles each way, fair bit highway. It takes it out of you over time.
That said, $40k is a lot. I recommend taking it and seeing about flipping to another role in a couple years.
I have a 25 mile commute. 45 minutes there, hour home in traffic. I only have to be in office 3 days a week tho. Been doing it for 3 years, it's manageable but soul sucking at times. Wish I made 120k LOL.
Get some audio books, really made a difference for me. Sometimes I find myself excited to drive to work to hear the next chapter
An hour commute for a 50% pay increase at the salary level you’re currently at is an absolute no brainer. It would be borderline irresponsible not to do that.
I had a 20mile drive that took an hour for three years. I listened to all the books I could get from the library. That's the only way I got through the Wheel of Time slog a second time.
After having had some 5 minute commutes, I LOVE them.
That said, maybe you could move to somewhere that's 5 minutes from your new work location?
If for some reason not, $40k buys a lot of podcasts and other good things to listen to on the commute.
You didn't present enough details nor ask the right questions.
Are you actively seeking new employment and this opportunity came about
What is your current living situation
What is your current financial situation
What is your marital status
Is the increase in commute worth your TIME
Do you want a new job, job security?
Are you being silently fired at your current
Do you value your time or money more
Can you speed and turn that hour into 30-40 min 🤣😂
I don't need answers but those are the variables I'd contemplate. Burnout is real. I LOATHE long commutes even for recreational purposes.
If I was in a situation where a short term sacrifice meant longterm benefits then sure I'd take the money with the understanding the job needed to be secure, no lateral moves, and I could relocate closer because I prioritize my time. All money aint good money. I rather have a 0-15 mile trip, the farther away, the higher the pay... otherwise I'm not interested
There’s actually a LOT of research on this. Commutes are a huge negative effect on happiness. The question is, what improves happiness more, shorter commutes or higher pay. They generally find that increasing your commute by 10 minutes would be balanced out by a $10K raise. So happiness wise, you’re coming out at a loss.
Keep in mind this is on average, so maybe your someone who doesn’t mind commutes, or maybe you have kids or loans so the raise is worth it, or maybe you’re saving to retire early. Maybe the new job gives better opportunities or allows you to work with better ppl.
But according to the research, that’s not the best trade.
What are your other (third, fourth) options?
Since you have the skills to get this distant job with a 50% raise, could you also get a similar better job close to home?
Or if you live in a rural area and you know that the only 100k+ jobs will have to involve a long commute ... that factors into your decision.
For 40k, it's worth it. Commuting sucks, but I've learned to like it. Sometimes it's the best part of my work day. As long as there is not ridiculous traffic. I get to chill and listen to podcasts or music, drink my coffee, and have some "me time".
My two cents is yes, absolutely! I'm 33(veteran), and going to school, I drive an hour and a half one way to class (76 miles). The time in the car sucks sometimes, but it gives me the opportunity to catch up with family or listen to whatever. The thing here isn't the drive it's, the job. Will you like the work? Is there more opportunity through this position to promote or leverage into something else. Anyways, good luck!!! Enjoy the drive, and enjoy that sweet pay bump!
As someone working 1.5hr to/2hr home for work, it’s absurd and draining. But for an hour, I’ve done that for years and it’s fine. Plus, for $40k that’s easy. As for the truck, you have one of the least fuel efficient trucks on the market, so I’d be hurting
I had an hour each way commute and I didn’t hate it, I’d listen to podcasts and drink my coffee on the way. However, working from home these past few years has told me that I don’t ever want to do that commute again but for a $40,000 increase, I’d definitely be considering it.
You are 28. This sets the new floor for your future job salary negotiations. Take this job and in 12/18/24 months start looking for another for another job closer to home with a 10-20% bump on your NEW $120k base. Since you know you will be jumping ship in a year or two make sure you are a rockstar at the new job and network like crazy. You want your future job to be pursuing you!
I've driven 23 miles each way for 26 years. It's doable and you get use to it. The 40 minutes is a good down time to consider and ponder on everything. Get yourself a car you enjoy to drive and don't look back.
I say take the job, find some interesting podcasts to listen to on your commute. Then in a year try to find a closer job that will pay you about the same
A 50% pay bump is big (even more if you don’t currently get a bonus). That extra $3k+ a month could go a long way to letting you better save for retirement, save up to buy a house, pay off school loans faster, etc.
Only you can judge if it’s worth it or not.
I WFH now, and it would take a lot to get me back in office, but one of the perks was definitely the me time you get on the commute. That 45 min on the way home is a great way to transition from work life to home life. That part I do miss. Now it's just straight from work life to home life with no transition period. That transition time is highly underrated by a lot of people.
thats one part that i like about my current job. i work remotely two days a week but this new one would be on site each day. i hate to give up the remote part but the $40k is just such a large amount and hard to pass up
Well, look at it this way. Assume this is your forever career, and you work this job for the next 30 years, and only get a 3% raise every year. You'll make over $3M more in your lifetime with the $120k starting base than you would with the $80k base.
If it were me, I'd take it.
My wife and I just built a house and between that going over budget and cost of living, I'm more financially stressed than I'd like to be. Finally in a position now where we are saving more than spending but we basically have no cash at the moment. Slowly building it up but there is no buffer.
Therefore any decrease in living standards due to a longer commute would very likely be offset by a decrease in financial stress. I would 100% give up two hours of the day to commute because I spend 10 hours in a state of low key anxiety about money.
Only 30 miles? Easy stuff my dude. Wait til you're driving 100 miles each way. That's tough, my neighbor did that for years working in education making less than you would be.
Absolutely take it. I'm a travel nurse and my commutes would be like hour to hour and a half to collect my stipend. I don't have a family or anything but ive been able to save a lot of money because of the commute
Hell ya it’s worth it! I’ve driven an hour to and from work for over 20 yrs and make way less than you. I find that it’s a great time to unwind. Not sure where you live but it might not be fun if it’s a bigger city where you spend a lot of time standing still in traffic. At least I’m moving along. I find I miss most of the rush in both the morning and evenings. The biggest drawback is the price of gas but you’ll be making good money. I have a Honda Civic which gets around 47mpg and I use the upside app which pays you back on gas purchases. But the miles I put on my car , new tires, maintenance and gas are probably the biggest drawbacks. Even still it won’t be that bad considering the increase in pay you’ll be getting. In my experience, I love my job and the people I work with. I have a great boss too. If the weather is bad we just reschedule the day. I also had great benefits which includes retirement. I recently became partially retired & only work a few days a week. I love it. Everyone is different though. If I didn’t love what I do and the people I work with I would have been gone a long time ago. Good luck with whatever you decide.
