Employment Outlook?

[movingoutofTN]

Thanks everyone for the information!

[highlife2]

People just need to be careful becasue 20$/hr here will not leave you with the same disposable income that 20$/hr most other places will. Rent and food in anchorage is a non trivial expense and people need to be aware.

Most people working retail have a family support structure, either that or they are living barely above poverty.

[Dakster]

Hard to make a blanket statement that $20/hr isn't enough... I have seen that rent is a lot more than buying... And the rental market is tough on renters.

If you have two people, each making $20/hr, without either having alimony and child support, you should as a team be able to do just fine.

FWIW, that would be $40/hr x 2080 hrs = $83,200 a year before taxes or $6933/month... You can't afford a mansion, but a $1500/mo place would work out and wouldn't make you "house poor". Personally, I would be saving up to buy a place, because overall it will be cheaper especially if you can get in while the interest rates are low.

[highlife2]

Originally Posted by Dakster

Hard to make a blanket statement that $20/hr isn't enough... I have seen that rent is a lot more than buying... And the rental market is tough on renters.

If you have two people, each making $20/hr, without either having alimony and child support, you should as a team be able to do just fine.

FWIW, that would be $40/hr x 2080 hrs = $83,200 a year before taxes or $6933/month... You can't afford a mansion, but a $1500/mo place would work out and wouldn't make you "house poor". Personally, I would be saving up to buy a place, because overall it will be cheaper especially if you can get in while the interest rates are low.

Yea, it just depends on each persons circumstances. But 2 people making 20/hr under one roof is 40/hr so thats totally doable. But a single person making 20/hr is not going to cut it, unless they have NO debt or recurring payments other than basic bills.

[Dakster]

1 person making $20/hr can get a small apartment/condo/townhouse to rent... Based on your recommendation, that would give you around $1100/month for rent.

Won't be living the "high life" for sure at $20/hr. And as you said - with no debt it would be OK.

[highlife2]

Originally Posted by Dakster

1 person making $20/hr can get a small apartment/condo/townhouse to rent... Based on your recommendation, that would give you around $1100/month for rent.

Won't be living the "high life" for sure at $20/hr. And as you said - with no debt it would be OK.

Why come to alaska as a single person making 20/hr barely getting by when all the women have alot better options than some guy making 20/hr. Your better of .... well almost anywhere else.