I've been grinding away in public accounting for years, and honestly, the money's great. But it's come at a cost to my soul. Lately, I've been exploring opportunities in the non-profit sector. I'm drawn to the idea of using my financial skills to make a difference in the world, but the salaries are a reality check.

Right now, I'm making $95K a year, and the non-profit roles I'm looking at are more in the $60K-$70K range. I know that money isn't everything, but it's a big adjustment. I'm trying to figure out if the trade-off is worth it.

Has anyone else made a similar jump from a high-paying accounting job to a lower-paying, but more fulfilling role? How did you rationalize the pay cut? What factors did you consider? Were you ultimately happy with your decision?

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If you look for privately funded charities you can have both a competitive salary and fulfilling work. Eg, private foundations, private schools, other passion projects of wealthy donors that have been formalized into charities and have substantial resources without relying on public fundraising or government funding. These organizations pay market for talent, sometimes more than PA.

I’m in the same boat, been grinding over 10 years in public accounting but would feel more fulfilled being a teacher instead. Salary is over 50% less and there is the cost of getting an education degree but I am starting on the path! Not sure when I would switch careers but I would like the backup option. The pay cut is really hard to swallow but I have a partner who supports me in the change and financially we can afford the change. I’ve been thinking about this change for over 5 years and I feel a weight of the shoulders by finally deciding to do something about it. If you are really passionate about something else it will keep gnawing at you :)

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