Ājīva is often translated as livelihood.
And it certainly has to do with livelihood; in the texts particulars of ājīva very often includes jobs. But also found are things like: ‘With right doing, right ājīva; with wrong doing, wrong ājīva’. Thus a foolish person has, in spite of their livelihood, the wrong ājīva.
So to put less emphasis on just income, we can look for an alternative. Jīva means life and with ā as prefix we can look at it as with ācāra:
Ācāra [ā + car] way of conduct
We then got with [ā+jīva] way of life. That a foolish person would have in spite of their livelihood a wrong way of life would make sense. And it does connect:
With right view, right attitude; with right attitude, right speech; with right speech, right doing; with right doing, right way of life.
Ājīva [ā+jīva] way of life.