Anyone know how public service jobs pay in the bay area? (San Jose: apartment, homes)

[PrincessoftheCape]

So, I'll be completing a second master's degree in about 9 months from now, this time in library science. I went out of my way to pick a California (and, specifically, Bay Area) university in San Jose State when I was originally selecting schools because I suspected at one point that I might want to live in that part of the country (yes, it isn't a big-name school, but coming from someone with three family members in the library field, I can say without reservation that most people in the business couldn't care less where you got your MLS).

One constant at city-data is people proclaiming that parts of the country are simply impossible to relocate to due to cost of living - that unless you own property in the region from decades ago, you're toast. However, I'm rather of the opinion that this is silliness - somehow, people manage to populate these locales, and certainly not all of them are the generous beneficiaries of free homes.

I was wondering if anyone could speak to how well Bay Area (and I'm talking about in the loosest sense of the term - an arc encompassing Gilroy, Dublin, Petaluma and Fairfield) government/public state and town jobs pay, and if you can live "comfortably" (decent apartment or small house) on one of these positions? Specific locations don't matter because I have no idea where I'll find work this far out, and have no accompanying baggage like children to search out schools etc. for.

[mysticaltyger]

As a non-master degreed library staff member, I'd say these positions generally pay among the highest compared to other parts of the country. The benefits are generally excellent if you work full time. But there is still quite a bit of variance from one municipality to another in terms of pay and benefits.


Whether they pay "enough" is somewhat subjective. I would say yes, but you're talking studio apartment, not a 1BR if you actually want to have savings, etc. But even then, it depends. If it's in San Francisco, you probably can't even afford a studio. If it's in Gilroy, the pay to cost of living ratio is much better. I know Santa Clara County pays pretty well and has good benefits and is more financially stable than say, the City of San Jose, where I work.

[PrincessoftheCape]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

As a non-master degreed library staff member, I'd say these positions generally pay among the highest compared to other parts of the country. The benefits are generally excellent if you work full time. But there is still quite a bit of variance from one municipality to another in terms of pay and benefits.


Whether they pay "enough" is somewhat subjective. I would say yes, but you're talking studio apartment, not a 1BR if you actually want to have savings, etc. But even then, it depends. If it's in San Francisco, you probably can't even afford a studio. If it's in Gilroy, the pay to cost of living ratio is much better. I know Santa Clara County pays pretty well and has good benefits and is more financially stable than say, the City of San Jose, where I work.

Thanks for the info! No, I would never be living in any of the three major cities - I'm not that kind of person. It'll be the fringes if I can even swing that and, if not, somewhere in the Central Valley.

[Perma Bear]

Originally Posted by PrincessoftheCape

Thanks for the info! No, I would never be living in any of the three major cities - I'm not that kind of person. It'll be the fringes if I can even swing that and, if not, somewhere in the Central Valley.

The Central Valley will provide you a higher quality of life than the Bay Area can.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Perma Bear

The Central Valley will provide you a higher quality of life than the Bay Area can.

How? For much of it there's no there there. It may be cheaper but that's about it.

[Perma Bear]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

How? For much of it there's no there there. It may be cheaper but that's about it.

Your capital goes farther which allows to you to eat better, travel more, have a larger home on a larger lot, pay for private school for your kids, own better cars, and retire earlier.

[PrincessoftheCape]

Originally Posted by Perma Bear

Your capital goes farther which allows to you to eat better, travel more, have a larger home on a larger lot, pay for private school for your kids, own better cars, and retire earlier.

I find that the value of oak-dotted, golden hills and sea breezes/fog may be almost incalculable.

Not that I'm dumping on the central valley - it has an agrarian quality that is pretty in its own way (I really, really thought Davis was nice the last time I was there). But I guess I'm going to swing for the fences when the time comes, and if I just hit a double, so be it.

[Perma Bear]

Originally Posted by PrincessoftheCape

I find that the value of oak-dotted, golden hills and sea breezes/fog to be almost incalculable.

Not that I'm dumping on the central valley - it has an agrarian quality that is pretty in its own way. But I guess I'm going to swing for the fences when the time comes, and if I just hit a double, so be it.

You can visit that fog as much as you want or live in the eureka metropolitan area and get pretty much everything the Bay Area has for 1/5th the price.

[zzzzmore]

Originally Posted by Perma Bear

Your capital goes farther which allows to you to eat better, travel more, have a larger home on a larger lot, pay for private school for your kids, own better cars, and retire earlier.

You would be right except for one large issue - the Central Valley is economically busted. Busted with a capital B.

Busted with a capital BU.

South Carolina, on the other hand, is booming. Times they are a-changing.

[PrincessoftheCape]

Originally Posted by zzzzmore

You would be right except for one large issue - the Central Valley is economically busted. Busted with a capital B.

Busted with a capital BU.

South Carolina, on the other hand, is booming. Times they are a-changing.

Yes, but who wants to live in South Carolina? Certainly I do not. It's not even the best Carolina.