<prompt> Human: So Im at a crossroads now and would like input as to the variables I need to consider in making this decision.Currently I am 8 years into my career with a salary in the low 90s and opportunities to make overtime - where I broke 100k last year. On average my salary has increased 4 a year, but its certainly not linear. Once I hit 32 years at this job, I can retire and collect 80 of an average of my best three years. Keep in mind this is a fairly stress free environment for me, no travel, room to move up, love my manager and coworkers.Now Im approached with an opportunity of moving to a different job with a different company. 145k a year, similar benefits but on a 401k. 100 match up to 3 and 50 match up to a 7 contribution. Obviously this is a much higher stress job plus quite a bit of travel. Im really wrestling this whole pension v. 401k deal. So many variables... how would one look at the economic value of these two options? EDIT: Since its come up a lot, the pension withdraw is 10, the company matches 10 and that pot is invested to fund the pensioners. Just last year my company discontinued the pension for new employees as it was underfunded. Assuming the pension stays intact, I can retire in 24 years at age 56 and collect 80 of an average of my top three earning years.Funny thing I heard today though, there is some scuttlebutt that the company thats offering me the 145k job may purchase our company. Major legal and political hoops to jump through and another thing to consider... maybe the offer will turn out to be pure dumb luck for me. Or maybe they approached me a few weeks ago because they know something I dont... again, thank you to all who have commented. Its giving me new perspectives that I have not considered.Assistant: Is this a government job? Is this through a particular state that would allow you to retire at 55 with 80 of your highest 3 year average wage with cost of living adjustments tied to the inflation index? I think this is important. Job stability is another factor. If this isnt a public sector job, Id go with the new job with 401k option as there are too many examples of pensions being modified much lower by company bankruptcies.Human: Yes, nail on head. I can retire at 56 with 32 years and draw 80. Cola kicks in after five years of retirement. It is a government job, the other is private sector.  <response>: As someone who was in your shoes, Id highly recommend sticking with the public sector. Private sector is much higher stress, both in terms of deliverable and job stability. I cannot stress high enough how nice it was in 2007 and 2008 to not have to worry about losing my job. Stick it out and get a good hobby and learn an additional skillset that you can use at 57 to 67 for you to be able to get job paying into social security so you can double dip the retirement system some public agencies pay into social security, some dont. You will also have the added benefit of transferring your retirement to your spouse in case you die early. 