Trying to find my place in the job market (Seattle: low income, rentals)

[Spokanejobseeker]

I graduated in December of 2005 from Whitworth with a degree in Business Management. It took me four months to find a job that I liked and paid what I felt a new college grad in my field in Spokane should be paid ($35 K - $36K). I was laid off after working at this position for six months and I believe my commitment to the Army Reserves weighed heavily in the company's decision to lay me off. Fortunately I went on active duty as an officer in the Army for six months to complete my Officer Basic Course. I was shocked to see that because of my previous tour as an enlisted Soldier I was paid considerably more than the other officers in my pay grade. I came back to Spokane in June of 2007 and made an attempt at self employment since I was unable to find employment that paid more than $30 K a year. Six months into being self employed I was mobilized with the Army Reserves for six months on a stateside tour. With per diem I made around $7400 per month and was in charge of 300 personnel and a substantial amount of equipment. I returned back to Spokane in November of 2008 without a lot of job prospects in sight. I have been almost unemployed for a year now and my savings are dwindling down. When I first returned to Spokane my salary requirements were around $45 K a year. I have slowly reduced my wage requirements and I am now asking for a mere $32 K a year. It seems the only positions available in Spokane are either low income service oriented jobs or really high income upper level executive jobs. Does anyone know where they have mid-level career positions and anyone that might be interested in hiring someone with my background?

Please no preaching about the cost of living in Spokane. Yes the cost to RENT a home is low but wages are much lower. 48% of Spokane pay more than the recommended 30% of their monthly wages on monthly housing expenses. The average per capita family income is only $44K. So spare me costs of living gripes because I have a whole bag of statistics to fire back with. Only those with something to contribute to my search please respond as I would like to stay in Spokane though I am willing to leave for lucrative offers.

[tankratt]

Spokanejobseeker, first thank you for your service to our country, I know how you feel, I presently commute to Seattle for work,and come home on weekends I could not find any work in that pay range either so I went west. I have pondered the self employment thing as well. Is self employment not an option this time or too much headache? Best of luck in your search I am pullin for you.

[Spokanejobseeker]

Employment is the key to self employment right now. I started up with only a $25,000 budget. Getting capital for the business from traditional lenders like banks, they usually want another means of income in order to give you the loan. I was able to grow the business considerably by investing some of my large salary into the business while I was mob'd with the Army. I would like to be self employed but realistically right now I need to work to pay bills and be able to "rearm, refuel, and refit" the business so to speak. I've actually considered going back on active duty on another mobilization, but I would prefer to stay here and wake up and go to a regular job like everyone else. I don't want to be one of those guys that deploy for a living with the Guard or Reserves. All you do is come back more frustrated because you get promoted while you are deployed, get more responsibility and pay, and then come back to the same old Spokane as far as employment goes.

[Spokanejobseeker]

I hate to say it but the people of Spokane crash their own employment market. If people here stuck to their guns and required a little higher wage to work it would benefit us all. Right now you have to many people willing to work for $9/hr.

[skinem]

Originally Posted by Spokanejobseeker

I hate to say it but the people of Spokane crash their own employment market. If people here stuck to their guns and required a little higher wage to work it would benefit us all. Right now you have to many people willing to work for $9/hr.

The theory is great, I understand it, and I agree...but many people have the habit of wanting to eat. So, if it's a choice between the two...

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by Spokanejobseeker

I hate to say it but the people of Spokane crash their own employment market. If people here stuck to their guns and required a little higher wage to work it would benefit us all. Right now you have to many people willing to work for $9/hr.

Supply and demand. $9/hr is better than $0/hr.

I don't mind that salaries are low here just as long as mine is not.

As I'm sure you know, higher salaries are typically found in more expensive cities. So if you want more money, move to a larger metro, and expect that bump in salary to be eaten up by a higher cost-of-living, or enjoy it if you can be frugal.

Spokane isn't exactly a destination for those seeking high salaries. You need to go to the western part of the state for that.

[Spokanejobseeker]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

Supply and demand. $9/hr is better than $0/hr.

I don't mind that salaries are low here just as long as mine is not.

As I'm sure you know, higher salaries are typically found in more expensive cities. So if you want more money, move to a larger metro, and expect that bump in salary to be eaten up by a higher cost-of-living, or enjoy it if you can be frugal.

Spokane isn't exactly a destination for those seeking high salaries. You need to go to the western part of the state for that.

I don't want mine to be low either. Again read my first posting before you talk about cost of living. Seattle may have a higher cost of living but wages are comparable to it. Spokane's cost of living while it is low, have wages that are even lower. You have to be paid $12.50 an hour just to avoid paying more than 30% of your monthly income on housing. How many local Spokies even make that?

I also should mention I'm stuck here if I wish to have any sort of relationship with my toddler son. I have forwarded my resume out to areas beyond Spokane. Believe me I am full of enough statistics to know that not just Spokane, but Washington state as whole pays less than the national averages for many fields. At least Seattle has a living wage incentive for employers who use public funds.

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by Spokanejobseeker

I don't want mine to be low either. Again read my first posting before you talk about cost of living. Seattle may have a higher cost of living but wages are comparable to it. Spokane's cost of living while it is low, have wages that are even lower. You have to be paid $12.50 an hour just to avoid paying more than 30% of your monthly income on housing. How many local Spokies even make that?

