Flexibility can be a real asset in a career. Maybe you’re young and figuring out your post-graduation path. Or you’re busy balancing the demands of running a home and caring for a family. Or you’re an athlete who needs plenty of time for training and recovery.
There are lots of flexible-schedule jobs out there, if you know where to look. Let’s check out some part-time jobs with flexible schedules.
What It Means for a Job to Have a Flexible Schedule
Whether you’re in college or caring for children or pursuing an unpaid passion, there are many reasons why someone would want some flexibility in their career.
But what does a flexible schedule mean exactly? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a flexible schedule is one that allows people to work outside traditional 9 to 5 office hours. Aside from that, situations vary depending on the role and employer.
Workers may be able to choose the time they arrive at and depart work, for instance. With certain flexible work policies, employees still have to work a set number of hours per pay period or be available during a daily “core time.” So while the employee may not have to show up at 9am on the dot and leave at exactly 5pm, they may need to at least show up by 11am and stay until after 3pm. However, this type of shortened schedule could work for many people, including parents who are self-employed.
💡 Quick Tip: We love a good spreadsheet, but not everyone feels the same. An online budget planner can give you the same insight into your budgeting and spending at a glance, without the extra effort.
Tips for Finding a Flexible Part-time Job in 2024
Flexible part-time jobs can be logistical, analytical, creative, or involve a skilled trade. When it comes time to search for flexible-schedule jobs, keep in mind these tips.
• Stay focused. Job applicants who know what they’re looking for and what they can offer an employer can plan a more effective job search. If someone knows they have to have a flexible part-time schedule in order to accept a job, they can save a lot of time and energy by only applying for jobs that offer that. Trying to convince an employer to change their staffing plans is an uphill battle.
• Prepare to hear No. Know that it will take a while to find the right fit, and that rejection is a normal part of any job search. Psychologically preparing yourself can help you persevere until the right job comes along.
• Don’t be a square peg. If a flexible part-time schedule is what matters most, you may need to be flexible yourself in other areas. For example, accept that you may need to compromise on title, salary, or industry. Giving up the highest-paying job for one with a more relaxed schedule can be worth it.
• Go remote. Work-from-home jobs with flexible schedules can often be easier to find than on-site jobs that have flexible schedules. When reviewing online job boards, look for flexible schedule remote jobs.
Why It Can Be Difficult to Find Part-time Jobs With Flexible Schedules
It can be difficult to find flexible-schedule part-time jobs because many jobs require being in a certain location at a certain time. For example, a hairstylist has to show up for work when they have appointments scheduled. A restaurant has to know they have enough servers on hand during operating hours. Even a corporate job where some work can be done remotely and independently can require being online during set times so that it’s easy to communicate with coworkers.
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Great Part-Time Jobs With Flexible Schedules
Perhaps someone wants to take on a second job to help them pay down their debt or save for a dream vacation. Whatever the reason, it’s easy to see the appeal of a part-time job with a flexible schedule.
While there are countless part-time jobs on the market that can suit a variety of workers’ desired schedules, these are some of the best flexible schedule jobs for Gen Zers and Millennials. And if you’re in college, don’t miss our list of the best on-campus jobs.
1. Landscaper and Groundskeeper
Average hourly wage: $17.39
Job description: Landscapers and groundskeepers typically set their own schedules and plan which days they’ll tend to a client’s yard, but they don’t have to tell them exactly what hour they’ll show up to do their work.
Requirements: In some areas a license may be required to use pesticides and fertilizers.
Schedule flexibility: 4
Duties:
• Mowing lawns
• Removing weeds
• Planting and maintaining flowers, bushes, and trees
2. Recreation and Fitness Worker
Average hourly wage: $22
Job description: Running a fitness or recreation class can be fun and rewarding work that is often performed on a part-time basis. Many instructors can choose when they host their classes (like when their young child is in school), but they do have to stick to those times.
Requirements: Licensing or background checks may be required.
Schedule flexibility: 4
Duties:
• Plan programming
• Run classes
• Clean up post-class
3. Freelance Software Developer
Average hourly wage: $37
Job description: Many businesses hire freelance software developers to create computer programs and applications for business or consumer use. Some meetings during business hours may be required.
Requirements: Knowledge of select programming languages.
Schedule flexibility: 4
Duties:
• Write code
• Test code
• Meet with project stakeholders
4. Virtual Assistant
Average hourly wage: $34
Job description: Plenty of professionals can’t afford or don’t need a full-time assistant. Instead, they hire virtual assistants who can tackle administrative work for a few hours a week. Virtual assistance can be a rewarding job for introverts who are conscientious and organized.
Requirements: Office skills
Schedule flexibility: 4
Duties:
• Scheduling meetings
• Managing clients’ inbox
• Helping with administrative work
5. Freelance Copywriter
Average hourly wage: $28
Job description: A writer can work with many different brands as a freelance copywriter and can choose when they want to take on new projects and what hours of the week they work on them. Working as a freelance copywriter is also a great side hustle.
