Seattle to Las Cruces (Los Alamos, Alamo: salary, jobs, home)

[Iceberg]

I was hoping I could get some kind of feedback as to what the job market is like in Las Cruces in the contruction industry. I currently work for a residential builder in the Seattle area as a construction estimator and would like to do something similar in Las Cruces. I have a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and would like to work for a reputable company that would benefit from my work experience and education. Seattle has become just too expensive and crowded and I would like to experience something entirely different. I love the idea of living in a smaller community with more the 3 months of nice weather a year. The dark and gloomy days have finally gotten to me.

I am somewhat familiar with New Mexico. My mother was raised in Los Alamos (grandfather and uncle worked for Lab) and my wife attended graduate school at NMSU and has always wanted to move back. I had the opportunity to visit Las Cruces 3 times back in 2000 & 2001 but did not really check the area out as far as employment goes. Any insight would be appreciated.

Thank you

[Zoidberg]

I imagine roof style and HVAC could not be more different between the two places. Seattle needs heat, Las Cruces needs cool. Being in the border region also increases the likelihood that skilled Mexicans will compete for the position, thus lowering your salary. Many of your customers and most of the labor you need will not speak English, so make sure you're boned up on your Spanish.

Unemployment in Doña Ana county is the lowest it's been (I think) ever, so coupled with a higher state minimum wage, the booming construction industry in the area, and the influx of out-of-staters related to the spaceport and new border crossing, might not be such a bad call.

[designer]

You might do just fine in LC but I'm pretty sure the wages won't match
what you are probably making in salary in Seattle. I don't think you will
have to worry much about the mexican competition if you are a degreed
estimator. Most of them didn't finish high school or whatever they have
down there. LC is hot in the summer and yes it is dry but hot. I worked
in Architecture in Phoenix for years and LC is not as hot as Phoenix but much
hotter than Seattle. LC is a pretty nice town but I don't think it is as yupee
as Seattle. Probably most of the money is from the retirees but that shouldn't be a problem for what you want to do. I think Las Cruces is a nice
town but it is not as cosmo as where you now live so you probably need to
consider that. I hear a lot of Californians saying how backwards it is compared to where they came from. I think Las Cruces needs more high
tech jobs like Phoenix, Atlanta and other thriving economies and it may be
coming with the spaceport. Many people that I meet don't put much stock
in the Spaceport creating a lot of high paying jobs but they could be wrong.

Good luck

[ibarrio]

Las Cruces in very nice..the only issue will be the job and most likely pay cut. You have to decide if the change in lifestyle is worth it.

I'm from Las Cruces and landed in Palmdale, California after I graduated from NMSU. Palmdale was nice for a while but it has become what the rest of Los Angeles is.

So we are moving half way back home... to Surprise, AZ (Phoenix Area). The only reason we didn't move back to Las Cruces was the pay.

Good luck with your job search. If you really want to return to Las Cruces you can always work in El Paso and commute home to Las Cruces.