Seattle on 60K? (Tacoma, Bellevue, Kent: rental, mortgages, credit)

[starsandmountains]

We are considering moving from Nevada to Seattle. I've heard the salaries are great. My husband is a ACF Certified Sous Chef, I have early childhood educator credentials (CDA, NAC, Montessori Certificication, and 12 ECE credits). What can we expect to earn in Seattle? Will we be able to earn minimum combined $60,000? Is that a good minimum income for Seattle? Where should we look to live/rent to start with two small children?

[gallo]

I’m not sure what the salaries are in your part of Nevada, but in comparison to a lot of California, Chicago, and the east coast, salaries in Seattle are not that great. In fact, Forbes magazine ranked Seattle the most overpriced area in the U.S. last year in their annual study.

With that said, between you and your husband, you should be able to make $60,000. Salary.com puts the average sous chef in Seattle around $40,000-$45,000. As per your credentials I’d guess somewhere in the $25,000-$30,000 range. You will have some bills, mortgages, debt, etc., but you could survive in the area on that.

The census reports for the city of Seattle: the median income for a household in the city was $45,736, and the median income for a family was $62,195. Males had a median income of $40,929 versus $35,134 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,306.

Given you have children I would recommend the eastern suburbs of Seattle (Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Issaquah). They are the nicest, but they are also most expensive.

The census reports for Bellevue: the median income for a household in the city was $62,338, and the median income for a family was $76,868. Males had a median income of $56,456 versus $37,124 for females. The per capita income for the city was $36,905.

[Balco9]

60k in Seattle barely get you by on one income...
Chefs don't really make that much money.
I live in Tacoma with combined salary of 100k
with two children and still struggle to make ends meat....

[starsandmountains]

In our personal experience, a Chef de Cuisine with ACF Sous Chef Certification and 15 years experience earn a minimum 50-60K plus excellent benefits and dining privileges. I inquired about a minimum combined salary of 60K because I think its best to budget on a minimum and then do better than projected. Thank you for your kind comments ad help. Seattle people are nice!

[CityGirl72]

60k - And you want private schools?

Did you need a house? We make 150K and hardly afford a thing

[jdw123]

I lived in the Seattle area for two years (just recently moved away) and made 60K base, 75K after overtime, and I couldn't afford a house. Granted, I could scrape by and get a house in Kent or Renton, but I didnt' want to live there. The nice suburbs are unaffordable, unless you're making about 150K, and then that's probably pushing it. Seattle metro is expensive to live, but the pay isn't any better. For example, I worked for Boeing and the pay scale for Seattle is the same as Huntsville, AL. And new, huge, nice homes are dirt cheap in Huntsville. The only areas you get paid better are New York, DC, and California (and maybe a few others).

Seattle is a great place and I really miss it, but unless you bought a house there 10 years ago or earlier, your out of luck unless you don't mind renting. That just wasn't an option for me anymore.

One of the problems is you get all these peopel from California who sell their WAY overpriced million dollar homes who move to Seattle and say, "Wow. This 500K 1200 sq ft home is CHEAP!". That's why the market keeps up in Seattle. Oh, and people from California can't drive in the rain. Keep that in mind too.

[PBC19]

Originally Posted by starsandmountains

We are considering moving from Nevada to Seattle. I've heard the salaries are great. My husband is a ACF Certified Sous Chef, I have early childhood educator credentials (CDA, NAC, Montessori Certificication, and 12 ECE credits). What can we expect to earn in Seattle? Will we be able to earn minimum combined $60,000? Is that a good minimum income for Seattle? Where should we look to live/rent to start with two small children?

IMO, I wouldn't move. I've lived here for almost 10 years. I am now married, have 2 preschool age children, work nights part time so we don't have to do daycare, barely get any sleep, PLUS my hubby works full time. I have a 4 yr degree and my hubby has a 2 yr degree. We make $85,000 a year and we're moving because housing costs are SOOOO overinflated. There is no hope whatsoever for EVER owning a home here unless you bought 10 yrs ago and have LOTS of equity. We now live in a suburb nw of Seattle. Both of our commutes are at least 1 hr each way. We pay $1500 per month for a 1600sq. ft rental house with 3 bedrooms. 3 BR apts aren't much cheaper. I love it here, it's beautiful. I like my job and my husband likes his, but the cost of living is so outrageous that I have no idea how any middle class people can make it. I suspect that people are in debt up to their eyeballs. I think that if you moved here, you'd be shocked at how expensive it is - $60K is a good wage but peanuts here. Sorry!

[noplacelikeWA]

60k is a good base minimum and you will probably do better. We did not live downtown or on the eastside, instead we lived 12miles north of Seattle and 80k was plenty for us and our 4 kids to live very comfortable in the 2300sq ft house we owned. (We moved to TX to dry out )There is no question it is expensive to live in the Seattle area, but how much you personally will need is really a matter of how you live.

[jdw123]

According to Forbes, Seattle is the #1 most overpriced area in the US.

Most Overpriced Places In The U.S. 2005 - Forbes.com

Dont' get me wrong, I loved Seattle. It's a beautiful area, but totally unafforable so we had to move to buy a home.

[scirocco22]

I agree with noplacelikeWA.

It definitely depends on "how you live." If you have to have the latest toys and have to keep up with the Joneses, then sure, you'll have financial problems.

I know many couples with two kids who are making it on about 60k in the immediate Seattle area. Sure, they don't drive new SUVs and German sedans but get along with used cars and not living high-on-the-hog.

Everybody seems to think you need to be have at least a six-figure income to live in the Seattle area. I just don't get it because there are many who do not.



Just my opinion.