37/female. Have worked for my hospital five-and-a-half years. Back story: I have a master’s degree (MLIS) BUT I acknowledge that my anxiety disorder (very real – needed inpatient care in 2013) has held me back. I need a job with low-to-moderate stress and no public speaking. I live in the Cincinnati/tri-state area. boyfriend but not married or sharing finances.
I finally have a decent position here. By decent I mean no intolerable drama, no big brother atmosphere, no abusive management (I had all three in a previous role. Just to give you an idea, I previously had to enter a code into my computer to pee).
So I carry the baggage of an absolutely hellish experience in my previously held internal role. I sometimes harbor a great deal of resentment, even though it’s all in the past.
I’ve been promoted three times (plus one lateral move) since I’ve been here. I am now a sort of program coordinator, which sounds fancy enough. But each promotion gives you only a 10% raise (no room whatsoever to negotiate). I will be making 20.91/hour when my next paycheck that includes my new raise drops.
I am grateful to be ‘climbing the ladder’ but feel like each rung is about an inch from the next. I am barreling toward middle age with very little to show for it. I save $700-$800/month, but I could barely save in my 20s/early 30s. The only reason I save is because I live in a crumbling, 110-year-old apartment building with the original wiring and windows.
I see that other jobs might pay more, but I do have a pension. Our pension calculator says that if I work here til I’m 62, I may have $355,000.
I have a side business selling art that I create – made about $7000 last year.
Anyways, what do you think? Am I getting screwed? Or does the fact that my job actually offers a pension make it worth it? Are you a millennial in a similar position? Feel like I exist but never get anywhere financially.