View Full Version : How much would someone have to pay you to move to the Liberal mecca?
Teufelhund
02-26-2013, 13:58
I went through a layoff a couple weeks ago, so I'm looking for a new gig. I was just sent an opportunity by a headhunter: 12 month contract @ $100/hr ($208k/year). I'm well qualified for the position and I would keep my house in Aurora; either put it up for rent or the wife would just stay here and I'll fly home often.
The catch? It's in San Francisco.
Would you live in a studio apt in the center of hell for a year to make $208k?
TheWeeze
02-26-2013, 14:01
Yes I would. In a heartbeat.
muddywings
02-26-2013, 14:01
I went through a layoff a couple weeks ago, so I'm looking for a new gig. I was just sent an opportunity by a headhunter: 12 month contract @ $100/hr ($208k/year). I'm well qualified for the position and I would keep my house in Aurora; either put it up for rent or the wife would just stay here and I'll fly home often.
The catch? It's in San Francisco.
Would you live in a studio apt in the center of hell for a year to make $208k?
I would hazard a bet that your studio apartment rent would be more...a lot more that your mortgage in aurora so that fat paycheck wouldn't look nearly so fat.
buckeye4rnr
02-26-2013, 14:01
Yeah. I'd take it and keep looking but I'm also an asshole.
Teufelhund
02-26-2013, 14:02
I would hazard a bet that your studio apartment rent would be more...a lot more that your mortgage in aurora so that fat paycheck wouldn't look nearly so fat.
Definitely something that's crossed my mind. I'd probably live down the road in Fremont and take the light rail to work, but it still wouldn't be cheap.
TheWeeze
02-26-2013, 14:04
You can sure put a hefty dent in your mortgage of the house in Aurora with a 208k salary though.
killianak9
02-26-2013, 14:06
Yeah. I'd take it and keep looking but I'm also an asshole.
That's smart not being an asshole. Might open a door for you in a place you never knew you'd like! Go for it
HBARleatherneck
02-26-2013, 14:07
no, not a chance,
but Im stupid.
I thought we live in the Liberal mecca?
Teufelhund
02-26-2013, 14:09
try anything once.
That's usually my philosophy, but then there are some things I don't have to try to know I wouldn't like them!
Teufelhund
02-26-2013, 14:09
no, not a chance,
but Im stupid.
I thought we live in the Liberal mecca?
Soon. I think San Fran is the origin.
HBARleatherneck
02-26-2013, 14:10
do you have kids?
im just wondering after taxes in Cali, travel, etc. if it would be that great.
Teufelhund
02-26-2013, 14:15
No kids. Just the wife and the dogs. Are taxes much higher in CA?
Goodburbon
02-26-2013, 14:17
Hell I've practically worked in the real Mecca for less.
dwalker460
02-26-2013, 14:18
BTDT, doing it AGAIN with the wife. I would take the job with the following in mind-
The average apt rent is more than a mortgage here. My wifes uncle is paying $4000 a month for rent for a 3br ground floor apartment. I dont know what her cousin is paying for her campus apartment, but I bet its not anywhere near cheap. You might be better off looking for a housemate/roommate deal. If you can make the rent/commute thing work out it might be OK.
Realize that almost 50% of your earnings are going to go for taxes. There are ways around it but its tough. If paying half your wages in taxes still leaves you ahead, then sure, it might be OK.
It is very difficult to be a shooter in Ca, even in San Fran.
All this said I have friends that live out there and they like it and get by.
muddywings
02-26-2013, 14:19
Definitely something that's crossed my mind. I'd probably live down the road in Fremont and take the light rail to work, but it still wouldn't be cheap.
Let me know if you go to Fremont. I grew up there (and San Jose). You can jump on the BART train to get into SF.
muddywings
02-26-2013, 14:21
Yeah. I'd take it and keep looking but I'm also an asshole.
I guess that makes me an asshole (which is probably true) as I'm always keeping an eye out for something better.