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree and industry experience
Schedule flexibility: 5
Duties:
• Research
• Writing copy
• Editing copy
6. Freelance Web Designer
Average hourly wage: $35
Job description: Freelance web designers work independently designing websites for a variety of clients, instead of a full-time job. Work-from-home web design can be a well-paying and fulfilling job for antisocial people.
Requirements: Knowledge of design programs, and HTML and CSS programing languages.
Schedule flexibility: 3
Duties:
• Design web pages and sites
• Code designs
• Present to clients and incorporate feedback
7. Freelance Editor
Average hourly wage: $31
Job description: Similar to copywriters, editors can work freelance for multiple clients.
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree and industry experience
Schedule flexibility: 4
Duties:
• Nurturing writers
• Editing copy
• Publishing content
8. Business Consultant
Average hourly wage: $37
Job description: A business consultant can offer services to multiple businesses who need support as a whole or who are looking to improve a certain area of their business, such as their marketing efforts, operations, or HR.
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree (more advantageous), or a certification from a business consultant association.
Schedule flexibility: 3
Duties:
• Assess potential areas of improvement
• Create improvement plans
• Find ways to cut costs
💡 Quick Tip: Income, expenses, and life circumstances can change. Consider reviewing your budget a few times a year and making any adjustments if needed.
The Takeaway
There are plenty of great flexible-schedule jobs that millennials and Gen Zers can pursue to give them the time they need to attend school, start a business, or take care of young children. Some remote freelance roles can be entirely flexible — such as web designers, writers and editors — while other jobs require your presence during certain core hours.
Choose whether you prefer a more physically demanding job — such as landscaper or fitness worker — or an office job that requires a laptop (like virtual assistant). It may take time to find the right position, so be patient. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on how your money comes and goes to ensure you’re sticking to your savings goals.
Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.
SoFi helps you stay on top of your finances.
FAQ
What part-time job has the most flexible hours?
There is no single part-time job that has the most flexible hours. That said, jobs where work can be done independently and remotely usually have the most flexibility. Jobs like working as a freelance writer or graphic designer are good examples of jobs someone can usually do during times that work well for them.
What job gives you the most free time?
Flexible-schedule work-from-home jobs can give workers the most free time because they don’t have to worry about a commute. It’s also usually easier to control your work schedule when you work from home. As a bonus, you can use your breaks to be productive — by tackling household chores or working out — or enjoy down time.
What jobs can I make my own hours?
Some jobs with flexible schedules allow workers to set their own hours. The key is to look for a job where the hours someone works doesn’t matter as much as the type of work they produce.
Photo credit: iStock/Eva-Katalin
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Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Many people consider relocating when they retire to reduce their cost of living and make their savings last longer. When weighing the pros and cons of moving to another state, it’s important to consider the total tax burden there, including state and local taxes on retirement income, property tax, even sales tax. Some areas with a lower tax burden have a higher overall cost of living, which can cancel out any savings.
Below we look at the best states to retire in for taxes and how to tell if moving will be worth it.
• Writing a check to yourself is a way to transfer money between your own accounts.
• Start by writing your name as the payee and the amount you want to transfer.
• Sign the check on the signature line as the payer and write “For Deposit Only” on the back.
• Deposit the check into your other account through a mobile banking app or at a bank branch.
• Keep a record of the transaction for your own records and to reconcile your accounts.
Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirement
A number of states exempt Social Security income from state taxes. A smaller number offer a tax break on other retirement income, such as IRAs and 401(k) plans, private pensions, interest, dividends, and capital gains.
These are the 10 tax-friendly states for retirees, according to Kiplinger:
1. Mississippi
2. Tennessee
3. Wyoming
4. Nevada
5. Florida
6. South Dakota
7. Iowa
8. Pennsylvania
9. Alaska
10. Texas
But before you complete that change of address card, you’ll want to look at the bigger picture.
💡 Quick Tip: How much your home is worth impacts your property taxes, homeowners insurance, and net worth. Online tools can help you easily estimate home value whenever you need it.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best State to Retire In
When choosing where to retire, it’s wise to first consider issues like safety, access to healthcare, distance to friends and family, or living near other people of retirement age.
Make a list of features that are important to you in a retirement locale, and consider whether any of them could indirectly impact your cost of living, such as being close to friends and family.
Then look at the total cost of living in an area: housing, food, transportation, cultural activities, and other expenses. These retirement expenses generally have a bigger impact on one’s lifestyle than taxes.
Generally, Social Security income is subject to federal tax. But some states also tax Social Security above a certain income threshold, while other states offer tax exemptions for individuals in lower tax brackets.
The states that tax some or all Social Security benefits are Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia.
Does the State Tax Pensions?
Many states tax income from pensions, but 14 states do not. These states are: Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.
