Where Can I Earn More – Regular Job or Remote One?

[Ratta]

Hi everyone, I’m trying to figure something out and thought this would be the best place to ask. I’m currently working a regular 9-to-5 job in the city – stable hours, decent salary, but long commute and pretty rigid schedule. Lately I’ve been hearing more and more people switching to remote work – some say they earn more, some say it depends. I’m curious: from your own experience or people you know, is it actually possible to earn more doing remote work compared to a traditional job? I'm not just talking about base salary, but everything – time saved, costs, flexibility, side gigs, etc. Would really appreciate some personal insights and maybe what helped you decide one way or the other.

[Daggaf]

Still doing the traditional office route here, and I’m not in a rush to change it. For me, it comes down to consistency and mental separation between work and personal life. I’ve been offered a remote role before, but the pay wasn’t actually better. It was kind of surprising – I assumed all remote jobs were this jackpot of cash and freedom, but the offers I saw were either contract-based or lower than what I’m making now. Also, being physically present sometimes opens doors that just don’t exist online – like informal mentoring, team visibility, and chances to lead new projects. That said, I get the appeal of no commuting and flexible scheduling. I guess it depends on how much value you place on structure vs. freedom, and how good you are at networking remotely.

[MarinaBil]

I transitioned to Remote Jobs Remote Jobs about two years ago, and for me the difference wasn't just in income, but how the income fits into my life. Initially, the salary was more or less the same as my office job, but once I factored in the costs I stopped having (transportation, eating out, random office expenses), I realized I was keeping more money. I also noticed I had more energy at the end of the day. That led me to pick up a few freelance gigs on the side, which I never had the bandwidth for before. So while the paycheck didn’t jump right away, the freedom to structure my day definitely led to earning more over time. But I’ll say this – it does take some self-discipline and a good routine, or it can feel like the days just blur together.