I'd figure out what it'll cost you to live there and keep the current one in Aurora. I'd try to stay away from renting your current house out. I rented my old house out for 4 months (had to evict) and even though the house was in relatively good shape, it just felt dirty. You've made your home in that house and it just feels different. I didn't move back into my house so maybe it would have eventually felt like home again but if I knew I'd be moving back in after 1 year, I'd try to find another way to manage it.
Once you figure that out, see how much extra take home you'll be getting. If it was substantial enough to make a dent in my mortgage or pay off a car in that year, I'd do it. You'll still have a residence outside of San Fran so you're not going to be stuck there. Job's over, move home.
Just my $.02.
dwalker460
02-26-2013, 14:22
Oh, and before I forget, its difficult but not impossible to get a carry permit there, but unlike normal places if someone see that you have a concealed weapon they are more likely to literally run away and call the cops than just shrug and move on. Guns of all types are literally frowned upon and the Bay area is the home of the "why does anyone need one" mentality
I'd rather clean portacrappers after a Grateful Dead festival/chili cookoff for 6.75 an hour in Colorado than take that job. It would take at least another 250K for me to consider moving to that liberal cesspool for a year...
I'd rather go bird hunting with Dick Cheney AND Joe Biden than move to California...[ROFL1]
boy i dunno. i had a buddy go to school there and another that lives there now. its crazy expensive. i have friends even in sacramento that i graduated with, and its a significantly cheaper area, and they make 140k a year, i make 112k doing the same job and i actually end up having more than they do. by the time you figure taxes and cost of living it might not be as much as you think. average for my profession around here is 55 an hour, in california everyone starts at 65 an hour for the same job and it doesn't go as far.
that being said its a nice place in its own right. youd probably enjoy it for the most part, i just wouldn't view it as a huge financial opportunity until you work out all the details.
IF I base my salary at $75 -$120k/yr
2.5x in Los Angeles
3.5x in San Francisco
4x < in NYC or Hawaii
I will be still miserable, because everyone makes that kinda $ there.
Traffic is real problem.
Low speed limit.
Parking problem.
However, it is much easier to find a decent job/career in Bigger cities than here for sure...
Teufelhund
02-26-2013, 14:34
Good advice. Thanks, fellas.
Wow, that's a lot of tax. If the wife stayed here and kept working, it would push us into the next tax bracket, plus maintaining both households. It looks like a 1br apt in Fremont would run about $2k-2.5k, which is almost twice my mortgage in Aurora. I don't really have any debt, and own both my cars, so the extra could be applied wherever I want (maybe a down payment on some land in WY). It may not be worth it in the long run, if the expenses are too high. Looks like I have a lot of math to do.
Hell I've practically worked in the real Mecca for less.
Well, all depends on which sector. I've heard Biotechs don't pay as much as network/internet/semi-conductors.
I was surprised how much Post Docs, MD, and MD, PhDs make there. I've Rather go work at South Dakota.
BTDT, doing it AGAIN with the wife. I would take the job with the following in mind-
The average apt rent is more than a mortgage here. My wifes uncle is paying $4000 a month for rent for a 3br ground floor apartment. I dont know what her cousin is paying for her campus apartment, but I bet its not anywhere near cheap. You might be better off looking for a housemate/roommate deal. If you can make the rent/commute thing work out it might be OK.
Realize that almost 50% of your earnings are going to go for taxes. There are ways around it but its tough. If paying half your wages in taxes still leaves you ahead, then sure, it might be OK.
It is very difficult to be a shooter in Ca, even in San Fran.
All this said I have friends that live out there and they like it and get by.
JacksonArms is probably only place near there.
Good advice. Thanks, fellas.
Wow, that's a lot of tax. If the wife stayed here and kept working, it would push us into the next tax bracket, plus maintaining both households. It looks like a 1br apt in Fremont would run about $2k-2.5k, which is almost twice my mortgage in Aurora. I don't really have any debt, and own both my cars, so the extra could be applied wherever I want (maybe a down payment on some land in WY). It may not be worth it in the long run, if the expenses are too high. Looks like I have a lot of math to do.
