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Old 02-19-2015, 11:18 AM
 
Location: New Jersey
141 posts, read 242,508 times
Reputation: 70

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45k plus you factor in child support that can help with her child activities. OP child is 6 I'm guessing public school and how much for Boys and Girls Club, $50 a year. I know plenty of single mothers who do okay with 45K a year and I live in the expensive North Jersey area where COL is comparable to DC's.
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Old 02-19-2015, 11:28 AM
 
Location: MMU->ABE->ATL->ASH
9,317 posts, read 20,925,853 times
Reputation: 10443
There are NO Boys/Girls Clubs in the area she is looking at,

Alot of the school have (separately run, but in School Before/After School Programs), And
Many of the DayCare providers do bus pickup after school and take them to there Locations.

My Local schools Before/After Pgm is $70/week
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Old 02-19-2015, 12:24 PM
 
Location: New Jersey
141 posts, read 242,508 times
Reputation: 70
No Boys/Girls Club good to know but she probably figured after school care, if she even needs it we're assuming, in her overall package.
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Old 02-22-2015, 08:11 PM
 
95 posts, read 213,643 times
Reputation: 30
I lived in DC area and just recently moved to ATL

but my salary is about the same

Losing future growth options and 25% of present salary is not worth it

ATL pays good..so bide your time and I am sure you should be able to find in Atlanta something matching your pay in DC today..

moving with paycut isnt advisable
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Old 02-22-2015, 08:31 PM
 
37,812 posts, read 41,589,060 times
Reputation: 27100
I thought you kept your current salary even if you take a job lower on the GS scale when you transfer.
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Old 02-23-2015, 12:29 PM
 
Location: Somewhere
4,191 posts, read 4,701,138 times
Reputation: 3174
Quote:
Originally Posted by helena101 View Post
This is a good point. If the OP really wants to move to Atlanta, but the $45K salary she'd make by transferring with her current govt job wouldn't leave much breathing room, why not look for another job? Maybe something in the private sector would give her at least $50K or $55K plus room for growth and she'd be in a much better position. I think the thing that's worse than the salary level is the fact that she's been told there's not much room for growth. $45K is ok for a while if you know you can work hard and push to a higher salary level.
I agree with this.
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Old 02-24-2015, 10:02 AM
 
150 posts, read 250,364 times
Reputation: 77
Thanks everyone for your responses. No unfortunately I was not offered the same salary. But now I am curious about the difference between the lifestyle of Atlanta versus DC. I have been to Atlanta on a couple of visits, but I know visiting and living there is different. I will start a new thread for this question.
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Old 02-25-2015, 03:31 AM
 
Location: Atlanta
2,862 posts, read 3,800,763 times
Reputation: 1471
Quote:
Originally Posted by vacollins View Post
Hello I'm a divorced 32 year old AA Mom of a 6 year old boy. Currently live in Northern VA making in the mid 60's with decent wage growth. I was recently offered a position in Atlanta with a salary of $45,500 due to the lower cost of living. Wage growth would be a bit more stagnant in ATL. I'm attracted to Atlanta due to its proximity to Florida (my mother retired there about a year ago), the fact that Atlanta has more southern culture, appears to have nice dating options (want to remarry and prefer AA male), better weather and a progressive African American culture like DC.

However I'm concerned that the salary might be too low for the area, especially when I consider the fact that my salary would gradually increase in the next few years if I remain in the DC metro area. I do not have debt other than a fairly low student loan. While money is not everything I do want to live a comfortable lifestyle. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated, esp. if you used to live in DC and faced the same predicament. Thanks
I have only visited but never lived in DC. $45K in Atlanta metro is only going to get you the bare minimum especially with a child. The dating environment is not all that great either so if getting remarried is a goal, I strongly suggest you not just get involved in the community but join a church.

BTW, I'm divorced with no children and I have to reiterate that $45K would be kind of tight for a budget here especially if you're solely responsible for childcare.
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Old 02-25-2015, 09:35 AM
 
150 posts, read 250,364 times
Reputation: 77
Yes I definately want to be remarried someday. I hear people say the same thing about dating in DC being hard as well, but before I met my ex-husband I didn't find it that difficult. I actually don't find it difficult now. My biggest issue with DC is the housing costs. Renting is not even as bad, but housing costs are very expensive even with two incomes. Housing in DC has always been a bit pricey, but now its downright ridiculous even in the suburbs.
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Old 02-26-2015, 08:03 PM
 
38 posts, read 57,539 times
Reputation: 46
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mutiny77 View Post
I thought you kept your current salary even if you take a job lower on the GS scale when you transfer.
Why would the fed allow an employee to keep their current salary if they take a "lower job?" A "lower job" essentially means, less job duties and less overall responsibility. The only time a federal employee keeps their salary, is when they receive a reassignment to a different location, but stays employed with the same agency/office and remains employed at the same GS level. The OP did not get a reassignment from her current office to Atlanta. Apparently, she applied to a lower grade position.

The 2015 federal GS pay scale for GA and the DC metro area are included below:

Atlanta:http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-overs...f/2015/ATL.pdf

DC Metro:http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-overs...f/2015/DCB.pdf

Let's say that employee X earns a GS 11, Step 5 ($72, 219/year) salary in the DC metro area. If employee X receives a reassignment from his/her current office and the position is at the same grade level in the new duty station (i.e. Atlanta), the employee's salary in Atlanta would be $73,433. The reason why the salary would be slightly higher in Atlanta is because the HR specialist would have to give employee X the corresponding salary for the GS 11 step 7 salary, since the GS 11 corresponding step 5 and step 6 salary is less than employee X's current salary in the DC metro.

If employee X stays in Atlanta and receives "meets expectations" ratings each year, employee x will eventually make $ 79,552 and any additional yearly cost of living increases. If however, employee x chose to stay in the DC metro area, he/she would make $ 82,840, plus any yearly cost of living increases. Since the Atlanta metro area has relatively less expensive housing than DC, employee X stands to gain financially if she/he relocated to the Atlanta metro. However, one must keep in mind that there are major tradeoffs. For starters, most higher level positions (GS-13 - GS 15) tend to be at the headquarter location, not in the regional offices. Since DC is the home base for many federal departments, there is a greater level of job mobility and the potential to reach the higher levels (i.e. senior executive service), if one has the knowledge, skills and abilities to succeed and solid references.

The OP however, has different circumstances. She applied for a lower level GS position, therefore, her employer cannot bump up her salary, since her current position and corresponding duties are at a higher level, than the position she applied for. The federal GS pay is clearly listed on each job announcement, so technically, applicants are aware of the salary/GS level, prior to applying.
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