Please help me make the urgently right job choice! (2015, apartment)

[4decision]

I'm an EE with many years of experience in semiconductors and also at system level in the Silicon Valley. I've moved to Houston a few months ago, paid off a nice house and fortunately HP offered me a job with $84K yearly salary and 10% bonus, at the same time a very profitable test equipment maker in the Silicon Valley gave me 31% higher with same bonus plan but paid out every six months, $3K for relocation assistance and possibly reimbursed car shipping cost. At this point I don't know which job offer is better. I know take home income for both is about the same (10% California state tax) without the extra income from renting out the house, and if I rent a decent apartment in the Bay area (less personal comfort than own bigger house). Some said to stay in Houston due to already settled (no labor and time to repack), family, close commute to HP with more than one traffic route, much better personal living ( big house paid off with only property tax, insurance and low hoa). Others said to move back to Cali due to best weather, more fun for single people, friends to hang out with, more jobs in case.

Which job would be best for me for many years ahead?

[Isebiel]

This is kind of a big decision to ask a web forum, I'm sure you realize...

But, in any case, you'll have to say more about yourself and what you like to give us something to go on.

[mayorhaggar]

You already lived out here so you'd be able to compare, it depends on whether you really want to live here compared with there. I don't think we can really make that decision for you.

[OakAve2OakLand]

Originally Posted by 4decision

I'm an EE with many years of experience in semiconductors and also at system level in the Silicon Valley. I've moved to Houston a few months ago, paid off a nice house and fortunately HP offered me a job with $84K yearly salary and 10% bonus, at the same time a very profitable test equipment maker in the Silicon Valley gave me 31% higher with same bonus plan but paid out every six months, $3K for relocation assistance and possibly reimbursed car shipping cost. At this point I don't know which job offer is better. I know take home income for both is about the same (10% California state tax) without the extra income from renting out the house, and if I rent a decent apartment in the Bay area (less personal comfort than own bigger house). Some said to stay in Houston due to already settled (no labor and time to repack), family, close commute to HP with more than one traffic route, much better personal living ( big house paid off with only property tax, insurance and low hoa). Others said to move back to Cali due to best weather, more fun for single people, friends to hang out with, more jobs in case.

Which job would be best for me for many years ahead?

Is it just me, or does this post sound like one those damn word problems from high school math class? ("2 trains approach each other in opposite directions. The 1st train leaves the station at 12:30p and travels at an average speed of 65mph, while the 2nd train...")

Anyway, to the OP...yeah we can't really crunch your numbers for you, but my hunch is you'll do fine financially in either scenario, considering your earning capacity and your apparent financial discpline to pay off your house in Houston. That said, as I'm sure you're aware, there is a HUGE difference between owning a house in Houston and owning a house in SV (as in multiply by 3x or 4x for the latter).

It sounds like you're already aware that, even with the 31% higher salary with the SV job, your disposable income will be roughly the same once you factor in higher CA income tax and higher COL.

So...I would say it comes down to your lifestyle preference. If you've experienced both places, which area did you prefer living in? The Bay Area and Houston lifestyles are quite different, so it shouldn't be tough to be more drawn to one over the other.

With the numbers roughly a wash, I'd say go with the other factors (only you would know which of those are the most important) to make your decision. The current and future job market in each locale for engineers with your experience could be another determining factor.

[4decision]

Originally Posted by OakAve2OakLand

Is it just me, or does this post sound like one those damn word problems from high school math class? ("2 trains approach each other in opposite directions. The 1st train leaves the station at 12:30p and travels at an average speed of 65mph, while the 2nd train...")

Anyway, to the OP...yeah we can't really crunch your numbers for you, but my hunch is you'll do fine financially in either scenario, considering your earning capacity and your apparent financial discpline to pay off your house in Houston. That said, as I'm sure you're aware, there is a HUGE difference between owning a house in Houston and owning a house in SV (as in multiply by 3x or 4x for the latter).

It sounds like you're already aware that, even with the 31% higher salary with the SV job, your disposable income will be roughly the same once you factor in higher CA income tax and higher COL.

So...I would say it comes down to your lifestyle preference. If you've experienced both places, which area did you prefer living in? The Bay Area and Houston lifestyles are quite different, so it shouldn't be tough to be more drawn to one over the other.

With the numbers roughly a wash, I'd say go with the other factors (only you would know which of those are the most important) to make your decision. The current and future job market in each locale for engineers with your experience could be another determining factor.

THANK you for a sound detailed feedback! I was cracking up at your funny comparison to an old hs math prob. Anyway the actual savings number come out about the same. You right about coming down to personal lifestyles and if I can put up with living in an old smaller studio in the Bay to really save more money and working for a more profitable company. I have family and relatives in Houston and the paid off house which are the real deal breakers. I might be stupid to go back to Cali just to downgrade own personal living standard in order to save more money.

[4decision]

Originally Posted by Isebiel

This is kind of a big decision to ask a web forum, I'm sure you realize...

But, in any case, you'll have to say more about yourself and what you like to give us something to go on.

Yes I realize. Basically if I can AGAIN accept the real life fact, which I had been through before in the same Silicon valley, that own personal living standard is downgraded significantly from living in a house in Houston to an old small studio there, then the additional big saving is much more worthy of moving there. Otherwise it is not worth the same trouble of moving back to live in a decent apt (still a downgrade) like $1600 month for the same take home income.