Yeah, If you go 250k* and over, it would be worse.
* if Ma"O" made it 250k limit.
newracer
02-26-2013, 14:43
I had the opportunity to work/move to San Fran a little over 10 years ago. Would have been move than you stated plus free housing, I didn't go. Mostly because I didn't want to raise my kids there. Like everyone has stated everything cost a lot more there, food, fuel, insurance, housing, everything. Plus there are a lot of people there, very crowded.
There is however a lot of cool stuff there too. Hell having In-N-Out is almost worth it.
ruthabagah
02-26-2013, 14:49
My 2 cents: Did the same thing 5 years ago. 200K with a rent in SF and a mortgage in Co will not leave you with much $$ at the end of the month..... BART is expensive and driving is prohibitive if you don't have a small car.
In term of guns: I kept all of my 45' (less than 10 rounds), did not carry for a year, and went shooting in San Rafael at Bullseye (http://www.bullseyerange.com/contact.html) every week end.
Only if that studio apartment where close enough to that job that I wouldn't have to commute. If I had to get on public transit for more than 30 minutes or in my car for any distance I wouldn't be able to take it for whole year. I think I would be able to put up with the city under that condition.
No kids. Just the wife and the dogs. Are taxes much higher in CA?
I think income tax is 13%
I've looked into something similar- doing security contract work overseas for a couple years (just an idea)... One group was offering $225/yr starting, it was 3 months on, one month off for however long you or the contract lasted. Not San Fran, but Kabul, which is probably a different kind of bad. I've only driven through Kabul, and that was in an MRAP, these guys do it in uparmored Suburbans and Excursions. And since they pay for your food/housing that's not an expense. So Teufelhund, it depends on if you want to actually live there for a while... I'd say if you go for it you can store your non-CA legal guns and move the family out there, meanwhile, rent your house out here would be a pretty nice option. Or avoid CA like the black death. Lot to think about, best to sleep on it and discuss with the missus.
brianakell
02-26-2013, 15:12
Only 1 year contract, and you have no kids here, sure. But after a year, Id be ready to get out.
Rent somewhere cheaper and commute in.
BART is a good idea.
Get out of city a little, and Ill bet you can find an apartment under 1k if you look.
Call it an extended paid vacation to another part of the world.
Great-Kazoo
02-26-2013, 15:15
No kids. Just the wife and the dogs. Are taxes much higher in CA?
You will pay out the ass (no pun intended ) in SF for everything. It's already been mentioned, regarding public trans, small car, parking etc.
FREEMONT!!! Might as well get a place in the castro district. At least there you can see who's trying to screw you.
The upside is CA is one awesome place to VISIT
Downside it's CA
dwalker460
02-26-2013, 15:21
From something my wife found while trying to convince me to move to CA after she gets her MBA, needless to say, it did not work. This also does not take into account your other costs, like food, fuel or transportation, housing, etc.
Let's say $250K. Single. No dependents. Standard deduction.
Medicare= $250K*1.45%= $3625
Social security= $106800*6.2%=$6622
Federal $250K-$3650-5700=$240650 taxable income= $240650*.33-14858=$64557 (subtract off another $4K or so for being married with a kid)
California State Tax (estimate) $20,227
Total: $95,030 or about 38% of income.
Of note, an additional dollar would be taxed at the rate of 33%+1.4%+9.3%=43.7%
From something my wife found while trying to convince me to move to CA after she gets her MBA, needless to say, it did not work. This also does not take into account your other costs, like food, fuel or transportation, housing, etc.
Looking at those numbers... holy shit! We really are being taxed out of prosperity. So shameful.
I will not put one foot into CA for any price. I hate that place!
San Francisco is probably better in many ways than NYC.
San Francisco is probably better in many ways than NYC.
That's much like saying that syphilis is a better STD than Hepatitis C...
blacklabel
02-26-2013, 16:37
With the way this country is going, I'm not going to be thousands of miles away from my family regardless of the financial benefits.
With the way this country is going, I'm not going to be thousands of miles away from my family regardless of the financial benefits.
