50% raise but RTO vs. current hybrid situation- what would you do?

Hi! I’ve been at my current position for 6 months. It is also my first job right out of college. I am making 50k and work hybrid- I go in 2x a week and am remote 3x. This is a big plus because my commute is very long. I work in nyc, but can’t really afford to move out of my parents house, so I drive 40 mins to the train, take a 1.5 hr train, and then walk 20 mins to the office, which totals to roughly 2.5 hours each way, so 5 hours daily. It’s tiring on in person days, but I suck it up.

As for my job, it’s fine. I had a rough start but I’ve settled in. Sometimes, I feel overworked. I don’t really see many opportunities for growth, however. Promotions are very competitive. I work in corporate for a large dept store chain and I also feel like dept stores might be on their way out in the coming future.

WFH flexibility was my main draw to working here. My company announced an RTO mandate in December, which was originally why I started applying elsewhere, and then later said my position would not be affected and could continue to work on the current hybrid schedule.

I recently received an offer for a position paying 75k, which is nearly 150% my current salary. The only issue is that this company is in office 4x a week. I’m planning on moving to NYC with my partner after they graduate from college this May (already has a job lined up). The perks for this job are fine. Nothing super fancy, but fine. They’re comparable to my current position. This company is also expanding quickly.

If I took this position, I would likely have to commute 4x a week until my partner and I move out in June. I feel like it might be a good idea to jump ship for a few reasons. I would be making more and would be able to afford more/save more when living in NYC. There’s also the possibility that my current company will go back on its word and make my position participate in the RTO mandate. Then, I’d be stuck making 50k and commuting 4x a week.

Would you take this offer if you were in my shoes?

Posted Mar 5, 2026, 8:02 PM UTC

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