And these 13 states do not tax income from 401(k) plans: Alaska, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming have no state income tax.
When choosing the best state for you to retire in, it’s a good idea to look into sales tax and property taxes too. States that don’t charge sales tax are Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. On the other hand, New Hampshire has very high property taxes, reducing the benefit of no sales tax.
Choosing the best state to retire in sometimes means making compromises. If safety and healthcare access are top priorities, for instance, you may not get your ideal weather. But for many retirees, a high cost of living is a deal-breaker.
Here are the 10 states with the highest annual cost of living, according to a 2023 analysis conducted by GOBankingRates:
As noted above, the best state to retire in will depend on an individual or couple’s budget, lifestyle, and values. But recent trends may help point you in the right direction.
These are the top 10 states that retirees are moving to, according to United Van Lines’ annual National Movers Study:
1. Wyoming
2. Delaware
3. South Carolina
4. Florida
5. Maine
6. Arizona
7. New Mexico
8. South Dakota
9. West Virginia
10. Alabama
If cost of living is your sole concern, the following are the 10 least expensive states, according to Bankrate:
1. West Virginia
2. Mississippi
3. Iowa
4. Alabama
5. Missouri
6. Oklahoma
7. Indiana
8. Kansas
9. Wyoming
10. Arkansas
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States with the Lowest Tax Burden
An area’s total tax burden is the sum of all property taxes, sales taxes, excise taxes (which affect the price of goods), and individual income taxes. Below are the states with the lowest total tax burden for retirees.
Rank
State
Total Tax Burden
1
Alaska
5.06%
2
Delaware
6.12%
3
New Hampshire
6.14%
4
Tennessee
6.22%
5
Florida
6.33%
6
Wyoming
6.42%
7
South Dakota
6.69%
8
Montana
6.93%
9
Missouri
7.11%
10
Oklahoma
7.12%
States With the Most Millionaires
One way to measure the overall desirability of an area is the number of millionaires who live there. After all, millionaires can afford to live in states that have high-quality healthcare, nice weather, and diverse cultural offerings. These are not the cheapest states in terms of cost of living or taxes, but their popularity may help non-millionaires reevaluate their must-haves vs. nice-to-haves.
Rank
State
% of Millionaire Households
1
New Jersey
9.76%
2
Maryland
9.72%
3
Connecticut
9.44%
4
Massachusetts
9.38%
5
Hawaii
9.20%
6
District of Columbia
9.12%
7
California
8.51%
8
New Hampshire
8.47%
9
Virginia
8.31%
10
Washington
8.18%
Source: Statista
Does It Make Financial Sense to Relocate in Retirement?
For workers who already live in a state with moderate taxes, near family, and have a lifestyle they enjoy and can afford, there may not be any compelling reason to move. But for those looking to make a change or lower their retirement expenses, it may make financial sense to relocate.
Just remember that housing, food, transportation, and other expenses usually have a bigger impact on one’s retirement lifestyle than taxes.
Pros and Cons of Relocating for Tax Benefits
Lower taxes alone may not be enough to motivate someone to pick up and move house. Other factors should also support the decision.
Pros of Relocating for Tax Benefits
• Potentially lower cost of living
• Discovering a community of like-minded retirees
• Possibly ticking off other boxes on your list
Cons of Relocating for Tax Benefits
• Other living costs may cancel out the tax benefits
• Moving costs are high, and the stress can be tough
• Need to find another home in a seller’s market
💡 Quick Tip: We love a good spreadsheet, but not everyone feels the same. An online budget planner can give you the same insight into your budgeting and spending at a glance, without the extra effort.
The Takeaway
The best state to retire in for tax purposes depends on an individual’s budget, lifestyle, and values. Some states with lower taxes for retirees can have higher housing and transportation costs, canceling out any tax benefit. A financial advisor can help you decide if saving on taxes is worth the expense and trouble of relocating.
Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.
With SoFi, you can keep tabs on how your money comes and goes.
FAQ
What are the 3 states that don’t tax retirement income?
Nine states don’t tax retirement plan income because they have no state income taxes at all: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi and Pennsylvania don’t tax distributions from 401(k) plans, IRAs, or pensions. Alabama and Hawaii don’t tax pensions, but do tax distributions from 401(k) plans and IRAs.
Which state is the best state to live in for tax purposes?
Alaska has the lowest overall tax rates.
Which states do not tax your 401k when you retire?
Alaska, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming do not tax 401(k) plans when you retire.
Photo credit: iStock/Jeremy Poland
SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
When people talk about student loans in the medical community, the conversation can often revolve around physicians. While it’s true that doctors have exorbitant tuition bills, the same can be said for many other medical professionals.
Pharmacists are no exception, according to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) annual survey data.
Pharmacy school students who graduated in 2023 borrowed $167,711 on average to finance their Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education, according to the AACP. The vast majority (82.2%) said they had borrowed money to help pay for their PharmD program expenses.
