Sounds like you are pretty grounded in reality. Sucks doesn’t it. I know a few people trying to change industries and it’s hard.
Congrats on the 3rd kid and I hope his/her medical challenges get resolved.
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If you want to move:
How’s your product design portfolio? Keep doing product projects on the side to showcase your product design skills.
Keep looking until you find your “ideal” job. Maybe it will take 1 year to find the right fit. There are not a lot of jobs out there and for every job there are dozens and dozens of people applying at different levels and salary requirements.
Maybe you will have to take a pay cut in order to start over in a different industry/segment. 74K, Junior designer in Arizona is really good. -
Develop your packaging career further. Ask for a title promotion. Maybe a salary & job responsibility increase as well.
Look for jobs at other packaging companies. This might give you a title promotion and salary increase as well in one shot.
Consider packaging, display & environmental design companies.
Would you prefer to be a junior Product Designer making 65K or a Lead Packaging Designer/Manager making 80K+. At the end of the day you need to do what’s best for your family. -
When making your decision make sure you take into account the following:
a) Cost of living (primarily mortgage or rent)
b) Commute. How long will the commute be. Time away from home is very valuable considering you have 3 kids. School and extra curricular activities will demand more of your time as they grow older.
c) Healthcare Benefits. Since you have a family this will be very important and expensive.
d) Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side…but so is the water bill.
Good luck.