Why You Should Never Get A Low-Paying Job

In an ideal world, we’d all be able to command six-figure salaries for jobs we love – or any job, for that matter, no matter how menial or simple. (Hmm, sounds a little bit too much like communism, though.)

Of course, this utopia just isn’t realistic. In the real world, some jobs pay more than others, and with good reason. Some jobs require more education, training, and experience than others. Some require skills that not everyone possesses.

But what happens when you find yourself without said specialist skills, and the only jobs available to you are low-paying gigs?

If you’re thinking about taking on a low-paying job, you might want to rethink your strategy. Not because there’s anything inherently wrong or embarrassing about low-paying jobs on the whole, but because you might not have considered all the downsides. Let’s explore them below.

10 reasons why you shouldn’t get a low-paying job

1. You’ll struggle to make ends meet

It’s no secret that low-paying jobs are just that – low paying. If you take on such a job, your paycheck will likely be less than what you require to pay for rent, food and other living expenses.

More often than not, these types of jobs, despite government intervention (like minimum wage increases etc.), don’t pay enough to keep up with inflation and increasing living costs. You may have to consider taking on a second job or relying heavily on governmental support just to get by.

2. Low-paying jobs offer little to no career growth

Low paying jobs often require very few skills or qualifications and hence, they’re seen as “dead-end” positions with not much scope for learning new things.

If you take on this type of job for an extended period, your chances of advancing within that company may be next to nil unless the organization decides to invest in their employees’ professional development.

Not a huge issue if it’s a stop-gap job, but if you’re looking to build your career and learn new skills along the way, then this type of role just won’t cut it.

3. Low pay = low morale

It’s hard not to feel demotivated when you’re putting in long hours for little reward or recognition. It can be demoralizing to work hard at a low-paying job and not see any tangible benefits for your efforts. The lack of recognition, coupled with limited learning opportunities, means that you may start feeling less passionate about the role or industry.

And, as you well know, a dissatisfied employee is far less productive than someone who’s happy and fulfilled in their work.

4. You’re easily replaced

Low-paying jobs usually require minimal skills and experience, which means that anyone can apply for (and do) them. Companies don’t invest much in training or development since these roles are typically seen as temporary solutions with high staff turnover.

Put simply: you’re a dime a dozen, buddy! Don’t wanna work the hours they need you for? Cool, they can easily find someone who does.

5. You’ll find it hard to save money

With a low wage, saving becomes incredibly challenging unless you’re willing to make drastic cutbacks and sacrifices to your lifestyle.

Living paycheck-to-paycheck also puts extra pressure on individuals when the unexpected occurs – like an emergency or loss of employment (which is always within that purview). Saving for future goals like buying a home or even just going on vacation seems unattainable with such limited funds.

6. Limited benefits and perks

Most low-paying jobs don’t have many employee benefit packages like retirement savings plans, health insurance or paid time off for vacations (or for when you’re sick). These benefits and perks are usually reserved for higher-paying jobs or positions, which means that you could be missing out on critical financial support if something unexpected happens.

7. It might make your resume look unappealing

As much as we’d like to think that employers focus solely on our skills and experience, the reality is they also look at job titles. If you take a long-term low-paying position just to fill in your work history gap, it might not add much value or credibility. In fact, it might even be detrimental and could highlight a lack of ambition or initiative on your part.

Some employers are snobs who assume that low-paying jobs imply a lack of drive to grow professionally, even if you have perfectly good reasons for taking on such positions.

8. You’ll have to settle for less desirable working conditions

Since low-paying jobs are competitive, you might be expected to work longer hours or take on duties outside of your job description with little room for negotiation.

You might also find yourself in an environment where worker’s rights and safety policies aren’t a top priority since companies may try as much as possible to cut costs. Thus, the risks that come along with it, like potential workplace injuries not being covered by insurance, could affect even more than just your paycheck if things go really wrong.

9. Your self-esteem might take a hit

Sadly, some jobs are seen as undesirable and carry a social stigma, even if they’re essential to society. Think about jobs like janitor or fast-food worker. Some – even you, perhaps – might see these roles as indicative of someone who couldn’t do better.

While it’s unfortunate and untrue that anyone should be judged based on their job title alone, the reality is that taking such positions can feel demoralizing over time. Depending on how you view the job, it could impact your self-esteem and confidence in ways that spill over into other areas of life.

You may be too embarrassed to discuss your job with friends or family, causing additional stress and isolation. That’s not healthy for anyone.

10. You might fall into a trap

Taking on low-wage work as a short-term solution while you search for more permanent employment is perfectly reasonable; it’s how most people get by when they find themselves in between jobs.

However, this could be a double-edged sword – you might become comfortable in your low-wage role and resign yourself to the idea that this is as good as it gets. You can easily get stuck in a loop, where one day turns into another without any real progress.

That being said…

Everyone’s gotta eat!

I don’t mean to sound too doom and gloom. Sometimes, taking a low-paying job is your only option at that time, and having any job (excluding anything debauched) is better than having no job at all.

There might be times when you need an income for basic necessities like food or rent, times when waiting for that dream job to come along simply isn’t practical. In cases like this, my advice would be: take on the job, but don’t get too comfortable. Keep working towards finding ways to upskill and further your career prospects.

It’s also worth noting that not all low-paying jobs are created equal – some may come with additional employee benefits or offer a better work-life balance despite lower wages. Where possible, go for those. Just because the job doesn’t pay well, doesn’t mean you can’t find some redeeming qualities in it.