Thankfully, being in the medical field also gives pharmacists access to multiple loan forgiveness options. Read ahead to learn about pharmacy loan forgiveness programs.
Considering Loan Forgiveness as a Pharmacist
Loan forgiveness programs exist to help incentivize graduates to pursue potentially lower-paying, but essential positions. One of the more well-known programs, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), was created in 2007 under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act.
You may qualify for PSLF if you work for a government body or 501(c)(3) nonprofit and make 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan. Working as a pharmacist for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for example, may allow you to apply for PSLF.
Private student loans are not eligible for PSLF, but private student loans may be eligible for other debt relief programs. Pharmacists conducting extramural program research for a university or U.S.-based nonprofit, for example, may qualify for debt relief under the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Loan Repayment Program. You can receive up to $50,000 per year in federal and private student debt relief under the NIH Loan Repayment Program.
Below we provide more details about debt relief programs that can lead to pharmacist student loan forgiveness, including PSLF and the NIH Loan Repayment Program.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you have a PharmD degree, you may have ample opportunities to work as a pharmacist for a government employer and apply for PSLF.
As mentioned above, the PSLF program is available to eligible government and nonprofit workers with federal student loans. The stipulations require borrowers to make 120 qualifying payments over a 10-year period before becoming eligible for forgiveness. Further, the employer must be qualified by the federal government, and you must work at least 30 hours per week.
The following federal student loans are eligible for PSLF:
To qualify for PSLF, you would typically sign up for a federal income-driven repayment (IDR) plan. The Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan is one of the IDR options you can choose. (All IDR plans can end with federal student loan forgiveness after 20 or 25 years, particularly if you’ve borrowed a large amount of federal education loans.)
The SAVE Plan is the most affordable repayment plan for federal student loans, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Beginning July 2024, SAVE Plan payment amounts are based on 5% of discretionary income for undergraduate loans, 10% for graduate loans, and a weighted average for borrowers who have both.
The original PSLF rules made it difficult for borrowers to receive loan forgiveness under that program, but the U.S. Department of Education announced permanent PSLF updates that took effect in July 2023.
The department previously relaxed some of the PSLF requirements for a limited time in 2021 and 2022 during the Covid-19 national emergency. Since then, the department has forgiven $45 billion in federal student debt for more than 650,000 public employees enrolled in the PSLF program, according to Education Department data.
Serious savings. Save thousands of dollars
thanks to flexible terms and low fixed or variable rates.
Can Pharmacists Get Loan Forgiveness?
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against President Joe Biden’s plan to forgive up to $20,000 in federal student debt for qualified loan holders in June 2023, but pharmacists can still get student loan forgiveness under a variety of programs.
Pharmacist student loan forgiveness is possible under programs like PSLF if you work for a government or nonprofit employer as a health professional. In addition to PSLF, there are specific loan repayment programs that may offer loan forgiveness for pharmacists.
Student debt refinanced with a private lender is not eligible for PSLF, but refinanced student debt may be eligible for other debt relief programs highlighted below. You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.
Student Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Programs for Pharmacists
Besides the PSLF, you might consider these programs that offer repayment and forgiveness help for pharmacists:
The National Health Service Corps State Loan Repayment Program
The federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has a National Health Service Corps State Loan Repayment Program that provides student debt relief to eligible pharmacists and other health professionals who work in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
The California State Loan Repayment Program, for example, offers up to $100K in federal and private student debt relief to pharmacists who work in a qualifying role for three years.
A state-based Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) typically receives federal funding, but states can set their own SLRP eligibility requirements. This means you may not be eligible for pharmacist SLRP student debt relief in all states. It’s also worth noting that offerings may change every year and that states are not obligated to award maximum loan repayment amounts available.
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Workforce Loan Repayment Program
Pharmacists who work at eligible substance use disorder (SUD) treatment facilities may qualify for student loan repayment assistance under the National Health Service Corps’ SUD Workforce Loan Repayment Program.
Pharmacists can receive up to $75,000 in student loan forgiveness in exchange for three years of full-time service at an approved SUD treatment facility. Such sites may include office-based opioid treatment facilities, state correctional facilities, federal prisons, and community health centers.
The National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program
As mentioned earlier, pharmacists conducting extramural program research for an eligible employer may receive up to $50,000 annually in federal and private student debt relief through the NIH Loan Repayment Program.
Although private student loans and federal loans are eligible, you must have a sizable student debt-to-income ratio of at least 20% to qualify for an initial NIH Loan Repayment Program award. It’s possible to have all of your student debt repaid through this system, because there’s no limit to how long you can work for a qualified extramural research program.
Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program
Pharmacists who work at Indian health facilities for two years may receive up to $50,000 in student debt relief from the Indian Health Service (IHS) Loan Repayment Program. Private and federal loans are eligible for relief under this program.
Indian health facilities are hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities administered directly by IHS, a Tribal organization, or an Urban Indian program. These facilities are typically based in American Indian or Alaska Native communities. The majority of the locations are rural and remote.