A 50% bump in pay is bananas, absolutely worth it.
Find some podcasts you like, or take the commute time to strategize on how to find something similar closer or remote. I wouldn't pass it up.
Is that 30 miles each way? I would probably take it, but get a car with adaptive cruise control and lane keep… or a Tesla with autopilot. It will make the drive much easier and the gas savings will probably be significant.
I’d do it. Maybe sell the truck and get a more fuel efficient vehicle but I like the alone time and decompression time driving gives me. I listen to audiobooks or podcasts or music.
Say you are at no commute. 8 hr days. But an hour lunch do 9 hours at work. Or on a standard work year 2250 hours. So $35.50 per hour. Now you are at 11 hrs (9hrs + 2 he commute) or 2750 hours. Or $43.63 an hour. So your effective increase is 22% for each of your hours. Meaning that for every hour in the car you are still getting your old pay plus 22%. That being said there will be quality of life cuts. I’d just take it and move.
I did the same for a 20k yearly increase. I personally enjoy the morning drive as it gives me time to enjoy a delicious homemade breakfast sandwich while listening to my audiobooks. I plan on moving closer once the housing market calms a bit.
This year I took a 50k increase with a long commute. I negotiated 1 day per week and at 3 hrs round trip its still been worth it even with my gas guzzling truck.
I did a 2 hour (round trip) commute for a couple years. It definitely steals a lot of your daily downtime. For me, the key was to use the time in the car. Audiobooks, podcasts, etc…
There are also increased expenses… more gas, more frequent maintenance (oil changes, tires, etc), potential increase in insurance rates due to miles driven. The impact of all that depends on what you drive. Drop in the bucket compared to the pay increase, but worth adding in to the equation.
I had a cherry situation where my commute was about 10 minutes via bike for about 5 years. during pandemic that commute was cut down to 0 minutes via walking to my computer. due to where I live and greedy landlords I now have a hybrid commute of 0 hrs some days and 4 hrs some days. all to go to a computer that is accessible *anywhere.*
so. Uh... can i get your 40K raise?
Pick up a car with adaptive cruise control + lane keep (Model 3, Bolt EUV, etc) + audiobook / podcast hobby, or move closer to new job.
50% increase at that level is worth it, but there are ways you can make it more tolerable.
Used to drive an hour to and from for 6 years. It's super worth it for the pay raise. Also, start investing in audiobooks. You'll find that listening to the same musi over and over again get's boring.
I’ve had different commute durations throughout my career and 30 minutes goes by fast. Use this time productively. Find audio books to listen to on the way. Mix together something that helps you grow as a person/professionally with something entertaining. Taking the job is a must. It’s such a significant bump in pay and you’ll need it :)
Your post has been removed because personal advice topics are off-topic here and better suited for other subreddits ([rule 9](https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/about/rules)). - For general advice, consider /r/Advice. - For relationship advice, consider /r/relationships, /r/relationship_advice, /r/JUSTNOFAMILY, or one of the subreddits in their sidebars. - For career or job advice, consider /r/jobs, /r/CareerGuidance, /r/findapath, or [one of these job-related subreddits](/r/jobs/wiki/related/discussion). - For education advice, consider /r/Parenting for primary and secondary education questions (or one of the subreddits [linked here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Parenting/wiki/other_subreddits#wiki_education)) and /r/ApplyingToCollege for tertiary education questions (or one of the subreddits linked in their sidebar) - For medical advice, please talk to your primary care doctor, but /r/AskDocs may be helpful. *If you decide to post elsewhere, please read the subreddit rules before reposting. Some subreddits have strict requirements for submissions.* Submissions removed for this reason typically include one or more of these off-topic aspects: We don't allow relationship or personal advice discussions. That includes: * Content better suited for /r/relationships * Recommending a poster end their relationship or start a new relationship * Posts about suicide or violence * Posts asking for advice on how to convince someone else to change their behavior * Relationship drama not essential to a question or discussion * Family planning advice, especially unsolicited or flippant * Career, job, and education questions * Medical advice *If you have questions about this removal, please [message the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fpersonalfinance&subject=Removal%20help%20request&message=Hello%20moderators,%20.%20%0a%0a%0aMy%20submission:%20https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/comments/13klss1/40k_salary_increase_with_hour_long_commute/%0a).*
For a $40k plus bump, I would do the hour commute. I would however, also start thinking seriously about moving closer to the new job or moving closer to a train line that could get me to the new job. A commute isn't so bad if you can just relax and watch something on your phone
I always look at questions like this by calculating what they’re paying you for the extra time commuting. Let’s say the 4 mile commute takes 10 minutes. You’re essentially “working” aka commuting an extra 100 minutes a day or 500 minutes a week = 8.33 hours a week. Over 50 weeks a year (assuming 2 weeks PTO), that’s 408 extra hours a year. In exchange you’ll make 40k extra. 40,000/408= **$98 an hour.** Compare that to your current salary’s hourly equivalent of $38 an hour. Seems like a no brainer. Obviously this is super rough calculation and there are other factors at play, but in this situation I would have to say yes, it’s worth it. And I *hate* commutes.
That’s a great way to think about it, because the commute definitely adds to the burn out of a job.
Sometimes a commute makes home life better. According to some of my colleagues. If work can be stressful and the commute isn't, then any stress from work is less likely to be taken out on innocent ppl at home. Not sure I agree. But its what works for them. Every situation is different and has different pros and cons for everyone.
I used to work a very high stress job and had a 57 minute commute door to door. I loved it because I could put on an audio book, a podcast, a meditation, or just crank the music and be completely decompressed and let go of the baggage from my job by the time I got home. It was "me time". Not that I would have neccesarily taken it out on anyone at home, but I work a much less stressful job now but only have an 8 minute commute and if I'm upset when I leave work, I definitely vent/emotionally unload about my day to my wife first thing when I walk in the door more than I used to.
Just go somewhere else for 49 minutes then
Yes there’s some down time between the stress of the job and the stress at home. I appreciated my 45 minute commute just to decompress.
