Best Work (Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa: relocate, budget, vacation)

[SummerBabe]

Hi everyone!

I am a single woman in her early 40s who currently resides in NY City. I have been comtemplating moving to Florida for what seems "forever"!

I dislike the Winter season, and quite frankly it depresses me to no end. Since I visited Florida back in my early 20s I have always dreamed of moving to the Sunshine State. The weather, palm trees and just the overall esthetics is very good for me.

My dilemma is that I make a very good living in NY, and I have heard that the jobs in Florida are no where compatible. I am contemplating the So Florida area, although I have yet to pinpoint an exact location where I would like to move to. At this point, I am flexible, but I want to move to an area in the South where the payscale is best.

Obviously, I want a safe community, but not far from where I can go for some evening entertainment/the beach. Any information that you can share I would greatly appreciate it.

In a nutshell, I am seeking some advice from you all on better payscale i.e. South Florida vs. Central Florida. I plan to read other threads on the subject matter as well. There seems to be many in my position.

Have a great week!

P.S. I made a typo on thread title - sorry! I am seeking best employment areas. My first post, and I am not too familiar with the site. :-(

[Racelady88]

What type of work do you do?

[SummerBabe]

Originally Posted by Evey

What type of work do you do?

I work for a hedge fund co as an Office Mgr/Asst to the COO.

[floridasandy]

there are a lot of affordable areas of florida. why don't you apply for a job over the internet so you have a job waiting? that way you would know your salary and budget.

[Lilybeans]

It seems to me if you are looking for the highest pay, you are looking at Miami. Salaries here are nothing like NYC though.

[SummerBabe]

Originally Posted by floridasandy

there are a lot of affordable areas of florida. why don't you apply for a job over the internet so you have a job waiting? that way you would know your salary and budget.

Oh, when I plan to relocate I will definitely do so once I secure a job.

Thank you for your advice!

[SummerBabe]

Originally Posted by Lilybeans

It seems to me if you are looking for the highest pay, you are looking at Miami. Salaries here are nothing like NYC though.

I am seeking an area where the payscale is "decent", as I want to go to Florida for a better quality of life. I have been made aware by EVERYONE that they payscale is nothing like here, but I would not mind giving that up for some SUN! Neverless, I don't want to struggle trying to make ends meet, etc...either.

I have some more research and homework to do. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

Again, thanks for your advice!

[JohnVosilla]

Originally Posted by SummerBabe

I am seeking an area where the payscale is "decent", as I want to go to Florida for a better quality of life. I have been made aware by EVERYONE that they payscale is nothing like here, but I would not mind giving that up for some SUN! Neverless, I don't want to struggle trying to make ends meet, etc...either.

I have some more research and homework to do. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

Again, thanks for your advice!

Is finding that job the most important factor for you? Some real nice safe areas with many wealth managers nearby would include Sarasota, Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens, Naples, Ft Lauderdale, Winter Park, Clearwater/Tampa. Obviously you'll also find opportunities in the Jacksonville (overlooked by many because it has a little bit of winter and looks like a northern city) and Miami areas(hard to make a go of it outside of NE Dade unless you are bilingual)

[SummerBabe]

Originally Posted by JohnVosilla

Is finding that job the most important factor for you? Some real nice safe areas with many wealth managers nearby would include Sarasota, Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens, Naples, Ft Lauderdale, Winter Park, Clearwater/Tampa. Obviously you'll also find opportunities in the Jacksonville (overlooked by many because it has a little bit of winter and looks like a northern city) and Miami areas(hard to make a go of it outside of NE Dade unless you are bilingual)

Finding a well-paying job is of high priority on my list, as that is how one "survives". Secondly, is where I choose to reside.

I am opting for Boca, Palm Beach Gardens, Ft Lauderdale area vs. Jax, Tampa, and Naples. Seems there is more to do in terms of nightlife, etc...not that I am a party animal, but I want the option close by should I desire a night on the town. Also, it seems the job market is better in those areas. Miami does not really appeal to me in terms of living. Seems too superficial for my taste - with all due respects to any from that area. I am bilingual, so I hope that is an plus!

Thank you very much!

[Magnulus]

Don't move. You will be disappointed. The pay in Florida is very poor and you have no rights as a worker. You will be treated like dirt because there are 1000 other applicants who could just as soon take your job. Employers get away with alot.

Florida summer's are not particularly sunny. Mostly they are cloudy, intensely hot, and it rains heavily (calling it a monsoon would not be overstating it. In the winter we get more sun and less rain or clouds. The politics is byzantine and very much "southern", nobody wants to spend a dime to improve infrastructure here, and above all developers and businesses control everything. The schools are just average, and crime makes New York City look safe.

My advice: come here on a vacation and forget about living here.