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submitted 13 hours ago by Tooks@piefed.social to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

You make $65,000 (USD 🤢) in a dead end career doing nothing but showing up sometimes. Guaranteed employment without change in intensity or salary until retirement in 15 years at age 62. You receive 3 weeks paid vacation, reasonably priced medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k matched at 2.5%, and virtually unlimited sick days as long as you don't call out too often (>3x month). You are given 6 college credits per semester to use at the local university. You're currently working on a PhD.

You live comfortably and have 1 year's salary saved. Zero dependents.

Do you ride it out, or do you seek a career change before it's too late.

I know, infinite unknown variables, but what would you do regardless?

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[-] Mr_Wobble@thelemmy.club 47 points 13 hours ago

The location matters. $65K in Arkansas is not the same as $65K in California.

[-] Tooks@piefed.social 17 points 12 hours ago

West Virginia-Lite. About 2 hours outside of DC. Homes around here range from dilapidated trailers to McMansions. A cornucopia of ugh.

[-] Witchfire@lemmy.world 4 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

Sounds exactly like where I grew up. I got out of there the first chance I could. Would you consider moving to another state or city? Also, are you in any danger?

Personally, I've hit the point where I no longer want to contribute to some random employer and would rather do something myself. That's another possible direction

[-] naught101@lemmy.world 12 points 12 hours ago

Also income matters less in counties with better social support nets and health systems

[-] Carl@anarchist.nexus 7 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

Yeah, this is impossible to answer until we know the cost of living in OP’s area. In my area, $65k would be decent for one person, (slightly above the average for a single individual, but only about half of the average household income) but would basically be hand-to-mouth regarding income and expenses. You wouldn’t be able to save anything with $65k, which means you’d have zero wiggle room for future planning or surprise expenses.

If I was able and willing to move to the middle of bumfuck nowhere, I could be really damned comfortable for $65k. But that would be entirely dependent on my job (ability to WFH, and thus able to pack up and move), availability of things like groceries/hospital/etc., and also my willingness to suddenly have an hour drive before I’m in town. If you hate rural living and are tied down by an in-person job, the “move where it’s cheap” idea doesn’t really have a lot of options.

this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2026
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