Are wages suppressed in the Ozarks? (St. Louis, Springfield: mortgage, house, neighborhood)

[mvgeb]

I've lived in the Sprinfield, MO area since I was eight (20 years now). I went to MSU (SMSU for you old folks) and went from a minimum wage (12K/year) job to a decent paying software engineering position (45K/year). Life was all good, then I talked to some coworkers who've moved to the area from other parts of the country/state (Denver, Dallas, St. Louis). Each of them said they took big paycuts (30-40%) to move to the area and that they did not move here voluntarily (followed a spouse/sick family member to take care of, etc.).

So, my main question, would it be beneficial to a software engineering career to move to a different area, maybe a larger metro? Would the pay increase from Dallas, Denver or St. Louis more than make up for the increased cost of living?

If you would suggest moving, do you have any suggested areas? I would like to be able to attend MLB and NFL games without a 3+ hour drive and would like some of the other amenities that a large metro would provide. However, my wife and I do like our simi-rural living (currently live on the outskirts of Republic). I wouldn't mind a 30-50 min. commute if it meant we could live simi-rural. I would like to stay away from an area with a brutal summer. San Diego would be my ideal weather city, but my family fled from SoCal 20 years ago and I'm not sure I want to go back. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

[christina0001]

I moved here from NJ roughly five years ago. My salary took about a 25% pay cut. But, it is phenomenally cheaper here. I have friends in NJ whose property taxes alone are way higher than my mortgage (which includes property taxes).

Frankly I think it works out better to live here in MO, financially.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by mvgeb

I've lived in the Sprinfield, MO area since I was eight (20 years now). I went to MSU (SMSU for you old folks) and went from a minimum wage (12K/year) job to a decent paying software engineering position (45K/year). Life was all good, then I talked to some coworkers who've moved to the area from other parts of the country/state (Denver, Dallas, St. Louis). Each of them said they took big paycuts (30-40%) to move to the area and that they did not move here voluntarily (followed a spouse/sick family member to take care of, etc.).

So, my main question, would it be beneficial to a software engineering career to move to a different area, maybe a larger metro? Would the pay increase from Dallas, Denver or St. Louis more than make up for the increased cost of living?

If you would suggest moving, do you have any suggested areas? I would like to be able to attend MLB and NFL games without a 3+ hour drive and would like some of the other amenities that a large metro would provide. However, my wife and I do like our simi-rural living (currently live on the outskirts of Republic). I wouldn't mind a 30-50 min. commute if it meant we could live simi-rural. I would like to stay away from an area with a brutal summer. San Diego would be my ideal weather city, but my family fled from SoCal 20 years ago and I'm not sure I want to go back. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

Dallas, Denver, and St. Louis have a moderate COL compared to the national average, but higher than Springfield. All of those three metros are major cities while Springfield isn't. So, the COL comparison is apples to oranges. I think the lowest COL of the three is St. Louis, and I'm positive that salaries for software engineers would be MUCH improved over Springfield. I would go for it.

[ConservativeMissouri]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Dallas, Denver, and St. Louis have a moderate COL compared to the national average, but higher than Springfield. All of those three metros are major cities while Springfield isn't. So, the COL comparison is apples to oranges. I think the lowest COL of the three is St. Louis, and I'm positive that salaries for software engineers would be MUCH improved over Springfield. I would go for it.

I would much rather live in far SW MO and have conservative ozark, southern culture than live in Stl.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by ConservativeMissouri

I would much rather live in far SW MO and have conservative ozark, southern culture than live in Stl.

So would I. Oh, wait a minute. I do!

[Cali BassMan]

Me too..... Oh wait a minute, I will in 1296 days

[Ciaerin]

Originally Posted by curmudgeon

so would i. Oh, wait a minute. I do!

me too!!!

[20yrsinBranson]

Personally, I have come to the conclusion that money isn't everything. I would much rather live in the Ozarks because I can can go to Springfield where I can walk, alone, at night, in *any neighborhood* in town and not feel as though my life is in danger. I can go to the mall without being afraid of a robbery of car-jacking.

I have a friend who just moved to Memphis and who told me that she was cautioned to *NEVER* go into town alone (even in the daylight) because she would be robbed, raped and possibly murdered if she did. She was at the mall not too long ago when a man made a comment to another man in the parking lot that "she had money" because she was wearing new shoes.

Not too long ago I was talking to someone who lived in a big town back east and I told her that for an executive secretary the salary around here was probably something like $12 - $15 per hour. They were horrified and told me that where they lived an executive secretary would make about $35,000 per year or more. Of course, a house that would cost $120,000 here would be three times that amount in their town.

I would love to live by the beach somewhere, but I know I would never be able to find this quality of life elsewhere, at any price.

20yrsinBranson

[brushrunner]

Originally Posted by 20yrsinBranson

Personally, I have come to the conclusion that money isn't everything. I would much rather live in the Ozarks because I can can go to Springfield where I can walk, alone, at night, in *any neighborhood* in town and not feel as though my life is in danger. I can go to the mall without being afraid of a robbery of car-jacking.

I have a friend who just moved to Memphis and who told me that she was cautioned to *NEVER* go into town alone (even in the daylight) because she would be robbed, raped and possibly murdered if she did. She was at the mall not too long ago when a man made a comment to another man in the parking lot that "she had money" because she was wearing new shoes.

Not too long ago I was talking to someone who lived in a big town back east and I told her that for an executive secretary the salary around here was probably something like $12 - $15 per hour. They were horrified and told me that where they lived an executive secretary would make about $35,000 per year or more. Of course, a house that would cost $120,000 here would be three times that amount in their town.

I would love to live by the beach somewhere, but I know I would never be able to find this quality of life elsewhere, at any price.

20yrsinBranson

Well me and my Kids have been Robbed and Car Jacked in Springfield.My mother was Robbed on I-44 and Kidnapped and rapped on West side of Springfield.Could tell you more I've seen but just leave it at this.

Just really don't give me that Fuzzy Nice feeling in the area.

brushrunner

[pams73]

Originally Posted by 20yrsinBranson

Personally, I have come to the conclusion that money isn't everything. I would much rather live in the Ozarks because I can can go to Springfield where I can walk, alone, at night, in *any neighborhood* in town and not feel as though my life is in danger. I can go to the mall without being afraid of a robbery of car-jacking.

I have a friend who just moved to Memphis and who told me that she was cautioned to *NEVER* go into town alone (even in the daylight) because she would be robbed, raped and possibly murdered if she did. She was at the mall not too long ago when a man made a comment to another man in the parking lot that "she had money" because she was wearing new shoes.

Not too long ago I was talking to someone who lived in a big town back east and I told her that for an executive secretary the salary around here was probably something like $12 - $15 per hour. They were horrified and told me that where they lived an executive secretary would make about $35,000 per year or more. Of course, a house that would cost $120,000 here would be three times that amount in their town.

I would love to live by the beach somewhere, but I know I would never be able to find this quality of life elsewhere, at any price.

20yrsinBranson

I used to live in TN, and had a friend who lived in Memphis. He wouldn't let me come visit him, because his mother was taken from their front porch and attacked. He would drive to me instead. I have lived a lot of places in my 30+ years....and I love this area. We may have slightly lower wages than some major metro areas, but at least I don't feel threatened being somewhere by myself after dark as a single woman.