You are doing more than ever, the cost of living keeps climbing, and your payslip has not moved. Feeling underpaid is one of the most common reasons people start to hate a job they once liked. The good news: it is also one of the most fixable, often without changing careers.
Am I underpaid? 5 quick checks
Answer yes or no. These are the pay and hours statements from the Next Chapter quiz.
- My pay does not match the effort or skill the job needs.
- My hours or travel time eat into my life outside work.
- I cannot plan my week because my schedule keeps changing.
- I would feel much better about this job if the pay or hours changed.
- Money worries are a big reason I want out, or a big reason I feel stuck.
Three or more yes answers suggest pay and hours are your main problem. That matters, because the fix is different from hating the work itself.
How to tell if you are actually underpaid
A feeling is a starting point, not proof. Check it in under an hour:
- Look up your role on two or three salary sites (Glassdoor, Indeed, LinkedIn Salary, or your government’s wage data). Use your job title, city and years of experience.
- Read 10 current job ads for the same role nearby. Many now list a pay range. Write down the middle of each range.
- Compare like with like. Add up the full package: bonus, pension, leave, remote days and commute cost, not just base pay.
- Work out your real hourly rate. Divide your pay by the hours you actually work, including unpaid overtime and travel. This number often surprises people.
If you are 10% or more below the middle of the ads, you have a clear case. If you are at or above it, the problem may be the hours, the workload, or something else entirely.
Overworked and underpaid: which one is it?
| If this sounds like you | The real problem is | First fix to try |
|---|---|---|
| The pay is fine, but the job swallows your evenings | Hours | Ask to cut scope or set fixed hours |
| The hours are fine, but the pay is below the market | Pay | Ask for a raise with market evidence |
| Both, and your workload keeps growing | Workload | Ask for a role or title change that matches it |
| Pay and hours are fine, you still dread it | Probably not pay | Take the full quiz |
What to do before you quit
- Write your number. The pay and hours you would need to stay. Be specific.
- Ask once, with evidence. Book a short meeting and bring the job-ad figures and a list of what you have taken on. Ask what it would take to reach your number, and by when.
- Check the same job elsewhere. If other employers pay your number, you may only need a new workplace, not a new career.
- Know your runway. Work out how many months of costs you could cover between jobs. See How Much Savings Before a Career Change?
If the same job pays badly everywhere, that is a sign the field itself is the problem. That is when a change of direction is worth exploring. See I Hate My Job but I Need the Money for a plan that protects your income while you do.
Is pay really your main cause?
In the Next Chapter quiz, “I hate my job” usually comes down to one of four causes. If this check did not fit, one of the others may (more in Why Do I Hate My Job?):
- The people: a boss or coworkers make the job miserable. See I Hate My Boss.
- The work itself: the tasks feel pointless, whoever you work for. See My Job Is So Boring.
- Exhaustion: rest no longer fixes it. See Job Burnout Quiz and Sunday Scaries.
About 3 minutes. Your result shows on screen straight away, before you pay anything.
This article is general career guidance, not medical, legal or financial advice.