I love my job, but at what point should I leave?

[CoryWM]

So i've had my job for the past 9 months, it allows me alot of freedoms, which is why I love it. However I only get paid 12.43 an hour. Also I don't have to clock out for lunch.. so it's actually overtime. Which bumps it up to like 14.43 an hour.

Heres my problem, without getting promoted to a higher position, everyone in the company gets a 3% raise per year. From what I can tell, from talking to people who've worked there 7 years or so, they've only ever got 3%.

So with my free time that I had at work, I figured out, it'd take me roughly 20 years to make 20 dollars an hour. However, in 20 years, 20 dollars an hour isnt gonna be as much as it is today.

I also get benefits, and 401k, and stock options after a year. And they contribute 5% of my salary to my 401k, and i get to keep it once vested. So I'm thinking I should only stay 5 years, unless i can get promoted? I feel like i'd never be layed off, my job is pretty secure. But should I be seeking more pay? I am currently 24 years old.

I contribute 20% of my paychecks for the past 6 months to 401k, and will do the max stock option of 10% when I can. Saving isnt the problem for me really. I'm just considering purchasing a house within the next 2 years. The more i examine my income, the more it looks like I should seek better pay. To be able to afford a mortgage. My girlfriend also works. I just don't wonna fall behind where I should be in a few years.

[Exile]

A couple comments off the top of my head, CoryWM. $12.43 (or as you say effectively $14.43) /hr. plus the job security that you have doesn't sound too bad for someone your age. But that also depends on what part of the country and the size of the community where you live. Obviously, some locales are more expensive than others.

Another thing, do you have health coverage from your employer? That's an extremely valuable benefit that many younger people turn down because they equate youth with health. But trust me, CoryWM, s**t happens regardless of age.

What kind of work do you do? Are you married? If so, does your spouse work or at least share your views about finances?

As a retired bill collector, I would say that based on your savings habits, your concerns, and your goals you have a good head on your shoulders and are heading in the right direction. My vote is for you to stay with that job for at least another couple years, even if the raises seem small. With proper budgeting and a moderate life style, you should make out OK--in fact better than others who make more but don't have common sense when it comes to money.

[Ariadne]

What is the actual cost of your entire compensation package? If you consider all of the perks and benefits, along with your pay, does it bump your hourly rate to a higher level? Once you consider the total compensation, does it match with what you think you should be earning?

Are there any other positions in your company that have the same skill set, similar job duties, and higher pay?

Do you need more education to get into a higher level position in your current job ladder? Will the company pay for that education?

I know from current employment trends, companies are looking for people who have a stable employment history. Jumping around looks like you lack commitment, that you get bored, or it can raise a red flag that there are performance issues.

Look at everything your employer offers you, including the programs and services that you have access to, but are not using. If you can stick it out for a bit longer, try to do it.

After 3 months at my last company, I felt overworked and underpaid. The company didn't compensate me for it. So I took advantage of every benefit they offered, stayed for a total of two years, then packed my bags and never looked back.

[cschin4]

Stop "loving your job". You don't need to "love" your job. You work to provide an income and service to humanity and the world. Get over the "love" thing. Seek a job that pays you well and that yes, you enjoy. But, you can certainly come to love a job that pays better. At your age, the goal should be seeking positions that mazimize your income and promote your career for the long term.

[Dingobiscuit]

Originally Posted by CoryWM

I also get benefits, and 401k, and stock options after a year. And they contribute 5% of my salary to my 401k, and i get to keep it once vested. So I'm thinking I should only stay 5 years, unless i can get promoted? I feel like i'd never be layed off, my job is pretty secure. But should I be seeking more pay? I am currently 24 years old.

I contribute 20% of my paychecks for the past 6 months to 401k, and will do the max stock option of 10% when I can. Saving isnt the problem for me really. I'm just considering purchasing a house within the next 2 years. The more i examine my income, the more it looks like I should seek better pay. To be able to afford a mortgage. My girlfriend also works. I just don't wonna fall behind where I should be in a few years.

Keep your current job until you find something better. Also, I would cut your401(k) contributions to the max of what your employer matches you ONLY. Anything else should be put into a Roth IRA.

[CoryWM]

I live near seattle, so cost of living is a bit higher than some places. I pay 1000 a month for rent, for a duplex, my girlfriend pays half. I get medical, dental, vision etc for around 87 dollars a month from my company.

Also it's hard not to love a job, where every day if you want, you can go home, sleep, go to the gym, go pay bills etc for about 4 hours. I have a job where I go to patient homes, and our routes are quite small most of the time, but have to be ready to go somewhere when a patient is in need or just out of the hospital, so most of the time there is lots of downtime, with about once a week where there is nothing but work to do all day.

