Where in Mo? (Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield: crime, hotel, college)

[Silvermouse]

Originally Posted by luvbnmom03

Ok guys, just heard back from recruiter. We asked him to email us a salary range for an experienced ER RN/Educator. Of course, he began his reply with how the cost of living is so much affordable there than SoCal, then the bomb dropped! Oh my goodness you should have seen our mouths drop when we read the range from $17-30! $30 being TOPS! New grad Rn's make more than $30 here! That was so difficult to swallow. But we're hoping it all balances out, right?

I'm no economist, but it always confuses me why people think an area with cheap housing would also have high wages.

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by luvbnmom03

Oh my goodness you should have seen our mouths drop when we read the range from $17-30! $30 being TOPS! New grad Rn's make more than $30 here! That was so difficult to swallow.

We'd really love to have you move to Missouri, but you sound like the kind of folks who should probably reassess the positives of where you are.

If this one thing has thrown you for a loop, just think of the culture shock you'd have if you moved here. There's a whole lot of difference between life here and life where you are.

We want you happy, so think very carefully about a move to Missouri. Many people who have made the move found that happiness in Missouri was elusive. Some have moved on; some have found themselves stuck and unhappy. Don't let that happen to you.

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by Silvermouse

I'm no economist, but it always confuses me why people think an area with cheap housing would also have high wages.

But that's what they always think, isn't it? They just can't figure it out.

And many of these people (certainly not the OP, but OTHER people) believe that because they're from a big city they're smarter than those of us who have always been hillbillies, country folk or small towners. As one slicker said: people who stay in small towns aren't "the best and the brightest."

[STLCardsBlues1989]

Obviously, where cost of living is lower, so are wages.

Make sure to visit before you move obviously.
Estimated median household income in 2007: $32,178 (it was $29,563 in 2000)
Springfield: $32,178Missouri: $45,114
Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $106,700 (it was $78,700 in 2000) Springfield: $106,700Missouri: $138,600
Yes. Pay is lower. So are general costs. It's economic.

We want you to be happy, so if you can't handle not making as much money, you may have to not move here. Or, just keep looking. Apply for other positions. Other hospitals might pay more.

Some hospitals in St. Louis might pay a little more. Just a guess, though. St. Louis is a little more pricey than Springfield, especially maybe more expensive suburbs like Chesterfield. Kansas City would probably be about the same. St. Louis is fairly poor from my understanding (income-wise) Though with kids and school districts, a suburb may make more sense. Of course if you can afford it there are some great private schools. I love the city, but the public schools (from my understanding) are not most desirable.

Estimated median household income in 2007: $34,191 (it was $27,156 in 2000)
[LEFT]St. Louis: $34,191Missouri: $45,114[/LEFT]

Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $128,300 (it was $63,500 in 2000) St. Louis: $128,300Missouri: $138,600
A sample of suburbs:
Estimated median household income in 2007: $56,034 (it was $47,782 in 2000)
[LEFT]St. Charles: $56,034Missouri: $45,114[/LEFT]

Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $181,653 (it was $113,800 in 2000) St. Charles: $181,653Missouri: $138,600
Estimated median household income in 2007: $72,109 (it was $64,184 in 2000)
[LEFT]Clayton: $72,109Missouri: $45,114[/LEFT]

Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $622,256 (it was $392,500 in 2000) Clayton: $622,256Missouri: $138,600
Estimated median household income in 2007: $61,928 (it was $55,122 in 2000)
[LEFT]Kirkwood: $61,928Missouri: $45,114[/LEFT]

Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $248,902 (it was $157,000 in 2000) Kirkwood: $248,902Missouri: $138,600
Estimated median household income in 2007: $45,952 (it was $40,902 in 2000)
[LEFT]University City: $45,952Missouri: $45,114[/LEFT]

Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $163,768 (it was $103,300 in 2000) University City: $163,768Missouri: $138,600

Estimated median household income in 2007: $94,149 (it was $83,802 in 2000)
[LEFT]Chesterfield: $94,149Missouri: $45,114[/LEFT]

Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $367,963 (it was $232,100 in 2000) Chesterfield: $367,963Missouri: $138,600

I love Missouri, and I love living here. Some things you just have to accept. Probably any place in the Midwest, other than maybe Chicago, will pay less, but cost less.

