Rs 38 lakh remote job or Rs 57 lakh US contract? 29-year-old asks which is better

A professional earning Rs 38 lakh has asked Reddit whether to leave a full-time role for a US contract job offering approximately Rs 57 lakh a year. The dilemma turns on faster financial independence despite losing standard benefits and employer-backed savings.

In Short

• A 29-year-old professional detailed finances while seeking career advice on Reddit
• The employee currently earns Rs 38 lakh annually with retirement benefits
• A US contract offer pays more but excludes PF, NPS and gratuity

For many professionals, the next job is about a better title or a bigger salary. For one employee, however, the bigger question is whether the next move could help achieve a much larger goal, retiring at the age of 35.

In a post shared on Reddit, the 29-year-old professional laid out their finances in detail while asking the online community for career advice.

The employee currently earns a package of Rs 38 lakh per annum, receives a monthly in-hand salary of Rs 2.32 lakh, along with Rs 27,000 in provident fund and Rs 11,000 in National Pension System contributions.

A BIGGER PAYCHEQUE, BUT FEWER BENEFITS

The employee revealed that they have received an offer for a contract role worth USD 60,000 a year. While the salary is attractive, the position comes without benefits such as provident fund, National Pension System contributions, insurance or gratuity.

"I am getting another opportunity, a contract role, for annual package of 60k USD, but it does not have any NPS/PF/insurance/gratuity etc.," the post read.

Despite that, the employee said they already have a three-year-old health insurance policy and a five-year-old term insurance plan covering the family.

THE DREAM OF RETIRING AT 35

The biggest motivation behind considering the switch is financial independence.

"By all means, I want to take retirement at 35," the employee wrote, adding that their spouse earns enough to support herself and that the family already has adequate insurance coverage.

The post also revealed a strong financial position. The employee has savings of Rs 75 lakh, an emergency fund of Rs 3 lakh and monthly expenses capped at Rs 75,000. Since the job is remote, there is no rent to pay as they currently live with their parents in their hometown.

TWO QUESTIONS, ONE BIG DECISION

The Reddit user ended the post with two straightforward questions: "Should I take up new role?" and "Is retirement at 35 possible?"

The employee clarified that the retirement plan assumes there would be no additional source of income, at least during the initial years after leaving full-time work.

The post highlights a growing trend among professionals who are looking beyond salary hikes and focusing instead on long-term financial freedom. For many workers today, the real career milestone is not just earning more, but reaching a stage where work becomes a choice rather than a necessity.

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