Honestly, a difference of $15k feels like it is closer to $8k after taxes and possibly other constraints, work conditions, etc.

Figure out how much time commitment,extra commute that $15k difference makes you have more…

Translation: it might not be worth the extra time you would need to spend (commute, dealing with longer hours). And then figure out how much you would actually take home on a w2, especially if you don’t have many itemized deductions…

There were some jobs for me that I did that I swear I would have made more if I worked at mcdonalds for all the unpaid OT I had.

And frankly, you shouldn’t be counting on a salary alone if you’re 30+…Because you’re getting closer to 40, and in technology, it’s gonna get much harder for you to keep up to your younger peers unless you move into a higher role or management. So better to have more free time, and figure out other ways to make more money with that free time than to work for someone else for that extra $15k, kill your free time hours, and pay w2 taxes on that $15k, and then have very little left. Not worth it.

Easier said than done. But might as well get use to it.. You’re salary will be in decline unless you move up or you spend more time doing something else.

These days, when I get my review the only thing I care about is stock grants. Raise of 3-4% for being a top performer (which I get) versus something like 1-2% for so-so performance…Insignificant… Cash bonus? Yeah, it sort of helps pay for the bills…Sort of… Ok not really…Maybe for some who can now afford to buy a Venti latte at Starbucks instead of a Grande…But since I don’t waste my money at starbucks to begin with, I don’t give a crap. Maybe for me it’s just a way to keep score (hey, relative to my peers, I’m at X versus Y)…For the pay difference to actually make a dent in my bottom line? Nope, not really.

Figured out rather get the 1-2% raise and have more time than 3-4% and work like a dog for someone else.