If you would like to see if some St. Louis Hospitals have openings, perhaps check Barnes-Jewish, St. Louis University Hospital, St. Anthony's, St. Louis Childrens, Cardinal Glennon, St. Luke's, Shriner's, St. Alexius, Ranken Jordan, St. John's Mercy, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, SSM St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood. There's more. Those are the first to come to mind. I believe Barnes-Jewish is one of the best in the country (read it in some magazine somewhere) as well as St. Louis Children's. I went to St. Louis Children's some as a child. My Grandfather had a blood cot removed from his leg at Barnes-Jewish. I don't know if either has an opening, though. But generally in this area, if someone needs a complex surgery done, they go to St. Louis.

If you want a smaller town, maybe try Cape Girardeau also.
Estimated median household income in 2007: $41,052 (it was $32,452 in 2000)
[LEFT]Cape Girardeau: $41,052Missouri: $45,114[/LEFT]

Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $124,204 (it was $88,800 in 2000) Cape Girardeau: $124,204Missouri: $138,600
If you want to look at St. Louis jobs, http://www.stltoday.com/hotjobs might be able to help you.

The Mental Ward of Alexian Brothers Hospital (apparently now St. Alexius?) was supposedly haunted. The mental ward was torn down years ago. But found there was a diary of a priest who had assisted another priest performing an exorcism on a young boy at that hospital. Details were changed a bit, but that exorcism was the basis for the movie "The Exorcist". Coincidentally, Linda Blair was also born in St. Louis.

Just an interesting tidbit. The Old St. Louis City hospital is now Georgian Condominiums.
http://www.urbanstlouis.com/georgiancondos.html
http://www.gilded-age.com/georgian.html
I've heard rumors about it being haunted. You know, weird noises and stuff. Nothing harmful I'm sure.
Lemp Mansion is also supposedly haunted. It's a bed and breakfast/diner now I believe.
http://www.lempmansion.com/

Looks like St. John's Mercy has 9 nursing positions open.
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/careers-652251-St_John_39_s_Mercy;_ylt=Ai8DWgLh1OqowickI_A2hxemRK IX (broken link)

37 openings at Des Peres (pronounced Day Pear) hospital:
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/job-search-g-602298-t-anytime (broken link)

St. Louis University Hospital lists 113 jobs
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/job-search-g-602340-t-anytime (broken link)
That hospital and Cardinal Glennon are a couple blocks north of Compton Hill Reservoir Park in South City.

5 jobs at Missouri Baptist Medical Center
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/job-search-g-598511-t-anytime (broken link)
Missouri Baptist Medical Center is near St. John's Mercy in Westwood, near Creve Coeur.

St. Louis Links for hospitals:
http://www.barnesjewish.org/
http://www.sluhospital.com/CWSContent/sluhospital
http://www.stanthonysmedcenter.com/
http://www.stlouischildrens.org/content/
http://www.cardinalglennon.com/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.stlukes-stl.com/
http://www.shrinershq.org/Hospitals/St_Louis/
http://www.stalexiushospital.com/
http://www.alexianbrothers.net/www/docs/3/st.-louis
http://www.rankenjordan.org/
http://www.stjohnsmercy.org/
http://www.missouribaptist.org/
http://www.stjosephkirkwood.com/inte...josephkirk.nsf
http://www.kindredstlouis.com/
http://www.rehabinstitutestl.com/

I'm sure I missed some. And of course Kansas City has some fine hospitals, I'm just not very familiar with Kansas City.

Some Cape Girardeau hospitals also:
http://www.sfmc.net/display/router.aspx
http://www.southeastmissourihospital.com/content/
http://www.landmarkhospitals.com/
Sikeston:
http://www.missouridelta.com/

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by luvbnmom03

Ok guys, just heard back from recruiter. We asked him to email us a salary range for an experienced ER RN/Educator. Of course, he began his reply with how the cost of living is so much affordable there than SoCal, then the bomb dropped! Oh my goodness you should have seen our mouths drop when we read the range from $17-30! $30 being TOPS! New grad Rn's make more than $30 here! That was so difficult to swallow. But we're hoping it all balances out, right?

