Dear mustachians,
I am facing a life dilemma and need to make a decision. Would love to hear your input about this.
I have not been happy at work. Not because of the people I work with or the people I work for, but because of the time I spend at work and the compensation I get for it.
I am employed and currently am making about 50% less than the average american in my field makes. This is due to the place I live in. There is the promise of making 50% more in 5 years. I feel like I don't have any time for my wife and I find myself constantly complaining of the time I need to be at work.
Initially I thought It would all be ok and I'd have no problems waiting the 5 years and things would make sense financially after several years. The problem is that I am extremely burned out and I cannot fathom a 30 year career doing what I am doing. I'd like to get out of this rat race in 10-15 years max.
One of my options is moving and finding another job somewhere that would pay me more.
My other option, and the one I like the most because it doesn't require me to leave my city, is to become self employed and work for twice the hourly wage that I get now. This would allow me to literally go part time now to fight this burn out. It would however mean traveling for work for 7-12 days a month. It would allow me to reach FI in 8 years (if I worked 12 days) or 12 years (if I worked 7 days).
What would you do? Stay in the job knowing you are making much less money than you probably could, working more days than you want and delay FI, or risk it and become self employed and travel for work?