Trading higher salary for a lower one

[Kimberly Walker]

I work in higher ed and in the last two years, I obtained a new high salary and lots of opportunities for professional growth. I have a good title and earn close to a 6 digit income.

However, I am very overworked and always in high stress. I usually work on weekends and late at night, early mornings. I tried dialing back the hours in my second year in the role to about 50 hrs a week and unfortunately It wasn’t well received on my performance review. I feel I don't have any quality life with family, have experienced some health battles due to stress, and I have a micromanager of a boss. I discovered real estate and love it! In the last year, I have been working to educate myself and finish my first brrrr strategy. It has taken much longer than I anticipated and my job leaves no time for me to do real estate.

I told myself I needed an exit strategy. I am naturally more conservative in my risk taking so it was a struggle for me just to outright quit cold turkey. I interviewed for a few positions, landed my first one that felt right from the standpoint of freeing up my time and lowering my stress. I have an offer but it’s $24k lower than what I am making and the company is hard pressed on not negotiating. The low salary bothers me because a. It undermines my worth 2. I will admit, a little damaging to my ego knowing how hard I worked to get where I am and 3. I worry if a lower salary will make it harder for me to make the moves I want to in real estate. The logical side of me is telling me to take the offer because of the doors it will open for me to pursue my dreams in real estate since I will be working a lower stress job.

Any advice ? Should I take the offer? Reject the offer and quit my job anyway? Stay where I am for longer?