Understanding the Numbers When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors — like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.
Deciding to leave a job is a tough decision. We spend roughly half of our waking hours each week at work. The time, energy and, often, heart we put into earning a living is considerable. There’s great personal satisfaction as an employee willing to contribute to an organization over time. Plus, having a stable job is crucial, especially in an uncertain economy.
Landing a high-paying job is often seen as the pinnacle of career success. The bigger your paycheck, the more valuable you must be, right? But money isn’t everything. There are many reasons why someone might choose to leave a lucrative job.
I’ve been there myself. After years of effort I finally landed my “dream job” with an impressive salary at a top tech company. Yet within 18 months, I was handing in my resignation. Why? As is often the case, there were several factors at play.
If you’re debating leaving your well-paid gig, know that you’re not alone Below I cover the most common motivations that spur people to quit high-paying jobs, plus tips on how to thoughtfully assess if it’s the right move for you.
Reasons Someone Might Leave a Lucrative Job
Here are 8 of the most compelling factors that lead workers to quit high-paying jobs
1. Too Much Stress
Stress is by far the #1 reason people cite for leaving comfortable jobs with big paychecks. The higher you climb on the corporate ladder, the more work and responsibility piles on your plate. Long hours, tight deadlines, high pressure decisions, workplace politics – it all adds up, leading to constant anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed.
If you find yourself stressed to the max, with work worries keeping you up at night, your health and relationships suffering, it might be time to step back and reassess. Your sanity and wellbeing are more valuable than any paycheck.
Of course, most jobs bring some degree of stress. But if it’s impacting your mental and physical health, talk to your employer about ways to dial it back. If that’s not possible, it may make sense to find a company with a healthier work culture.
2. Personal Circumstances Changed
Your priorities, interests, and responsibilities evolve over time. What seemed like an ideal job straight out of college may lose its luster after marriage, parenthood, or aging parents alter your circumstances.
Common life changes that impact job satisfaction include:
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Starting a family. The time demands of a high-powered job may seem impossible to juggle once you have kids. You might choose to switch careers or take a less demanding position that allows more flexibility and work-life balance.
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Health issues. If you or a loved one develop medical problems, the stresses and long hours of a lucrative career may no longer feel sustainable.
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Moving or partner’s job change. Relocating for your spouse’s career or other reasons often means finding a new job. You may choose to pivot to a different field better suited to the new location and lifestyle.
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Caring for aging parents. Increased responsibilities caring for elderly parents can lead people to seek more flexibility at work.
Think deeply about how any major life changes should impact your career priorities and job choices going forward.
3. Feeling Disconnected From Work
Do you dread starting your workweek? Are you bored and unengaged during your workdays? Do you lack passion for your job? This emotional disconnect from your work is a major red flag.
No amount of money can sustain job satisfaction if you feel like you’re just “grinding it out” in your day-to-day responsibilities. Some common reasons high achievers start feeling disengaged and dissatisfied at work include:
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Lack of purpose. Your work doesn’t tap into your values, interests, and deeper motivations. You don’t feel like it matters.
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No autonomy. Little creativity or control over how, when, or where you work.
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Unsupportive environment. Leadership and coworkers don’t recognize your contributions.
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No growth. Your skills and responsibilities remain stagnant year over year.
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Toxic culture. Unethical behavior, backstabbing coworkers, etc.
Take time to reflect on why you feel disengaged and what needs are going unmet. This clarity can help guide future career moves.
4. Dreaming of Running Your Own Business
Many high achievers nourish entrepreneurial dreams and aspirations of being their own boss. Once you’ve climbed the corporate ladder a bit, secured savings and built connections, leaving your cushy job to launch a startup begins feeling more feasible.
Be strategic before taking the leap. Try starting your venture as a side hustle and make sure it has long term viability before quitting your day job. Have a solid business plan and funding runway in place so you don’t regret giving up that big steady paycheck.
5. Need a Better Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance remains one of the holy grails of career satisfaction. But achieving balance between work, family, health, and leisure often feels elusive, especially in demanding high-level jobs.
If you constantly miss out on important life events and quality time with loved ones, reclaiming work-life balance may motivate a career change. See if flexibility or reduced hours could allow you to better balance priorities at your current employer.
If not, finding a company with a culture that values rest, mental health, and outside pursuits may be worth compromising on salary. There are jobs out there that offer six-figure pay and work-life balance, so consider whether switching fields or employers could get you the best of both worlds.