💡 Quick Tip: Refinancing could be a great choice for working graduates who have higher-interest graduate PLUS loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and/or private loans.
U.S. Department of Defense Educational Loan Repayment Program
Federal law allows branches of the U.S. armed forces to repay federal student debt of enlisted members serving in specified military specialties or commissioned officers serving in specified health professions. Pharmacists who enlist in the U.S. armed forces may qualify for student loan repayment assistance under this program.
The U.S. Army and U.S. Navy, for example, may repay up to $65,000 of qualified federal student loans in good standing. Eligibility for this loan repayment program may require that you serve for three years in a critical military occupational specialty or longer.
Refinancing Your Student Loans
Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.
With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.
SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.
SoFi Student Loan Refinance
SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). SoFi Student Loan Refinance Loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, PAYE or SAVE. Additional terms and conditions apply. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
While medical doctors have high earning potential, the first few years of a doctor’s career — known as residency — tend to be defined by long hours and relatively low pay. So if you’ve got a medical career ahead of you — and medical school student loans to pay off — what sort of financial life can you expect? In this article we’ll explore the average pay for medical residents, and what they can do to manage their finances during this time.
How Much Do Medical Residents Make?
So, how much do doctors make during residency? According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the average medical resident salary was $60,373 as of July 2022 . After federal and state taxes (assuming an average tax rate of 8.9%), this leaves the average medical school resident with $3,797.73 to spend each month.
Medical residents are known to work very long hours. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requires hospitals to ensure that residents work no more than 80 hours a week. If you do the math, an annual salary of $60,000 breaks down to just over $14 an hour if a resident puts in a full 80 hours a week.
Making that money stretch can be a challenge — especially in high cost-of-living areas. To help, here are five tips for getting by (and even thriving) while living on an average resident salary.
The average resident has little time to keep track of their expenses, but building a simple budget could be the difference between making it work and ending up short. Your first step should be to make a list of all “necessary” spending, such as rent, utilities, transportation, and food.
Next you’ll want to look how much you bring home each month, including your resident’s salary and any additional income from your partner or family support. Then look at how much money you have left over. That’s how much you have to spend on “extras” each month, like dining out, travel, or clothing. You might decide to set spending limits for each category (for example, $100 for eating out) or monitor your spending as the month progresses. Or, you can do both.
2. Consider Personal Preferences and Trade-Offs
A budget can feel like a hassle, but if you set it up right, it can also be freeing. By knowing exactly how much you can spend, you can then decide what’s important for you to prioritize and what you don’t mind cutting out.
Maybe you’ll decide that you want to cut cable, but you don’t want to stop meeting up with friends at your local wine bar. Or perhaps you’ll give up eating out so you can spend more on rent. Making a budget is just analyzing each trade-off. Ask yourself, “Do I want this, or something else?”
3. Focus on Fixed Costs
One substantial way you can make an impact on your budget is by making “big wins” on fixed costs, such as housing, car payments, or utilities. For example, lowering a bill by $20 each month is going to have a bigger effect than saving a few dollars on small purchases. Looking at your own fixed spending, where could you ask for better rates? Or cut back entirely?
While you’re at it, look at your subscription services and other memberships. Though not often considered a “fixed cost,” they can add up quickly to become a significant expense. When you put them on autopay, it’s easy to forget about them and miss the chance to cancel them each month or year. Take time to go through your credit card statement to make sure you’re not paying for a service that you’re not able to use because you’re so busy. Try to eliminate one or two for automatic monthly savings.
4. Share a Living Space
When you’re trying to save money, there’s usually no financial win that’s bigger than saving on your housing costs. To do this, you can move into a more affordable place, live with roommates, or rent out a room in your place. Not only can a roommate help you save on rent, but on utilities like water, electric, and cable.
Some folks don’t like the idea of having roommates because they lose some privacy. But if you’re a busy resident who’s not home very much and is trying to eke by on a small salary, it can be a great way to save money.
5. Choose Less Expensive Transportation
Transportation may be your second biggest expense after housing, especially if you’ve got car payments. But even if you’ve already paid off the vehicle, you’ll need to cover the cost of car insurance, as well as maintenance and sometimes parking. It can add up.
If you’re living in an area with good public transportation, or you’re able to live within walking distance of the hospital, you might want to get rid of your car to save money. In some areas, Uber or Lyft offer a flat-rate, monthly pass option that can be less expensive than owning and maintaining a car.
If you’re not ready to sell your car quite yet, simply try using it less. Even this small act may save you money each month. For example, if you’re spending $120 per month on gas but could ride public transportation for $30 per month, you may save over $1,000 on transportation in a year.
It might be a difficult transition at first, but you may find that you appreciate the time you aren’t behind the wheel. Another potential way to save money on transportation is by shopping around for car insurance. If you haven’t done so in the last several years, it could be well worth it — especially if you have a good driving record.