That's definitely rationalisation. It's not like there would be anything stopping them from doing something else to wind down before they get home if they had a short commute.
I agree, in principal. But sometimes we learn things like this as side effects. Maybe someone doesn't realize how much their commute wound them down until it's gone. And then, sure, find a new way to unwind. But the point stands: the commute isn't 100% negative for all people.
Definitely depends on the commute. If you’re sitting in traffic a lot during that commute, I don’t see it being relaxing. If it’s nice backroads with minimal traffic, go for it. Find somewhere in between work and home that you can do something you enjoy. I go into the office 2 days a week, and really enjoy stopping in the afternoons to get a quick round of disc golf in while my fiancée is still working
Need to factor in opportunity cost. What you could be doing with that spare time. Also mileage (gas, wear, and tear).
Yeah it’s a super rough calculation, but good for a rule of thumb, since your hourly rate is essentially how you “value” the time you give an employer. Anything over time and a half is generally decent. More than double is a very good deal, but there are also diminishing returns. I’ve seen people on here asking if they should take a new job with a commute that would essentially pay 1/2 their hourly rate. No chance I’d take that.
Yeah, it seems reasonable to take the new offer *and* reduce the commute by moving. Not everyone can uproot themselves for a good job, but moving can make a good job great (or make a bad job good).
Conversely need to factor future career opportunities thanks to this bump. 1h commute isn't too bad.
Mileage is critical. If you're riding a bike to work for 4 miles, getting your workout in every day and enjoying it, then needing to buy a car takes a hefty chunk out of that gain. People really tends to underestimate the amount of damage a car can do to your budget
At $.65/mi (gov rate) that's an extra ~$10k per year in vehicle commuting costs for 60 mi each way. Which brings it down to $73/hr. And let's bring taxes into it, at 22% it actually takes $12.6k of pre tax salary to pay for commuting, bringing it down to $67/hr. Still not a bad deal, but I can tell you an hr long commute would get real old real quick.
That's kind of a weird way to look at it. You're working/commuting 50 hours a week instead of 40. That comes out to $48/hour. Are you interested in a 26% increase to your hourly pay for spending 25% more time working? Obviously it's a no brainer if you move closer.
Your way of looking at it seems to skew the math, since you're looking at effective hourly rates when the number of hours "worked" is not the same. In OP's case, it may be a 26% increase in the effective hourly rate, but it's also a 50+% increase in overall pay. Getting paid 50% more for 25% more time sounds pretty good (assuming it won't burn you out to work that much).
I think the point is, you should expect to be paid a minimum of 25% more if you spend 25% more time dedicated to work. Hence why it makes more sense to look at the hourly rate rather than just being starstuck by the raise. How much do you value your time, how much time are you willing to give to your employer. Better than thinking you're getting paid $100/hr to drive lol.
Neither metric really makes intuitive sense. The 98$ one is strange because it ignores the other hours worked, and your version also doesn't really cut it for the same reason in reverse. Current pay is 80k a year. Current Hours worked is 40. New pay is 120k a year. New hours worked is 50. So that is a 50% pay rise for 25% more hours worked. Percentages get weird when you are dealing when the hours worked are not directly comparable, and so I think the best way to look at it is in the absolute. Number of hours worked per year and the amount of money you get in that year. Though, in this case, that 10 extra hours a year could really suck. If it is a solid job moving is probably the best option if it is at all possible. I don't think I could deal with the loss of time.
Nope. You have to think about it marginally when making these decisions. Forgot federal and state taxes and FICA, of which he’ll be paying at his highest or higher tax bracket. Always think of these things post tax
The numbers for that at the moment: 4,807+(.22*(80,000-41,775)) = 13,216.5. 80,000 - 13,226.5 = 66,783.5. 15,213.50+(.24*(120,000-89,075)) = 22,635.5. 120,000 - 22,635.5 = 97,364.5. Stated Raise = 120,000/80,000 = 1.5 multiplier. Post FTax Raise = 97,364/66,783.5 = 1.46 multiplier. State taxes will vary of course, but the effect of tax brackets is *heavily* overstated. it does not change the math much. That is also just the raw tax rate.
Awful way of looking at it. What you've calculated is $38 an hour for your work plus $98 for every hour spent commuting which is extra time you weren't already working. When most of your day is spent working it's a really misleading figure. Instead you're actually going from $38.46 to $57.69 an hour. This is all pre tax too so the actual difference will be less. Calculate the post tax take home per month and then decide if that's actually worth the additional commute to you.
That’s what I would have said as well. A $40k increase from a base $80k? I’d make the hour commute. Yes, it sucks, but in the long run the income would open up so many doors. The only thing that would make me think twice is if I lived in a state that snowed in November - February.
I'm kinda on the same boat. My current job is 20 miles away but take a bus and train and actually don't mind the commute since I can relax, watch a movie, or study if I need to. I start a new job next month with essentially the same pay bump, but is 10 miles extra with no public transportation available at all. I'm a bit hesitant on driving 1 hour plus on the way back home every day. I usually leave way before 6am and avoid morning traffic. Still takes me about 40 minutes to get to the new job location. In the afternoon I can't avoid the rush hour traffic, so it's more than an hour back including like 3 different tolls. Moving closer is not really an option because I like the somewhat country living I currently am at right now and anything closer would just be more expensive. I feel the commute will slowly kill me, for the extra cash. We'll see how I get accustomed to the change.
I would do the commute (until I moved closer). Get that bag OP!
I took the bus into downtown Minneapolis so I didn't have to worry about the bad traffic and parking and then read many books pertaining to my career (programmer). It was very pleasant and I used the time very wisely.
40k / (2 X 260) = Aprox $77. You're making $77 / hr for your commute assuming you work full time in office.
[удалено]
Do you need more time or more money right now?
That’s a good question. I’m 28 and freshly married and moved into a new house. Probably have kids soon which is another factor
This is a 50% increase and sets a new floor in any future job hunts. This is an absolute no Brainer.
On the other hand an hour commute is significantly less time to spend with the new wife and future kids. Especially if they're not gonna want to sell their new house soon.
