My pay rate is low because of the COL and because I work for a non-competitive-paying state. It's also public because I'm a public employee. So is my girlfriend. I should be getting paid more, but since I'm relatively new to the workforce (24) it's hard for me to get a more competitive salary. I also really like my current job, so my plan is to stay here and hope for some pay raises until I move.
The problem is I plan on moving to an area that is relatively expensive to live in - Washington DC - because that's where my field is. I work in state higher education now, but I'm about to finish a master's degree in politics and policy. I currently earn 35k/year, but I get a number of good benefits - health insurance is very cheap, I get a month of vacation plus 2 weeks sick leave and a personal day, and my office environment is actually probably the most lax and nicest office environment of any of the state jobs in Florida. An example: in my last state job, no one was allowed a standing desk without a disability waiver from their doctor. In this job, someone just came around one day and asked me if I wanted a standing desk (I absolutely super did).
I am trying to save up money to move to this high COL area but between how little I make now and the fact that my very low salary puts me in a tough position for negotiating a good salary, I'm concerned. COL calculators tell me that to live the same quality lifestyle I currently live - renting a nice but slightly expensive 1bd/br of about 1000sqft with my girlfriend, two cars, saving money every month for retirement/travel/emergency fund/house fund - I would need to earn AT LEAST double what I currently earn in DC. Add to that the fact that I would prefer to be able to buy a condo or townhouse or something, I would need to triple or quadruple my salary to own anything in the DC suburbs.
I know clearly that means that what is currently happening is not realistic. It just feels like if you start off in a low COL area, it's like impossible to get to a high COL area and "make it". Any advice? Has anyone does this sort of thing before that can give me some pointers?
Submitted April 05, 2019 at 10:10AM by 2muchcaffeine4u http://bit.ly/2ONOfMf
