I currently have a rewarding job that I enjoy. This year, I will be grossing $69,044, plus 5.5% matching on a retirement account. I will top out at around $85,000. On the down side, the job is high stress, and I commute about 2 hours a day (1 hour each way/25 miles). I am the higher earner by about $12,000.
I am due to have my first child later this year, and I am starting to wonder at what point a pay cut would make sense. It would be really nice to spend less time on the road and more time with my child. My rate of pay is roughly $33/hour, and I have seen some job that would cut my commute time down to under an hour on most days. However, those jobs top out at around $58,000/year, no retirement match. I would likely have a change to get the top pay grade, but be maxed out from my first day.
At what pay level should would it make sense to take a close job? I am really struggling with what choice would make good personal and financial sense.