How is this Salary? (Denver, Center: 2013, apartment, condo)

[EndersDrift]

I'm in Orlando but unemployed and applying to a lot of jobs.

Recently a job has popped up that I should qualify for and they're hiring in Philly, Orlando, and Denver.

Philly is offering $41,382
Orlando is offering $38,789
Denver is offering $41,630

This is a government job (starting at the GS-5 level) so I'd get full benefits which makes the Salary worth a bit more. I've already put an application in for Orlando and Philly but am a little hesitant for Denver.

I have many questions but for now basically need to know for a young single professional will $41,630 be enough so that I can have my own apartment or condo and be able to save. Will I need a car or public transit and bicycle will work? (I just returned to the country and don't presently have a car, trying to wait until I secure a job before making a large purchase like that) If I do need a car how bad is gas costs there on average and are any of the stations switching over to alternative fuels?

[bhcompy]

I imagine it will be a lot more affordable than Philly at the same salary. Orlando I'm not so sure(ignorant of the costs associated with Orlando).

Denver should probably work, and depending on where you job is you can definitely get by without a car for the time being, but that's a big if.

As far as fuel, I do recall seeing stations with E85 fuel in Denver, which is cheaper than regular fuel, but less efficient and has the downside of eating up farmland that could be used for food rather than government subsidized corn despite it's "renewable" nature.

[shawn17]

well, good luck

[davidv]

The transportation depends where the job is at. If the job is downtown or Denver Tech Center/Inverness (all areas where there are large numbers of Fed. Gov't jobs), then you could ride the light rail to work. Light Rail to the Federal Center (largest concentration of gov't jobs) is not running yet, but will be in early 2013.

Where your job is will greatly affect cost of living, but you can easily live on 41k a year in Denver, especially if you are single. There are nice areas near each of these places.

[Mike from back east]

Apply for all 3 and hope you get one of them.

In order of priority, I'd go with Orlando, Denver, Philly.

[EndersDrift]

Well ended up applying for all 3 since its due in today. Realized I should apply but still interested in the answer in the event I get called in which I really do think I will. I get Non Competitive Eligibility at the moment so my name should be at the top of the list.

Sounds like Denver will work based on that salary from an initial stand point. I'll have to ask more questions if I get it.

I'm just concerned with some jobs like in DC there's a job I could apply for that pays the same 40k but I know DC is extremely expensive so that might not be enough to have my own place and be able to put money into savings/mutuals. Sounds like Denver won't have that problem.

[maciesmom]

Wow....when I started out as a GS-5 I made $14K! LOL I guess that dates me

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by EndersDrift

Well ended up applying for all 3 since its due in today. Realized I should apply but still interested in the answer in the event I get called in which I really do think I will. I get Non Competitive Eligibility at the moment so my name should be at the top of the list.

Sounds like Denver will work based on that salary from an initial stand point. I'll have to ask more questions if I get it.

I'm just concerned with some jobs like in DC there's a job I could apply for that pays the same 40k but I know DC is extremely expensive so that might not be enough to have my own place and be able to put money into savings/mutuals. Sounds like Denver won't have that problem.

True, but DC is where most HQ jobs are and where you have a chance to rise up the ladder over the years. I started as a GS-7 in the Transportation field in 1972 at $9300/year and retired as a GS-14 in 2003 at $95k/year. Never got rich, but at least I got comfortable over the years and now have a decent retirement with health care. All of this looks real good right now but for a long time the grass seemed a lot greener in the private sector around Washington. The Army was good to me.

[BarryK123]

I moved to Denver from the Phila area last year. Prices are fairly comparable. I haven't been in Orlando in years, but it was dirt cheap compared with the other two when I was there.

[EndersDrift]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

True, but DC is where most HQ jobs are and where you have a chance to rise up the ladder over the years. I started as a GS-7 in the Transportation field in 1972 at $9300/year and retired as a GS-14 in 2003 at $95k/year. Never got rich, but at least I got comfortable over the years and now have a decent retirement with health care. All of this looks real good right now but for a long time the grass seemed a lot greener in the private sector around Washington. The Army was good to me.

Its not a private sector position in D.C. anyways its also Government. Technically I think its considered Foreign Service though the scale is the same when working on US soil. You're right the organization in Denver/Orlando/Philly is HQ in D.C. Metro but if I climb the ladder I could always relocate again. I'm young and would need to get a Master's before I'd be able to climb anyways.