From Slate Magazine · Ilyce Glink · · 1m 40s
My Wife Makes Six Times What I Make. I Plan to Change That By Training for a New Career, But There’s a Catch.
A man seeks career training to earn six times his wife's income but fears student debt.
In brief
A man seeks career training to earn six times his wife's income but fears student debt. A man plans to train as a psychiatric nurse practitioner to earn six times his wife's income but worries about student debt. Originally reported by Slate Magazine.
The problem
A man in a dead-end clerical job wants to change careers but worries about his wife's income and housing costs.
Three career options
He considers training as a tugboat captain, therapist, or psychiatric nurse practitioner with varying salaries and debt levels.
Tugboat captain
This role earns $120,000 annually after two years of training with a stipend.
Therapist
Therapists earn $90,000-$100,000 after three-to-five years of unpaid training and supervision.
Psychiatric nurse practitioner
This role earns $130,000-$375,000 annually after four years of unpaid training with high student debt.
Wife's income
His wife makes six times what he earns but couldn't support him for four years.
Student debt concerns
Graduate loans are capped at $20,500 per year and $100,000 total, but student debt could be high.
Financial risks
He worries about borrowing more than he earns, potential burnout, and whether his wife can support him during training.
Solutions
He should use a spreadsheet to compare lost income, tuition, and job opportunities to decide which path is best.
Next steps
He should sit down with his wife and a spreadsheet to evaluate financial risks before buying a house.
What matters most
A man plans to train as a psychiatric nurse practitioner to earn six times his wife's income but worries about student debt.
