I‘m thinking of ditching my very safe and very well paid office job with the option to work from home for a job in the field where I drive around and inspect buildings. Taxes included I’d get a 300€ paycut but would gain the ability to get paid for overtime, which I do not have at the moment. Also, due to austerity measures I have no chance of ever getting into a higher position at my current job.
I don’t know maybe I just want the validation of something I’ll do anyway, maybe I want to get shown what makes my current job better than the might-be one.
I’d never leave public sector/government work for lower pay.
If you want job security, flexible working, decent conditions, good pension then (in the UK at least) you work for the government.
If you want good pay then you leave.
Leaving that job security for less money is, imho, absolutely insane.