Does anybody else commute to the east coast for work? (Philadelphia: home, job market)

[ny789987]

Pittsburgh is still one of the few remaining bastions of middle class utopia in a hostile neoliberal America. Great affordable old housing stock, lush abundant parks, great cultural amenities. The problem with Pittsburgh though is its dismal and parochial job market. Getting a job as an outsider is very difficult. Employers are stingy. People often have to balance 2-3 part-time jobs just to get by. Does anyone else commute to the east coast or another city for work? I find that by traveling to the east coast I make double of what I would in Puttsburgh even with all the travel expenses.

[ferraris]

I don't see how it would be remotely feasible to commute to the east cost from Pittsburgh to save on the cost of living. You would have to pay for a second residence on the East Coast during your work week and/or fly which would negate the cost savings. You're looking at at least a 3 hour drive to get to anything "east coast", and really a 4-6 hour drive to get to any of the major cities. It's just not feasible unless you can telecommute a majority of the time.

Even if there were a Japanese style bullet train to DC or Philly the costs would make it not worthwhile.

The Pittsburgh job market is not as bad as you're making it out to be; the best option is to just find a job locally if you want to live here.

[ny789987]

Originally Posted by ferraris

I don't see how it would be remotely feasible to commute to the east cost from Pittsburgh to save on the cost of living. You would have to pay for a second residence on the East Coast during your work week and/or fly which would negate the cost savings. You're looking at at least a 3 hour drive to get to anything "east coast", and really a 4-6 hour drive to get to any of the major cities. It's just not feasible unless you can telecommute a majority of the time.

Even if there were a Japanese style bullet train to DC or Philly the costs would make it not worthwhile.

The Pittsburgh job market is not as bad as you're making it out to be; the best option is to just find a job locally if you want to live here.

I get up at 3am on Monday morning and am home by 11pm on Friday night. Flying really isn't feasible, as you said because of connections. Driving to DC is a breeze. Getting to Philly or NYC, I will drive and hop on a train in Harrisburg. I only require 4 nights a week of lodging which I get can get pretty cheap off of Priceline or Hotwire. Those expenses are tax deductible. Am I the only one doing this, or am I crazy?

[Blackbeauty212]

Even though I work remote, I'm still required to go to NY about 3-4 times a year. Usually go on Thursday or Friday .... stay the weekend and come back Tuesday of the next week. I still retained my NYC salary.

Pittsburgh unless you have a specialized skill is going to be a dog fight for decent paying jobs, as this is a problem all across america. Natives have just as hard a time, problem is there's too much competition for low availability of jobs. I feel like for every 1 job opening your competing with 20-30 other applicants. Don't ask me why companies/HR depts schedule so many interviews for a single opening. When I did first round interviews for my department (when I lived in NY), I usually knew who was a good fit (not my decision alone) by the 5 person, but would still be required to interview every applicant HR scheduled for us, we all hated it.

[WhoIsStanwix?]

While direct commuting may not be an option, remote working arrangements are more and more common. I have gotten ahead by using "location arbitrage" as I like to call it, by first working for an east coast company and now a Midwest-based company out of my home in Pittsburgh. I travel to the home office or other central meeting places as needed on the employers dime quite a bit. Right now I am in Milwaukee effectively every other week.

It is possible to do without a daily/weekly commute.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by ny789987

I get up at 3am on Monday morning and am home by 11pm on Friday night. Flying really isn't feasible, as you said because of connections. Driving to DC is a breeze. Getting to Philly or NYC, I will drive and hop on a train in Harrisburg. I only require 4 nights a week of lodging which I get can get pretty cheap off of Priceline or Hotwire. Those expenses are tax deductible. Am I the only one doing this, or am I crazy?

Pretty sure you're one of the only ones. Most all live in the area where they work unless they telecommute on a regular basis.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by ny789987

I get up at 3am on Monday morning and am home by 11pm on Friday night. Flying really isn't feasible, as you said because of connections. Driving to DC is a breeze. Getting to Philly or NYC, I will drive and hop on a train in Harrisburg. I only require 4 nights a week of lodging which I get can get pretty cheap off of Priceline or Hotwire. Those expenses are tax deductible.

I guess I just don't get the point. You'd only be able to enjoy Pittsburgh's "middle class utopia" for 52 hours a week, including sleeping. You'd negate the lower cost of housing by all the travel, even with the tax deductions. I think most people would burn out on that routine pretty quickly.

[eschaton]

I knew someone a few years back who needed to make weekly flights to Philadelphia as part of her job. That was only a one day a week plane commute though, not Monday through Friday. Their employer obviously reimbursed for the flights.

[gladhands]

That's a ridiculous proposition. I've known people who did that sort of commute along the Acela line, but nothing like you're describing.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I knew someone a few years back who needed to make weekly flights to Philadelphia as part of her job. That was only a one day a week plane commute though, not Monday through Friday. Their employer obviously reimbursed for the flights.

I hope so. Those are $600 tickets at best.