day job
Bread-and-butter work
A day job is regular employment that provides steady income, as opposed to creative or entrepreneurial pursuits that don't yet pay the bills.
The phrase implies the job exists mainly to support what someone really wants to do: She's a musician, but her day job is accounting.
The advice don't quit your day job dismissively suggests someone lacks talent for their passion.
Self-motivated creative undertaking
- side hustleSecondary income venture
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
- dreamSleeping mind's narrative
- hobbyRecreational leisure activity
moonlighting · after hours · artistic ambition · band · acting · writing · startup · escape
Regular office schedule
- commuteRegular work travel
- cubiclePartitioned office workspace
- workweekRegular working days
- weekdayNon-weekend calendar day
schedule · shift · desk · meetings · deadlines · boss · coworker · supervisor
One's regular paid work
- professionTrained occupational field
- vocationDedicated career path
- workplaceEmployment location
- careerLifelong occupational pursuit
position · employer · company · firm · office · industry · sector · field
Compensation for labor
- salaryFixed periodic employment payment
- wagesPayment for work
- earningsMoney gained from work
- benefitsGains or helpful effects
compensation · steady income · financial stability · security · pension · health insurance · direct deposit · paid leave
- rentPayment for temporary use
- mortgageSecured home loan
- breadwinnerPrimary household earner
- necessityIndispensable requirement
means · provision · making ends meet · practical · responsible · pragmatic · sustenance · livelihood
passion project
Self-motivated creative undertaking
- side hustleSecondary income venture
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
- dreamSleeping mind's narrative
hobby · moonlighting · after hours · artistic ambition · band · acting · writing · startup · escape · backup plan
nine-to-five
Regular office schedule
weekday · schedule · shift · desk · meetings · deadlines · boss · coworker · supervisor · breakroom
occupation
One's regular paid work
- professionTrained occupational field
- vocationDedicated career path
- workplaceEmployment location
career · position · employer · company · firm · office · industry · sector · field · corporation
paycheck
Compensation for labor
benefits · compensation · steady income · financial stability · security · pension · health insurance · direct deposit · paid leave · remuneration
bills
- rentPayment for temporary use
- mortgageSecured home loan
- breadwinnerPrimary household earner
necessity · means · provision · making ends meet · practical · responsible · pragmatic · sustenance · livelihood · keeping the lights on
- livelihoodscareer, work, income, profession, livelihood
- day jobsnine-to-five
- bread and butterincome, salary, wages, paycheck, earnings
- Bohemiansartist, bohemian, beatnik, free spirit, painter
day jobpassion project
Self-motivated creative undertaking
dream job · calling · life's work · labor of love · side hustle
day jobnight shift
Overnight work period
graveyard shift · third shift · swing shift · overnight shift · second shift
day jobunemployment
Being without paid work
retirement · self-employment · freelance work · entrepreneurship · gig work
job, day, daily, daylight, jobless, jobsworth, daywork, dayworker, day jobs