I mean I guess I always knew. But sitting down with a calculator and looking at it changed my perspective a little bit and now I can’t get the idea of quitting out of my head.
I work at a high school as an instructional assistant. The job pays $15.50 an hour, with benefits like full paid insurance, money towards an HSA, and “paid” holidays.
But the catch is, on days I don’t work, I’m not actually getting paid for it. So a bit of money is taken out of each pay check to be spread out so I still get money over winter and spring break, as well as federal holidays. Plus, 12% of my pay goes to state retirement before I can even touch it. So I sat down tonight and worked it out, and discovered that based on my paychecks (working full time) its like I only make between $9.50-$10.90 an hour.
This is not a living wage
In order to make ends meet I have a second retail job on top. On average, I work between 50-60 hours a week. I want to quit the school as soon as I can but I feel stuck. If I quit the school and just work retail, I won’t be making as much as I do now with both jobs. I’ve been looking for jobs but haven’t had much luck. I’m going back to school because Covid messed up my college plans, but I know that even if I had a degree it would hardly make a difference.
I don’t know what to do. I’m exhausted. I’m STILL poor working 60 fucking hours. I really don’t want to work period. I want to work from home, at my own pace, I want to have time for family and friends, a relationship, I want to save up for a house. I want to travel. But job hunting is getting me nowhere. Rent is rising so I feel like if I quit now, I’m doomed.
Bottom line is: don’t work at a public school. Ever.