Are there actually enough job.... (Philadelphia, Springfield: apartment, rentals, credit)

[paseeker]

opportunities in the Philly and Burbs market in Accounting, specifically in Accounts Receivable, Credit & Collections??

I've exhausted the internet route and the very few I saw are not paying a livable wage even for the regions rental market prices.

Coming from the Northern NJ/NYC market is there that much of a difference in the amount of opportunities? Payscale? Postings on the internet? Or is it that the Philly market just doesn't have anything to offer me?

I did go through the agency route, but they are more interested in collecting resumes, telling me that they have some positions but again the payscale is quite meek to say the least. Hard to live by the bare neccessities with the payscale that's being offered out there by the employers in the Philly/Burbs market from what I've seen so far.

Am I missing something here or is my search conclusive to the results I've found so far?

Should I look elsewhere? I haven't moved yet from my present location and like so many from my neck of the woods who want to make a change to more affordable rentals/housing verses the pricey area I'm in now.

I'd appreciate some insight positive or negative about my search and lack of seeing opportunities. Thanks!

[enviroman]

Do you have a college degree? Unless you are working for a larger corporation, a job in A/R, credit, or collections is not going to pay very well here. Why? Well, often those jobs are available to people with only a high school diploma (I worked in the corporate office of a large bank while in high school and ~90% of the people in that department did not have a college degree).

I'd keep searching in the city of Philadelphia, not in the Suburbs. Or check out Delaware...there are a lot of banking opportunities in Delaware. However, I'd suspect that many of the jobs in that area pay (on the high-end) roughly $12-13/hour...maybe a bit more with a college degree and some work experience.

[paseeker]

Originally Posted by enviroman

Do you have a college degree? Unless you are working for a larger corporation, a job in A/R, credit, or collections is not going to pay very well here. Why? Well, often those jobs are available to people with only a high school diploma (I worked in the corporate office of a large bank while in high school and ~90% of the people in that department did not have a college degree).

I'd keep searching in the city of Philadelphia, not in the Suburbs. Or check out Delaware...there are a lot of banking opportunities in Delaware. However, I'd suspect that many of the jobs in that area pay (on the high-end) roughly $12-13/hour...maybe a bit more with a college degree and some work experience.

Thanks for your response.

I don't have a college degree and in my current locale (the Northern NJ/NYC market) I can easily get between $35 - $45/k year and I do have extensive experience in my field. I might be stuck up here.

What you've stated about hourly pay is what I've found so far with or without that College Degree as I've seen it really doesn't matter. I also found through research that the Philly area employers compensate alot less than many other areas. I wonder why though. I can make more in the Carolinas (which I'm not interested in going) than in the Philly market. I thought that maybe I was missing something but with what you told me that I'm probably correct with what I've found out at this point.

[enviroman]

Originally Posted by paseeker

Thanks for your response.

I don't have a college degree and in my current locale (the Northern NJ/NYC market) I can easily get between $35 - $45/k year and I do have extensive experience in my field. I might be stuck up here.

What you've stated about hourly pay is what I've found so far with or without that College Degree as I've seen it really doesn't matter. I also found through research that the Philly area employers compensate alot less than many other areas. I wonder why though. I can make more in the Carolinas (which I'm not interested in going) than in the Philly market. I thought that maybe I was missing something but with what you told me that I'm probably correct with what I've found out at this point.

Well, there's a glut of people in this area that can fill that sort of job, I think. I'm not shocked that you can make $35-45k in the NYC area in A/R, but the cost of living is so much higher there. I have to figure that $35k in NYC will get you the same as $20-25k will get you in the Philly burbs...so, I can't think the change would be too drastic for you. A $1,100/month apartment in the NYC/NJ area will run you $600-700/month here in the burbs.

[paseeker]

Originally Posted by enviroman

Well, there's a glut of people in this area that can fill that sort of job, I think. I'm not shocked that you can make $35-45k in the NYC area in A/R, but the cost of living is so much higher there. I have to figure that $35k in NYC will get you the same as $20-25k will get you in the Philly burbs...so, I can't think the change would be too drastic for you. A $1,100/month apartment in the NYC/NJ area will run you $600-700/month here in the burbs.

I should have been a bit more specific. I can get between $29,500 to about $32,000/year or so in the philly market, but the $12-$13/hour is for temporary work via an agency and if it goes perm it's the salary I just stated - Sorry about my mistake.

I guess it's all relative then and not all that bad as I thought it was. Still doesn't explain the lack of listings posted in the Philly market for those type positions. They are up here and there's more people applying for them being the much heavier population verses the philly market.

What would make me NOT want to live/work in Philadelphia or Philadelphia County would be that City wage tax, that's why I look in the burbs.

You mentioned about the $600-$700 rents - I might be pressing my luck in asking this, but do you know wherebaouts that would be and in a safe area with public transportation access? - albeit I do drive also.

[loose cannon]

Jobs dont pay around here. Employers have the audacity to advertise for degreed applicants and offer $10 an hr. It's insulting.

[enviroman]

Originally Posted by paseeker

I should have been a bit more specific. I can get between $29,500 to about $32,000/year or so in the philly market, but the $12-$13/hour is for temporary work via an agency and if it goes perm it's the salary I just stated - Sorry about my mistake.

I guess it's all relative then and not all that bad as I thought it was. Still doesn't explain the lack of listings posted in the Philly market for those type positions. They are up here and there's more people applying for them being the much heavier population verses the philly market.

What would make me NOT want to live/work in Philadelphia or Philadelphia County would be that City wage tax, that's why I look in the burbs.

You mentioned about the $600-$700 rents - I might be pressing my luck in asking this, but do you know wherebaouts that would be and in a safe area with public transportation access? - albeit I do drive also.

30k per year isn't bad for this area. You'll find 600-700 in rent for most parts of Delaware County. To plagiarize myself from another thread:

Good towns: Prospect Park, Norwood, Glenolden, Ridley Park, Folsom, Secane, Rutledge, and Springfield

Not so good: Folcroft, Woodlyn, Crum Lynne, Eddystone, Tinicum, Clifton Heights (ok in parts), Sharon Hill.

All of the towns listed as "good" will have rents in the $600-700 range (for the most part). They are all clean, safe suburbs with very easy access to public transportation.

I'm not sure where you are looking for jobs, but check all of the major job websites and the Philly Inquirer (Philly's major newspaper).

I wouldn't say Philadelphia pays "poorly" in general. I get a very competitive wage for my job.

[nowaytoknowyet]

loose cannon - I like that name!

I was once looking to relocate to PA and it's exactly why I'm not.

For most job fields, those employers are SOOOOOOOOOO cheap that it's not funny plus there aren't many openings at one particular time which would make me very uneasy if I was to try to secure work after being laid off from my prior job or position.

paseeker was correct in his/her search pertaining to lack of listings and livable pay.

[nowaytoknowyet]

enviroman - If you don't mind me asking, what kind of work do you do?

Just trying to figure out if it's the field of work that you're in that actually pays competitively as you mentioned that's all

[enviroman]

Originally Posted by nowaytoknowyet

enviroman - If you don't mind me asking, what kind of work do you do?

Just trying to figure out if it's the field of work that you're in that actually pays competitively as you mentioned that's all

I work in corporate environmental compliance. basically, I ensure that my business' practices are within the letter of EPA law.