Living on $70k (San Francisco, Nice: credit, home, tech job)

[ffknight918]

I'm going to be testing with the San Francisco Fire Department soon. They start at $70k/year. How easy is it to live on this in San Francisco or somewhere else in the Bay Area?

From what I hear, many say that the COL is too high unless you have some high paying tech job or something. I'm guessing it can't be as bad as some are making it out to be.

I'm ranked 48 of 4000 on Milwaukee FD list and top 100 on the Washington DC list. I should be getting offers from both soon, but wanted to give SFFD a shot since it is a very good department. Milwaukee is a cheaper city, but starting pay is only $36k. DC is about the same as SF, and starting pay is $44k. If people can do it there, I'm guessing $70k shouldn't be too bad in SF. Especially after getting raises. Thanks.

[humboldtrat]

Meet your new fire chief Sfgov.org | San Francisco Fire Department: Chief of Department >> Chief Joanne Hayes-White.

[Jonotastic]

$70 K a year will be fine to support yourself. If you have a family and you are the only person with an income, it will be a lot more difficult, but $70 K will support you and I'm sure you will love working and living in San Francisco. Enjoy!

[sonarrat]

Try $40K. That's my budget for supporting myself and my partner. The better your credit, the easier it is, because you'll get priority for housing and it'll be easier to get financing at favorable rates. Costco is your best friend (there is no Wal-Mart convenient to San Francisco). Do bring your car but only if you know you'll have parking. If you have two or more, sell them until you have one.

[MichaelinWA]

City employees in SF are notorious for overtime. You might actually make more like $200,000.

Originally Posted by ffknight918

I'm going to be testing with the San Francisco Fire Department soon. They start at $70k/year. How easy is it to live on this in San Francisco or somewhere else in the Bay Area?

[ffknight918]

Thanks for the info everyone. Great to hear all of this. I'll be in town Tuesday for the first time ever. I'm more than excited. From what I know about the city, it seems to be the right fit for me.

Michael... Thanks for the tipoff about the OT. haha

[joe stixpuck]

Don't expect to own a home for awhile there, if ever, but you can definitely live off of 70K, and as mentioned you can almost definitely count on OT in working for SF city.

The firefighters and police officers I knew out there made a very nice living. Hope it works out for ya! The Bay Area is a great place to live, if one can afford, and you'll be able to do that with your career for sure.

[lalife]

Don't take the Milwaukee job for that low pay. Plus, risking your life for $40,000+ in DC isn't good either.

The $70,000 in San Fran would seem like the best option. Nice weather there too.

[DMenscha]

SF used to have a residence requirement for firefighters. Does it still apply? We've got quite a few big city FF's that live in our area that make the commute.