6. Cook at Home
You’re likely overworked and want to rest during your off hours, and it’s hard to find the time and energy to cook. But eating out is expensive. While it may be unreasonable to think that a medical resident will cook every meal, it may be worth taking a few hours each week to make a batch of meals that you can eat throughout the week. Preparing meals and eating at home could potentially save residents hundreds of dollars a month.
Another Option: Refinance Medical School Loans
Like most people who attended medical school, there’s a very likely chance you took out student loans. Managing these loans while you’re living on an average resident salary may be important for your financial success. It is important to understand your loan repayment options as a medical resident. One of the first decisions you may want to make is whether you want your loans to go into forbearance or to make payments on your loans during residency.
Student loan forbearance may seem like an ideal option for a person on a medical resident salary, but that might not always be the case: Federal medical school student loans accrue interest during that time, and that interest is added to your balance at the end of your forbearance period. This is called compounding, or capitalization, and means that you’re paying interest on top of interest.
You may want to consider refinancing your medical resident student loans with a company like SoFi that offers programs designed for medical school residents. Refinancing is the process of paying off one loan (or many loans) with another, generally to lower your overall interest rate or to change the terms of your loan.
Additionally, with SoFi, you might be able to lower your overall interest rate as well, which could potentially save you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. Learn more about SoFi’s medical resident loan refinancing rates and terms.
With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.
SoFi Student Loan Refinance
SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). SoFi Student Loan Refinance Loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, PAYE or SAVE. Additional terms and conditions apply. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal.
SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.
Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
If you want to build financial security and hit your long-term savings goals, it’s probably a wise move to put a portion of each paycheck into a savings account.
Week by week, month by month, and year by year, the money will grow and help you afford your dreams, whether that means buying a house, funding your kids’ education, or having enough cash to retire early. Or all of the above.
But it can be challenging to know how much to stash away. Some people save 10% of their take-home pay, others three or four times that. Still others deposit a round number (be it $50, $500, or $5,000), into their savings account on a regular basis.
So how much should you aim to save? That depends upon a variety of factors, including your personal style and financial aspirations. In this guide, you’ll learn how to use percentages to your advantage when it comes to saving, plus hear smart advice on how to prioritize and reach your goals.
What Percent of Your Income Should You Save?
There isn’t a set percentage of how much of your annual income you should save. Much will depend on your particular circumstances. For example, your income, your cost of living, your expenses, and your debt level will all matter. A person who earns $75K per year, lives in an expensive city, has student loans to pay off, and is supporting a family of four will likely find it more difficult to save money than someone who is earning $125K, lives in a less pricey location, has zero loans to pay down, and is single with no dependents.
That said, you are likely to hear that 20% is a good number to aim for in terms of the percentage of your income to be saved. If that proves too high, then 10% is a good figure to use as a goal.
Pros and Cons of Saving a Fixed Percentage of Your Income
There are pluses and minuses to saving a fixed percentage of your income. This approach may or may not work for everyone. Consider the upsides first:
• It’s consistent. You know that every paycheck, the percentage you’ve indicated will be heading into savings, helping you reach your financial goals. Even if your earnings vary, your savings will be aligned.
• It protects you against lifestyle creep. If, say, you are saving $500 per pay period and then get a raise, you might just spend all of that additional cash you are earning. Called lifestyle creep, that means your expenses rise, gobbling up your enhanced income.
When, however, you set a percentage to go into savings, you know that the amount will automatically adjust with any income fluctuations. For instance, if your pay varies depending on your hours or goals achieved, you will always be allocating the same ratio of your money to savings, whether you earn more or less.
But there are potential downsides to consider too.
• When you determine a percentage of income to save, it may feel more challenging to know how much you’re socking away. Again, if you allocate $500 a month to savings rather than a percentage, it’s easy to calculate where you stand at any moment during the year.
• The way a percentage automatically adjusts to income changes may not suit you. For example, if you are saving 20% of your salary and then get a $10K raise, the amount funneled into savings will rise correspondingly. But what if you wanted to earmark that money to pay down your credit card debt more quickly? You will have to take steps to adjust where your money goes.
The 50/30/20 Rule
If you’re wondering, “What percent of my income should I save?” the 20% figure is likely to crop up often. One reason: the 50/30/20 budgeting plan, which was made popular by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and her daughter, Amelia Warren Tyagi, in a book they co-wrote. It suggests savers should allocate their money as follows:
• 50% of their after-tax paychecks toward essentials like housing, food, healthcare, and minimum debt payments.
• 30% toward discretionary spending
• 20% toward savings
So, someone who takes home $3,000 every two weeks (or $78k per year) might put $1,200 a month into savings. They would have $15,600 at the end of the year.
That’s just a guideline for getting started, though, so don’t panic if putting 20% into savings seems impossible right now. You can start at 10% or bump it up to 30% or more.
