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Making $250,000 a year would seem like a dream job for many people. But for one 29-year-old mortgage professional, the money wasn’t enough to make up for what he described as a toxic workplace culture that was affecting his personal life and future plans.

The Minneapolis caller, John, shared his dilemma during a recent episode of “The Ramsey Show.” He said he was seriously considering walking away from his high-paying career and starting over as an electrician, even though it would mean a significant pay cut for years.

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John explained that he works as a loan officer in the mortgage industry and earns about $250,000 annually through commissions. Despite the income, he said he has found “zero fulfillment” in the job over the past few years.

According to John, the company’s culture emphasizes work above everything else. Employees are expected to work beyond scheduled hours, remain available on weekends and put career demands ahead of family life. He said the situation has begun affecting his relationships and making him question whether he wants to continue down the same path when he eventually starts a family.

Personal finance expert Dave Ramsey wasn’t convinced that changing careers was the answer.

After hearing John’s concerns, Ramsey asked whether the problem was the actual work or simply the environment where he was doing it. John acknowledged that he didn’t dislike the work itself.

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Ramsey pushed back on the idea that the mortgage industry offered no better alternatives.

“I am not buying the fact that you can make $250,000 at one company and you can’t work normal hours and work for good people and have a better balance to what you’re doing at a different company,” he said.

When John mentioned that several former coworkers had left and eventually returned because they believed the company had the best systems and technology, Ramsey wasn’t persuaded.

“I think your co-workers have given you a message that’s not true,” he said.

John reported having no debt, an emergency fund of about $25,000, $15,000 in checking and roughly $115,000 saved for a future wedding and home purchase.

His alternative plan involved becoming a union electrician through a five-year apprenticeship. The position would start at about $21 an hour, eventually rising to around $130,000 annually as a journeyman electrician.

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Ramsey appeared surprised by the idea.

“Because this one company that you work for sucks and so now you’re going to go be an electrician?” he asked and acknowledged that trades can offer excellent careers and opportunities, but John might be running toward a new passion or simply running away from a bad situation.

“I think you can make $160,000, $180,000 day one somewhere else working normal hours and not being spit on every day or whatever’s happening over there,” Ramsey encouraged him to first explore opportunities at other mortgage firms before making such a dramatic shift.

“I’m a fan of the trades,” Ramsey said. “But you have painted the best possible scenario for a union, journeyman, electrician, and it’s going to take you five freaking years to get back to half of your income.”

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This article He Wants To Quit His $250K Job To Learn A Trade. Dave Ramsey Is Baffled: Your Company Sucks, So Now You're Going To Be An Electrician? originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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