Job offer in Sunnyvale...worth it to move? (San Francisco, Sacramento: for rent, home)

[Cimejes]

Hello. I just graduated from college and got a job offer in Sunnyvale. I appreciate the offer, but I'm questioning whether the pay is enough to move (I'm currently in Sacramento). The pay is $48k/yr...which doesn't sound like enough for the area. I don't want to commute from Stockton or something like that, and I'm also not too keen on having two or three roommates. It seems like rent on a decent place would be upwards of $2k/month.

I'm thinking I will decline the offer, but I was looking for some insight from locals. How far will $48,000/yr go for a single person in that area?

Thanks in advance.

[Semiworker]

https://smartasset.com/taxes/income-taxes#QV5SEgUmm4

Above is a calculator link that you can plug in to estimate your net after tax take home income.
If your gross pay is $48,000

Fed tax -$5,100
Soc sec -$3,700
CA state tax -$1,600
Total tax -$10,400

Net pay $37,600 or $3100/month
The rule of thumb is you should pay about 30% of your Gross income for housing, so that is about $1200/mo for rent & util.
So you will definitely need a roommate, or you can rent a nice room. If you stick to a spending budget, you will be fine.

If you have the same $48,000/yr offer in Sacramento, you should definitely stay in Sacramento as housing & food are cheaper there and you have the option of living at home to build up a nest egg.

IMO, if you're starting out on your career, and if this is a fair offer in a good company with opportunities for advancement and learning, I would bite the bullet of having roommates, and put my foot in the door to gain experience and set myself up on a good career trajectory. After all, if things don't work out, you can always go back to Sacramento.

[SportyandMisty]

Is the employer public sector or private sector? If private sector, what about bonus & stock?

[Heidi60]

These companies are looking for new hires:

San Francisco,CA jobs from H1B Visa Sponsors | MyVisaJobs.com

[MediocreButArrogant]

Originally Posted by Cimejes

I'm thinking I will decline the offer, but I was looking for some insight from locals. How far will $48,000/yr go for a single person in that area?

Thanks in advance.

Add an extra zero to the left of the decimal point and you'll be comfortable.

[Cimejes]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Originally Posted by Semiworker

https://smartasset.com/taxes/income-taxes#QV5SEgUmm4

Above is a calculator link that you can plug in to estimate your net after tax take home income.
If your gross pay is $48,000

Fed tax -$5,100
Soc sec -$3,700
CA state tax -$1,600
Total tax -$10,400

Net pay $37,600 or $3100/month
The rule of thumb is you should pay about 30% of your Gross income for housing, so that is about $1200/mo for rent & util.
So you will definitely need a roommate, or you can rent a nice room. If you stick to a spending budget, you will be fine.

If you have the same $48,000/yr offer in Sacramento, you should definitely stay in Sacramento as housing & food are cheaper there and you have the option of living at home to build up a nest egg.

IMO, if you're starting out on your career, and if this is a fair offer in a good company with opportunities for advancement and learning, I would bite the bullet of having roommates, and put my foot in the door to gain experience and set myself up on a good career trajectory. After all, if things don't work out, you can always go back to Sacramento.

Thank you for the insight and advice. All things considered (the position and advancement potential, company, compensation, location, lifestyle), it's looking like the offer isn't quite right for me. I have some promising leads in this area that I think I'll pursue instead.

Originally Posted by SportyandMisty

Is the employer public sector or private sector? If private sector, what about bonus & stock?

Private. It's very entry-level, no mention of bonus or stocks.

[bobby_guz_man]

Originally Posted by Heidi60

These companies are looking for new hires:

San Francisco,CA jobs from H1B Visa Sponsors | MyVisaJobs.com

Why do you suddenly assume that he/she needs an H1B? C'mon, this H1B bashing **** has got to stop.

[bobby_guz_man]

Originally Posted by Cimejes

Hello. I just graduated from college and got a job offer in Sunnyvale. I appreciate the offer, but I'm questioning whether the pay is enough to move (I'm currently in Sacramento). The pay is $48k/yr...which doesn't sound like enough for the area. I don't want to commute from Stockton or something like that, and I'm also not too keen on having two or three roommates. It seems like rent on a decent place would be upwards of $2k/month.

I'm thinking I will decline the offer, but I was looking for some insight from locals. How far will $48,000/yr go for a single person in that area?

Thanks in advance.

You need to take a look at whether or not this is a job that will let you accelerate your career. Remember, once you're in the Bay, you will have a host of other job options to look at. You're not going to be working at this place for this wage forever.

It is a low wage, so you'll have to double up with a roommate to live here. But look at the job and see if it would offer you a way up the rank, gets you in the door to succeed at other higher-paying jobs.

[Heidi60]

Originally Posted by bobby_guz_man

Why do you suddenly assume that he/she needs an H1B? C'mon, this H1B bashing **** has got to stop.

What I said was those are the companies, which claim to not to have American applicants, ARE hiring and often post their pay as well. It was about companies, not the H1B bashing you assume.

[bobby_guz_man]

Originally Posted by Heidi60

What I said was those are the companies, which claim to not to have American applicants, ARE hiring and often post their pay as well. It was about companies, not the H1B bashing you assume.

If that's what you meant, then I apologize.