From 6 figures to minimum wage: America's oldest workers are taking pay cuts

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Technology
Patricia Wheatley
Patricia Wheatley, 82, works full-time answering the phone and doing administrative work at her friend's boat store.

Nate Smallwood for BI

When Vince Scidone showed up for work on his 90th birthday, the top brass was waiting for him.

I'm 49 years old and was laid off from my six-figure sales job. I now make $52,000 in an entry-level role where I work alongside college grads.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports, Travel
Damon Duncan
Damon Duncan, a 49-year-old former sales engineer, was laid off in 2023 and 2024 and has since taken an entry-level position with significantly less pay.

Damon Duncan

I took two major pay cuts in my career. Here's what I wish I had known.

Tech Insider : Business
Gail Galusha portrait
I took two pay cuts over the course of my career — for different reasons.

Gail Galusha

I took a 50% pay cut to leave my sales job and work on a potato farm. I have no regrets.

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Tyler Heppell poses in front of his farm
Tyler Heppell left his sales job to work on his family farm.

Tyler Heppell

Half of Americans would take a pay cut to work remotely — and many are willing to give up vacation days, survey finds

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy
woman working from home with dog

Oscar Wong/Getty Images

I left California for Las Vegas. Even after a $39,000 pay cut, my house is bigger, my 401(k) contributions went up, and the quality of my life improved.

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A collage of a headshot of Alli Peck, a woman with short brown hair, and a photograph of Peck with her husband in front of Las Vegas Ballpark.
Alli Peck moved to Las Vegas and took a pay cut of $39,000.

Alli Peck

A junior high teacher who beat a student for comparing him to an anime character was given a 10% pay cut for 3 months: Japan officials

Tech Insider
Junior high school students attend the ceremony first day of their new academic year at a school in Japan.
Junior high school students attend the ceremony first day of their new academic year at a school in Japan.

Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)

I once took a nearly 50% pay cut for a better work-life balance. It was worth it.

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illustration of woman on a balnce
The author willingly took a significant pay cut.

Ponomariova_Maria/Getty Images

American hustle culture is dying. Millennials are willing to take a 20% pay cut for a better work-life balance.

Tech Insider
Two people in an office
American millennials are prioritizing wellbeing over work.

Tom Werner/Getty Images

A teacher who took a pay cut of over $80,000 after moving from California to Florida explains the struggles teachers face, and what she wishes people knew about the job

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy
Teacher and students in a classroom
Sarah, not pictured and a pseudonym, wishes parents knew how hard the job can be.

manonallard/Getty Images

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