6. Want Greater Job Security and Stability
Surprisingly, some people leave high-paying jobs because they offer too little stability, not too much. For example, sales roles with big commissions may boom one year then bust the next. Startup life offers excitement but uncertainty. Depending on your industry, even large public companies can be vulnerable to volatile market forces and large-scale layoffs.
If ongoing job security has become more important – for example, after getting married or having kids – you may choose to trade some earning potential for greater stability. Nonprofit, civil service, healthcare, and education roles often provide a sense of stability high-pressure corporate jobs lack.
Before leaving a high-paying job purely for stability, explore other options like negotiating a severance package, seeking in-demand skills, or padding your emergency savings fund to withstand periods of unemployment.
7. Want to Make a Career Change
Many people arrive at a point where they simply want a change of pace and new challenges, even if that means taking an initial pay cut to switch fields.
Maybe you’ve hit a career ceiling in your current industry. Or your passions have shifted to a totally different area you’re eager to immerse yourself in. Whether it’s switching from finance to teaching, law to launching a bakery, software engineering to running a farm – a complete career change can reinvigorate your sense of purpose and excitement about work.
Take time to realistically explore new career options and skill requirements before taking the leap. Consider whether adjacent pivots within your industry could satisfy your craving for change but carry less risk than switching fields entirely.
8. Seeking New Growth Opportunities
Professionals focused on advancement may leave well-paying jobs if they don’t see ongoing opportunities for career growth and learning. Stagnating in a role that’s too comfortable can drain your motivation over time. Being surrounded by others with more drive or talent than you can also spur dissatisfaction.
If your current job has you in a comfortable rut, assess growth potential at your company. Could expanded responsibilities, lateral moves, special projects, or new initiatives inject new life into your role? If not, it may be time to find a new organization that actively invests in talent development and offers clear upward mobility.
Even lateral moves can open new windows of growth and keep your skills marketable. Just don’t jump jobs too frequently chasing promotions — 1-2 years per role is ideal.
How to Decide If Leaving Is the Right Move
As you weigh whether leaving a lucrative job is right for you, here are some important considerations:
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Get clear on your motivations. Really dig into the why so you can identify the right solutions, whether it’s adjusting your current role or moving on. Enlist a career coach or trusted advisor to help provide an objective sounding board.
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Reflect on your priorities. How you balance factors like income, security, purpose, flexibility, and advancement will likely shift over your career journey. Reevaluate where you’re at today before making major job changes.
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Have open conversations. Voice your concerns and desired changes to your manager before deciding to leave. You may be surprised by how accommodating they can be.
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Weigh pros and cons. Make a list of the upsides and downsides of staying versus leaving. How might a new job serve you better or worse financially, mentally, growth-wise?
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Develop a transition plan. Don’t quit your current job until you have solid next steps for career progression, whether it’s a new role, going back to school, launching a business, etc.
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Build up emergency savings. Ideally have 6-12 months of living expenses banked so you can comfortably transition between jobs or take time off.
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Go with your gut. Your career is unique. Don’t let fear or other opinions override what your instincts tell you is the right path.
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If youre feeling stuck in your current job, going back to school is another way to gain a new perspective. Taking classes related to your role or industry could allow you a deeper understanding of the bigger picture or certain processes — and perhaps new strategic solutions or ideas.
Becoming an active participant in your professional growth and your team might make the work you do feel more meaningful. This initiative could also capture the attention of your employers and set you up for new opportunities — or perhaps it solidifies your decision to take your knowledge somewhere else.
If youre interested in going back to school, ask your employer if they offer any tuition assistance or reimbursement programs. Some organizations will invest in employee professional development, whether its formally listed in their benefits package or not.
Whether youre hoping to level up your high school diploma with an associate degree or advance from a bachelors to a masters, your degree can impact your salary potential.* For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported the 2022 median weekly salary by educational attainment:
- High school diploma: $853*
- Associate degree: $1,005*
- Bachelors degree: $1,432*
- Masters degree: $1,661*
What you make also depends on your background, industry and organization, among other factors. If youre interested in advancing from your current position into a management or leadership role, you might consider earning a degree in business. According to a 2023 Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) report, 44% of U.S. employers agree that graduate business school helps fast-track employees to upper-level positions (GMAC PDF source).*
The best news is you dont have to wait until graduation to reap the benefits of a degree. You can start applying what youre learning in class to your career — and vice versa — from day one. Its possible to earn a college degree without pausing your career by choosing an online program you can complete at your own pace.