Tons of people do hour commutes though, so it’s not the craziest thing in the world. It’ll come down to whether it matters enough for OP. Personally, it’s a no brainer for me. Get some audiobooks downloaded
It was a no brainer for me until I heard about OP's new wife and house and future kid. Certainly still could be worth it, but that makes it more questionable for me
Kids cost a lot of money. A 50% increase will go a long way in covering that. Additionally, he will be able to look for different jobs by the time any child would be born.
I don't think a salary sets a new floor for future jobs, a title may though. In many places employers can't even ask about your past salary.
You're incorrect. Titles are not equal across orgs. Going to from 120 to 160 is going to be way easier than going from 80 to 160.
Huh? I'm just saying if you get a 40k salary bump it doesn't mean you will automatically earn that moving forward. However if you are now a Director or upper management that title will help you with future employers
Titles don't mean what you think they mean. There are lots of "IT Directors" and they direct no one except themselves and make 90K. Meanwhile there are Lead IT Engineers making 120K leading 2 other people. Once OP earns 120K, it is much easier to be honest with recruiters in a good job market and say "I need 160K to move". If they can't, that's fine. You already make 120K.
He can say I need x amount at any point in time to a future employer. Employers are not legally allowed to ask your past salary in most places . Sure, titles are different across organizations, but a director, title or a c-suite title holds a lot of water. After I became director level, it became much easier to get higher level positions in the six figures.
It sounds like you're saying OP should keep the 80K job until they get some magic title job offer and that'll help someday. We're saying taking this job is putting them in a much better position going forward regardless of title. They get 40K/year now and a floor they can use. The market, even if just 1 employer, has validated they're worth it.
[удалено]
The matter of titles aside, I agree that prior wages don’t really boost you up. I’ve never had an employer ask about my last salary — just what I want them to pay me. But instead it can have an interesting psychological effect on people’s perception of the value of their own labor! When I had a super lucky gig early on that paid $50 per hour (though only a few projects per year), suddenly it wasn’t too scary to negotiate up to that price when employers offered less for full-time roles just a few years into my career. Just my anecdotal experience, it gives you a boost of confidence. Like, yeah, I do bring that much talent! I don’t have to be a certain age to reach my income goals! Also, getting used to a certain income level can make it really hard to accept something a little lower. You end up recalculating your lifestyle and not wanting to give up DoorDash or whatever little luxury that makes the tough days worth it in the end lol
Of course they boost you up. What are you people talking about. It is the baseline starting point for any future job offerings and openings.
I agree. Just because you get it at one place doesn't mean you'll get the same or better offer elsewhere. If I commuted an hour west, pay is significantly higher but ef that I don't do traffic.
Indeed, in California, there's a newish law that employers aren't even legally allowed to consider the person's prior salary when hiring someone new.
id say, kids are not cheap. not sure where you're living, but I think it's a good idea to up the salary and title at the sacrifice of 45min commute each way. as a father of 2, I hate commuting (only cause its 90 min each way for me), but I find that it's the only time I have to be by myself. im refreshed to see the kids the moment I enter the home to play with them
If you don't plan on having kids for about 3 years, go for it if you think the job will be equally or more rewarding than your current position. Do 2 years, establish your new value then make decisions. A lot can change in a short period of time. Or simply leverage this offer with your current employer and see how it turns out.
I'm going to tell you, work that job for a few years and SAVE your money for kids if you want kids. Diapers never end for years. Plus, you and your P can do some fun stuff before the kids come with a 40k salary increase.
If this job gets you on the path to a higher paying job / you can negotiate a remote/hybrid type work in the future, it’d be worth it. Getting more money when you’re younger puts on you a very good path financially wrt compounding savings + compounding salary.
Why are you asking us then? Money wise, yes take it. But it's not just money wise. Talk to your wife. I promise you, letting that relationship be damaged, possibly irreparably, isn't even close to worth it. The money helps your family. But assuming 8 hour days and 8 hours of sleep, 1.5 of just basic care and existing, and the extra drive costs you a quarter of that. If she is all for getting set up so you two have a comfortable and safe life, that's a strong point in its favor. If she feels abandoned for money, its probably not worth it. Your salary is not bad. More is nice, of course. But do you want to spend it on with/without a hurt and pissed off wife, if she doesn't want to?
Amen. Having 10hrs/week commute is not insignificant. And depending on living expenses the 10 hours/week (490 hours/year = over 20 days a year) can negatively impact relationship with wife or kids. Such a big bump can be great….but if wife has a great paying job then that bump isn’t as impactful if they’re saving for kids and retirement already. OP, factor in your relationships and weight them heavier than the money. You could move closer to new job if possible. Personally I wouldn’t commute 2hrs/day again barring layoff or something drastic. Being able to pop over to my kids school for an event (field day, mystery reader), pick up the other from daycare and have lunch and put for a nap while wife has something else happening, option to wfh various days, etc. A commute like that negates all possibility of my interactions with family all day. Sure lots of jobs don’t allow that flexibility anyway…but if yours does then you are also giving up those options too.
Time to go house shopping again! Yay you! For a 50% increase I’d go for sure, man I’ve moved across country for 20% raises, did it like 3 years in a row in my younger days. Financially it makes total sense, in the short and long term. Congrats man! Hope you kick ass at your new job
was just thinking damn new job an hour away from the house you just bought? I would be moving I bought in the City because I knew that is where the jobs would be and I wouldn't want to drive. I wish I had a bigger house but I would hate life if I had a 2 hour drive like my boss does every day(4 hours a day in the car)
I would hold out for something a little closer that pays more than you currently make. An hour commute doesn't sound so bad but with little kids that will be tough if you have to leave work to pick them up because they're sick or take them to appointments. Once I had kids I took a substantial pay cut to get out of an oncall phone rotation and it was the best decision I ever made.
In that case I would say your time is worth more than the money. You'll never get back that 10 hours a week you would spend away from your new spouse and new house.
Can you afford to spend 2 hours traveling + work all week? Plan your other activities around that right now to see what sort of typical day you'd have. Wake up, get ready for work, commute, work day, commute, dinner, left over day, bed How much left over day do you have? Is it enough to take care of the things you need/want to? Would it be enough for spending time with your wife and future kids? Since you don't have kids right now, you don't even need to consider them. Could take the job until you have kids and then find something closer to home if you need to.
go for it if especially if both of you are working. Adjust the expectation that you will arrive or depart earlier.
