23-year-old deliberates between taking $70k job in nice area versus $130k job in area that they hate: 'I just finished school in an area I didn't like'

• 
  Share

  via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

  _{A young employee stands while crossing his arms, with two colleagues talking in the background. Picture does not depict real parties.}

  
   

• A recent graduate felt like they had a dilemma on their hands after being offered two different jobs. One paid less and involved things that they were less interested in, but they loved the area where the company was based. The other one was more interesting and better paid, but it was in the area they had studied in, which they really didn't like. They didn't know which would be the better option for them, as they had realized that the place where they lived was important.

• $70k in great location or $130k in bad location?

  I’m 23 and am at a crossroads after graduating with my associates. I’ve been offered two jobs:

  
   

  One on the east coast in a beautiful area living back with family paying $70k in MCOL. Great company with lots of benefits, but the job I’d be doing has nothing to do with my degree. Very niche field with few jobs. The company would be sending me to school for another 2 years for a certificate which they pay for. They took me on a tour and I wasn’t really interested in the work they’d have me doing.

• 
  Share

  via Kenzo Tu

  _{A black and white photo of an empty open-plan office. Representative only.}

  
   

• Other job is in a city located in the south which is in the desert with MCOL. Super ugly area which I have no interest in living in. Also a great company with tons of benefits, starting at $130k with a bump to $145k after 1 year and tops out at $155k after 2 years. Is in the exact area I studied in and I’d be doing work I’m really interested in. If I decided to leave, I’d have an easier time of finding a job doing what I desire versus the first one.

  
   

  I’m having extreme trouble deciding which job to choose as I just finished schooling in an area I didn’t like at all and finally got to get out of after 2 years, just to have the possibility going back to an even worse environment. Being in a place with access to nature is very important to me and going without it again sounds awful.

  
   

  If anyone has been in this position and has any advice for me I’d greatly appreciate it.

  @financedystop
   

• 
  Share

  via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

  _{An employee stands while holding a piece of paper, with colleagues discussing something in the background. Photo is a representation of scenes.}

  
   

• Do the job that interests you. End of story. You're looking at the next 30-40 years of your life. Things will change, but you will be exponentially happier throughout this time if your work fulfils you.

  @BAberhorst

  You think staying home for $70k is safe. Reality: you're trapping yourself in a niche field you hate just for nice scenery.

  @StructuralDecay

  This is a no-brainer. Take the higher-paying job, you can always leave it after a couple years of earning good $, and only 23 years old so you have plenty of time to relocate.

  @CantinaChef22

  Money isn't everything. Your job isn't everything.

  @Br3_3C

  At 23?! Take less money in a better location

  @K54321000001

• 
  Share

  via Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

  _{Side profile of a man using a laptop next to someone else using a laptop. Not actual story subjects.}

  
   

Tags