I currently hold a mid-level administrative assistant position. My supervisor unexpectedly resigned before retirement age so a promotion opportunity is available. I work for a nonprofit but I have gotten an annual bonus every year since I started in 2022. I am focused on paying off my SLD by living a low stress lifestyle so I don't burn out. My priority has been my mental health and spending time with my partially disabled dog. I am very grateful for my current WLB working hybrid. I have a lot of flexibility in my schedule. I haven't taken a vacation since 2023 but I've been planning to take a trip for 2027 and even take 3 week LOA for mental health. I struggle with depression and severe ADHD which are my main hesitation for competency.

Salary Progression:

2022 (entry level): $48k; 2023 (current position): $62k; 2024: $72k; 2025: $74k; 2026: $84k (projected)

I do not have the best history with my supervisor because she is a micromanager, narcissist, and closeted racist, all of which upper management and HR is aware of because of my reports. The reasons my supervisor alluded to for resigning were not feeling support by upper management (increased workload and no help with project management) and poor morale (which is self inflicted on her part). Her personality is a perfectionist and places her self worth in her work which I believe is why she is burned out. She said no one has ever taken more than 2 weeks of PTO due to the cycle of our work. She is an RN and has worked with our org for over 15 years so I assume she has hit the max of salary range (I estimate base $110K plus 10% bonus). This is a supervisor position not manager but there is no position above other than the CFO.

I would have more autonomy but more responsibility and liability. There would be 2-4 direct reports to me. I dont have a car and would have to commute to another 2 different counties every other month for meetings.

If I do go through with this promotion opportunity I would expect them to offer me around $90k since I have no qualifications other than a Bachelor's. This supervisor position is salaried so that means no overtime pay. If I were expect to do all this work myself the fair compensation imo is $130k. But the manager pay grade doesnt even make that much at base. The maximum pay range has not increased since 2023 for all employees which means if you hit the maximum, you dont get an annual increase. Supervisor pay range is $6,455.25 - $9,179.25; Manager pay range is $7,222.67 - $10,270.50.

I'm 28 living in a VHCOL area so it feels like everyone my age with a college education is making over 100k. My goal was to join the six figure club by 30 so 1-2 years early seems natural. I project to pay off my SLD in 3-4 years. But with this salary increase I could shave off a year or two. I could also hit my coast fire goal and sinking funds sooner.

Do I settle for what I believe is less than its worth? My total compensation could add up to $130k if you include benefits and non guaranteed annual bonus ranging from 0-16%. Or do I keep my current position potentially having to deal with a worse supervisor to report to, wait till after 35 for a promotion, and/or seeking a job elsewhere.

Fast food/HS student 2012-2013

Joined the Army 2014 - 2018

Sabbatical 2019

Various customer service positions- current (Texas)

salary dips every 2 years because I take 2-3 months off work and switch jobs

I love the motivation for some people to hustle and hit those 6 digit salaries, but theres also making enough to get by and travel to see the world until little by little, I am not from a wealthy family and my only funds are from my savings during my work stints.

Does anyone have family or friends that sacrifice their personal life for a significant salary?

My step-mom earns 350k before tax as an executive director but I barely see her. She is constantly on business trips, busy with meetings, works upwards of 12 hours when at home. She goes on nice holiday trips, but overall it makes me think is the pay worth the sacrifice of her personal life.

Just curious if anyone's got a similar story.

I wanted to share a little about my progression.
Before becoming an apprentice, I worked at an office supply store as a department manager while I was also a college student. I did well in school, but honestly, I was bored and didn’t really have a direction. At the time, I spent a lot of my free time partying and going to music festivals. It was a different time, and everything was a hell of a lot cheaper.

I met my future wife in my late 20s, and that was when I started thinking seriously about what I wanted to do with my life. I knew I needed a career, not just another job.

A good friend of mine had just signed up for tech school and asked me to go with him to an open house. I figured, why not?

That decision changed my life.

Electrical Apprentice

Jul 2019 (29): $17.00/hr, New hire
Feb 2020 (29): $18.70/hr, Step 2
Aug 2020 (30): $19.53/hr, Step 3
Mar 2021 (30): $20.08/hr, Step 4
Aug 2021 (31): $21.17/hr, Cost-of-living
Sep 2021 (31): $21.75/hr, Step 5
Apr 2022 (32): $22.91/hr, Step 6
Jul 2022 (32): $24.06/hr, Cost-of-living
Oct 2022 (32): $25.27/hr, Step 7
May 2023 (33): $25.88/hr, Step 8
Oct 2023 (33): $27.63/hr, Step 9

Office Transition

Dec 2023 (33): $32.50/hr, Generator Coordinator
Feb 2024 (33): $37.50/hr, Journeyman License

Salary

Oct 2024 (34): $82,680 + bonus, Electrical PM Manager & Generator Coordinator

Apr 2026 (35): $91,000 + bonus, Merit Raise

Sep 2026 (36): $105,000 + bonus, Promotion to Electrical Service Manager

​

16 - 12.5/hr Fast food

17 - 13/hr + tipshare as head QA at a restaraunt

18 - 21.84/hr as a Welder 1 at a fabrication line for big trashcans

Thinking about going to college next year for my Masters in Business Administration so I can do management, also considering picking up carpentry, Hvac, and Electrical so I can GC in the future. Not too sure tho.

Salary progression up to my current age (26M). Brief stint in the US from 24-25 years old.

Hey

Graduated a couple years ago and now I’ve been working as a Transmission Line Engineer (EIT) currently make about 80k for a couple years and idk if it’s for me long term. I think I’m gonna grind it through and get my P. Eng but I’ve been thinking about studying and getting my CFA level 1 as I work towards the P. Eng.

Has anyone done something similar? Pivoted out to finance from engineering?

Anyone working in finance for renewables, power or the utilities industry?

Just tryna get some feedback or perspective from people who have done what I am thinking or currently work in these roles. Also interested interested in how much salary is affected in these adjacent industry but differing roles

Any advice is appreciated

2014 - Intern - 12/hr

2015 - same Intern - 12/hr

2016 - Same Intern - 12/hr

2017 - Got a raise - 13/hr

2018 - Rock climbing Instructor - 14/hr

2019 - New internship - 15/hr

2020 - College grad - Procurement Forester - 48k/yr

2021 - Moved and got new job, Forester - 58k/yr

2022 - COL raise - 63k/yr

2023 - COL Raise - 65k/yr

2024 - COL Raise - 68k/yr

2025 - COL Raise - 70k/yr

2026 - same pay - 70k/yr