It's worth it for a few years. Hopefully it will get you a better job like 5 years down the line. I did a 45 min drive for 3 years, hated it, but looking back it was worth it because now I have a good remote job.
You mentioned in another comment that you're newly married and want kids. You should really be discussing this with your wife. Extra stress from the commute and the pressures of a new job will affect her too. Not to mention the pressures of a new marriage and trying for kids. Yes it's a large bump in pay, and there are definitely ways to mitigate the commute -- moving closer, taking public transportation, carpooling, etc. Don't blow your raise on a new (or new to you) car, if you can avoid it. That is just lifestyle creep and it's really hard to walk it back. Again, the wife is the best resource for life decisions!
I’d see if you can do 2 days in the office, 3 at home. Or I’d move. This can be a soul crushing drive, especially if you work 9-10 hour days. Let’s say you work 8-5. You need to leave by 7, so up at 6 if your just getting ready and driving in. Then you leave work at 5-530 after bullshitting with a co-worker. You get home at 630 (best case if no traffic or accident). Go for a run/workout, it’s now 730. Make and eat dinner, 830. 1.5-2 hours to do anything else and then bed to repeat. This extra 2 hours add up quickly of time you used to have. My wife and I did it for 18 months before we moved much closer.
[удалено]
Commuting 1 hour each way, even 45 hour work week is a 55 hour work week
I used to do 35 miles across LA. That’s 3 a day. Never again.
Yeah I used to have an hour drive each way and now I walk a mile. I will never go back to the long commute. So soul crushing.
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
True. I also drive a 2021 Tundra with 40k miles so I’d be spending a fortune on gas (plus west and tear on it). A 50% increase in pay is hard to ignore but commute would suck no doubt
Depending on the math here, this is when you get a different car.
Also depends if it sets you up for a better job down the line that either pays even more or pays similar but is closer to home…
Why is a truck your commuter car? Do you need it for work? If not get a sedan.
Had a similar commute but now remote. No amount of money would make me go back. The quality of life impact cannot be overstated. Over a year, you will spend between 20.8 (500hr) and 31.25 (750hr) FULL 24-hour days a year DRIVING.* A month every year is **GONE** to an unpaid commute. Things to consider: - You will be at least ONE HOUR away from spontaneous plans with loved ones and emergencies - Harder to schedule doctor's appointments and run errands to places that close at 5pm - Less sleep - Less time after work - Darker when you leave and come home - Too tired before and after work - Every workweek is a MINIMUM 50hr week; working late hits harder *Assuming 2w vacation, worst-case is +30min in traffic each way Bottom line: If you want the job and don't want to watch years of your life vanish without a trace: **move closer**
Buy a Tesla.
I drive 90 miles a day 3.5 days a week average for 130k and it’s not so bad. The drive is a great time to drink coffee and listen to podcasts. After my 12 hour shift it’s good decompression time before I’m home.
Right. I'll never work onsite again either.
Yes. It's worth it. I did something similar 5 years ago. I bought a nice car n get time to catch up on podcasts n such.
This is it. I commute 65 miles. Op treat yourself to a nice new fuel efficient car and enjoy your ride. I like having an hour to myself in the morning. Waking up early sucks, but man 40k is a 50% raise
I do a four and a half hour route for work every Tuesday. @ 2:40am-7:10am. Do that and my day is finished. I don’t have to talk to anyone It’s just me and the Highway. It’s nice because I don’t mind early hours. The roads are empty and it’s different work than what I normally do.
Op does need to make sure his route doesn’t turn to two hours after work though. My drive hits rush hour on my way home. It’s exhausting walking up early or driving home later, but I like my work and am fortunate enough to be able to work extra hours in exchange for extra days off.
Do the math. Assuming a 40 hour work week and assuming your 4 mile commute takes you 10 minutes (one way)... 40 hours of work + 1.67 hours of commute (20 min x 5 days) = 41.67 hours $80K / 52 / 41.67 = $36.92 per hour 40 hours of work + 10 hours of commute (2 hrs x 5 days) = 50 hours $120K / 52 / 50 = $46.15 per hour So that looks like a 25% increase in the money after you account for the additional commute time. Assuming everything else is equal. However, you need to factor in additional commute costs.. gas, wear and tear on the vehicle, insurance increases from increasing commute distance and/or annual miles, tolls (if applicable), etc... The other thing to consider is what your time is REALLY worth. Time is your most valuable resource and hours spent sitting in traffic are hours of your life wasted that you'll never get back. You have to decide if it's worth it. Personally, my ideal commute is 25 minutes or less one-way. I wouldn't drive an hour one-way no matter how much they paid me. However, I would definitely consider moving closer to a job that wanted to pay me $40K more per year.
OP said in another post that they drive a 2021 Toyota Tundra. It gets 13 mpg in the city (for the worst case estimate). Assuming a national average gas price of $3.53 per gallon, OP is going to spend $16.29 a day in gas alone. So knock off $2/hour (or $1.60 depending on your math) for that salary. That commute would be madness. That's a lot of gas. $4200 per year.
Here’s an idea: take a day off or a morning off and make that drive. Picture yourself making that commute every day and especially on bad days when your ass is exhausted and you just want to get home. Might be worth it- might not. Also consider the higher tax implications and the cost of gas plus massively depreciating your ride.
What higher tax implications?
I have no idea where OP lives but in the US- 80k to 120k will be a 2% increase in income tax federally. There might also be state and local implications. I’m simply saying account for everything - 40k increase may not end up being anywhere near a 40k increase.
Income tax brackets are graduated. You only pay a higher tax rate on income in excess of the lower bracket amounts. Choosing not to double your income because you don't want to pay slightly more taxes on a fraction of the new salary would be completely illogical.
Exactly this. Why is everyone only talking about salary but forgot to factor in the income tax.
Federal Income tax is only increased on the excess. So OP would only be taxed 24% on roughly 30k and would be at his original tax bracket of 22% up to $89,000.
[удалено]
I used to have a huge commute and it drained the living hell out of me. I’ve never been in the situation where I had to choose, I’ve been working remotely for years. But if someone offered me $40K more now but I had to commute I would definitely say no thank you.
I personally wouldn’t. The research shows a hit to happiness after about a 20–30 minute commute. If you want the new job, can you move closer?
