Any Texans Here?

[Merusk]

You're just out of college and want to know if $35-$45k is enough to be worth moving.  Excuse me while I go over here and decide weather to laugh or get sick.

Jesus, I went into the wrong fucking profession.

[schild]

Merusk, your reply would work with someone who wouldn't have to help support a house and girlfriend that he plans on sticking with. $35-$45k in the gaming industry with the hours most people work with milestones and whatnot is not that great. I don't care what the industry norm is - it's wrong.

[stray]

Still, you're looking at it in terms of Maryland. Which is was one of the more expensive states to live in. A 40k salary in say, San Antonio, is roughly equivalant to a 50k salary in Baltimore. Just about everything, from housing to groceries, is cheaper in Texas than most places. Austin's one of the exceptions, but even then, Maryland is a hell of a lot more pricey.

[schild]

I'm looking at it in terms of what I saw out in Phoenix. If I had to pay for a townhouse/house out in Austin and it cost roughly the same as Phoenix and I had to support a girlfriend, $35-$45k a year (more like $35k-$39k a year given that it's his first year in the industry) would be just enough to live decently. It wouldn't leave all that much wriggle room for a decent vacation. Not that he'll get one. 

Edit: For the record - $35k before taxes isn't enough to live alone in an apartment in the DC Metropolitan area. Again - not decently. It'd be a shitty apartment, gas is too expensive and you burn half of it sitting in the worst traffic in the country.

[Llava]

Let's do some fun math.

My girlfriend has a job here that pays 25k.

I work a shitty job right now, but the place my girlfriend works is very shortly going to be hiring for a position I can do.  Let's say I get 25k as well.

So that's a possibility of 50k.

Now, it's not in the industry I really want to pursue, so it's not perfect, but we'd be doing pretty damn well.

If it was just me I was thinking about, I'd already be out in Austin.  Like I told schild, I'd be in the parking lot shining shoes and cleaning windshields.  But it's not just me- we'd be giving up a lot to move out there.  I'm trying to gauge how much money 35k really is in Austin, because that's one of the important factors in the decision I may end up having to make.  There's a lot of other stuff going into this decision, but that's not stuff anyone can help me with.

And, no, you didn't go into the wrong profession.  I just got extremely lucky and happened to know my shit backwards and forwards when it came to the subject at hand.  When it's all over, I'll share the whole story.  :-D

[stray]

I was just wondering: I was just looking over some things, and it seems that Phoenix is cheaper to live in than Scottsdale. Is that correct? Austin is ranked in the Phoenix range (1.3 % higher than Phoenix, according to this ), while Scottsdale is ranked a little higher than both in other sources.

Anyways, you seem to be under the impression that Austin is high rollin' or something. It's not even close. To give you an example, let's say that I make 50k in Austin, and want to move to San Jose, California. The difference is staggering. Like a 50% difference. While the comparisons between Austin and Scottsdale is probably a 5% difference. 35k in Austin is basically 35k in Scottsdale (with Scottsdale being more expensive). The difference in salaries and cost in living in Phoenix is in the matter of hundreds of dollars. Which is nothing.

[edit] There was a weird sentence that needed fixing.

[Trippy]

Anyways, you seem to be under the impression that Austin is high rollin' or something. It's not even close. To give you an example, let's say that I make 50k in Austin, and want to move to San Jose, California. The difference is staggering. Like a 50% difference. While the comparisons between Austin and Scottsdale is probably a 5% difference. 35k in Austin is basically 35k in Scottsdale, give or take a couple thousand more (that is, in Scottsdale). The difference in salaries and cost in living in Phoenix is in the matter of hundreds of dollars. Which is nothing.

Yup $35K in the SF Bay Area is diddly squat. After Federal and State and other taxes that's roughly $21K. A decent one bedroom apartment relatively close to where you work will cost you at least $900 a month. So that's $10.2K after housing not including all your utility costs. At $100/week for food if you are not the type that can survive on ramen alone leaves you with $5K for everything else you might need to buy -- for the entire year. Oh and our gas is the most expensive in the country (factor in another $30 - $40 a week for gas unless you live within a few miles of work) and there's a 8.25% sales tax in Santa Clara County too.

[stray]

Hawaii I can understand. NYC I can understand. Parts of LA or SF I can understand. But the entire state of California is just a tad bit overrated if you ask me. Even Sacramento is expensive. What the hell is in Sacramento?

[Llava]

Yeah, the research I did shows the prices being roughly the same.

Austin has a cost of living about 1% higher than Phoenix.

But I really wanted to know more about the "feel" of the city, and figured I'd verify the other stuff while I was at it.

I was erroneously told that it's mostly a city of ranchers, and knew that had to be bullshit.