Recommended: See how your money is categorized using the 50/30/20 Calculator.
It All Starts With a Budget
Ack. The b-word: Budget. Making a budget may sound boring or even arduous, but it doesn’t have to be either. And sticking to a realistic spending plan can make or break a savings plan.
By prioritizing monthly expenses — from keeping a roof over your head to gassing up the car to indulging in a gelato or good sushi every Friday — you may be able to avoid impulse spending and hold on to more of your hard-earned dollars.
You can track your spending manually with a notebook or spreadsheets, or keep the data in the palm of your hand with a money-tracking app, where you can see your expenses, savings, and earnings all in one place whenever you want to take a peek.
4 Different Types of Savings
Once you determine what percentage you’ll be able to save from your salary, you may want to break down that amount even further, into separate designated “buckets” or sub-accounts for different goals, which could include things like:
1. Emergency Fund
An emergency fund has the potential to turn life’s potholes into speed bumps.
It’s money you can use to pay for unexpected expenses, such as medical bills, home repairs, and fender benders. And your emergency fund might serve as a lifeline if you lose your job and don’t have another source of income.
A good rule of thumb is to save at least three months’ salary, but you don’t have to come up with those dollars all at once.
You could start by saving a small amount each month — and you can always add to the fund when you get a raise, bonus, or tax refund. (You also should be prepared to replenish the fund if you have to use all or part of it at any point.)
The money in your emergency fund could go into a savings account at your local branch bank, or you might want to check out the benefits of an online bank account which might offer no account fees and a solid interest rate.
Get up to $300 when you bank with SoFi.
No account or overdraft fees. No minimum balance.
Up to 4.20% APY on savings balances.
Up to 2-day-early paycheck.
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2. Short-Term Goals
Most of us have goals we hope to fund in the next few months or couple of years. This could be anything from throwing your significant other a memorable birthday party to booking that vacation to Positano to affording a new car. You can start your own short-term fund at your financial institution. You can label the account “holiday spending” or earmark it for any other short-term goal: “Fall Wardrobe,” “Beach Vacation,” or maybe a “New Laptop.”
You may want to automate your savings and have money whisked from your checking as soon as your paycheck hits.
3. Long-Term Goals
Setting aside money for a long-term goal — a down payment on a house, a honeymoon in Bali, a year in Paris with your bestie — can feel like a slow slog. But you may improve your chances for success if you set up an account for the money and designate a consistent amount to slip in there from every paycheck.
Depending on your timeline, you may want to check into a certificate of deposit (CD), or you could stick with that same high-interest savings account, which you can build with automatic deposits and link to other accounts with a tracking app. These are secure ways to save towards future goals.
4. Retirement Savings
Another aspect of how much of your annual income you should save involves preparing for retirement. If you have a 401(k) investment savings account available through your employer, you’re likely already building wealth for retirement with automatic contributions every payday. And if your employer offers any type of matching contribution, you have an opportunity to grow your money even faster.
Beyond that, it’s up to you how big of a slice of your savings pie you want to put toward retirement at any time.
If you’re just starting out, and especially if you have some debts to pay off, saving for retirement may seem like the least of your worries. But the earlier you start putting money away, the faster it can grow. Time is the investor’s true friend; it allows you to ride the ups and downs of the market without panicking as you work toward your goals. (Remember, investments aren’t insured, so you need to be aware of the risk involved.)
If you don’t have an employer-sponsored plan — or even if you do, but you want more investment options or maybe more help than you’ve been getting — you can open your own traditional or Roth IRA outside of work. When considering which type of retirement account to open, IRA or 401(k), you might want to keep an eye on what fees might be associated with each plan.
It’s important to note that employer-sponsored plans allow investors to contribute more annually than an IRA would (basic limit in 2023: $22,500 for a 401(k) for those under age 50 vs. $6,500 for an IRA). And if the employer offers a matching contribution, that’s essentially free money you wouldn’t get from an IRA.
💡 Quick Tip: Want a simple way to save more everyday? When you turn on Roundups, all of your debit card purchases are automatically rounded up to the next dollar and deposited into your online savings account.
Deciding on Your Goals
Goals are a good thing: They can provide motivation for saving. But they can’t just hang out there; they probably need some prioritizing. That doesn’t mean that you are picking just one to focus on. More likely, you are going to decide how to divvy up that percentage of your income that goes into savings.
Say you are committed to saving 20% of your income. You may want to determine percentages for:
• Retirement
• Your child’s college education
• A down payment on a house
One person might split that as 10%, 5%, and 5%. Another might instead do 8%, 2% and 10%. It depends on your particular goals, how else you might finance them (perhaps you expect your child to take out student loans), and the urgency of each.
Setting a Timeline
Some goals will be easy to plot on a timeline. For example, if your wedding is in a year and you’re saving $6,000 for your honeymoon, you’ll need to save $500 a month.
