[noodle]

typically, higher salary = higher stress, more hours, difficult problems. if you want a lower stress job, go find one that pays less. either they'll expect less of you, or the problems will be easier for you to solve, so you'll not be stressed at deadlines.

this isn't always the case, of course, but its just my observation. out of college, i took a lower paying position that was very low-stress, and i had time to live my life. some friends who went into the financial sector got paid more, but were pulling their hair out and working long hours.

[bigsassy]

I used to think the same thing. I'm glad I woke up.

It has nothing to do with the money, and everything to do with who you're working with. You can have bad client/coworkers/boss at $12/hour and fantastic clients/coworkers/boss at $150. For all the people reading this that are in a stressful position. You can find a less stressful job AND make more money.

Let me repeat that. You can find a less stressful job AND make more money.

So if you hate your job, start looking for new work now. You'll wonder why it took you so long.

[noodle]

you can, i just don't believe it to be the norm. i tend to throw those outliers out. you "can" be that guy who is paid to be caretaker to a tropical island. but odds are, that isn't going to be you.

i'm in a less stressful and better paying job myself right now, working with some really great people. but i recognize that out of all the people i know personally and professionally in the industry outside my current workplace, i'm one of the lucky few.

edited to add: also, its much easier to get an ideal job when you're employed and not desperate. the second you make the active decision to leave, you're going to be looking for something good enough to switch to because you want out

[pcubed]

An interesting proposition and something I tend to believe. Any tips on how you can figure this out besides jumping from job to job waiting to see if it works?

[keeptrying]

Its A mix of

1. giving realistic estimates - this requires you to push back like crazy. Realize that not pushing back will decrease the quality of life for you and your family and you'll take this seriously.

2.having a great relationship with your business guy - ie communicating bugs and release lapses early and following through on what u said you would do. Why is this imp? Because by creating a successful project - stress goes to 0. And you can cost for the next 6 months if u wanted to.

3. using awesome open source tools. Tools like redis, python etc can save you huge amounts of dev time. This is really the key thing as its in your control. You might have to lobby a bit but using open source tools is no longer a anathema.

[keeptrying]

This is false.

You just have to figure out how to lower the stress in your job.

Its A mix of 1. giving realistic estimates - this requires you to push back like crazy. Realize that not pushing back will decrease the quality of life for you and your family and you'll take this seriously.

2.having a great relationship with your business guy - ie communicating bugs and release lapses early and following through on what u said you would do.

3. using awesome open source tools. Tools like redis, python etc can save you huge amounts of dev time. This is really the key thing as its in your control. You might have to lobby a bit but using open source tools is no longer a anathema.