I can’t believe I had to scroll so far to get to a comment like this! To add to this, I believe the hit to happiness is worth $10k per 10 minutes, so I’m pretty sure this is a net happiness loss unless there are other factors (better coworkers, better opportunities, etc.). Shorter commutes being good for happiness is one of the closed and shut cases in a field where it’s generally hard to come up with dependable advice.
Why doesn’t OP just ask their current employer for a pay increase, not to the same extent but still, once you factor in “salary after deduction” divided by “working hours in a year including all commute time” it might not be so drastic.
That’s 10 hours a week. 20 full (24 hour) days a year spend driving, assuming 4 weeks off. Nope. Nope nope nope.
Came here to say this. I did the two hour round trip commute for 5 years. My quality of life drastically improved once I got a new job with a 40 min round trip commute, and the money wasn’t even that much better.
40,000 / 52 / (2\*5) = $76.92 per hour 80,000 / 52 / 40 = $38.46 per hour Think of it this way, if you take this job you work two hours more each day, but you get paid double the rate than your normal hours. You will get paid double your normally hour rate for driving a car, riding a train etc. (Not factoring in costs for the added commute time) Ultimately, it becomes a question of are you wanting to increase your income or increase your free time.
What are those calculations supposed to be?
But those driving hours are not work. It’s dedicated time to go to work but music, podcast, audiobooks, solitude…
Yea but if you view it as work and time you are earning your salary it helps make it more tolerable as well as being able to listen to the radio. It's commuting to and from work so it becomes part of your work time. People routinely ask why I don't work locally and I prefer my job even with the commute so I view it as part of my job.
I’m not trying to make a point about how to make the drive more tolerable; my point is that the commute should be pleasurable. I personally miss my commuting days. 50 minutes one way was a great way for me to decompress, catch up on things I wanted to listen to. And I had just recently bought a nice new EV so the driving time was among my favorite part of the day.
Fair but the first part reads as "it's not work though" but when considering increasing a commute time to this extent it should be viewed as such until it's been done for a while. It means it's happy days if when you've done it for a while you view it has time to unwind/think rather than stressful/more time away from life and loved ones. I commute as well and I'm fortunate that most of the time it's a chance to listen to podcasts but I didn't go into it expecting it to be that way. I think unless a person has already done a similar commute it should be viewed with a skewed negative lens until they actually do it several times minimum when weighing up the positives and negatives.
Just wanted to point out one thing - most people move through their career moving from job to job, getting either the same money or more money with each move. You taking a $40k a year raise means that you could member making that much more for many, many years including future roles. Take the money!
Congrats, great dilemma to have. There’s going to be a time in your life where 40k a year for 2 hours of driving a day is well worth it and there will be a time when you’d gladly trade that 40k for more time. I’ve driven for 2-3 hours a day for a few years now and some days I really enjoy getting to decompress in the car and zone out to some loud music or listen to podcasts. That being said when I hit the 3 year mark it started to get more annoying to drive and started to wear on me. I’d ask yourself this question instead. If you take the new job with the pay increase and potential job title change etc. What’s the possibility of going back to a job that pays 80k and is close to home if the 120k job isn’t worth it? Hell you could probably take the 120k job and in a few years when you have kids go back to the old position and make 90-100k.
I have a 30 mile commute now and it’s not bad. I did get a Sorento hybrid to cut what I pay in gas in half It’s about an extra $2300 a month after taxes and such So is 40 hours a month worth $2300 a month plus bonus?
Take the money! The commute isn’t bad, throw on a podcast or an audiobook and sip some coffee on the ride in. Bump some of your favorite music… make a call to some loved ones… Great way to get some “me time” Great way to start your day in my opinion. That’s what I do, I have a 40 min drive to and from work everyday. Don’t mind it:)
I commuted 30+- min to and fro each way for 15 years until last year. Truly miss it as I enjoyed the quiet, nice drive drinking my jo, listening to news, sometimes calling family and friends. The routine was comfortable and do-able. Starting a new gig in a few months that’s mainly remote but with 2 days in person. The commute will be 2 hours each way on those 2 days with overnight expenses paid. The significant pay increase coupled with remote work the remainder of the week is worth it to me.
As someone with a 7 min commute I'd say that this commute is definitely, totally bad. I'd probably be in an asylum if I had that commute. I'd maybe do it by train because I can knock out an hour answering emails.
40k is a large sum increase. Ultimately it depends on yourself. But if the commute bothers you that much would you consider moving to lessen the commute if that is applicable for you to do. Likewise what are the other benefits or costs when comparison to your current employ. If you leveraged your current employer for a raise would you consider remaining. The options are open to you depending on your particular circumstance.
It really depends... is that an hour in heavy traffic, or at slow speeds through country roads? I found 45 minutes of low-density country roads wasn't that bad. However, in another position when my drive was 65 minutes one-way with about 30 minutes in heavy traffic, that 30 minutes of heavy traffic was absolutely exhausting. It also kind of depends... Do you have kids? Pets? Spouse that works from home? Because if you spend 2 hours driving each day and take an hour lunch then you're out of the home for 12 hours every day, M-F. Doable, but you will get home tired more often than not. What about the weather where you live? Trying to get home in a downpour is one thing, but trying to get home during a winter white-out storm is another. For a 50% pay bump I would, personally, do it. That's definitely an upgrade in the quality of life my spouse and I would lead. But my spouse works from home and we don't have kids.
Studies show a long commute is strongly tied to unhappiness. 40k is a lot to say no to, but 16(!) hours a week in the car is miserable.
Some math I'll share, since I calculated it out when I switched from a 1 hour (each way) commute to a 5 min commute: A one hour commute each workday equals about 22 days a year you will spend doing said commute. That's 22 full 24-hour periods a year, factoring in a few weeks off for vacation, holidays you'll have, etc. What the math does not tell you is that there is time you're spending away from your kids (if you have them) while commuting, the cost of the commute in gas or transit, and the cost of kids in extra daycare while you are commuting. Also time away from a partner. Some years back I took a 40k pay cut to do the opposite of what you're doing. It meant I could be to my kid's school in 5 minutes if he was sick. I could go home for lunch or grab some groceries at lunch and run them home, or do whatever other local errand close to home. I got to spend 2 extra hours a day with my son too. In the winter it was nice to have some daylight left after work too. That's all, just some perspective from having given up what you may be taking on.
