Mackenzie Waldron is a writer focused on ensuring workers have the information and resources they need to thrive. She explores topics that come up on Empower Work’s free, confidential text line and brings research-backed approaches to support you.

Do you love your day-to-day tasks at work, but the pay is too low? You’re not alone. Maybe you enjoy your job and your coworkers, but it just isn’t enough for you to stay at the company for much longer.

As one Empower Work help seeker shared: 

“I love the mission of the company I work for, I love the job I get to do and the people I get to talk to, but our team is not being fairly compensated.” 

This can feel overwhelming and leave you feeling confused about what to do next. It’s important to consider all of your options and to put yourself first in this situation. Here are five next steps you can take if you love your job, but hate your paycheck. 

1. Prioritize what’s important to you

For some people, the most important thing in a job is a paycheck, regardless of their role or responsibilities. For others, the job itself is more important than the pay. Some people leave their higher paying jobs for something that excites them more, but may pay a little less. While other people continue to strive for higher paying jobs that they may not love. 

It’s important for you to prioritize what’s most important—the job or the pay? Of course, ideally you’d have the best of both worlds—good pay and an enjoyable job. But if you do have one or the other, ask yourself what is most important to you.

2. Negotiate better pay 

Asking for a raise can be very intimidating and overwhelming. But it may be worth it to be able to stay at the job you love. There are many steps you can take to ask for a raise like researching salary trends, listing out your qualifications and achievements, preparing what to say, and being prepared to answer questions from your manager. 

If your conversation doesn’t go the way you hoped, it can feel overwhelming thinking of next steps. Maybe your boss agreed to a raise, but it’s not nearly as much as you thought it’d be. Or maybe your boss didn’t agree to a raise at all. However the conversation goes, you should be proud of yourself for trying. And if it didn’t go the way you wanted to, take a deep breath and brainstorm next steps. 

3. Consider another source of income

If you want to stay at the job you love, but the pay isn’t enough to keep you afloat, it may be time to consider another source of income—or, a side hustle. Of course, there are pros and cons to having a side hustle. For instance, while your income may be higher, your personal time will be reduced. It could also be stressful, juggling too many tasks at once.  

There could also be more positives to considering a side hustle. It could help you find a creative outlet, expand your network, help you start a new routine, and it could further your career. If you choose to do something on the side, it should take up a small amount of time and it should be fun! There are many creative side hustle ideas out there, so it’s important to do your research and find the perfect fit for you. 

You just have to think about what works for you and if you can handle multiple jobs. If you take on too much, and your work life becomes all-consuming with little balance, this can become a problem. Hustle culture can negatively impact your mental health and lead to burnout, so keep this in mind while looking for a side gig that will balance well with your current job and lifestyle. 

4. Find similar opportunities

Not everyone is excited to go into work every day. So, if you’ve found that job that you like everything about except the pay, it may be worth it to look and see if there are similar opportunities with higher pay out there. Ask people in your network if they’ve had good work experiences that are similar to the one you’re in now. If they have, check and see if their former employers are hiring and if the pay is better. 

It doesn’t hurt to do some research on similar companies and their company cultures. You may find that there are many similar roles and companies with higher pay. This research could also be beneficial if you’re asking your current employer for a raise—show them the salary ranges from competitor companies.  

5. Reach out for support 

If you love your job but hate your paycheck and you’re struggling with what to do about it, reach out for support. Chances are, many people have been in the same position. You’re not alone. Reach out to your network, family, friends, or coworkers. 

You can also reach out to a trained Empower Work peer counselor by texting 510-674-1414 for free, confidential support in finding your next steps.

How Can Empower Work Help?

Our text line is free, confidential, and provides non-legal support for a variety of workplace challenges, including bullying and discrimination. Our trained peer counselors act as a sounding board to help you reflect on your current situation and brainstorm the best action steps for you to help you move forward. Here's what to expect if you decide to text or chat online with an Empower Work peer counselor:

• We listen. We ask what’s going on, how it’s impacting you, and what’s at stake.

• We help you identify what you want. We help you look at your options, figure out what’s within your control, and get unstuck.

• We make an action plan. We brainstorm next steps together and help you identify specific actions you can take.

If you're ready to chat with a counselor, text us at 510-674-1414.

*Note: Empower Work provides non-legal support for workplace challenges. This information, while authoritative, is not legal advice or guaranteed for legality. Employment laws and regulations vary by state. We recommend consulting with state resources for specific interpretation and decisions. If you believe you were discriminated against in violation of the law, we recommend you seek legal advice.