$60/hr at Holyoke, MA vs $75/hr at Redwood City CA
6 years experienced in all different technologies, I want to relocate and having two offers both on contract. East vs West. $60/hr GRT Corp at Holyoke, MA vs $75/hr Electronic Arts (EA) at Redwood City CA No benefit or least ones. Which one should I take?
If it were me, I’d take EA. Seems like more interesting work and EA carries some brand recognition.
Also, greater growth prospects in CA as compared to MA. If you are single then CA makes the most sense.
For me I would take the CA job. I used to live in Holyoke and work in Springfield. There are nice parts of MA but that's not one of them and the weather is quite cold. You're 2.5 hours from NYC, 1.5 hours from Boston, and can do weekend trips to Canada, DC, or other places since the east coast is so tight, but it's not like living in those cities. I will say that the Berkshires are close for a simple getaway (Lee and Lenox are lovely). But Holyoke and the vicinity leaves a lot to be desired. I don't know much about life Redwood City specifically but I can say already that the weather whould be better and that rate difference means an extra $30k/year pay difference. Taxes should be about the same in both locations with a higher cost of living in the San Fran area, but not a 30k difference.
30k is before taxes. An apartment in the “San Fran area” (aka the Bay Area) will run about $3k/month. No idea what it is in Holyoke but I’m sure it’s less. Still, I’d take Redwood City.
Be prepared to be the lower middle class at $75 in Bay Area. Not hating, just stating the facts.
Lol 150k is NOT lower middle class, just expect to rent until you get a job with good stock options/bonus structure. It would be difficult to own property anytime soon with that salary though.
No benefits though makes it way worse
But that all-girls college though...
W2 or 1099 contractor makes tax difference as well. $75/hr without benefits and having to pay self employment taxes is very little for the bay. But... If you have a creative accountant, you could possibly register as an LLC under new tax rules to reduce taxes by 20%.
I have lived in western mass. Do not go there. There is nothing there. You will be depressed everyday.
Sounds a lot like upstate NY
I lived close to Holyoke. And now I'm here. But what are you looking for? More bang for your buck? New experience? Possibility to become employee? Once the contract ends, plenty of options? Weather? Night life? Each one really gives you either MA or CA.
Put ‘em together and you’re halfway to MACArena
I am married and my wife may also move with me eventually so If I consider $75/hr with w2 and no benefits on contract as software engineer with 6 years experience—> as bad deal? I can see I can get 1 bed room apartment in 2k range. While I earn 10k I can spend 20% amount in accommodation. Is there anything else which I should consider or I am missing which can cost me more?
Atlassian tool suit, devOps, J2se, E4-rcp
😂😂😂😂