Others goals will likely need more finessing. (The amount you might need for retirement, for example, can be tough to pin down.)
But you’ve got this. You’ve probably been editing your mental wish list since you were a kid saving for candy … no, a toy … no, a bike. And you’ll likely be doing that for the rest of your life. If there isn’t enough money, something has to go or at least wait.
Could you drive your old car for another year or two, thereby saving money daily, if it meant getting a house sooner? Should you work another year before taking time off to be a stay-at-home parent? Would a weekend in Vegas be just fine as this year’s vacation if it meant next year you could afford 10 days in Greece? Only you can make those choices.
Deciding how much money you’ll need when you’ll need it, and how long it will take to save it may seem daunting as you start toward each new goal.
But it also can help you stay motivated to note when you’re making headway. And you might even find new ways to cut expenses as you go — especially if you use an app to track your progress.
Pay Off Debt
The average American had almost $8,000 in high-interest credit card debt as of the end of 2022. In addition, many people are also shouldering other debts, such as car loans and student loans.
If you’re a part of those statistics, paying off those debts could be the most important part of your saving plan.
How’s that?
• Any debt on which you’re paying interest can feel painful. But if you’ve missed some credit card payments and you’re paying the default rate, say 27%, you’re likely putting an awful lot of money toward your past instead of toward your future.
• High-interest debt can drag you down, so it’s important to ditch it as quickly as possible. Once you know where you stand with your budget and your savings goals, you may want to start by building a sort of “starter” emergency fund and then move forward with a personal debt reduction plan, like the debt avalanche, debt snowball, or the hybrid debt fireball, which focuses on paying high-interest debt in a way that can build momentum and keep you motivated.
Here’s how the debt fireball method works:
1. Categorize your debts as either “good” or “bad.” (“Good” debts are generally for things that have potential to increase your net worth, like student loans or a mortgage. “Bad” debt is usually considered to be debt incurred for a depreciating asset, like car loans and credit card debt.) As you develop the list, note all the debts with higher interest rates, above what student loans and mortgages charge (say, 8% or higher) This is likely the “bad” debt you’ll want to focus on first.
2. List your “bad” debts from smallest to largest based on their outstanding balances.
3. Make the minimum monthly payment on all outstanding debts, then funnel any excess funds to the smallest of your “bad” debts.
4. When that balance is paid in full, go on to the next smallest on the bad-debt list. Blaze through those balances until all your “bad” debt is repaid.
5. When that’s done, keep paying off your debt on the normal schedule while also putting more into various savings strategies that will help get you to your goals.
Remaining Flexible
Consistency can be a key to successful saving. Otherwise, it’s just too darn easy to let yourself off the hook from paycheck to paycheck, month to month, and year to year. But that doesn’t mean your savings plan has to feel like a forced march.
Flexibility is also important.
A savings plan that seems smart and doable today may feel like torture six months from now. Or you might get a raise and decide your plan is actually far too easy and you could be socking away much more.
You might need a major car repair (or a whole new car). Get married. Have a baby. Get sick. Get fired. Or get hired for your dream job and have to move to Dubai.
Life changes. So it makes sense to tighten and lighten your budget — and the savings aspect you build into that budget — as necessary. If you’re tracking your expenses regularly, you may be better able to gauge how you’re doing and make any course corrections that much more quickly.
Anything Saved Is Better Than Nothing
It can feel discouraging when you get started on a long-term savings plan. Say you want to accumulate $60,000 for a down payment on a house. Perhaps saving 20% of your paycheck is impossible right now. And putting a couple of hundred dollars as a start can feel as if you will never reach your goal.
But over time, that little bit of money regularly contributed will indeed grow and propel you ever closer to your goal. Getting in the habit of contributing frequently can be a goal in and of itself, even if the amount is not as high as you’d like.
You may have also had this experience with shorter-term goals, such as building an emergency fund. Even if you only start by contributing $20, you will eventually reach your aim with steady saving.
Start Saving With SoFi
If you’re ready to start on the path to achieving a savings goal, look for a financial partner that minimizes fees and maximizes interest, to help your money work harder.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.20% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.
FAQ
Is it good to save 50% of your income?
It’s a wise move to save a portion of your paycheck, and 20% is an often-quoted figure to aim for. Fifty percent may be too high for many people, but if you can afford to save half of your take-home pay, you may get to your savings goals that much more quickly.
Is 20% of your income enough to save?
Many financial experts recommend saving 20% of your income or more if you can. The 20% figure is part of the popular 50/30/20 budget rule. However, some people may want to save more if possible, especially if they have a couple of major long-term goals they are saving for, such as buying a home, saving for their children’s education, and affording an early retirement.
What is the 60/20/20 rule?
The 60/20/20 rule is similar to the 50/30/20 budget guideline. In this case, it means that a person allocates 60% of their take-home pay to necessities, 20% to discretionary spending, and 20% to savings.
SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.20% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.
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SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.
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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
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