Should You Chase Your Dream Job or Play It Safe? Here’s How to Decide

If you hate your job, you’re not alone. Only about a third of American workers feel engaged at work, according to Gallup polls.

Even if you’re indifferent about your current work, you might be happier switching jobs. The average American now holds an average of 12 different jobs in their lifetime, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In some cases, job-hopping might be the best way to get a higher income or a better work environment.

Millions of other Americans are facing the same question: Should you quit and chase your dream job, or stay where you are and play it safe? 

The Cost of Playing It Safe

At first glance, playing it safe seems like an easy choice. You keep your income and lifestyle, all for the low price of putting your dreams on hold. However, that’s not the only thing you would give up.

Staying in an unhappy workplace can lead to low performance, which has long-term consequences for your income. You might be passed over for promotions and pay bumps. You also might miss out on incentive-based compensation and bonuses.

Even if your dream job is a long shot, it could provide a higher income if you succeed. For example, the entertainment and media sectors are highly competitive, but they are also extremely well-paid. Recruitment specialist 3Research Group ranks them third and fourth, respectively, for the highest paying industries in 2025.

When Your Dream Job Makes Financial Sense

But that doesn’t mean you should quit your job to chase your dreams. Instead, chasing your dream job can make financial sense when you’re doing it in tandem with steady, paying work.

“It takes a long time to figure [out] what you’d like to do [for your dream job] and to acquire the contacts and the experiences or skills necessary to move in a new direction,” says Herminia Ibarra, a professor at London Business School who has written extensively on career reinvention for mid-career professionals. “People mostly do it through side projects and only leap when it makes financial sense, otherwise it stays a hobby or a side hustle.”

According to Ibarra, those looking to chase their dream job can start setting up a world where it makes financial sense now—while they’re still in their current jobs. That could mean part-time freelancing, establishing contacts, or finding potential clients.

“‘Going for your dream job is not a decision but a long process of exploring alternatives and creating real options on the side,” Ibarra says. “Because we all have to pay the bills, and the job market is brutal right now.”

If you can set up a side hustle and make it grow, you’ll eventually be able to turn it into a main gig or connect with someone who can hire you full-time. At that point, abandoning your day job to chase your dreams makes both emotional and financial sense. 

Red Flags That Mean You Should Stay Put

There are some things to watch out for before you leave a safe job. If an industry has lagging growth, has slowed down hiring, or is undergoing a massive macroeconomic disruption, you might be better off staying put to see how the chips fall.

This is a reality in many creative industries as AI displaces many workers. According to Microsoft, 85% of writers and authors will likely have their jobs impacted by AI. Those looking to pursue their dream job in writing may want to do so in a way that allows them to keep their steady jobs, too. 

There are also red flags for when it’s time to quit your safe job. According to Ibarra, these red flags include hating going to work, disrespecting or disliking your colleagues, stressing about work, and having physical symptoms like anxiety and sleeplessness in response to work.

The difference, though, is that these red flags don’t always mean you should leave your industry altogether—sometimes, they just mean that you should try to find a healthier work environment. 

The Bottom Line

With so many American workers feeling discouraged at work, it’s no wonder that people daydream about quitting their jobs to pursue their dream careers. Sometimes, this makes financial sense, especially given the financial consequences that can result from poor performance.

However, before making the leap, it’s important to ask yourself if it makes financial sense to switch careers. Look out for red flags like macroeconomic disruptions and poor industry growth before looking for greener pastures.