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Chabely Rodriguez spent years taking overtime shifts and 24-hour calls to make sure she always had extra money saved.

After moving from a salaried job into traveling contract work in 2024, the certified anesthesiologist assistant told CNBC in August she earns more than $300,000 a year while working mostly 40-hour weeks.

Rodriguez earned a master's degree in anesthesiology before becoming a certified anesthesiologist assistant, a path that allowed her to enter the field without attending medical school.

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She previously earned more than $200,000 a year in a salaried role, but a "scarcity mindset" from childhood pushed her to keep taking extra shifts.

Rodriguez could potentially earn closer to $500,000 by working that way again, but said she is comfortable with her current income level. "I want to make more money, but I don't want to burn myself out along the way," she said. "So now I've hit above the $300,000 mark, I feel good about that."

Rodriguez's priorities changed as her income increased and contract work gave her more flexibility.

She started her career in Florida and originally thought she would eventually buy a home there. But over time, she realized she preferred travel work and the freedom to keep exploring new places.

"I'm still not to the point of wanting to settle anywhere," Rodriguez told CNBC after a six-month contract in Georgia wrapped up and she moved to New Mexico. "I still want to continue to explore and switch things around."

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Rodriguez said paying off nearly $124,000 in student loan debt quickly in 2023 allowed her to redirect money toward investing.

"Because I was aggressive with paying off my loans, I could then shift towards investing," she said.

Rodriguez told CNBC that she aims to invest about 40% of her pre-tax income across brokerage and retirement accounts. By January last year, her total investments had crossed $500,000.

That milestone has changed how she thinks about financial freedom. She once set a goal of investing $2 million and retiring early, but she is now less attached to a specific number. Instead, she wants steady growth that gives her the option to work less by the time she turns 50.

"I feel like that's made me just a happier, calmer person — more secure, more confident," Rodriguez said.

For high earners managing large investment contributions across retirement and brokerage accounts, financial planning often becomes more complex. Some investors use platforms like AdviserMatch to connect with fiduciary advisors for help coordinating long-term investing, tax strategy and retirement planning.

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Rodriguez still keeps her spending modest by splitting rent with her partner and driving a Toyota Corolla. However, she spends more freely on travel, including backpacking, camping and international trips.

"I am now saying, ‘Hey, I make enough. I don't need to push it past my limit to pay for this,'" Rodriguez told CNBC. "Now, I can just breathe."

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This article Anesthesiologist Assistant Making $300K Says She 'Could Be Making Closer To $500,000' — But Chooses 40-Hour Weeks So She Doesn't 'Burn Myself Out' originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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