Accounting Salaries In The Tampa Area (Jacksonville: job market, public schools, income)

[ZaraZoteBuccaneer]

This has to be one of the most negative threads I've ever read. It's like a houseparty where all you need is cheese to go with your wine. Perk up people. With attitudes like these, you're sure to find the dark side of the moon no matter where you reside. Life is not about obtaining money or personal possessions no matter how easy you think it helps makes things.

Florida is suffering right now, there's not a City Data reader who will beg to differ. And the people of Florida are the ones suffering, no doubt... but you can't sit here and find the downside to every single consideration in your own life while taunting your fellow citizens to leave in a mass Exodus only to prove a point! What would that accomplish? Would you rather the rest of the country pay for the nearsightedness of this mentality if Florida were to fall prey to utter poverty? Honestly, would any of us be able to escape the massive funding required to support your option? Would families and visitors and all outside investors choose to arrive here any longer only to find the state has dried up and lost it's charm? If you're not happy then you need to look beyond the outside around you. Self worth is the true issue to foster here... Search more feverently for values that are favorable. I pray that the positiveness I hold for my own life is far more contagious though I'm sure you would rather I not post this opinion at all. It is rather shocking to hear the utter discontempt that is being pontificated among you, oh and you you may want to simply try a different career sometime too, hmm?

[Scientifical Madness]

Cameralens, like you mentioned in an earlier post, I'd head to Charlotte man. Big city with high crime, but it's no different than Tampa as far as that goes. Friendlier people in CLT, higher pay, and not so hot all the time too.

[seain dublin]

Zara zote, FL regardless of the US economy is known for low salaries. The OP would be better off looking out of state.

Charlotte is a great city and is listed as one of the up and coming US cities, Tampa is not.

Tampa is known as call center central. People who have educations are better off looking outside of FL, this state is known for being a service industry state.

When you take the time, energy, and expense to get a four year degree you want a salary that reflects that effort.

[Scientifical Madness]

I agree^^^. CLT has it all, yes, high crime too, but proabably not as bad as Tampa - and Charlotte is bigger too. Better pay, lots of Floridians up there, real Floridians who just want a better quality of life, big lakes in the area too, young crowd, lots of college degree'd adults and far less transients than Tampa.

[TampaKaren]

I have family and good friends living in Charlotte that would disagree. The pay is not better and unemployment is also rising. Many who packed up and moved to Charlotte without researching first now find themselves in very unfortunate positions. If you disagree with what I'm saying, jump over to the Charlotte forum and do a little reading.

[Stewabby]

We moved here from Charlotte. My husband actually got a raise when we came and he is a CPA. Charlotte is great too but I don't think jobs are at an overabundance. The banking industry is the largest employer and it is not doing that great right now. There are a lot of people competing for a few good paying jobs. Definitely have a job lined up before you move.

[choithew]

I'm 22 just graduated w/ my undergrad and have a job lined up w/ one of the big 4 making $51k (FIRST ACCOUNTING JOB) but i wont start until i get my masters (a year from now). i dont see how you guys are saying the pay is so low and have such negative views on everything lol.

My gpa is nothing special, just keep looking around and you'll find something. Also, raises in the accounting field are huge, when you say you know an accountant somewhere making "this" you should say their years experience b/c several people I've talked to say they got double digit raises every year.

[Krulik]

I completely agree with Zara, this thread is extremely negative and shows only a very distorted view of Tampa employment and salaries.
Not everything is that black. There are good jobs in Tampa, but I suppose that people holding these don't come to this forum to talk about it. I am considering moving to Tampa from NYC with a significant increase in salary, for example.
As for Charlotte vs. Tampa. Please look at the last statistics from the government (Table 1. Civilian labor force and unemployment by state and metropolitan area). May 2009, Tampa unemployment was 10.6 % (and rising) and Charlotte was 12% (and rising faster). Moving to Charlotte might not be the brightest move at the moment.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by TampaOrNotTampa

I completely agree with Zara, this thread is extremely negative and shows only a very distorted view of Tampa employment and salaries.
Not everything is that black. There are good jobs in Tampa, but I suppose that people holding these don't come to this forum to talk about it. I am considering moving to Tampa from NYC with a significant increase in salary, for example.
As for Charlotte vs. Tampa. Please look at the last statistics from the government (Table 1. Civilian labor force and unemployment by state and metropolitan area). May 2009, Tampa unemployment was 10.6 % (and rising) and Charlotte was 12% (and rising faster). Moving to Charlotte might not be the brightest move at the moment.

Thank you for that. Tried to give you rep points, but couldn't just yet.

To ScientificalMadness - I can appreciate the fact that you love NC more than Florida, but you make statements as thought they are facts, when really it is only YOUR preference and opinion. I feel the opposite of you, I love Florida and it's diversity and everything else over NC, but that is only my preference. What is true for you may not be true for others here, especially if they are asking about Florida on a Florida forum. Maybe you should be touting NC virtues on the NC forum?

[mikewu9900]

i have to say, maybe it's just me, but i make more money here in florida then i ever did working in new england, which is where im from. but i do see many other people claim they make way less here.

i notice there are many more high / low class people here in tampa, which there isn't much middle class citizens. i guess it makes sense. seeing how high class citizens own the businesses, and the lower class are the worker bees making peanuts. it's just greedyness.

my boss says he was a hard worker making less then he should have until he opened his business. he says he doesn't want to do that to his employees. so im guessing i got lucky with my job. not everyone in my field is making what they deserve.