SomeUTAUguy's journey

Today, my boss approached me with an intriguing yet daunting opportunity: he wants me to become the C-suite IT Specialist. My role would involve being the go-to IT person for the lawyers and CEOs, ensuring they have seamless tech support. While I don't feel intimidated by the C-suite, which consists of older executives, I have serious concerns about the logistics of this position. The catch is that this role requires me to be on-site in Kalispell, Montana, which is known for its high cost of living. I currently earn $26 an hour, and even with unlimited overtime, I calculated that I would only make about $115,000 a year before taxes. This is far from enough to afford the average home price in Kalispell, which ranges from $700,000 to $5 million. I asked if the position could be remote, but my boss made it clear that I would need to be in full business attire on-site every day from 5 am to 10 pm, seven days a week. This schedule sounds grueling and unrealistic. I told my boss I needed time to think about it, but I’m leaning towards declining the offer unless he can significantly increase my pay—ideally, I would need my hourly rate doubled to even consider it. Now, I'm trying to figure out how to communicate this to my boss without sounding ungrateful. I genuinely appreciate the opportunity but need to be realistic about the demands and costs associated with this role.