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?
UPDATE: I’m slightly taken aback by how many of you actually took the time out of your day/evening to reply to my personal crisis. I’ve think I’ve replied to everyone, which, in doing so, made this morning surprisingly sunnier. So thanks for that.
Adding some thing I’ve shared in replies. I’m a homeowner with zero debt aside from a very affordable mortgage. Purchased my car outright new in 2024, had household concerns addressed over past five years (new roof, HVAC systems, sump pump, water heater, shed, remodeled bathrooms), have three degrees, and a lifetime of piss poor fortune.
Never hurts to look.
I think the better question is “What offer would cause you to leave the position?”
At 47? That sounds pretty bleak from a retirement perspective. If I could find a job in the six figure range, I’d bounce in a heartbeat.
I had a job kinda-sorta similar to this when I was in my 20s. Best decision I every made was to jump to a higher paying job at a faster growing company in the O&G sector. Ultimately tripled my salary over ten years, and I’m sitting on well more than one year’s salary with all the same benefits and some additional perks.
What are you even going to do with a PhD once you’ve finally got it? This seems like a hobby more than a career plan.