Jim Lexa, 63, a former journalist turned letter carrier, has nearly tripled his salary after leaving a decades-long career in print journalism. Lexa worked as a journalist for 30 years, but declining newspaper circulation and pay cuts led him to seek a new path. At 53, he quit his job without another lined up and eventually secured a position with the U.S. Postal Service, where he now earns up to $85,000 annually—significantly more than his previous $30,000 salary.
Lexa began his journalism career in high school, covering local sports for a town newspaper in Illinois. He later earned a journalism degree and landed a sports reporter job in Texas, where his initial salary was $230 per week. Over the years, he moved into editorial roles but faced financial struggles as the industry declined. By 2015, he was burned out and concerned about affording basic necessities.
After leaving journalism, Lexa worked as a handyman before joining the Postal Service. He now enjoys the physical activity of his new role, walking up to 40,000 steps a day, and appreciates the financial stability it provides. His story highlights the challenges faced by journalists in a shifting media landscape and the potential for career reinvention in midlife.