New England Area Vs. Other Area's of the U.S.

[RunD1987]

Originally Posted by MrJones17

Ah ok, so you're already use to long commutes. Texas would definitely be a good spot for you. I lived in Austin and it was a fantastic change of pace. Gas there was $1.99 most of the time. Roads are in a lot better shape than what you're use to in CT. I'd take the summer Texas heat over the long, cold, wet Northeastern winters any day.

Yeah these winters are blah. Not a winter outdoor person and provably should of moved out of State earlier. It all worked out met my wife and she is gung ho for warmer weather. Question is where.

[Bert_from_back_East]

Originally Posted by RunD1987

Psychiatric Technician sometimes called Mental Health Technician. Pay varies across the State's. Only place has some uniformity is California where you have to have training as an LVN. Pay varies like in Ohio usually $15 am hour. CT $12.50 to 20 an hour. Texas minimum wage to $18 an hour. Florida saw mostly minimum wage. North Carolina was similisr to Texas with smaller job opportunities. Arizona and Nevada about $12 to $16 an hour.

Wife is an LPN. With research in Texas she makes close to what she makes in CT.

I would look into working for a managed health plan, independent practice association (IPA), management services organization (MSO) or a federally qualified health center (FQHC).

At a health plan or IPA, your wife could leverage her LPN licensure in Appeals and Grievances, Quality Improvement, Prior Authorization / Utilization Review or in a “Nurse Advice Line” setting and easily make $25-30/hour, depending on her education and experience.

FYI, hospitals and acute-care facilities don’t typically hire LPN’s anymore, especially in competitive markets like Atlanta, Dallas and Phoenix, for example.

Although multidisciplinary physician group practices are more likely to hire LPN's than hospitals or urgent care centers (mostly as Medical Assistants who can administer injections), your wife would be lucky if she made more than $16/hour working for a direct provider.

At a health plan, IPA or FQHC, you as a Mental Health Technician could potentially leverage your certification and experience in Care Coordination or Case Management among other areas.

FWIW, states like Arizona and Texas probably have way more health plan and FQHC options than any of the New England states.

Send me a direct message, if you have any questions.

[RunD1987]

Wife is trying to go for her RN. We both applied a second time for a program in our State.

Kind of motivation to move out of the State to an area with low cost higher education opportunities and abundance of colleges.

Texas fits the bill so far. We originally looked into Charlotte NC, but pay and COL wasn't as great compared to Texas. Can fond more $800 1bdrm rents, get taxed less, and make a little more.

Hoping to go for my LPN then find a job in a detention or correction facility go from there with nursing.

[kidyankee764]

RunD - I posted this on your CT thread but as we all know, CT forum-ers are very defensive of their state. It was deleted for being “off topic”.

You currently live in one of the most expensive parts of the country with an insane tax burden. There are a ton of areas around the nation you can make 40k right now and be able to afford something very decent for $1,000. In CT, it’s extremely difficult to live at that salary. Even if you become an RN, making 70-80k, you’d be working class, at best. Don’t listen to the CT forum regulars who tell you you’ll make less in other areas - private sector jobs in CT pay a boatload - others, like RN, pay is comparable to other states.

Look at Dallas, Richmond, Atlanta, Denver, any of the FL metros, etc. The income to cost of living ratio is far better, you’ll have better networking/job opportunities than you do in the CT suburbs. Even Virginia, you can be within an hour of DC and be able to purchase a decent place at 200k with far less taxes than in CT.