Excellent point!
12 month contract @ $100/hr ($208k/year).
It's only 12 months.
You can sure put a hefty dent in your mortgage of the house in Aurora with a 208k salary though.
Not if it's all going to rent and cost of living in CA which in the bay area is extremely high..
I left that place and am never looking back. Even if I took a 50% pay cut to do it.
That said - everyone should live in SFO/Bay Area for a little while. Its a wonderful place if we could just get rid of all the politicians.
Aloha_Shooter
02-26-2013, 17:41
They would have to pay me enough to
1) rent a 2000 sq ft apartment or townhouse near BART and amenities
2) GTFO of state every weekend
3) rent an alarmed climate controlled storage room for all the toys I can't take into CA
4) pay for the 500-600 rounds of .45 or 9mm I'd have to shoot every weekend to calm myself from having to live in SFO
5) buy me the BMW hybrid so I can fit in with all the effed-up metrosexual arsewipes living in SFO
6) pay all the increased taxes on the above
... and probably double that total just to help me get over the repressed anger of having to live in the same state as Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, Gavin Newsom and Governor Moonbeam.
In other words, too effing much to even consider.
wARmachine15
02-26-2013, 17:44
I'd do it. CA is a great place to visit.
Teufelhund
02-26-2013, 18:24
I left that place and am never looking back. Even if I took a 50% pay cut to do it.
That said - everyone should live in SFO/Bay Area for a little while. Its a wonderful place if we could just get rid of all the politicians.
I'm thinking every place would be wonderful if we could just get rid of all the politicians.
Well.. some people loves it there.
One of the guy I know got ONLY 33% raise to goto San Jose area.
He did, and he is very happy with it.
He rented out his townhome, and rented a 3bdrm there. His rent is about 2500/mo.
AS for me, I would NOT go there unless I have Marissa Mayer's job.
5) buy me the BMW hybrid so I can fit in with all the effed-up metrosexual arsewipes living in SFO
At least go with some style...
http://www.teslamotors.com/sites/default/files/model-s-signature-red_1024x768_e.jpg
Aloha_Shooter
02-26-2013, 19:52
I would NOT go there unless I have Marissa Mayer's job.
I wouldn't want her job but I could almost be tempted to go if I got Marissa Mayer as part of the deal ....
I wouldn't want her job but I could almost be tempted to go if I got Marissa Mayer as part of the deal ....
What If it was,
"I would NOT go there unless I have Meg Whitman's job."
Would you have said the same? :D
No amount of money. I moved to CO in August 2011 from NJ. Now CO is looking more like NJ. I'll never go back to living in a "progressive" state. I'm in CO at least 8 more years until my kids are out of college. After that, who knows.
Mike
If you leave let me know cause I'm looking to rent a place near denver :)
Aloha_Shooter
02-26-2013, 22:36
What If it was,
"I would NOT go there unless I have Meg Whitman's job."
Would you have said the same? :D
I could still ALMOST be tempted if I got Marissa Mayer as part of the deal ...
Zundfolge
02-26-2013, 22:45
I would be willing to take a job in San Francisco only if it payed enough that I could fly between work in Frisco and my new home in Sedona or Flagstaff in my own private jet.
hollohas
02-26-2013, 22:49
I took a deal just like that. Spent 2 years (2005-2006) living and working in the Bay Area. However, I chose not to live in the city itself. I lived in Pacifica. Could see the beach from a two bedroom townhome for around $1200/ month. Not cheep by any means but a lot better living than what you get for that price in SF. Small town feel. Plus, the commute (drive) into SF only took me 20 minutes as opposed to living in the East Bay or South Bay where you have to deal with nasty rush hour traffic.
