# Why did you hate your high paying job?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [April 17, 2009, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388 "2009-04-17T05:51:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/1 "2009-04-17T05:51:01Z")
It’s easy enough to understand why people hate low paying jobs, but, in this thread:
> **[Low paying job you love, or great pay for a job you hate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=513713)**
>
> For some reason today I was thinking about my job and how much I like being there. I’ve finally found the perfect combination of atmosphere, co-workers, work responsibilities, commute, and hours that is best suited for my personality. The only...
many dopers say that they hated their high paying job, and many of them quit.
If you hate, or hated, your job, tell us what you hate about it. Maybe give some examples of bad moments that will help us understand how awful it is, or was.
For myself the only jobs I hated were the low paying ones. I hated the repetition and the powerlessness. I remember one time spending hours writing a report and then finding out that the arrogant idiot I sent it to never even read it. In that case it was the final straw and I quit. But before that there were numerous times when decisions were made by dumb, lazy and/or corrupt people and I had to live with it.
---
### Author:  [@Mesquite-oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mesquite-oh)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/2 "2009-04-17T07:42:07Z")
I’ve had friends who quit high paying jobs. One told me that they were making a lot of money, but they were really working enough hours for 1.5 to 2 jobs, which made their pay not seem all that great. In addition, they were on the road and they missed their children growing up, family and friends. Another guy explained that there also was not a lot of security in this job, if his numbers were down, he was gone- he was just a moneymaking piece of meat to his corporation who could be replaced by a lower priced younger person at anytime. The pressure and paranoia drove him crazy and affected his family (especially when he had to move them 3 times).
---
### Author:  [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/3 "2009-04-17T08:54:42Z")
I have a high paying job (for a high school grad). I hate it.
The phone rings at any time of the day or night and I must do exactly what is requested of me, immediately. There’s no “I’m busy” or “Can it wait an hour?” or “My clothes are in the dryer” or “I’m at my kid’s baseball game”. Often it’s “Surprise family! I’m going to XYZ for a week! Bye!” _drives away_
So I find myself going on 700km drives at 2am, or working for 26 hours straight, or being awake for 36 hours, sleeping for six hours, and being awake for another 36 hours.
And then there is the threat of mistakes. It would be very easy to make a mistake that costs hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars to fix. This threat exists all day long.
---
### Author:  [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/4 "2009-04-17T09:15:30Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#):
>
> I have a high paying job (for a high school grad). I hate it.
>
> The phone rings at any time of the day or night and I must do exactly what is requested of me, immediately. There’s no “I’m busy” or “Can it wait an hour?” or “My clothes are in the dryer” or “I’m at my kid’s baseball game”. Often it’s “Surprise family! I’m going to XYZ for a week! Bye!” _drives away_
>
> So I find myself going on 700km drives at 2am, or working for 26 hours straight, or being awake for 36 hours, sleeping for six hours, and being awake for another 36 hours.
>
> And then there is the threat of mistakes. It would be very easy to make a mistake that costs hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars to fix. This threat exists all day long.
What job is that?
---
### Author:  [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/5 "2009-04-17T09:22:18Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#):
>
> What job is that?
Hooker
---
### Author:  [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/6 "2009-04-17T09:39:42Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#):
>
> What job is that?
Cased Hole Wireline Operator.
Which means: Build explosive devices, lower them into oil and gas wells to the specified depth and blow up the rock so that product will flow.
Or: Take an ultrasonic scan of the entire well so the oil/gas company can tell whether the inner liner of the well has been bonded to the earth properly.
And so on.
---
### Author:  [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/7 "2009-04-17T11:43:01Z")
> [@Plan\_B](#):
>
> I hated the repetition and the powerlessness. I remember one time spending hours writing a report and then finding out that the arrogant idiot I sent it to never even read it. In that case it was the final straw and I quit. But before that there were numerous times when decisions were made by dumb, lazy and/or corrupt people and I had to live with it.
Because repetition and powerlessness and idiot bosses and dumb, lazy, corrupt people know no boundaries; they are just as common in high paying jobs as low paying ones.
---
### Author:  [@steadierfooting](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steadierfooting)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/8 "2009-04-17T15:39:18Z")
I agree with **Mesquite-oh**. The organization expects you to work more than the low-paying counterparts in the workforce. Some of my friends don’t understand the responsibility that comes with it, “what do you mean you have to work late and on the weekends, just let it wait until Monday”. Or conversely when I have to take over a failing projects, “It’s not your job” but yea, they pay me a lot more to make it my job.
However, I love my job, and all about making money right now so that doesn’t bother me.
Other people: demanding bosses, tight deadlines, unqualified for the position, etc.
---
### Author:  [@steadierfooting](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steadierfooting)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/9 "2009-04-17T15:44:54Z")
Oh also that I could see happening with me is burnout. It’s emotionally draining being on point 8-10 hours a day. I go home and can’t imagine reading a book. It’s brainless TV. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a job that isn’t as challenging.
---
### Author:  [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/10 "2009-04-17T15:57:18Z")
The drive, mostly. 3-4 hours of commute per day was killing me.
Admittedly, having kids changes my priorities as well. Prior to having he girls Lady Chance and I made a ton of money working under pressure for 12-16 hours per day. What we did was what we _were_, if you get me. There’s a lot of that in Washington, frankly.
But I pulled the plug and relocated. Now I’m building businesses and working for myself. I miss the connections and such working at covering The Hill gave me but I smile more.
