I am in the fortunate position of being able to do something I enjoy, while being paid enough to live in comfort. However, there are plenty of people who have to make a choice between a profession they love, and a profession that pays more. This thought was brought home to me by an article I read on Yaho0! Finance about the worst-paying college degrees. The top 10 included the following:
- Child and Family Studies
- Elementary Education
- Social Work
- Athletic Training
- Culinary Arts
- Horticulture
- Paralegal Studies
- Theology
- Recreation & Leisure
- Special Education
Since this is back to school time for many, and since many are embarking on the adventure of college, it struck me as how many of these degrees, and jobs in related professions, are often considered fulfilling in a number of ways, but they don’t pay particularly well. (The discussion about our priorities as a society in paying teachers so little is one for another day.) This led me to wonder about how many people are doing things they don’t enjoy in order to earn a little more money.
A Job is Your Life
Many people consider their jobs their lives. The job defines them, and they want to enjoy the job. After all, depending on the job, you might spend anywhere between six and 12 hours a day at it. Shouldn’t it be something you enjoy? Others look at the type of jobs they do in terms of something that goes beyond mere compensation. They want to feel as though they are doing good in the world, and want to do something they consider fulfilling.
However, this view can mean that you might have a job that doesn’t pay well. While money doesn’t buy happiness, it can contribute to comfort. If you are willing to live a frugal lifestyle, or if you have a life partner who can help out with a second job, low pay may be no obstacle. The feeling you get from doing something you love can outweigh other considerations.
A Job is a Job
On the other hand, some feel that a job is just a job. They want to go home and not think about the job at all. In many cases, a job takes up no more than 1/3 of one’s life. A better paying job may require regular hours, leaving some time for leisure. Some folks don’t mind doing a job they dislike, so long as they have adequate pay to enjoy the time they are not working. As long as you can separate your job from your life, you might find that it doesn’t matter, much what job you have — as long as you are paid more.
Deciding on a Career Path
When choosing a college major, or looking for non-degreed skills training, it is important to determine how you are most likely to view your job. If you are more interested in doing something fulfilling and interesting to you, then it may not matter how much you are paid (although it’s always nice when high pay coincides with what you like to do). On the other hand, without the necessities of life, even a job you enjoy may not be able to help you overcome the privations that can come with always being necessitous.
Before determining on a career path, carefully consider whether you could live a frugal lifestyle in order to have a job you love, or whether you might be better off with a better paying job that you may not enjoy, but provides you with the resources to live in comfort — and maybe volunteer to find the fulfillment you seek.
Image by: Cobalt123
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve been in both positions — loved my job and underpaid vs. hated my job and paid very well. Neither situation was ideal.
The headaches caused from being unfulfilled in both scenarios were eventually enough to push me out to find something different. So I would argue that it’s fairly difficult to remain in either scenario where too much Yin or Yang is a bad thing.
Agreed that neither situation is perfect. I recently changed careers from a job I loved that paid adequately, but not great if you compared my skill set to other industries (hospitality). I found that I love my new job even more, and am being rewarded for it too (public sector).
I worked longer hours and was more emotionally drained at my old job, where now I come in at 830, leave at 430, and my Blackberry doesn’t even buzz after hours or on the weekend, which is a welcome change.
This has given me more free time to spend with my young family, and to start a new venture (blog).
I know way too many people who are rather miserable in well-paying jobs, but they can’t quit because the pay is too good. I know at least as many people who have less paying but fulfilling jobs, whom I consider much happier. Think about the extreme example of Jane Goodall. She probably could have had a nice career in some research institute, but she decided that she needed to live with gorillas which made her content. What is so bad about a career choice like that?
Amazing Miranda, that you happened to write this today. My 23 year old daughter and I were having a conversation just last night regarding her decision to leave her $13/hr medical assistant job for a job being a brand ambassador, traveling all over the country, without any idea where this could potentially lead. I had my heart set on her finishing college and becoming a podiatrist, which is what she indicated she wanted to do initially. She finds the MA job boring and the pay doesn’t cover her monthly expenses. The ambassador jobs pay well and involve travel, excitement and new people. It’s hard to argue that she shouldn’t go where her heart leads, especially at her age, but I, of course, worry about the future. Any advice for her or me?
Do what I love, get great at it (become an expert) and hopefully get paid more money because it. If you love what you do then it doesn’t seem like “work”.
Great posting. I truthfully enjoyed this read. A job to me is a job. I am also young and haven’t discovered what my true passions are. Its hard to really know when you are young haven’t experienced much of anything else yet other then minimum wage jobs.
@KarenJ: In the end, you kind of just have to hope for the best
If she is young, and has the opportunity to travel for a little bit (and get paid for it), that’s a great job, IMO. Just make sure that the company is legit, and that most of her pay isn’t going for “rent” and “expenses”. It would be good for her to finish school, but I don’t think it’s especially damaging to take a year or two off if she’s getting paid for this job. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?
Miranda, my very smart young lady decided to keep doing her gigs part time until January. She doesn’t want to take a risk before the holidays, and working p/t in addition to her regular work will give her the chance to save up two or three months’ rent to hold her over while she “ramps up” in the new position. Smart!
Smart! And props to you for raising someone who takes a measured and practical approach.
Just last year I had a job that I dreaded, but made good money. I was putting in 80+ hour weeks and never really saw my family. While the income was great, I felt horrible and was always in a bad mood.
I have since changed jobs for less money but much better working hours. I would recommend this to anyone in the same position that I was in. Life is too short to just keep chasing every dollar that you can. I am in a much better frame of mind now and can actually see my children grow up.
Very good tips for those going to college and starting their education. I actually read that list that you mention in Yahoo as well, and I think that those jobs are very fulfilling (either entertaining or helping others) and people must decide whether they want to sacrifice fun/fulfilling for money. Even better, maybe they can start with the paying job and save some money to practice the fun career later in life
I’m the type that doesn’t really care what I do (within reason) as long as I make a good salary because I live for my free time! Right now I work as a communications manager about 30 hours a week. It is perfect, as I make a good salary and don’t have too many hours to work. It is the ideal balance. And I really don’t mind the work, although I don’t LOVE it either
When you do what you love, it’s not really work. If you get paid at all, it’s free money.
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