November 5, 2025
For a rising variety of People, persistence is essential as they combine “super-commutes” into their lives.
For a rising variety of People, persistence is essential as they combine “super-commutes” into their lives.
A 2024 Stanford College examine defines as “super-commutes” as a visit of greater than 75 miles every method. The variety of People taking such lengthy journeys to work has surged by 32 p.c for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic.
The researchers attribute a lot of this shift to the growing variety of work-from-home alternatives accessible. When workers don’t must commute day by day, they usually elect to reside farther from their administrative center. Consequently, the discount in highway congestion makes these longer journeys extra possible. The examine additionally notes that typical super-commutes take a median of “2 hours and 19 minutes” one-way.
For professionals like Memwanesha Daniels, a registered nurse whose way of life entails flying between Jacksonville and the Bay Space, super-commuting is critical.
Daniels refers to herself as a “bicoastal nurse.” She lives together with her boyfriend and three youngsters, ages 2 to 13, in Jacksonville, Florida, however works within the San Francisco Bay Space.
The bicoastal nurse spoke with CNBC Make It about the advantages of residing and dealing on two coasts.
“I can save lots, and it provides me a unique sort of life than what I’d have tried to make issues work in Florida,” Daniels mentioned. “Paying an additional $2,000 a month to make 3 times the quantity I’d make in Florida may be very a lot value it.”
Since 2017, she’s been flying between coasts. Her shifts sometimes run 12 hours at a hospital in Oakland, the place she earns greater than $100 an hour. She typically pulls in as much as $25,000 a month when she provides time beyond regulation.
Her super-commute can contain early-morning flights between Jacksonville and the Bay Space, touchdown round noon Pacific time. She rents a one-bedroom condo inside strolling distance of her hospital for about $1,300 a month. Daniels mentioned she sometimes spends beneath $500 month-to-month on journey by flying round-trip twice per thirty days.
“I like to fly, and I like to journey,” Daniels mentioned. “Flying is enjoyable for me.” She typically naps on planes earlier than heading straight into work.
For Daniels, the payoff is each monetary and private. Working in California permits her to supply extra for her youngsters whereas holding her roots in Florida.
“You continue to must have a life,” she mentioned, “however this one provides me selections.”
Daniels’ determination to simply accept the time and journey in trade for increased pay aligns with what the info recommend: trendy long-distance commuting is more and more a part of the trade-off equation for skilled employees balancing price, location, and profession features.
RELATED CONTENT: Most Distant Staff Have been Ordered Again To The Workplace. They’re Nonetheless Working From House