I also should mention I'm stuck here if I wish to have any sort of relationship with my toddler son. I have forwarded my resume out to areas beyond Spokane. Believe me I am full of enough statistics to know that not just Spokane, but Washington state as whole pays less than the national averages for many fields. At least Seattle has a living wage incentive for employers who use public funds.

I did read your first posting. I wasn't aware I was required to honor your request about not mentioning COL. I want to throw some numbers at you, because I really am here to help. The top two sets are from census 2000, but if you can point me in the direction of more current stats, I'd be happy to examine them.

Seattle (metro) median household income: $50,733
Spokane (metro) median household income: $37,308

Median earnings for males, Seattle (metro): $42,259
Median earnings for males, Spokane (metro): $35,097

Median listing price, King County (today): $424,950
Median listing price, Spokane County (today): $189,900

So if you compare household incomes to listing prices, Seattle's household incomes are 11.9% of listing prices, whereas Spokane's are 19.6%. Furthermore, if the median earning male in Spokane were to move from Spokane to Seattle, theoretically he would get a $7K/year raise, but the average house he could buy would cost over $200K more, that's not exactly an income in line with COL costs.

If you made $12.50/hr in Spokane, you couldn't find a rental for $600/mo? I make WELL over that, but my rent is only $775.

I find it honorable that you would move here to be with your son, for that, you earn kudos from me. Keep in mind, even bottom feeders in WA make $8.55/hr. If you really want to maximize your income to COL ratio, you need to live in a place like Omaha or Dallas, but your son isn't in Omaha or Dallas.

I believe you deserve to be paid what your degree/work experience are worth. If you really want to be near your son, be diligent when searching for employment. Go find a "crappy job" or two just to make ends meet until you find a job that will pay you what you are worth. It'll be worth it to be near your son.

I wish you luck.

[Spokanejobseeker]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

I did read your first posting. I wasn't aware I was required to honor your request about not mentioning COL. I want to throw some numbers at you, because I really am here to help. The top two sets are from census 2000, but if you can point me in the direction of more current stats, I'd be happy to examine them.

Seattle (metro) median household income: $50,733
Spokane (metro) median household income: $37,308

Median earnings for males, Seattle (metro): $42,259
Median earnings for males, Spokane (metro): $35,097

Median listing price, King County (today): $424,950
Median listing price, Spokane County (today): $189,900

So if you compare household incomes to listing prices, Seattle's household incomes are 11.9% of listing prices, whereas Spokane's are 19.6%. Furthermore, if the median earning male in Spokane were to move from Spokane to Seattle, theoretically he would get a $7K/year raise, but the average house he could buy would cost over $200K more, that's not exactly an income in line with COL costs.

If you made $12.50/hr in Spokane, you couldn't find a rental for $600/mo? I make WELL over that, but my rent is only $775.

I find it honorable that you would move here to be with your son, for that, you earn kudos from me. Keep in mind, even bottom feeders in WA make $8.55/hr. If you really want to maximize your income to COL ratio, you need to live in a place like Omaha or Dallas, but your son isn't in Omaha or Dallas.

I believe you deserve to be paid what your degree/work experience are worth. If you really want to be near your son, be diligent when searching for employment. Go find a "crappy job" or two just to make ends meet until you find a job that will pay you what you are worth. It'll be worth it to be near your son.

I wish you luck.

I took mine from a 2008 report the Spokane Low Income Housing Authority Published. I have looked at rentals in Seattle and I can find comparable rent compared to Spokane. I had actually even thought about living in a nicer area of Pierce County and commuting.

As far as taking a crappy job to get the proverbial foot in the door, they take one look at my resume and say no way. They're all scared I'm going to leave as soon as something better comes up. That could be tomorrow or that could be an entire year away. I tried taking a part-time job at night for $10 an hour as a janitor but I made it 3 weeks there before my pride and value in myself made me quit. I hardly saw my son at all while I was working there and $800 a month isn't worth why I'm staying here to begin with. Today I had some better leads, but no offers of employment yet. It's Friday though so managers and hiring managers were probably at the lake or camp site before noon today so I can't expect too much to get done at the end of the week. Recreation is why they take the pay cuts to come here.

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by Spokanejobseeker

I took mine from a 2008 report the Spokane Low Income Housing Authority Published. I have looked at rentals in Seattle and I can find comparable rent compared to Spokane. I had actually even thought about living in a nicer area of Pierce County and commuting.

As far as taking a crappy job to get the proverbial foot in the door, they take one look at my resume and say no way. They're all scared I'm going to leave as soon as something better comes up. That could be tomorrow or that could be an entire year away. I tried taking a part-time job at night for $10 an hour as a janitor but I made it 3 weeks there before my pride and value in myself made me quit. I hardly saw my son at all while I was working there and $800 a month isn't worth why I'm staying here to begin with. Today I had some better leads, but no offers of employment yet. It's Friday though so managers and hiring managers were probably at the lake or camp site before noon today so I can't expect too much to get done at the end of the week. Recreation is why they take the pay cuts to come here.

I've heard of people tailoring their resumes for the jobs they are applying for, like you might be able to dumb it down to make it appear as though you aren't going to walk out on them as soon as you find something better.

I felt the same way you did at the janitor job back when I bagged groceries, it killed my pride, but it was better than the alternative, and eventually I found something that paid triple (this was not in Spokane). Unfortunately, there are times when pride needs to be checked at the door.

You're right. This is definitely a recreation-centered area. It's hard to find people working or willing to work after noon on Friday up until Monday morning, this is a true 9-5 town.