Is Your Job Worth It? The Learning vs. Earning Framework

You wake up on Monday morning and the first thought that crosses your mind is: “I really don’t want to go to work today.”

Maybe it’s the commute. Maybe it’s the never-ending meetings. Maybe it’s the fact that you’ve been doing the same tasks for two years and nothing feels new or exciting anymore.

Whatever it is, at some point in everyone’s career they probably ask themselves the question is this job actually worth it? Whether we’re six months into a new role or five years into a position that used to feel fulfilling. The tricky part is figuring out whether you’re just having a bad week, or if there’s something more fundamental missing.

Over the years, I’ve developed a simple framework that helps cut through the confusion: the Learning vs. Earning test.

Every job should give you something meaningful in return for your time and energy. If your current role isn’t giving you at least one of these two things – learning or earning – it might be time to reassess where you’re headed.

Let’s break down what this means, how to evaluate your situation, and what to do if you realise your job isn’t giving you what you need.

The Two Things Every Job Should Give You

At its core, a job is an exchange. You give your time, energy, skills, and effort and in return, the job should give you something valuable back.

That “something” generally falls into two categories, learning or earning.

Learning: Are You Growing?

Learning isn’t always formal training or courses, more often is the day to day learning that the job is opening you up to that helps develop your skills in ways that move your career forward.

You’re learning if:

You’re developing new skills that will be valuable in future roles
You’re taking on projects that stretch your capabilities
You’re working with people you can learn from (a great boss, experienced colleagues, industry experts)
You’re gaining experience in areas that align with your career goals
You’re being exposed to new industries, tools, systems, or ways of working
You’re building your confidence and capabilities in meaningful ways

Learning keeps you engaged, motivated, and marketable. When you’re learning something new, even the frustrating days can feel worthwhile (at least after the fact!) because you know that you have picked up a new skill in the process or gained more knowledge in a specific area.

The test: If you left this job tomorrow, would you walk away with skills, experience, or knowledge that make you more valuable in the job market?

It’s easy to check this by updating your resume and adding your new skills and experience, with specific reference to projects you owned. If your description for this current job feels similar to your previous position on your resume you may need to put your hand up for some new work that will help you develop skills in areas you currently are missing experience.

Earning: Are You Being Fairly Compensated?

Earning reflects your total package including: base salary, bonuses, benefits, perks, equity and flexibility in a way reflects the value what you bring and meets your financial needs.

You’re earning well if:

Your salary aligns with (or exceeds) market rates for your role and experience
You receive benefits that matter to you (pension contributions, health insurance, generous holiday allowance)
There are financial incentives like bonuses, commission, or profit-sharing
You have perks that improve your quality of life (flexible working, remote options, professional development budget, gym membership)
Your compensation allows you to live comfortably and work towards your long term financial goals

When you’re earning well, it’s easier to tolerate parts of the job that aren’t perfect. Financial security and fair compensation create a foundation that makes other challenges more manageable.

The test: Does your total compensation package allow you to meet your financial needs and goals without constant stress?

And secondly is the package and how you anticipate this to grow over time going to support you reaching your longer term financial goals – not just nearterm wants and needs.

The Sweet Spot: Learning AND Earning

The ideal scenario? A job that gives you both, otherwise known as nirvana – just kidding, it is very possible to have a role that satisfies both!

When you’re learning and earning, you’re in a rare position where your career is progressing, your skills are growing, and you’re being fairly compensated for your contributions. These are the roles where you feel stretched but supported, challenged but valued.

Signs you’re in a learning and earning role:

You’re excited about at least some aspects of your work
You feel like you’re building towards something
Your salary reflects your growing expertise
You’re not constantly worried about money or feeling underpaid
You can see a clear path forward, whether that’s promotion internally or leveraging your experience elsewhere

If you’re in this position, recognise how valuable it is. These roles don’t come around every day, so even if the job has frustrations (and every job does), staying put while you’re both learning and earning well could be a good move for your career.

That said, nothing lasts forever. Keep tracking your accomplishments and stay aware of when the balance starts to shift.

When You’re Learning But Not Earning Enough

This is a common situation, especially early in your career or when you’re transitioning into a new field.

Maybe you’re working at a startup where the salary is below market rate, but you’re gaining incredible experience. Or you’ve taken a role that’s a step down in pay because you want to pivot and it gets you into an industry you’re passionate about. Or you’re working under a brilliant mentor who’s teaching you everything, but the company can’t (or won’t) pay competitively.