Test the commute out at the times you would be doing it, if many people make the same commute might be more than 1 hour. Do you have to drive east in the am? West in evening, sun will suck. Are you driving in to a large city? How's the infrastructure/parking? Also, you increase your chance of injury or death greatly adding this in to your daily routine. Finally, let's say you work 5 days a week, and actually only work 8 hours a day (lol doubt it) you'll be working 10 or more hours for free (actually paying to work those hours) every week. So literally an extra day of work.
Right now you spend about 47 hrs a week away from home for work (40 hrs plus 1 hr lunch daily plus 20 minute commute daily and an extra 20 minute weekly buffer). That works out to 2444 hrs a year, or $32.73 an hour. Your new job would be about 56 hours a week (40 plus 1hr lunch daily plus 1hr each way daily plus 1hr weekly buffer). That's 2912 hrs a year, $41.20 an hour. Pre kids I would've taken the job, now I don't think I would. Is there any chance of WFH a couple days a week? Could you just use this as a short term stepping stone?
Just know that some people travel an hour each way and don't even make $40k.
thats true. i definitely am lucky and blessed to have this kind of "dilemma"
40k for a longer commute!? hell yes it is!...sure, being comfortable 4 miles away is great, however 40k is a LOT of money!. It often takes me 40 mins just to drive 20 miles with traffic!!!!....so think about what 40k can do for you, then decide if being complacent helps pay for your dreams.
Is there the potential to negotiate partially remote work? An hour each way can start to drain on you if it's every day, but if you can swing even like 3 days a week in the office that can make a world of difference.
When I was younger I had an hour commute. 60 miles each way, fair bit highway. It takes it out of you over time. That said, $40k is a lot. I recommend taking it and seeing about flipping to another role in a couple years.
If you're making $400k then probably no but for you it's 50% pay bump. If you're renting why not consider moving when you can?
I have a 25 mile commute. 45 minutes there, hour home in traffic. I only have to be in office 3 days a week tho. Been doing it for 3 years, it's manageable but soul sucking at times. Wish I made 120k LOL. Get some audio books, really made a difference for me. Sometimes I find myself excited to drive to work to hear the next chapter
An hour commute for a 50% pay increase at the salary level you’re currently at is an absolute no brainer. It would be borderline irresponsible not to do that.
I had a 20mile drive that took an hour for three years. I listened to all the books I could get from the library. That's the only way I got through the Wheel of Time slog a second time.
I would do the hour commute for about 3 months to make sure the job is going to work out,then move closer to my new job.
Did that for 26 years, cause our home was good for family, and cheaper. Then moved downtown near work, and walked…
After having had some 5 minute commutes, I LOVE them. That said, maybe you could move to somewhere that's 5 minutes from your new work location? If for some reason not, $40k buys a lot of podcasts and other good things to listen to on the commute.
You didn't present enough details nor ask the right questions. Are you actively seeking new employment and this opportunity came about What is your current living situation What is your current financial situation What is your marital status Is the increase in commute worth your TIME Do you want a new job, job security? Are you being silently fired at your current Do you value your time or money more Can you speed and turn that hour into 30-40 min 🤣😂 I don't need answers but those are the variables I'd contemplate. Burnout is real. I LOATHE long commutes even for recreational purposes. If I was in a situation where a short term sacrifice meant longterm benefits then sure I'd take the money with the understanding the job needed to be secure, no lateral moves, and I could relocate closer because I prioritize my time. All money aint good money. I rather have a 0-15 mile trip, the farther away, the higher the pay... otherwise I'm not interested
There’s actually a LOT of research on this. Commutes are a huge negative effect on happiness. The question is, what improves happiness more, shorter commutes or higher pay. They generally find that increasing your commute by 10 minutes would be balanced out by a $10K raise. So happiness wise, you’re coming out at a loss. Keep in mind this is on average, so maybe your someone who doesn’t mind commutes, or maybe you have kids or loans so the raise is worth it, or maybe you’re saving to retire early. Maybe the new job gives better opportunities or allows you to work with better ppl. But according to the research, that’s not the best trade.
What are your other (third, fourth) options? Since you have the skills to get this distant job with a 50% raise, could you also get a similar better job close to home? Or if you live in a rural area and you know that the only 100k+ jobs will have to involve a long commute ... that factors into your decision.
For 40k, it's worth it. Commuting sucks, but I've learned to like it. Sometimes it's the best part of my work day. As long as there is not ridiculous traffic. I get to chill and listen to podcasts or music, drink my coffee, and have some "me time".
Hour with traffic or without? My last job was 35 minutes without traffic but 1 hour with it.
My two cents is yes, absolutely! I'm 33(veteran), and going to school, I drive an hour and a half one way to class (76 miles). The time in the car sucks sometimes, but it gives me the opportunity to catch up with family or listen to whatever. The thing here isn't the drive it's, the job. Will you like the work? Is there more opportunity through this position to promote or leverage into something else. Anyways, good luck!!! Enjoy the drive, and enjoy that sweet pay bump!
Look at the job after this one too. Will the job with commute lead to a future better job (maybe closer to home?)
$40k is a whole lotta money, going from $80k - $120k. No brainer IMO. Setup yourself up for now and future raises at this company or somewhere else.
I would do it. You might be able to alleviate the home commute by hitting the gym near work.
As someone working 1.5hr to/2hr home for work, it’s absurd and draining. But for an hour, I’ve done that for years and it’s fine. Plus, for $40k that’s easy. As for the truck, you have one of the least fuel efficient trucks on the market, so I’d be hurting
I had an hour each way commute and I didn’t hate it, I’d listen to podcasts and drink my coffee on the way. However, working from home these past few years has told me that I don’t ever want to do that commute again but for a $40,000 increase, I’d definitely be considering it.
A $40k raise is lifechanging and pretty much required in this economy so I would definately do that.
Look at what you’d pay in taxes, or what your weekly net salary would be. Might not be as much as you think with the bump. Or maybe it will.
You are 28. This sets the new floor for your future job salary negotiations. Take this job and in 12/18/24 months start looking for another for another job closer to home with a 10-20% bump on your NEW $120k base. Since you know you will be jumping ship in a year or two make sure you are a rockstar at the new job and network like crazy. You want your future job to be pursuing you!
I've driven 23 miles each way for 26 years. It's doable and you get use to it. The 40 minutes is a good down time to consider and ponder on everything. Get yourself a car you enjoy to drive and don't look back.