---
### Author:  [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/11 "2009-04-17T16:14:12Z")
I didn’t ,I hated the much lower paid job I had later where I had to work three times harder,for a third longer day and take four times as much shit from people.
---
### Author:  [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/12 "2009-04-17T16:25:32Z")
I have a high paying job (sort of) because I spent a lot of time and trouble getting a good education in a specialized field that I like and because I have a lot of proven experience in getting the job done.
I hate my job because my (new) boss treats me like an idiot, doesn’t mind calling me stupid in public, sucks off all the interesting parts of the job for himself and then he takes credit for any successes and blames me (and others) for any failures. Then, when it’s time for recognition, he and his friends get the rewards and everyone else gets a kick in the teeth. The money is the ONLY thing that keeps me working and that is turning into bare minimal effort. Kind of a self-fulfilling situation for the boss.
I remind myself every day that I make good money - it could be worse - but such a job is soul draining.
---
### Author:  [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/13 "2009-04-17T16:50:53Z")
Absurd hours. What’s the point if you’re trapped at work for 60 hours a week, and don’t have any time to enjoy it? My current job is not what one would consider “high paying,” but it produces enough fun tickets for me to do what I like. Muuuch better.
---
### Author:  [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/14 "2009-04-17T17:13:29Z")
STRESS
The thing that bothered me the most, aside from the stress issues, were;
1\> IT bosses are not known for their people skills. Something I’ve stressed a lot in the lower paying jobs I’ve had since then is “We’re not payed enough to take both the customer’s shit and your shit. That’s why your turnover is high.”
2\> The other side of that, being the arrogant sense of ownership these no-people-skills managers seem to get over their people. You don’t own me, you can’t call me up at home and order me around, you can’t demand that I come in at all hours and work for free. You may TRY, but it won’t fly by me.
It really did get to the feeling of Wage Slavery, insomuch that by paying me a salary, they felt like they owned me and could command my every waking minute with impunity.
---
### Author:  [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/15 "2009-04-17T17:23:17Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#):
>
> Cased Hole Wireline Operator.
>
> Which means: Build explosive devices, lower them into oil and gas wells to the specified depth and blow up the rock so that product will flow.
>
> Or: Take an ultrasonic scan of the entire well so the oil/gas company can tell whether the inner liner of the well has been bonded to the earth properly.
>
> And so on.
I loved it when you guys came onto our platform. One of the last really interesting jobs in the oil field.! I would finish my shift as Production Supervisor and just sit in your logging cabin picking the brains of you guys.
When I left the North Sea I was thinking of retraining into well services but divorce payments meant I needed money so continued into start up and commissioning. Its high payed but its the life style I prefer, I can commit intensely for for a job in rotation and chill out on my time off
---
### Author:  [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/16 "2009-04-17T18:01:31Z")
I second the stress factor. I went from being the business development helper to the primary business developer for a company. Nice raise in pay, but huge raise in stress. Despite winning our small company millions of dollars in defense business in a downward spiraling economy, I find myself with a pissed off boss who just sees those wins as ‘part of my job’ and no additional raise in pay at review time. Meanwhile, I’m working lots of nights and weekends at the boss’s whim and having to cancel plans made months before because of a wild idea my boss had hours before. The work/life balance sucks. In this job market, I don’t dare quit, but I may reconsider my options when things improve because I didn’t realize how stressful it would be and as hard as I’m working, my boss clearly thinks I need to be doing more to justify my salary.
---
### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/17 "2009-04-17T22:20:47Z")
When my career was still on an upward arc, the higher one went (in title, salary or any other measure) the more one was expected to bring in business. That meant sales.
I didn’t like it. I didn’t originally sign on to sell. I loved _doing_ the work, and I did it well. Going to a client to convince them that we should do the work, then handing off the actual job to someone else while I went to another client to convince them that we should do the work sucked all the joy out of why I got into the field in the first place.
---
### Author:  [@wasson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wasson)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2009, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/18 "2009-04-17T23:56:16Z")
I was making a really decent living, but I was working in a cubicle in an insurance company where the dress code was really strict, the hours were a little unreasonable, and I just felt “trapped” overall. I’m now a freelancer making less, but MUCH happier in life. Money ain’t everything.
---
### Author:  [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/19 "2009-04-18T03:05:25Z")
Because it ends up academia is incestuous and boring.
At least my experience of it was.
---
### Author:  [@JuliaSqueezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JuliaSqueezer)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388/20 "2009-04-18T13:26:25Z")
I could be Wasson. Fairly high pay, insurance company, cubicle, long hours, dress code.
Retired as soon as I could and free-lance now. Much better for me, both physically and mentally.
Some bosses were terrific. A few were just power mad shits who reveled in their ability to bully, humiliate and condescend, without consequences. An example would be demanding that employees work long hours to deliver a report by a certain date, and the report would then gather dust on a window ledge; never opened, never read.
Or a boss who received a commendation letter from a major customer, praising one of his employees for assistance above and beyond. This boss, instead of passing the letter along to the employee, or putting it in his personnel file for a future performance review, tossed the letter in his trash. As soon as the boss left for lunch, his secretary fished it out and showed it to the employee. The letter could never be referred to, of course, because to the boss, the letter didn’t exist.
Many incidents like those convinced me I had better things to do, and the high pay was just not worth it any more.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-hate-your-high-paying-job/493388.md?page=2)