We are not planning on buying a home until we live there for at least a year or so and get to know the areas we like/love. So can you tell me what a 4bdrm/2+bath home would rent for? In Springfield and surrounding areas? Thanks.

I'm guessing that's $17-$30 an hour, which is pretty good for the Springfield area, especially the upper range of that. In my line of work, the lower number would be considered very good for Springfield, which doesn't make me too heartbroken that I couldn't find a job there.
I landed in Kansas City where the housing is as affordable, if not more so in some cases (at least in the Missouri suburbs), than Springfield. There's also a whole lot more earning potential here than in Springfield.
Even so, Springfield is a really nice town, and I envy someone who actually found a good paying job there.

[Cali BassMan]

Sounds like a good area to retire to.....

[simplewife&mom]

Hi Everyone,

I've been reading throughout the Missouri forum for over a year, and have learned a lot. And I've seen how kind and supportive the people on this forum are!

Since a move to MO from CA is not really in the works for us at the moment, I am gathering as much info as I can in the event that it does happen. I'm ready to go (I think) when/if my husband decides to leave CA. This state is not going to improve anytime soon in my opinion. First on my list of places to go is Southern MO! The overall values, climate, landscape, and lifestyle are exactly what I would call wonderful. I'm thinking somewhere in a 30 mile circle of Springfield for job availability, but at least 15 miles from the city.

Now, I am from CA, but not Southern CA. I read a lot about the culture shock people from my state experience in rural MO. I have lived my whole life in the same county, in a town of less than 3,000 or the nearby town of 10,000+. It's pretty rural here. We're between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. I've noticed that some of the people on this forum may have come from my neck of the woods, what is your opinion about the culture shock effect coming from a place like this in CA as opposed to Southern CA? Not only culturally, but climate adjustments as well. We're not used to much humidity here, certainly not during the summer! A slower pace, small community, lots of churches - these things are right up our alley, but I'm wondering what things I might notice coming from here to there that would take some getting used to. If anyone has any input from their visits from my area to the Springfield area, I would love to read it.

[Cali BassMan]

Originally Posted by simplewife&mom

Hi Everyone,

Now, I am from CA, but not Southern CA.

Don't Ya just love the way us NorCalers always say "Hey, I'm NOT from Southern California".....

[simplewife&mom]

Originally Posted by Cali BassMan

Don't Ya just love the way us NorCalers always say "Hey, I'm NOT from Southern California".....

Well, I didn't really mean it that way, but there are some pretty big differences between the northern and southern part of CA.

It's still CA though.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

You'll need to go coat shopping.
The humidity can be bad, but I've heard from other people that humidity here is not as bad as down south. I'm pretty well used to humidity. Springfield has a few churches, including the headquarters for the Assemblies of God. Springfield has a couple Christian colleges also.
Hunting seems really big all across Missouri. Not sure if that's the case in California. People here seem to have the attitude that the government, for the most part, needs to butt out.
I don't live around Springfield, but I think southern Missourians in general seem to have good values. Most are pretty conservative (not saying that liberals don't have values). So, that conservatism may be a big change. The city of Springfield itself is a college town, but the outer lying areas are probably going to be mostly conservative (pro-life, no gay marriage, etc.).
I think most Missourians are pretty friendly, but of course there are exceptions.
Springfield does have some shopping. There's battlefield mall. And Incredible Pizza Place (or something like that). And of course there's Branson, and lakes in the area. You shouldn't run out of things to do. When it gets cold, though, you'll need to stay inside or wear the heavy clothing. Board games obviously are fun. You can always rent movies and such.
Someone from Springfield feel free to correct me, but this seems to be my general feeling of the area. I do hear California jokes around here (Southeast Missouri) sometimes, but I think you'll be okay. After a while people will realize that you're not a nut. I don't think anyone will hurt you, but don't be surprised to hear a "crazy Californian" joke occasionally. I've heard a few Canadian jokes, too.

Of course I'm not a Californian. So, I'm sure one of the California expats from this forum can help you more.

When/if you do eventually move to Missouri, I wish you the best. The weather and culture will take some getting used to. God Bless!