You will pay nasty taxes there though. Hell, when I moved there they taxed me on my new car purchase price even though I purchased it and paid taxes on it in Colorado as a CO resident. They made me pay the difference between what I paid in CO and what CA would tax before they would let me register it.
hollohas
02-26-2013, 22:52
Also, if you move there the best place I found to shoot was Sunnyvale Rod and Gun Club. I was a member there the entire time I lived in the bay area and I wouldn't have lasted as long as I did without having trigger time every Sat at that club.
http://www.sunnyvalegunclub.com/
Ironic timing. This morning I turned down an internal job offer. Accepting the offer would require me to relocate to within 50 miles of Los Angeles. It was a 30% raise and I'm not going to lie, it was very tempting but when I did the math even with a 30% pay raise it would have resulted in a pay cut with increased taxes, house prices, gas prices, etc.
For those not in the know. California state income tax is 11%, sales tax is almost 10% and $500K gets you a 3 bedroom 2 bath 1100 sqft house that's been out dated since 1980.
I have family that sold a large house and several acres outside Amarillo and used it to buy a decent sized house but a lot less land north of LA.
Also, if this is a contract job and you will be on a 1099 California has some pretty crazy taxes for businesses like a business use tax that must be paid on any equipment you own that is used for business, you'll have to pay your own workmans comp which is insane in California and there are a whole bunch of other things you'll need to consider.
That 208K will quickly turn into the equivalent of an 80k job once you do all of the math.
Byte Stryke
02-27-2013, 05:09
one thing I have gotten from this thread...
I do not make enough fu**ing money
[Rant2]
I have worked contracts in California 4 times and the money is nice. if I were going to work in SF I would look at an apartment in Santa Clara/San Jose and take the light rail in.
FYI the income taxes are higher than Co.
tom
ghettoblaster
02-27-2013, 08:09
one thing I have gotten from this thread...
I do not make enough fu**ing money
[Rant2]
Glad I'm not the only one who thought that! I make enough to support my family of four, but DAMN. $200k/yr would be nice. But then, it's what you KEEP, not what you MAKE. I get the impression $200k in CA is about what it takes to make you as comfortable as I am here.
Madeinhb
02-27-2013, 08:17
At least go with some style...
http://www.teslamotors.com/sites/default/files/model-s-signature-red_1024x768_e.jpg
Hell yea. Tesla's are sweet.
Madeinhb
02-27-2013, 08:19
Having moved from the LA area to CO, as nice as the weather and beaches are, financially it makes no sense to move back. It's very expensive in CA and will get worse. 2011 and 2012 were the first years where more people left CA than moved in.
I work in Boulder so it would not be that big of a change in general public display of dumbassness, but the taxes, crime, general cost of living are so high that you might as well get a 100k job and move to five points.
ghettodub
02-27-2013, 09:02
Yeah, I just wouldn't do it, especially for a contract. Contract money is nice, and I miss it from my contracting days, but I would need a bit more of guaranteed work, plus moving somewhere that I couldn't bring all my guns, or get a CCW easily, is out of the question.
hollohas
02-27-2013, 10:24
Hell yea. Tesla's are sweet.
Off topic...[offtopic]
They may look nice but they have a terrible engineering flaw.
http://www.examiner.com/article/it-s-a-brick-tesla-s-batteries-under-question
A Tesla Roadster (http://www.examiner.com/topic/roadster) that is simply parked without being plugged in will eventually become a ‘brick (http://www.examiner.com/topic/brick)'. The parasitic load from the car’s always-on subsystems continually drains the battery and if the battery’s charge is ever totally depleted, it is essentially destroyed.”...
...When the $100,000 Roadster was towed to a Tesla service center a technician informed him his car was a “brick” and the battery would have to be replaced at a cost of $40,000 – far more expensive than any battery sold at Midas.
This has happened to dozens and dozens of owners...to some while their car was simply parked at the airport for a couple days.
dwalker460
02-27-2013, 11:03
Thats not an engineering flaw, its an engineering REALITY. We do not have the battery technology to properly power electric vehicles, no matter how many millions the .gov spends trying to make us think they do. Besides, I am really not into purchasing anything froma company who defrauded the US taxpayer so blatantly and repeatedly.
ChunkyMonkey
02-27-2013, 11:07
Why not, libs spreads like cancer... Now you have to be the skipper of fantastic voyage.
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