When this trade-off makes sense:

You’re early in your career and building foundational skills
You’re pivoting into a new industry and need the experience more than the money
The learning is directly relevant to your long-term goals
You have a clear timeline for how long you’re willing to accept lower pay
Your financial situation allows you to prioritise learning over earning for now

When it doesn’t make sense:

You’re financially struggling and the stress is affecting your wellbeing
The “learning” is vague or not translating into marketable skills
You’ve been in this situation for years with no pay progression
The company is taking advantage of your willingness to accept less

If you’re in a learning role with low pay, set yourself a deadline. Give yourself six months, a year, or whatever timeline makes sense for your situation. Use that time to gain as much valuable experience as possible, then move on to a role where you can earn what you’re worth.

Your experience and skills are building your value in the job market, but don’t stay in a learning-only role so long that you undersell yourself when it’s time to move.

When You’re Earning But Not Learning

This is the opposite scenario: you’re well-paid, but the work has become repetitive, unchallenging, or stagnant.

Maybe you’ve been doing the same job for five years and could do it in your sleep, or you’re in a role where the pay is great but there’s no room for internal growth, or the work itself is fine, but you’re not being stretched or developed in any meaningful way.

When this trade-off makes sense:

You’re prioritising financial stability right now (saving for a house, paying off debt, supporting family)
You have other areas of life where you’re growing and fulfilled (side projects, hobbies, family)
You’re working towards a specific financial goal and this job helps you get there faster
The job offers great work-life balance, allowing you to focus on things outside of work
You genuinely enjoy the ease and predictability of the role

Not everyone needs to be climbing the career ladder at all times. If you’re earning well and you’re content with where you are, that’s a completely valid choice.

When it doesn’t make sense:

You’re bored, disengaged, or dreading work most days
You feel like your skills are stagnating and potentially not keeping up with the market
You’re worried about becoming less marketable over time
You’re staying purely out of fear or inertia, not genuine satisfaction
The lack of challenge is affecting your confidence or mental health

If you’re earning but not learning, ask yourself: how long am I willing to stay in this position?

There’s nothing wrong with staying in a well-paid role for a period of time while you achieve other goals. But if you’ve been coasting for years and you’re starting to feel stuck, it might be time to either create growth opportunities within your current role or start exploring what’s next.

Consider having a conversation with your manager about taking on new projects, leading initiatives, or developing in areas that interest you.

When You’re Getting Neither Learning Nor Earning

This is the red flag scenario.

If your job isn’t helping you grow and isn’t paying you fairly, you’re in a position that’s actively holding you back. You’re trading your time and energy for… what, exactly?

Common reasons people stay in these roles:

Fear of change or uncertainty about what’s next
Lack of confidence in their ability to find something better
Loyalty to colleagues or the company
Comfort with the familiar, even if it’s not serving them
Waiting for things to get better (they rarely do on their own)

If you’re in a role that’s giving you neither learning nor earning, you need to make a plan to leave. Not necessarily tomorrow, but soon.

Your action plan:

Get clarity on what you want next. What would a role need to offer you? More money? Better learning opportunities? Both?
Start exploring your options. Update your CV, reach out to your network, browse job boards, talk to recruiters. You don’t have to apply for anything yet – just start gathering information.
Consider whether there’s any way to improve your current situation. Could you ask for a raise? Request different projects? Move to a different team? Sometimes the answer is no, but it’s worth asking before you leave.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a realistic timeframe to find something better so that you can do so in a way that doesn’t feel stressful.
Protect your mental health in the meantime. Set boundaries, don’t overextend yourself, and remember this role is temporary.

Beyond Learning and Earning: When Impact Matters Most

Before we move on to evaluating your current role, there’s something important to acknowledge: for some people, there’s a third consideration that matters just as much (or often more) than learning or earning.

Impact.

Maybe you’re a teacher shaping the next generation. Or you work for a charity fighting homelessness. Or you’re in healthcare, social work, environmental sustainability, or any role where the mission matters deeply to you.

For people in purpose-driven roles, the work itself provides something that a high salary or impressive CV can’t: the feeling that what you do matters.

When Impact Becomes Part of the Equation

If you’re working in a role because of its impact, you might find yourself in one of these scenarios:

Impact + Learning You’re growing professionally while making a difference. Maybe you’re developing skills in fundraising, programme management, or community engagement – all while working towards a cause you believe in. This combination can be incredibly fulfilling, even if the pay isn’t competitive with the private sector.

