Bay Area - non big tech non finance salaries

[Anonymous]

We are looking at moving to Bay Area to be near DW family. I’m currently a Fed making $150k in MD.

I did a cost calculator to some areas on Peninsula I’m looking at and they say I need to make $300-$400k to adjust for COL.

Obviously that is outrageous.

I would be working at a legacy HW company most likely like Cisco, Juniper, etc, so not profit monsters like FAANG.

How much should I aim for? How do non big tech people make it work in the Bay Area? Should I plan to commute from Fremont or something?

[Anonymous]

See if you can find a house that will work for you, that's where it falls apart for most people. The only hardware people I know who can survive in that area are either childless or purchased a house decades ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:See if you can find a house that will work for you, that's where it falls apart for most people. The only hardware people I know who can survive in that area are either childless or purchased a house decades ago.

Well I looked in Fremont and that seemed still pretty expensive, what is the equivalent to Ashburn, Vienna, or Annie Arubdel there?

Argh, I wish we grew up some place cheap...

[Anonymous]

Given that it seems like few people make a go of it in the Bay Area with hardware jobs, can you give me a ballpark of salary a) I should probably need to survive or b) likely will actually get from these type of legacy employers.

[Anonymous]

I earn $85K and live in a 1 bedroom rent-controlled apt in SF Proper.

[Anonymous]

Don’t do it unless your wife is making more than you.

[Anonymous]

Stupid decision. I assume you are a GS 15 and you’re giving that up for what exactly? To be near your in laws?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See if you can find a house that will work for you, that's where it falls apart for most people. The only hardware people I know who can survive in that area are either childless or purchased a house decades ago.

Well I looked in Fremont and that seemed still pretty expensive, what is the equivalent to Ashburn, Vienna, or Annie Arubdel there?

Argh, I wish we grew up some place cheap...

Vienna has a cute downtown with close proximity to Tyson’s and Reston jobs and a metro stop. The equivalent of a house in Vienna in the Bay Area would run you 4 million.

You need the equivalent of western loudoun lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See if you can find a house that will work for you, that's where it falls apart for most people. The only hardware people I know who can survive in that area are either childless or purchased a house decades ago.

Well I looked in Fremont and that seemed still pretty expensive, what is the equivalent to Ashburn, Vienna, or Annie Arubdel there?

Argh, I wish we grew up some place cheap...

Vienna has a cute downtown with close proximity to Tyson’s and Reston jobs and a metro stop. The equivalent of a house in Vienna in the Bay Area would run you 4 million.

You need the equivalent of western loudoun lol.

Lol he needs the equivalent of Winchester or West Virginia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stupid decision. I assume you are a GS 15 and you’re giving that up for what exactly? To be near your in laws?

DW desperately misses California and now with COVID wants to be near family.

I know it’s trade offs. We will end up in townhouse in some suburbs, just trying to gauge strategy for salary b/c COL conversion makes it kinda ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stupid decision. I assume you are a GS 15 and you’re giving that up for what exactly? To be near your in laws?

DW desperately misses California and now with COVID wants to be near family.

I know it’s trade offs. We will end up in townhouse in some suburbs, just trying to gauge strategy for salary b/c COL conversion makes it kinda ridiculous.

There are not that many townhouses in CA like there are here and suburbs close to tech centers are expensive. My brother is a FAANG programmer and he has a two BR condo in Sunnyvale he paid
1.5 m for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stupid decision. I assume you are a GS 15 and you’re giving that up for what exactly? To be near your in laws?

DW desperately misses California and now with COVID wants to be near family.

I know it’s trade offs. We will end up in townhouse in some suburbs, just trying to gauge strategy for salary b/c COL conversion makes it kinda ridiculous.

Well if that’s what she wants tell her to find a job that pays Bay Area money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stupid decision. I assume you are a GS 15 and you’re giving that up for what exactly? To be near your in laws?

DW desperately misses California and now with COVID wants to be near family.

I know it’s trade offs. We will end up in townhouse in some suburbs, just trying to gauge strategy for salary b/c COL conversion makes it kinda ridiculous.

There aren’t really nice townhouse communities out there the way there are here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stupid decision. I assume you are a GS 15 and you’re giving that up for what exactly? To be near your in laws?

DW desperately misses California and now with COVID wants to be near family.

I know it’s trade offs. We will end up in townhouse in some suburbs, just trying to gauge strategy for salary b/c COL conversion makes it kinda ridiculous.

No you won’t be in a nice townhouse in a nice burb . Maybe a 1960s stucco box in San Leandro or Morgan Hill lol.

[Anonymous]

If your DW doesn't work make sure she understands the trade off of lifestyle one you get out there. If she is from there, her relatives have houses they bough ages ago, no doubt AND low property taxes. Buying new completely upends that equation.