Compensation plays a huge role in every job, and is the primary reason most people work. With the exception of a small percentage of people who truly love their job so much that they would do it for free, everyone is working for the purpose of getting compensation so they can afford to live.
While I personally have never left a job due to compensation, it does play a big role in the kind of jobs that I apply for. For example, I have recently been job searching since I am graduating this June. While I know that I can’t be picky about how much I’m getting paid at my first job post-grad, it still plays a role in where I apply and the kind of jobs I apply for. As a Business Admin major, there are tons of sales roles where my salary relies solely on commission. While this may be appealing to some, I don’t want to have to worry about making enough sales to get paid a decent amount, I would rather have a steady, reliable salary that doesn’t leave me as stressed.
There are also other things that can be considered compensation outside of salary. Some jobs may pay less, but in exchange you get better benefits, more schedule flexibility, or stock packages, among other things. These can be just as important to take into consideration when searching for a new job.
While compensation hasn’t been the biggest motivating factor when it comes to my job choices so far in my life, now that I am graduating I’m sure that it will likely be the biggest thing I consider when accepting or declining a job offer.