How Much Is Less Travel Worth in a New Job?

This article is part of the Pay, Package and Work-Life Balance guide.

For field-based workers in facilities management, engineering and related sectors, travel is one of the most significant daily realities of the job. The size of the patch, the daily mileage, the time spent in traffic — these are not peripheral details. They shape the entire experience of the role.

The financial cost of travel

Travel that is not fully reimbursed costs money. Fuel above the approved mileage rate, wear and tear on personal vehicles, and the cost of meals and parking all eat into effective salary.

Calculate your current annual travel cost — the amount you spend to get to and do your job that is not reimbursed. This is a direct reduction in your real earnings.

A role with less travel that pays the same salary may actually pay more, once travel costs are accounted for.

The time cost of travel

Time in a vehicle is not paid time for most field workers. An hour a day of additional commute or patch travel costs 200+ hours a year — the equivalent of five full working weeks.

What is an hour of your personal time worth? At £15 per hour — well below most skilled workers’ effective hourly rate — 200 hours is £3,000 of your own time per year. A role with a tighter patch that pays £2,000 less may actually be better value.

How to factor this into a decision

When comparing roles with different travel requirements, calculate both the financial cost and the time cost of each option — not just the base salary. The role that looks lower-paid may be the better financial and lifestyle decision.

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