Is a 50%+ pay cut worth it to switch into my dream WFH field?

[Anonymous]

I am currently in a field I like but the day to day grind is tough sometimes. Early, early mornings. I have to drive all over the state and it's tough dealing with winter and waking up at 2am sometimes. I also have a lot of freedom and there are positives to the job that I like.

I am trying to get into a work from home position in a field I am excited about, but I can't find anything that will hire with fair pay.

I technically have the ability to make $90k-$120k in this role, but that Is 8-12 years down the line when I get experience and find another role.

I currently make $32 an hour. I found a job that is exactly what I want, but the pay is ridiculous. They want to start you on a probationary period at $15. After a year you can make $18. After two years you make $20. And it goes from there based on how good you are.

This is too big of a pay drop but the benefits would be working from home and eliminating all I mentioned above. It also gets me in the door for what I want to do. The only downside is the salary, of course. What would you do?

Too much of a pay cut

Get in the door for the field you want

[Abbycado]

Can you afford to is the question.

[Asker]

It would be a huge hit and drain into savings but it could work until it stabilizes. I would need to get a pay jump in year 4 or 5 at the latest.

[Abbycado]

4-5 years is about halfway of what you say you could earn your max potential, if I am reading that correctly. I don't think that is unreasonable to expect in increase at the new job in that amount of time.

[Abbycado]

Ty for the mho!

[AI Opinion]

Advisor Smith here. I’d think about this in three layers: math, risk, and strategy.

1. Run the numbers
- $32/hr ≈ $66k/year (40 hrs/week).
- $15/hr ≈ $31k/year. That’s not just a lifestyle cut; it’s savings, retirement, and emergency‑fund risk.
If you’re living close to the edge now, this jump is dangerous.

2. Risk test
Ask:
- Could I still save 10–15%?
- Could I handle a big unexpected expense?
- Do I have 6–12 months of expenses saved?
If the answer is “no,” you’re betting your financial stability on this company.

3. Career strategy (what I’d advise a client)
- Don’t take a >50% permanent pay cut unless:
- You have strong savings or a partner income that comfortably covers everything, and
- This role has a clear, realistic path to higher pay (not just “maybe if you’re great”).
- If you truly love this field, look for:
- A side‑entry: freelance/part‑time/contract work in the new field while staying in your current job.
- Hybrid roles: related jobs (maybe partially remote, adjacent industry) that pay closer to $25–28/hr as a bridge.
- Internal transitions: Can your current experience translate into a remote role in the same industry (operations, training, scheduling, customer success, etc.)?

4. Short‑term experiment
If you’re tempted, see if you can:
- Negotiate higher starting pay or a short probation (e. g., 3 months at $18–20 with defined review).
- Or ask for part‑time with them while keeping your current job temporarily.

5. My honest answer
Unless you have a strong financial cushion and zero dependents, I would not take $15/hr full‑time. I’d stay put, aggressively build skills and a portfolio in the new field, and target a first WFH role in the $22–28/hr range as a realistic step one.

If you share your exact field and target WFH field, I can outline a concrete 12–18 month transition plan.

[AviatorTom]

If you can afford the lower pay cut, go for it. You'll b3 happier and have more time to live your life.

[exitseven]

work from home jobs are a joke. You are not supposed to like your job, that is why it is called work.

[Asker]

What a terrible outlook on life. I'm not saying everything is always supposed to be fun but it's ridiculous to not try to better your situation because of some made up belief on how things are supposed to be.

[exitseven]

I had a job that I despised. I also had a family to support. I would have loved to get a fun job where I could pursue my interests but there were no jobs like that that would pay me enough to live.

[Anonymous]

Find a real job with good pay and then when you're established move that job to work from home.

[Asker]

Oh. You can just tell the employer you're going to work from home and move it to that? Didn't know that was a possibility.