HuntingNemo's journey

I recently found myself in a bit of a dilemma at my current job as a mechanical design engineer. I've been with my company for four years, and although I wasn't actively seeking a new position, a headhunter reached out with an opportunity that piqued my interest. After a few interviews, I received an offer for $96,000 with three weeks of PTO. Currently, I make $82,000 with four weeks of PTO. When I shared this outside offer with my current employer, a small company of about 40 employees, I expected them to counter with a salary increase to around $90,000 along with a plan for future raises. Instead, they proposed moving me to an hourly wage of $47, which translates to approximately $97,500 annually, while keeping all my benefits intact and allowing for overtime if I choose to work extra hours. While I'm grateful for their willingness to adjust my compensation, I'm hesitant about transitioning to an hourly role. Over the years, I've established a comfortable routine working from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM with an hour for lunch, and I've consistently met my work expectations. I value the autonomy that comes with my current salaried position and worry that moving to hourly might jeopardize that flexibility. I'm trying to figure out how to approach my management about my concerns without coming across as if I just want to work fewer hours. I want to maintain my working style and freedom, and I need advice on how to communicate this effectively.