[nep321]

The panhandle is my favorite part of Florida. I dream about living there someday, but it seems impossible, due to lack of good paying jobs. How do people even afford to live there?

I would want to live anywhere other than Tallahassee, Panama City or Pensacola, preferably in Gulf, Franklin or Wakulla counties. Currently, I am in corporate tax accounting making $57K in Jacksonville. I need to make at least $50K to live comfortably, save for retirement, save cash, etc. But I don't think these kinds of jobs exist in those rural counties. Ugh. So what can I do? Any suggestions?

I just love the lack of traffic, lack of crowds, beautiful Gulf beaches, small towns and charm that is lacking in most of the rest of the state. There are even mild hills, which is nice. I love it. But how do people even survive there?!

It seems like I won't be able to ever live there until I'm retired....in 33 years.

[Fredesch]

Telecommute. Your employer would also need to make sure you have a health insurance plan for that area available. If you haven't been there post Michael, the panhandle might not be as cheap or wonderful as you remember.

[kyle19125]

That area you refer to was just basically leveled by Hurricane Michael, with extensive damage all the way up northward through the town of Marianna which is 60 miles from the coast. It's going to be many, many years before any kind of economic recovery will be seen in those areas. You might consider Crestview in Okaloosa County which is commutable to the Fort Walton Beach-Destin area for work opportunity, or while not in FL (just across the state line) a town like Daphne AL which is commute distance from Mobile.

[nep321]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

That area you refer to was just basically leveled by Hurricane Michael, with extensive damage all the way up northward through the town of Marianna which is 60 miles from the coast. It's going to be many, many years before any kind of economic recovery will be seen in those areas. You might consider Crestview in Okaloosa County which is commutable to the Fort Walton Beach-Destin area for work opportunity, or while not in FL (just across the state line) a town like Daphne AL which is commute distance from Mobile.

I searched for jobs in my field in Okaloosa and Walton counties and there's practically nothing. There are a couple of federal US Airforce accounting jobs in Elgin, but government jobs are practically impossible to get. Other than that, just a bunch of temp/contract jobs or low paying junk. So now what? Where else?

Even Pensacola has practically nothing. I don't understand how people can live in the panhandle with no good paying jobs.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by nep321

I searched for jobs in my field in Okaloosa and Walton counties and there's practically nothing. There are a couple of federal US Airforce accounting jobs in Elgin, but government jobs are practically impossible to get. Other than that, just a bunch of temp/contract jobs or low paying junk. So now what? Where else?

The average income in Pensacola is around 45K, so apparently a lot of people are making it work.

[nep321]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

The average income in Pensacola is around 45K, so apparently a lot of people are making it work.

True but I wonder how many of them...

are actually saving plenty of cash each month (not living paycheck to paycheck)
have plenty of cash saved and an emergency fund
are saving sufficiently and are on track for a timely retirement
are living a decent standard of living...

and able to live alone with no roommates or spouse.

[beachmouse]

PennFed credit union seems to be expanding in the Pensacola area.

But yeah, most of the good white collar jobs in the area require local connections and/or an active security clearance/ability to claim veteran's preference.

[mph101]

Pensacola is a military town. Just like eglin to the east. If Tnydall AFB goes down you have summer mainly tourism, agriculture and thats it until you get to Tally.
Also dont count on any sort of quality internet in these rural areas for working from home. This is the USA. Gezzz if electric was the new utility like the net is in the 21st century you would be working by candle not electric light bulb. If there is no money to be made out in the sticks, well man up and get a generator.

[mph101]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

PennFed credit union seems to be expanding in the Pensacola area.

But yeah, most of the good white collar jobs in the area require local connections and/or an active security clearance/ability to claim veteran's preference.

Pen Air FCU

[nep321]

Originally Posted by mph101

Pensacola is a military town. Just like eglin to the east. If Tnydall AFB goes down you have summer mainly tourism, agriculture and thats it until you get to Tally.
Also dont count on any sort of quality internet in these rural areas for working from home. This is the USA. Gezzz if electric was the new utility like the net is in the 21st century you would be working by candle not electric light bulb. If there is no money to be made out in the sticks, well man up and get a generator.

I would never want to work from home. It's the most depressing, lonely thing ever, from my experience. I like to commute to the office and interact with real humans.