[This is a joint operation with www.ustransitauthority.blogspot.com to educate and reduce commutes.]

I looked back on the jobs I have had, and found that one of the factors making a job most enjoyable was a short commute. The quality, workmates, content, and pay scale of the job were also factors, but the commute played a part of many of these, since commuting is technically part of working, unless your commute is zero.

A long commute will actually *reduce* your effective salary. Assuming you produce 40 hours a week on the job for 50 weeks a year, every half hour of your daily commute will add 250 hours to your work. This reduces your hourly wage by 1/8, if you work 2000 hours a year. An hour long commute reduces your salary by 25%.

Furthermore your commute is not free. Assuming that you drive and get good mileage and fuel prices remain stable, you are also paying ~$5 per half hour of your daily commute. This becomes $1250 per year per half hour of your commute. If you are commuting 2 hours to work every day, you have increased your work year from 2000 hours to 3000 hours [taking a 33% pay cut] and you also will pay $5000 in fuel expenses, add maintenance and wear. Is that job worth your time and money? They would have to pay you substantially above-market rates to make it equally worth your while to commute.

You could take a lower paying job closer to home, or move closer to your job, if it is worth the time commuting. Please consider this when choosing employment, transportation, and residence. You will help improve your quality of life and the freetime you have to enjoy it more, and you will help save the planet and help the community.