Low-paying dream job vs. high-paying boring job

[Atlanticatia]

A recent study I saw, said that "64% of Millennials would rather make $40,000/year at a job they love than $100,000/year at a job they think is boring."

So, would you rather have a low-paying job that you love, or a high-paying job that's boring?

- Let's assume that both jobs would be the same amount of work and difficulty.
- Let's say that the salary of the dream job is $30,000, and the salary of the boring job is $250,000. You only have to support yourself, so ignore everything about supporting a family or extended family.
- Your salary will be set at this for life, but it'll be inflation-adjusted: you'll never move up the payscale, but you'll maintain your purchasing power
- Would you rather have the low-paying dream job, or the high paying dream job? How much would the salary have to be to convince you to take the boring job?
- Is money or enjoyment(a dream job) at your job more important?

If I was choosing between $30,000 a year and $250,000 a year, I'd probably choose the high-paying boring job. $250k isn't exactly living a super-amazing lifestyle, but it'd be decent, so $500,000 would make me definitely take the boring job. I think that while being able to have my dream job would be pretty great, I would need to be able to have a decent standard of living. I don't know if I would want to live on $30,000 a year...for the rest of my life. I wouldn't want to have to live paycheck-to-paycheck, while only being able to afford the basics. With $500,000 a year, it'd afford a really decent lifestyle(and my life outside of work would be less boring), and I'd easily be able to save a lot of it, so I could stop working at the boring job a lot earlier than normal retirement age. If you saved about 20% of $500k each year, you'd be able to stop working with a 6-figure income for life in about 15-20 years.

[The Serbian Empire]

Money is what is most exciting to me. That and being able to anything that isn't just paperwork.

[Empire of Narnia]

I'd go for the money.

[Digital Planets]

A high-paying job = good housing = large backyard = giant pool = pool parties, cigars and vodka.

I don't see how that's boring. That'd make me one happy fucker if you add in hookers.

[Condunum]

Well the way I see it, I'm spending my 20's doing things I hate so I have the security to do the things I want in twenty years.

[Phocidaea]

$250k isn't exactly living a super-amazing lifestyle, but it'd be decent

Dunno if you're living in New York or something, but a single person earning $250k a year is... a lot. That's a... life-changing amount of money for normal people.

Anyway, in your hypothetical situation I would definitely take the higher-paying job. "Interesting job" is kind of an oxymoron; given that they are the same amount of work, I would take the job that gives me more money to spend on actually-interesting things.

[Lalaki]

I would go for the low-paying dream job. I don't need a big house, a fancy car, or expensive items. I want to live in a small mobile home with very basic possessions.

[Pandeeria]

I don't care if it's boring. As long as it's not more difficult, then I'd rather take the high-paying job. Especially considering the huge pay difference.

[Aggicificicerous]

$30,000 is more than enough for me to live comfortably. I'll happily take that and a job I enjoy.

[Atlanticatia]

$250k isn't exactly living a super-amazing lifestyle, but it'd be decent

Dunno if you're living in New York or something, but a single person earning $250k a year is... a lot. That's a... life-changing amount of money for normal people.

Anyway, in your hypothetical situation I would definitely take the higher-paying job. "Interesting job" is kind of an oxymoron; given that they are the same amount of work, I would take the job that gives me more money to spend on actually-interesting things.

Well I do live around New York, and it's definitely a lot of money, but I'm not sure if it'd give me an interesting enough lifestyle to outweigh the benefits of the dream job. $250k would probably do it, like a 95% chance.

And it's your dream job, so it's basically whatever you love doing, and whatever you've always wanted to do as a job - anything at all - but you can only earn $30k a year.

[Digital Planets]

$30,000 is more than enough for me to live comfortably. I'll happily take that and a job I enjoy.

You're doing life wrong then.

[Condunum]

$30,000 is more than enough for me to live comfortably. I'll happily take that and a job I enjoy.

You're doing life wrong then.

Boo to the man who cannot appreciate a humble life.

[District XIV]

$30,000 is more than enough for me to live comfortably. I'll happily take that and a job I enjoy.

You're doing life wrong then.

Subjective.

[Pandeeria]

$30,000 is more than enough for me to live comfortably. I'll happily take that and a job I enjoy.

You're doing life wrong then.

If 30,000 is enough for you to live off of comfortably, then yes, this, you're doing life wrong.

[The Serbian Empire]

A high-paying job = good housing = large backyard = giant pool = pool parties.

I don't see how that's boring. That'd make me one happy fucker if you add in hookers.

Indeed, it's the ability to be not eternally bound to low wages. Having no money for leisure and living in a bad area isn't fulfilling enough... Magic cards, video games, and nice food isn't free!

[Kelinfort]

Luckily the salary of my dream job is $125,000!

To be honest, I'd rather work my dream job and live within my means rather than a terribly boring job.

[Digital Planets]

You're doing life wrong then.

Boo to the man who cannot appreciate a humble life.

I'm sorry that my wanting of a life with fast cars, hookers, and 700 pounds of cocaine in my ornate-designed mansion is ruining it for you.

[Aggicificicerous]

$30,000 is more than enough for me to live comfortably. I'll happily take that and a job I enjoy.

You're doing life wrong then.

If you need $250,000 dollars to enjoy life, you are the one doing it wrong.

[Pandeeria]

You'd have more fun with the 250k instead of the 30k.

[The Fascist American Empire]

In case we haven't noticed, young people tend to be pretty stupid. This is coming from a high school kid. I would rather hate my job everyday except payday, when I can actually use aforesaid money to:

a. Pay off student loans,
b. Not accumulate credit card debt,
c. Properly invest said funds so as to increase my wealth even further,
and
d. Save for retirement.

Whereas, if I'm in a low-paying job that I love (not likely, as I'm aiming to be a litigation lawyer), then I will:
1. Accumulate debts that I cannot repay
2. Go into depression as I cannot support my family
3. Despise my job for reasons one and two.

[Deramen]

i would take the money. because after a while i would have so much money i could do what ever i want

[Othelos]

Dream job. Idc if it's low paying, I want my life's work to mean something.

[United Marxist Nations]

This is why I said I would prefer something like a modified Soviet system where housing and healthcare are guaranteed (along with employment positions) and university is heavily subsidized, because then, as long as there's open positions for it, you wouldn't have to need nearly as much pay to get by or even have comfortable amenities.

EDIT: As for the specific question: how much of my time does each job take up? A high-paying boring job wouldn't be a problem at all if it's only something like a 9-5 arrangement.

[Pandeeria]

This is why I said I would prefer something like a modified Soviet system where housing and healthcare are guaranteed (along with employment positions) and university is heavily subsidized, because then, as long as there's open positions for it, you wouldn't have to need nearly as much pay to get by or even have comfortable amenities.

Damn man. It's a little question about pay, not about how we should bring in the Soviet System or not.

[Digital Planets]

You're doing life wrong then.

If you need $250,000 dollars to enjoy life, you are the one doing it wrong.

I want as fucking much money as I need to enjoy life, with fast cars, hookers, private planes, buying a country out and turning into a giant tourist trap, then when I die, mobilize an army to kill everyone and burn it down.