[Samwise]

Hawaii I can understand. NYC I can understand. Parts of LA or SF I can understand. But the entire state of California is just a tad bit overrated if you ask me. Even Sacramento is expensive. What the hell is in Sacramento?

Sacramento is loads cheaper than the Bay Area, and only about two hours away.  I have an uncle that commutes to work in the Bay Area from Sacramento; the lower housing prices in Sac are apparently worth the two hour drive.  (As for me, I avoid Sacramento if at all possible; it's too damn hot up there.)

[Llava]

As for me, I avoid Sacramento if at all possible; it's too damn hot up there.

 

Just cause I'm in Arizona.  Usually I have to wear some sort of jacket in California, even during the summer.

[stray]

I was erroneously told that it's mostly a city of ranchers, and knew that had to be bullshit.

Yeah, whoever told you that was speaking out of their ass. It's a student/party town for one, and generally, the most liberal out of all Texas cities, despite it being the capital. Definitely the most cultured and/or slightly eccentric at least. The music scene is huge (but not in a Nashville kind of way). On any given night, there's dozens of bands playing "something". Indie, jazz , blues, country, folk, hip hop, reggae, whatever. Enough music to rival Chicago, but in a much more compacted area. It's also the third largest film industry in the US, after California and New York. There's a fair share of theater and dance companies, museums, and art galleries as well. Lots of outdoors-y stuff to do within the city limits. Lots of trails to bike or hike, lakes and springs to swim at, parks, etc..

As far as all the tech companies/culture go, I don't know enough about it. I imagine it's like every other city (i.e. Much like Office Space.....Which, coincidentally, was film in Austin).

You'll find cowboy hats here, but they'll probably be on the heads of Al Jourgensen or Willie Nelson.

[Paelos]

If I remember correctly, Dell has a large presence in Austin.

[Trippy]

If I remember correctly, Dell has a large presence in Austin.

Yes, Dell's HQ is in Round Rock next door to Austin but Michael Dell has his humongous mansion on a hillside in Austin.

[stray]

Round Rock is north, outside of city limits. I've got a few friends there, but everyone up is caught up in something else. Mostly work or backyard grills.

[Fargull]

Llava,

35K will not net you a house in Austin unless you got some bank to lay down.  Yes, Dell is in Round Rock.  Overall the culture in Austin is great and the job market is very positive.  If your worried about your girl not getting a graphic design job instantly, then your right, but there is opportunity here.  Traffic is not as bad as houston, dallas, or really any large city.  I would; however, live close to work.  Price of gas is generally cheaper in Texas than I have noticed outside of the state, sometimes in the tune of $.20 a gallon less.  Taxes are not a bitch unless you own a house, property taxes range from 2K to 5K a year if you do.  Biggest pain in the ass is the sinus crap, which mainly is because of mold and cedar.  If you like hiking, water sking, live music, theater, and an almost new orleans burbon street night life, then Austin will be gold.

Oh.. median home price is 150K, with the better neighborhoods running from 180-250K.

[Llava]

35K will not net you a house in Austin unless you got some bank to lay down.

I might go condo for a while.  I just did some research and the house I'm in... values have apparently skyrocketed.  Like... nearly double what I paid.  I could probably sell this, go to Austin and buy a condo straight up for cash.  And it's not like the two of us need a ton of space, we're sickeningly affectionate.

[Bunk]

Oh.. median home price is 150K, with the better neighborhoods running from 180-250K.

I hate reading stuff like this. I love my city, but around here you'll pay $250,000 for a two bedroom townhouse in the burbs. Condos in town start at about $300,000. Im renting a one bedroom, 30 year old apartment in the city (but not downtown) for $695 and that's cheap.

Mind you, I do make a fair bit more than $35k.

[Toast]

I've been in Austin for ten years now (since I started at UT). I love living here.

Things I like:
Compact layout:  There isn't the insane sprawl that you find in places like Houston or Dallas. I live in Northwest Austin (to be closer to my job at the big company in Roundrock), and I can drive to downtown  (even in rush hour) in 20 minutes or less.

Natural beauty:  The city looks nice, and there are solid "nature" things to do.l The hill country is very picturesque, and the city is traversed by various rivers and manmade lakes. There are a lot of mountain bike trails and disc golf courses scattered around town.

Culture:  There is a good nightlife scene that is less pretentious than Dallas or Houston. The SXSW festival and businesses like www.alamodrafthouse.com and countless great dive bars/restaurants make it great to be here.

Location: Austin is easily accessible (2-3.5 hour drive) to Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. New Orleans is also drivable.

It's great here. Come on down.

[Llava]

Well, just finished the first phone interview.  I think it went pretty well, though that can sometimes be hard to read over the phone.  Here's hoping.

