<prompt> Human: I work in higher education, which means there are basically just two employers in my area. I work for School A, which is much less prestigious has impact on future job prospects, much smaller fewer opportunities for advancement, and further from home 25 mile commute feels much longer during winter in the Midwest. They also give me a shitty job title that no one else in higher ed uses for this role, and I think it looks terrible on my resume. School B is a pretty big deal with way more opportunities and is within walking distance from my home. I would feel a lot better about working there in part because I wouldnt fear for my life in the winter, but they tend to pay less for the same kind of work, and their benefits seem less generous. Getting a job there would have some psychological and longer term career benefits, but it might mean a pay cut.Im trying to figure out how much I would have to make at a job with School B in order for my current standard of living to stay about the same. Im 25 and working part-time on a masters that should be done in about a year and a half to 2 years. If I change jobs sometime soon, it would probably only be until I have a masters and could expect to be making mid-40s. Im less concerned about retirement savings than I am about my immediate take-home pay and preparation for a better job 2 years from now.My current job at School A:Salary: 35,500Retirement: employer contributes 8, vested immediately. I dont have to contribute anything.Tuition waiver for M.A. at employing institution: 8,400yrHealth insurance premium: 55monthUnion dues: 33monthGas: 140month 35,500 8,400 tuition - 1680 gas- 660 insurance-396union feels like 41,164Imaginary job at School BRetirement: I contribute 5, employer contributes 10 after 1 year of service with immediate vesting.Tuition reimbursement: 75 of my universitys tuition 6300yr Health insurance premium: 117month to get the exact same plan I have now, or 35month for a much crappier plan.Union dues: 0.Gas: 0 month...this job is within walking distance from my home.Salary.95accounting for retirement contribution6300 tuition-1404 insurancefeels like 41,164Salary38176So it looks to me like thats what my salary at School B would have to be in order for me to not feel poorer.Does that make sense to other people? Am I missing anything? Am I being dumb by not caring about the retirement plan that much?Another thing to consider is that if I leave mid-semester, I have to pay back my tuition waiver 2800 from School A and wouldnt be eligible for School Bs for another 6 months. Im not sure how to figure this in as a potential cost andor as 6 months I might otherwise spend in a higher paying job.Also, how would you account for the potential cost of having to buy a new used car if something happens to mine while Im still working for School A? If I worked for School B I wouldnt get rid of my car its pretty worthless, but I wouldnt have to replace it if it wore out or fell victim to the slippery death trap that is my commute. As it is, all of my savings on top of my emergency fund are going toward the possibility of having to replace my car and like 75 of my worrying is cardriving related. I realize that an obvious solution is to move closer to where I work, but that isnt an option.Also also, does anyone have any general insight or experience related taking a possible pay cut in order to improve job prospects in the future?Thanks in advance!  <response>: Considering the stated non-monetary benefits of School B, the difference in paybenefits seems minimal to me. 