Low earning professionals, do you regret your career?

[Anonymous]

What's your definition of low-earning?

I've been working almost 30 years and earn $130k a year doing something I love and that I feel is valuable. I feel good about my income and know that I would have withered away inside if I had gone into something I despised like the corporate world.

But I also don't see myself as "low-income" even though it's not at the level of a law partner, so maybe I'm not your audience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS graduated from college about 3 years ago and makes around $100k. His first-year salary surpassed my salary in year 15 of teaching. It's no wonder anybody wants to teach. Thankfully he is nearly done paying back his student loans and is saving his money wisely.

My oldest daughter spent the first seven years of her career in IB and another three years in M&A. She made a lot of money in that ten years span and also invested wisely during that time. When she walked away after ten years, she had a net worth of around 15M, enough to not worry about money ever again. She is now a biology teacher at a private school because she wants to make a difference in young people's lives, and she is very happy with her choice. She is also married to a poor public high school teacher but he is the love of her life. Her only regret is that she wished she could have met him sooner.

Yes I’m from an Ivy League and many of the UMC class kids knew to take that path. I didn’t understand how much money any careers made (I am a scientist and my starting pay was $50k; my understanding was that IB made $100k but worked 100 hour weeks — no inkling that the salary would escalate quickly)

I tell this story to my kids often; to build a nest egg as fast as possible, then follow their passion.

[Anonymous]

No. I get to have dinner with my family every night, go to my kids’ activities, I rarely travel and I leave my work at work. And my weekends are free.

I make enough, but probably below the DCUM success line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I get to have dinner with my family every night, go to my kids’ activities, I rarely travel and I leave my work at work. And my weekends are free.

I make enough, but probably below the DCUM success line.

Just wondering, how much do you make?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I get to have dinner with my family every night, go to my kids’ activities, I rarely travel and I leave my work at work. And my weekends are free.

I make enough, but probably below the DCUM success line.

100k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I get to have dinner with my family every night, go to my kids’ activities, I rarely travel and I leave my work at work. And my weekends are free.

I make enough, but probably below the DCUM success line.

So do I and I bet I make more than you

[Anonymous]

Teacher with a Masters. Worked in private and public. Both are soul sucking for different reasons and the pay is crap. I thought as long as I had a job with a salary and benefits (versus an hourly wage) I would be able to support a family. The problem is that I married a teacher. So we are both in computer by our schools and underpaid compared to professions with similar education requirements. We tell our kids often to not go into education as a career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher with a Masters. Worked in private and public. Both are soul sucking for different reasons and the pay is crap. I thought as long as I had a job with a salary and benefits (versus an hourly wage) I would be able to support a family. The problem is that I married a teacher. So we are both in computer by our schools and underpaid compared to professions with similar education requirements. We tell our kids often to not go into education as a career.

I am the PP with the daughter who is a teacher but she spent the first ten years of her career in IB and MA. It is just wrong to tell your kids not to go into an education career because of the low pay. The key here is to go into a finance career where one can make a lot of money in the first ten years and invest wisely. After that, go into an education career if that's what one loves to do. Just do not become an education professional when first starting your professional career.

[Anonymous]

I have a decently earning profession, but I'm definitely earning on the lower end. I'm a web developer for a non-profit. The up side is fantastic benefits. If I need to pick my kid up from school no one bats an eye. If I need to shift my working hours no issues. Unlimited vacation time that is rarely denied, plus we are 100% remote. Of course it has stressful moments but most of the time it's a breeze.

I could absolutely be earning a lot more, but even if my "breadwinner" DH lost his job mine could support us fully without dipping into savings. I count that as a major win.