Impact + Earning You’ve found a role where you can do meaningful work and be fairly compensated. Perhaps you’re in corporate social responsibility, working for a mission-driven company that pays well, or you’ve reached a senior level in the charity sector. This is a strong position to be in.

Impact + Learning + Earning This is rare, but it exists. You’re making a difference, developing valuable skills, and being paid fairly. If you’ve found this combination, you’re in an exceptional position and should hang onto that job!

Impact alone You’re passionate about the work, but you’re not learning much anymore and the pay is below market rate. This is the trickiest scenario because while purpose feels important, it’s may not be sustainable long-term depending on your need to be learning and growing, or your financial requirements changing over time.

When Impact Is Enough (And When It Isn’t)

Working for impact can absolutely be a valid reason to stay in a role, even if the learning has plateaued or the earning isn’t what you could get elsewhere.

Impact might be enough if:

You genuinely wake up feeling motivated by the work
Your financial needs are met, even if you’re not maximising your earning potential
You have a strong sense of fulfilment from what you do
The mission aligns deeply with your personal values
You’re not sacrificing your wellbeing or mental health for the cause

Impact alone isn’t enough if:

You’re burnt out from giving everything to the mission
You’re struggling financially and the stress is overwhelming
You feel taken advantage of because “you should just care about the cause”
The organisation’s values don’t actually match its actions
You’re staying out of guilt rather than genuine fulfilment

Making Impact Work for You

If impact is important to you, that’s something to honour in your career decisions. But you can also be strategic about it:

Look for roles where impact intersects with learning or earning (or both)
Set a timeline for how long you’ll prioritise impact over financial security
Be honest about whether the impact you’re making is real or just theoretical
Consider whether you could make a similar impact in a better-paid or more developmental role

Impact is a valid and important consideration when you are assessing your current role, or one that you may want to move into.

How to Evaluate Your Current Role

Not sure where your job falls on the learning vs. earning spectrum? Here’s how to assess:

The Learning Audit

Ask yourself:

What new skills have I developed in the past six months?
Am I working on projects that challenge me?
Do I have access to people I can learn from?
Is this experience making me more valuable in the job market?
When I think about my next role, will this experience help me get there?

If you’re answering “no” to most of these, you’re not learning enough.

The Earning Audit

Ask yourself:

Does my salary match (or exceed) market rates for my role and experience?
Am I financially comfortable, or constantly stressed about money?
Do I feel fairly compensated for the work I do?
Are there benefits and perks that add real value to my life?
Could I significantly increase my earnings by moving elsewhere?

If you’re answering “no” to most of these, you’re not earning enough.

The Reality Check

Now ask yourself the big question: If I left this job tomorrow, would I regret it?

If the answer is “no, I’d feel relieved,” that tells you something important about whether this role is working for you.

What to Do Based on Your Assessment

If you’re learning AND earning:

Stay put and maximise the opportunity
Keep tracking your wins for future career moves
Build relationships and expand your network
Consider how long you want to stay before your next move

If you’re learning but not earning:

Set a timeline for how long you’ll accept the trade-off
Gain as much valuable experience as possible
Start exploring roles where you can earn what you’re worth
Don’t undersell yourself when you move

If you’re earning but not learning:

Decide if you’re genuinely satisfied with this trade-off
Look for ways to create growth within your current role
Consider whether you’re coasting or content (there’s a difference)
If you’re feeling stuck, start planning your next move

If you’re getting neither:

Make a plan to leave as soon as realistically possible
Start job searching now, even if you’re not ready to leave yet
Protect your boundaries and mental health in the meantime
Remember that staying is a choice – you have options

The Bottom Line

Your job should give you something valuable in return for your time and energy. Whether that’s learning, earning, or ideally both, you deserve to walk away from each workday feeling like the exchange was worthwhile.

If you’re in a role that’s giving you neither, you’re not stuck but you might be in the wrong place right now. And recognising that is the first step towards finding something better.

Use this framework for assessing your role not just once, but regularly throughout your career. Check in with yourself every few months. Are you still learning? Are you still earning fairly? If the answer to both is no, it might be time to make a change.

Your career is too long and too important to spend it in a role that’s not serving you. Whether that means negotiating a raise, asking for new challenges, or starting to look elsewhere, taking action is better than staying still.

Ready to make your next career move? Join the Peer Suite community for access to resources, career planning tools, and a network of women who are building careers that actually work for them. Learn more about membership here.

Planning your next steps? Check out the 4×6 method for strategic career planning or learn how to finish the year strong with clear career goals.

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