Salaries Generally Less in NC

[berryjuice4life]

Originally Posted by liveInNC

I work in IT and make 5K less per year than in SoCal. My car insurance is less than half here (with two brand new cars, and one older car vs two older cars) and that saves me more than $1,000 right there. Where I live, my monthy electic bill is 175/mo whereas it was 290/mo in SoCal, and the house here is twice as large, and it has air conditioning (house in So Cal didn't) and our heat and water is electric (it was gas in SoCal). This may not be a really fair comparison tho, since my current house is designed from the ground up to be energy efficient. Gasoline is typically 20-30 cents cheaper. You WILL drive farther, but probably not spend more time driving. My commute in SoCal was about 30-35 mins to 12 miles, my commute here is 30-35 mins, but I go about 25miles. For most people this would result in a small gas savings since highway mileage is usally better than city driving. For me it's probably opposite since I'm a gadget freak and bought a Prius.


However, the biggest factor in your decision SHOULD NOT BE FINANCIAL. Are you are looking to assimilate into a slower paced friendlier lifestyle? Or do you want to live the same lifestyle you have now but just make more money? Your decision needs to be driven on what kind of life you want to live, not on how much more money you can make.

Question for you, We live in NJ and my husband is in IT and Operations any recruiters u can reccomend? Im just hoping we can live in NC on some of these salaries...WE are looking charlotte area, Union County...and are really all this can come to forwishen.....

Thanks

[JamesT]

Originally Posted by liveInNC

I work in IT and make 5K less per year than in SoCal. My car insurance is less than half here (with two brand new cars, and one older car vs two older cars) and that saves me more than $1,000 right there. Where I live, my monthy electic bill is 175/mo whereas it was 290/mo in SoCal, and the house here is twice as large, and it has air conditioning (house in So Cal didn't) and our heat and water is electric (it was gas in SoCal). This may not be a really fair comparison tho, since my current house is designed from the ground up to be energy efficient. Gasoline is typically 20-30 cents cheaper. You WILL drive farther, but probably not spend more time driving. My commute in SoCal was about 30-35 mins to 12 miles, my commute here is 30-35 mins, but I go about 25miles. For most people this would result in a small gas savings since highway mileage is usally better than city driving. For me it's probably opposite since I'm a gadget freak and bought a Prius.


However, the biggest factor in your decision SHOULD NOT BE FINANCIAL. Are you are looking to assimilate into a slower paced friendlier lifestyle? Or do you want to live the same lifestyle you have now but just make more money? Your decision needs to be driven on what kind of life you want to live, not on how much more money you can make.

We started out completely focused on a life style change but also want to make sure we are not making a huge mistake financially. Life is definitely more important than money, thanks for keeping me focused!

[Trail Majic]

Originally Posted by JamesT

Thanks for the feedback. We are coming from Orange County and looking in the Western North Carolina Region. We are trying to get all the information we can about economics, knowing that we will not truly know intangible's like what it is like to actually live there until we move. We have made a couple of trips and like the people and landscape. The "differences" we have seen from California are refreshing. Once again comments of any kind are helpful.
James

JT as a friend Iwant to tell you,NC is a haven for the strong and a graveyard for the week and deadbeats.A man with guts,vigor and backbone can become wealthy in 5 to 7 yrs anything less will starve to death in less than 2 years.figure of speach:the strong will survive easy.

[silverwing]

Originally Posted by NJmomof2

Im just hoping we can live in NC on some of these salaries...WE are looking charlotte area, Union County...and are really all this can come to forwishen.....
Thanks

We've lived here almost 20 years, both working IT/Operations. Don't ask about recruiters; we've been settled in our jobs so long as to be out of the loop. And neither of our workplaces are hiring, either. Over these past couple of decades, our salaries have grown on merit and to match what other companies are paying. With outsourcing and the use of contract employees, the IT industry isn't at HOT as it once was, IMO. In comparison to other states, IT pays less here, but you can make it go farther, as other posters have noted. We certainly will never be able to buy the "350-400K" houses that some so airily express a desire for, but we are comfortable enough (being DINKS probably helps as well). It all depends on your goals for a style of living, versus what you'll be paid down here.

[berryjuice4life]

Originally Posted by silverwing

We've lived here almost 20 years, both working IT/Operations. Don't ask about recruiters; we've been settled in our jobs so long as to be out of the loop. And neither of our workplaces are hiring, either. Over these past couple of decades, our salaries have grown on merit and to match what other companies are paying. With outsourcing and the use of contract employees, the IT industry isn't at HOT as it once was, IMO. In comparison to other states, IT pays less here, but you can make it go farther, as other posters have noted. We certainly will never be able to buy the "350-400K" houses that some so airily express a desire for, but we are comfortable enough (being DINKS probably helps as well). It all depends on your goals for a style of living, versus what you'll be paid down here.

thank you my husband has a phone interview and from what we have seen honestly my husband isnt taking a huge paycut, we were pleasantly surprised and it seems that we could get by alot better than here......considering my expenses will be cut in half and most of all I dont have to hear who has what and who doesnt have what, and how big your house is and etc....I look forward to a new chapter in our life and meeting new people.....

[mm34b]

Generally speaking, North Carolina is pretty much average when it comes to per capita income, compared to the other 50 states. You could do a lot better in some other states, but you could also do a lot worse than North Carolina.

[katie]

Good question for everyone to ask before moving. I went to Sperlings Best Places to live and it killed my family financially. I took a huge drop in pay and 9 months later I am in a hole. Love the South, love the people but the cost of living in Cary, NC is much higher than Western MA.

[citydweller]

I am just curious, not being in the area, but is real estate more in Cary than surrounding areas?

[ruan]

I am trying to get some healthcare related IT jobs in the NC side/charlotte.Can sombody help me. I am really sick of being in michigan and the winter blast.

[berryjuice4life]

Originally Posted by ruan

I am trying to get some healthcare related IT jobs in the NC side/charlotte.Can sombody help me. I am really sick of being in michigan and the winter blast.

From what some recruiters told my husband Raliegh/Durham is big for medical and pharmisuitical's and research...alot of companies there..Sorry my spelling has alot to be desired tonight..lol....good luck to all