Lots of people who have had my job, move straight up to management after a few years, my boss had my job, the area manager had my job, and from what I can tell, they make 60-100k a year. My employer will pay for my schooling to become a Respiratory Therapist. The only problem is, once I'm done with the classwork side of it. I'd have to take time off work to get all the clinical hands on learning done. I'm not sure they'd still pay if I wasnt putting in atleast 20 hours. The schools within 100 miles of me, don't offer the nighttime clinical hand on classes.

I must go now, Going into work early today, I can get 10 hours of overtime a week, so my non clocked out lunch and getting to work an hour early really helps up the pay.

[illinigamer]

Originally Posted by CoryWM

Heres my problem, without getting promoted to a higher position, everyone in the company gets a 3% raise per year. From what I can tell, from talking to people who've worked there 7 years or so, they've only ever got 3%.

Rather than moving to a different company, isn't it an option to work towards a promotion at your current company?

[Dingobiscuit]

How do you get OT just by showing up to work early? Is that even authorized time?

[Seeker]

Originally Posted by Dingobiscuit

How do you get OT just by showing up to work early? Is that even authorized time?

Sounds as if he's a nurse that attends to people needing services at their homes. He gives care, shots or medications to the patients that cannot easily get around yet are able to semi-take care of themselves as their homes.

The route may changes and on any given day he may have an additional person that may need help.... so showing up early for work is part of his hourly benefit. As he wrote earlier, he is limited to 10 hours a week of overtime.... so regarless if he shows up early every day and works through "lunch" every day, or works beyond, or gets an "emergence need" call at or near the end of each day, he can only get 10 hours of OT.

It's a standard practice for these mobile "nurses" to be paid this way, and they have to be willing to be "on call" as well.

[tripods68]

Seeker: Traveling nurse make more than $14.00 a hour. From what I can gather, he works in the capacity like a assistance technician of some sort medical deliverance field and wants to be a respiratory therapist as his next promotion. But he has to get certifications and all necessary training before hand.

[Seeker]

Originally Posted by tripods68

Seeker: Traveling nurse make more than $14.00 a hour. From what I can gather, he works in the capacity like a assistance technician of some sort medical deliverance field and wants to be a respiratory therapist as his next promotion. But he has to get certifications and all necessary training before hand.

Ah ok. I stand corrected.

[CoryWM]

It's more of the equipment side of things. I can get more than 10 hours of OT a week, it just has to be justified. Over 10 hours, my boss has to submit paperwork that I was actually at someone's house. Also I do have to be on call, 1 week outa every 5 weeks. And I only get paid when I have to leave my house, so I am a slave to a phone for a week.

The RT position was just my first plan... cause it would be free, and pretty much a sure thing to make more money.

I guess the real question is, at what point should I leave, if i didnt get a higher position? 5 years? So I am vested and keep all of that free 401k they've been giving me?

Also for vacation time, I got 2 weeks paid my first year, 3 weeks after 5 years, and 4 weeks after 10 years.

[Seeker]

Originally Posted by CoryWM

It's more of the equipment side of things. I can get more than 10 hours of OT a week, it just has to be justified. Over 10 hours, my boss has to submit paperwork that I was actually at someone's house. Also I do have to be on call, 1 week outa every 5 weeks. And I only get paid when I have to leave my house, so I am a slave to a phone for a week.

The RT position was just my first plan... cause it would be free, and pretty much a sure thing to make more money.

I guess the real question is, at what point should I leave, if i didnt get a higher position? 5 years? So I am vested and keep all of that free 401k they've been giving me?

Also for vacation time, I got 2 weeks paid my first year, 3 weeks after 5 years, and 4 weeks after 10 years.

Cory,

You're 24 years old. If I were in your shoes, I'd probably be asking my supervisor how he managed to get promoted, how much time he spent doing what you do, etc. Where did he find the time and money to get certified and land that better position? Did the position just open up and are ther numerous people doing what he does or just him? Does he see a future for you in his positon down the line?

His answer to those questions, would give you an idea of what is possible within your current situation.

You'd then have to make a decision. Would it be possible for you to follow his tracks? If your answer to that last question is "no," then you will have to decide when and where to look elsewhere.

Nobody else can make these answers to you, because ultimately nobody else knows your complete situation.

Many job changes are a gut-reaction; when it feels right to begin looking, it probably is the right time. The fact that you're asking this question means that you are thinking about the future.

Know that hardly anyone stays in one job their entire work lives and future employers will not only want to see "stability" but if there's a long time (2 years or more) spent at one place, they'd also like to see "growth." Thus, I'd suggest that 2 years in one position without growth is enough.