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Old 10-24-2007, 12:35 PM
 
70 posts, read 295,481 times
Reputation: 25

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High, I just got a job offer tease from a company I'm interviewing with, and he said "high 60's, low 70's". Now, I'm not from California, and by all reports, it costs an arm and a leg to live there. So, I have a few questions:

1. I'm a new grad going into engineering, and I'm wondering if this is a reasonable salary range for someone like me? If not, then what's the usual range in these times?

2. Will I be able to survive in San Jose on this amount? If not, then how much do I have to make to survive? I have about 100K is student loans that I'll have to pay off.

3. Screw just surviving, what about living comfortably? Is this salary enough for me to live comfortably on? If not, then how much do I have to make to live comfortably?
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Old 10-24-2007, 02:02 PM
 
Location: San Jose, CA
7,688 posts, read 29,142,155 times
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The student loans will make it very complicated for you. Also, rent in San Jose is extremely high, even by Bay Area standards - the average rent for an apartment is around $1600. You'll probably live about as well I do, which is getting by and having a little extra to put into savings, but not being able to afford the best stuff or exotic vacations.
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Old 10-24-2007, 09:20 PM
 
2,652 posts, read 8,579,011 times
Reputation: 1915
I agree with the above. You will survive, but not comfortably. But assuming that is an entry level salary, there may be room for salary increase.
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Old 10-24-2007, 09:35 PM
 
Location: Las Vegas, NV
2,990 posts, read 8,708,654 times
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It doesn't cost an arm and leg to live in San Jose, its more like your head, torso and behind!
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Old 10-25-2007, 12:17 PM
 
4 posts, read 58,436 times
Reputation: 13
I agree with all of the above. You could however live on this salary in Seattle, another place with tech jobs. It beautiful there and it doesn't rain as much as everyone asks when you tell them you're from there.

We moved here for work but my husband was recruited on a salary that allowed us to live here comfortably. Of course, we'd live like kings if we were in Seattle. Consider all options before moving here because it's Silicon Valley. Why not ask the employer to fly you out here to explore before you consider.
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Old 10-26-2007, 03:06 AM
 
Location: San Jose, Morgan Hill
76 posts, read 419,772 times
Reputation: 35
I don't agree with the above. At this point in your life you need to pay off those student loans. You have cant have it all this early in your life - you have to work for it. Its $100K. No matter where you live, you still will have to pay off $100K in loans. You are in debt so get rid of that debt as soon as possible.

Let's start with the assertion that you can save 20% of your salary each year and have a definite financial plan to pull that off.

What good is it for you to take a $50K/year job somewhere else to save up $10K of that over each year? It will take you 10+ years if not more won't it?
If you are making $80K/year, you stand more of a chance to pay off that loan in a shorter amount of time (6+ years).
Why give up 4+ years of extra time when you should be working hard to pay off that loan?

Are you fully capable of being disciplined to save 20% of your salary to pay off that loan and do it much faster through hard work?

If you are a confident, disciplined individual, the answer should be YES! Go for it.

Everything is relative to the location you choose to live in. This is the embodiment of why people came to California for the Gold Rush. They had very little and they had very little to lose! Right? You have nothing to lose. Take the chance to improve your life and get yourself off the main problem - your debt. After you do so, then you can live much more comfortably SOONER.

You CAN SAVE WITH A $70K salary here in the SF Bay Area. Just don't play the stupid game of keeping up with the Jones' and you will do just fine.

Last edited by Palindromed; 10-26-2007 at 03:14 AM..
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Old 10-27-2007, 09:13 AM
 
175 posts, read 731,085 times
Reputation: 62
If you want to be in California, just get some roommates if you take the job.
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Old 10-27-2007, 12:55 PM
 
70 posts, read 295,481 times
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What is the regular salary for a Software Engineer in San Jose?
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Old 10-27-2007, 01:36 PM
 
Location: In my mind
630 posts, read 2,226,160 times
Reputation: 704
Here are a couple of sites that you can look up salary information. Pay will depend upon what kind of software engineer as well as years of experience and certifications.

http://www.salary.com/personal/layou...nl_default.asp

http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/l...laryrange.html

http://salary.monster.com/

https://secure.salary.com/salarywiza..._semformpg_swp


Best of wishes to you on your job search...
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Old 10-27-2007, 03:53 PM
 
70 posts, read 295,481 times
Reputation: 25
Are these places reliable? At first I looked on these sites for info, but I had been advised that the data wasn't very good, and that I should just ask around instead.

I'm going to be entry level (graduating in december). I've had two internships, but I have a bunch of web development jobs and contracts dating back to late 2001. I have alot of experience in web development. Its a shame that this college date is so late. If I didn't have college on my resume, I'd look like a senior developer given my experience.
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