[Signe]

Well, just finished the first phone interview.  I think it went pretty well, though that can sometimes be hard to read over the phone.  Here's hoping.

GOOD LUCK!

[Merusk]

Merusk, your reply would work with someone who wouldn't have to help support a house and girlfriend that he plans on sticking with. $35-$45k in the gaming industry with the hours most people work with milestones and whatnot is not that great. I don't care what the industry norm is - it's wrong.

I supported a child, a wife and an apartment on 9k less out of college, and I was well-paid for the area.  I only just hit that pay scale recently, 6 years out of school. My point was that the tone of the original post seemed to indicate he thought it might be on the low side of the payscale. 

Yes, I went into the wrong profession.  People think folks in the architecture profession make bank. As a rule, we don't. Am I bitter about money? You betcha, but it could be worse.  I could be one of the kids straight out of school today and making $28k again.

[Llava]

Oh no, it's great pay.  (Confidentially, it's more than I'd ask for if I hadn't been told this was the pay range.)

I'm just trying to figure out if it's worth completely uprooting and making my girlfriend start over again with her career.

[schild]

I'm just trying to figure out if it's worth completely uprooting and making my girlfriend start over again with her career.

That second part is huge. As I've said.

Also, I bet more and more game developers will be moving to Phoenix. Granted, I myself am gambling on it.

[Margalis]

As far as uprooting and such, is getting a new job really starting over with a career? I mean, she still has a resume that includes her old work. If I leave my job tomorrow I don't have to start a new job as a junior programmer again.

[Llava]

Because we're both freshly out of college, she's been at her job less than a year.  So if she stays there, she can rack up several years of experience before moving on.  If we both move to Austin, she's got to find another job willing to accept someone with less than a year (which, to most companies equals zero) experience.  So even though it's the early stages of her career, she has some momentum going and would have to give that up.  That first job can be very hard to find, especially in a place like Austin where competition is very rough for her field.

[Trippy]

Because we're both freshly out of college, she's been at her job less than a year.  So if she stays there, she can rack up several years of experience before moving on.  If we both move to Austin, she's got to find another job willing to accept someone with less than a year (which, to most companies equals zero) experience.  So even though it's the early stages of her career, she has some momentum going and would have to give that up.  That first job can be very hard to find, especially in a place like Austin where competition is very rough for her field.

Presumably she was a Graphics Design/Visual Arts major in school so she should have a portfolio of that work at least and she can add whatever she's done so far at her current job to that. It depends a lot on the particulars of the job, of course, but for some of them the main thing is the quality of the work in the portfolio rather than the number of years working.

[Llava]

Yeah, true, and she has a very professional portfolio.  Still gonna be tough, but I think if I get the job and they'll help at all with the relocation process, we'll almost certainly go for it.

[Kenrick]

North Austin is for teh gay homosexuals.  Stay south of the river, baby.

Gay Homosexuals? They must be really gay to be superfluous. Is the river rainbow colored? 

Wouldn't a gay homosexual be straight?

Or maybe just unusually happy to be a homosexual.

Gay homosexuals was a line from Southpark or something... can't remember... it's funny because it makes no sense.  Kind of like a "double negative," which I reckon you'd be hearing a lot more of if you moved down to these here parts.  "She ain't no Laura Bush, but she'll do."

[ahoythematey]

BTW, if you end up here and need morning radio to get you through traffic, Dudley and Bob on 93.7 is pretty funny stuff.

[Llava]

 

Job still isn't mine, but I wasn't eliminated at the interview.  Moving on to the next step at this point, so hooray, I haven't been rejected yet!

And the next step is a test of something I'm quite good at, so that looks good too.

[Soln]

Oh, ok. What's the job?

Edit: Don't hate the player, hate the game. Or somesuch. Really though, making games? Killing game designers?

[edit by admin, I should have known better than to ask - schild]

My reaction: 

And thanks Margalis.  That's what I thought.  But if it's the techy city, why the hell can't we find any decent Graphic Designer jobs there for her whereas there are a crapload here?  It makes me angsty.

SOE Austin?... AKA SWG??

[Fargull]

Hopefully no SOE.

However, a good friend of mine is trying to join this little Gem here in Austin.

[tazelbain]

And thanks Margalis.  That's what I thought.  But if it's the techy city, why the hell can't we find any decent Graphic Designer jobs there for her whereas there are a crapload here?  It makes me angsty.

I had to leave Austin last year after being unemployed for over a year.  Austin doesn't appear to be recovering from Dot.com like Cali, expect for in area of microprocessors.  A lot of belt tightening all around.

[Yegolev]

Robert Garriott?  Richard?  Roger?