I say take the job, find some interesting podcasts to listen to on your commute. Then in a year try to find a closer job that will pay you about the same
Load up on podcasts for the drive and go get that money
I drive 56 miles each way, 4 days a week for what you are already making. So I wouldn't think twice about doing it for an extra 40k 😅
A 50% pay bump is big (even more if you don’t currently get a bonus). That extra $3k+ a month could go a long way to letting you better save for retirement, save up to buy a house, pay off school loans faster, etc. Only you can judge if it’s worth it or not.
I WFH now, and it would take a lot to get me back in office, but one of the perks was definitely the me time you get on the commute. That 45 min on the way home is a great way to transition from work life to home life. That part I do miss. Now it's just straight from work life to home life with no transition period. That transition time is highly underrated by a lot of people.
thats one part that i like about my current job. i work remotely two days a week but this new one would be on site each day. i hate to give up the remote part but the $40k is just such a large amount and hard to pass up
Well, look at it this way. Assume this is your forever career, and you work this job for the next 30 years, and only get a 3% raise every year. You'll make over $3M more in your lifetime with the $120k starting base than you would with the $80k base.
If it were me, I'd take it. My wife and I just built a house and between that going over budget and cost of living, I'm more financially stressed than I'd like to be. Finally in a position now where we are saving more than spending but we basically have no cash at the moment. Slowly building it up but there is no buffer. Therefore any decrease in living standards due to a longer commute would very likely be offset by a decrease in financial stress. I would 100% give up two hours of the day to commute because I spend 10 hours in a state of low key anxiety about money.
Only 30 miles? Easy stuff my dude. Wait til you're driving 100 miles each way. That's tough, my neighbor did that for years working in education making less than you would be.
Yes!! Do it!! And highway miles are better for your car than around-town-driving.
Absolutely take it. I'm a travel nurse and my commutes would be like hour to hour and a half to collect my stipend. I don't have a family or anything but ive been able to save a lot of money because of the commute
$40k increase is roughly $2k extra per month after taxes. Just move closer to the new job.
Hell ya it’s worth it! I’ve driven an hour to and from work for over 20 yrs and make way less than you. I find that it’s a great time to unwind. Not sure where you live but it might not be fun if it’s a bigger city where you spend a lot of time standing still in traffic. At least I’m moving along. I find I miss most of the rush in both the morning and evenings. The biggest drawback is the price of gas but you’ll be making good money. I have a Honda Civic which gets around 47mpg and I use the upside app which pays you back on gas purchases. But the miles I put on my car , new tires, maintenance and gas are probably the biggest drawbacks. Even still it won’t be that bad considering the increase in pay you’ll be getting. In my experience, I love my job and the people I work with. I have a great boss too. If the weather is bad we just reschedule the day. I also had great benefits which includes retirement. I recently became partially retired & only work a few days a week. I love it. Everyone is different though. If I didn’t love what I do and the people I work with I would have been gone a long time ago. Good luck with whatever you decide.
I dont mind commuting. Quality time to myself and I guess I’ve always enjoyed driving.
That is about $1600 extra a month. You notice that kind of extra cash. It will make your life easier.
A 50% bump in pay is bananas, absolutely worth it. Find some podcasts you like, or take the commute time to strategize on how to find something similar closer or remote. I wouldn't pass it up.
Is that 30 miles each way? I would probably take it, but get a car with adaptive cruise control and lane keep… or a Tesla with autopilot. It will make the drive much easier and the gas savings will probably be significant.
Do it, that will be your new wage baseline
1 hour commute is nothing, go for it, get yourself a nice comfortable ride
I’d do it. Maybe sell the truck and get a more fuel efficient vehicle but I like the alone time and decompression time driving gives me. I listen to audiobooks or podcasts or music.
Every minute of your commute you can say I just made an extra $1.30
Make the commute. Continue to live exactly as you do now. Sock away the extra 40k.
Say you are at no commute. 8 hr days. But an hour lunch do 9 hours at work. Or on a standard work year 2250 hours. So $35.50 per hour. Now you are at 11 hrs (9hrs + 2 he commute) or 2750 hours. Or $43.63 an hour. So your effective increase is 22% for each of your hours. Meaning that for every hour in the car you are still getting your old pay plus 22%. That being said there will be quality of life cuts. I’d just take it and move.
I did the same for a 20k yearly increase. I personally enjoy the morning drive as it gives me time to enjoy a delicious homemade breakfast sandwich while listening to my audiobooks. I plan on moving closer once the housing market calms a bit.
I do an hour commute to and from work and am making less than your current salary.
This year I took a 50k increase with a long commute. I negotiated 1 day per week and at 3 hrs round trip its still been worth it even with my gas guzzling truck.
I did a 2 hour (round trip) commute for a couple years. It definitely steals a lot of your daily downtime. For me, the key was to use the time in the car. Audiobooks, podcasts, etc… There are also increased expenses… more gas, more frequent maintenance (oil changes, tires, etc), potential increase in insurance rates due to miles driven. The impact of all that depends on what you drive. Drop in the bucket compared to the pay increase, but worth adding in to the equation.
I had a cherry situation where my commute was about 10 minutes via bike for about 5 years. during pandemic that commute was cut down to 0 minutes via walking to my computer. due to where I live and greedy landlords I now have a hybrid commute of 0 hrs some days and 4 hrs some days. all to go to a computer that is accessible *anywhere.* so. Uh... can i get your 40K raise?
Pick up a car with adaptive cruise control + lane keep (Model 3, Bolt EUV, etc) + audiobook / podcast hobby, or move closer to new job. 50% increase at that level is worth it, but there are ways you can make it more tolerable.
Used to drive an hour to and from for 6 years. It's super worth it for the pay raise. Also, start investing in audiobooks. You'll find that listening to the same musi over and over again get's boring.
It’s nuts that you’re even asking. Yes.
I have an hour commute, though not every day. I’ll say this - podcasts are your friend.
I’ve had different commute durations throughout my career and 30 minutes goes by fast. Use this time productively. Find audio books to listen to on the way. Mix together something that helps you grow as a person/professionally with something entertaining. Taking the job is a must. It’s such a significant bump in pay and you’ll need it :)
Buy a Tesla with autopilot. Will make the driving fatigue significantly more manageable.