And if you already have credits from previous college experiences, you might be well on your way to earning a degree if you enroll at a transfer-friendly university.
At SNHU, for instance, you could have up to 75% of your program finished by the time you start classes. Here are a few quick steps to take:
- Complete the free 5-minute online application. There’s no obligation after filling it out.
- Get your transcripts requested — for free. Chat with an admission counselor, and well request your transcripts on your behalf.
- Receive your free evaluation. Soon after all your transcripts are in, youll get your official evaluation. It will show you what was transferred in — and what classes you need to complete.
If you already have a college degree or are not ready to commit to a program, you might consider earning an undergraduate or graduate certificate. Certificate programs are often shorter and come in all types of focus.
For example, you could choose a certificate in computer programming if youre interested in gaining foundational programming and development skills or a graduate certificate in project management that can strengthen your ability to see projects through from start to finish.
Like degree programs, you can also begin leveraging what youre learning in a certificate class right away, which can help you become reinvigorated in your work. Certificates can also be completed online, and any earned credits can often transfer into a degree program, should you decide to pursue one in the future.
Consider how online classes work to see how you can balance both your career and an educational program.
Look For the Culture Fit
Culture is a tricky thing to evaluate. It can be challenging to know what an internal culture is really like until you are internal yourself, and by then it may be too late to ensure you’re a good fit.
Luckily, there are many ways to evaluate a potential culture fit. While online reviews may not be definitive, reviews in places like Glassdoor can provide a big picture view of life working at an organization. Use that information to decide what questions to ask during your interview.
An interview is the best opportunity to learn about an organizations culture. Pay close attention to how you are treated throughout the process. Also, keep an eye on how colleagues treat one another and how the manager interacts with their staff.
The best way to avoid making a bad decision about culture fit is to consider more than just the bottom line. Salary is important, but chasing a high salary without considering the whole of what the organization and experience have to offer you can be a mistake.
“It is hard not to be attracted by a flashy new salary,” Stahl said, “but consider your happiness in the equation as well.”
Once you’ve decided it’s time to leave your job, there are some steps you can take to make sure your next step is the right one.
If you’re contemplating leaving your current job, it’s a good idea to sit down with your manager or other leaders at your organization to discuss your concerns. You may not wish to say you are considering leaving, but you could ask for a meeting to learn what steps you can take to become an even more valuable contributor to your organization.
You might discover some new projects or leadership opportunities that make staying put a good decision. Or this conversation may be what you need to confirm your decision to look for work elsewhere.
A career shift is a significant life change. Simply applying for and interviewing for jobs is time-consuming and can be stressful. Throw in getting retrained with new skills or earning a new degree to strengthen your qualifications, and the job search can take up a lot of time.
Also, colleges may offer career services you can use to ask for tips on how to strategize your search and make the best use of your time.
Learn more about the importance of career services for students.
Sites like BLS, Glassdoor and Indeed may offer insights into different organizations. While the information is not definitive, checking each site for your prospective company or industry can help you see what types of benefits or salaries are typical for the field.
If you know what type of role you want to enter, take some time to acquaint yourself with current news and industry trends. Do professionals in the field usually have micro-credentials or certifications?
Perhaps you have college experience from a long time ago or a degree in a different field. You could consider taking an online course or earning a certificate to indicate your drive to be a competitive candidate.
Discover how a certificate can help you stand out in a job search.
Should I Leave My High-Paying Job?
Why should you leave a high-paying job?
Lack of growth opportunities Another possible reason for leaving your high-paying job is if you feel your career is stagnant. If there aren’t any growth opportunities available with your current organization, you may feel limited in your career or bored with your responsibilities.
Why do people quit high paying jobs?
There are hundreds of reasons people quit high paying jobs to be happy. Each story is unique, but the reasons are all similar. Most of us walk away from a high paying job to find a deeper purpose beyond our six-figure careers.
Should you quit a high-paying job?
For example, if you earn an excellent salary and receive competitive benefits at your job, it may be challenging to quit, even if you have other concerns about your position. In this article, we discuss some potential reasons for leaving a high-paying job and explore the possible benefits of leaving this type of role.
Should you leave a high-paying job for a lower-paid job?
For example, you may be working longer hours or need to make yourself available for answering phone calls or emails on nights and weekends. Leaving your high-paying job for a lower-paying job may help you establish better boundaries with work and have more personal time to enjoy yourself.
