A little work anxiety

Work has caused a little bit of anxiety. Not in the normal way, I still like it, everything is smooth and even though I am wrapping up my biggest audit this year, I will have this done with no problems. The anxiety comes in a different venue. The County is desperately trying to hire one of the auditors on site as a Financial Analyst. They are so interested in us that they pulled the opening until we can apply (which would be this week).

I don't think I really want to work there. Its not auditing, instead it would be in charge of specific County funds, and the responsibility would be to approve/review the transactions and prepare the financial statements that the County puts out (basically the other side of the audit I conduct).

You might ask why I would even worry about not applying for the job. It comes down to money. State workers get paid a good chunk less than local governments. After I have topped out here at the Auditor's Office in a couple years (maybe up to 3 more) I will make around 63k a year. This is plenty of money honestly. However, the County job starts at $64k immediately (possibly 68k if they decide the person has experience, I am only doing around 50k now here at the office) and within four years will be making 78k a year. In addition after being at the County for four years you become a Senior Financial Analyst and that puts you on a different payscale that starts out at 78k and goes up to 89k a year. In addition the County benefits are better and cheaper than state (state benefits have been slashed, and costs have gone up).

Now, I am not going to apply, that is because working for the SAO is the first job I have ever had that I hadn't considered bailing on after three months (yesterday was my two year anniversary there, wow does time fly). I like the staff, I like investigating other people's books and the only organizations I might be more interested in are IRS, DCAA, OIG, or OIC.

However, I wonder if I am making a mistake. I would immediately make about $15-18k a year more and top out at almost 25k more a year than I make at my current office in about 6 years.

I know its not about money, but I worry about taking care of my parents and ethicalcannibal. It doesn't help that people at work keep pushing and not understanding why I don't apply. I think that is the current "American" outlook is we should jump jobs for more money. It creates a weird pressure and that is probably what makes me uncomfortable. I still wont do it though, I will just sit here feeling uncomfortable.