Weebie

You need to be educated or skilled to work in the US IMHO.

Take the engineering sector in the UK People earn 20k a year compared to 50-60k USD or 75-100k in Australia

20k Sterling is nothing in many cases in Australia people at Mcdonalds earn more than that.

Xebedee

Fair comment - the masses working minimum wage or low pay jobs are getting the brunt, there is a lot of talk on the shop floor at my workplace about it being a safe haven there and people are clamouring to get in quick before another hiring freeze hits.
Me, I did time here in factories, mills and on building sites before finally getting degree-insurance; its very true that the working class (if such a thing even exists here) have it pretty rough in the best of times in this country.

The earlier comment about the US being a country for the young and energetic is pretty bang-on also. I'm in my early 40's and tbh, although I am more than able to manage the daily ins and outs of life here - in going back, I'd actually have to learn a fair bit about home. Still, the notion of retiring in the US holds very little appeal - quite scary actually.

-on the other hand-

Of course, if the UK continues to incrementally model itself on the US as it has done over the last *cough* years, the present differences probably won't be that stark in another 10.........what to do - what to do.

bfittler

People who are bought up on free luxury NHS treatment find it difficult to adjust in USA.The average salary of a person with a good degree in US is USD$13k per month after tax and this is the figure even in this hard economic time.

Nothing is free in this world the luxury NHS (healthcare,welfare) enjoyed by UK citizens,overseas students, their student dependants,Italians,Spanish, Greeks etc. in UK are all paid in tax every month.

Whereas in USA you never pay any contribution from you monthly take home.It was your choice to move to USA in the begining then why to feel sorry now?USA is not a welfare state, the retirement system in USA doesn't work like UK too and if you want things for free Canada is a better option to move.

Bevm

The UK is just copying the US, which has been printing money like crazy for years.

Bev

dunroving

Wow, where'd that figure come from? By "good degree" do you mean undergrad degree? I have a PhD and was netting just over $3k a month (in 2006) ,,, that's a far cry from $13k,

cricket1again

Yes and look how it's all ended in tears. I think if people can be sensible now and take control of how they spend, save and invest their income regardless of how much or how little they earn, they will get themselves into a better situation.

As a business, we were going to open retail outlets but we're not even going to think about the overheads involved. Instead we're going to focus on our mail order and web site operation and just run a head office and production outlet which ultimately means we can keep our prices down. It's all about the bottom line in the end for us all.

Xebedee

Unfortunately that is true, however right now seems the best chance Americans have had in a long time for proper social services to be made available to them.

Hopefully, it won't be the usual case of lots of flash and talk and little real substance (eg: FLMA) The recent push for a national mandated minimum vac allowance looks like its going to be business as usual (one lousy week ).

Jules Europe

I never realized, I had an on and off button

bfittler

Phd is too high.I only have an under-grad degree in computers. I know many collegues,friends who are working 85 hours a week in US even in this bad recession (IT/Computers).

dunroving

Working 85 hrs and netting 13k a month are two different things, so I still question the accuracy of this salary estimate. I mean, Bill Gates has no degree whatsoever, but his salary isn't representative. Similarly, I can't believe 13k a month is representative of achievable earnings, regardless of what degree you have.

Jerseygirl

He said that was after tax...so you could more or less double that figure

dunroving

I already figured out that depenidng on what state you are in, and how many federal alowances, this is well over 250 p.a. (closer to 300k) ... so you're about right ... not exactly an "average" salary for a degreed person.

Silly Sod

What she said

cathy22w

Well I am a 'professional' on an H1B and my salary is crappy. In 6 years, I have only earned $1.53 an hour more than I started on! That is despite constantly good performance evaluations.

I agree - utilities and bills are really expensive compared to the UK. And food? I found it really expensive when I first moved here - learned to budget.

H1B expires end of June and I am heading back to the UK. Probably the best thing for now. My son is now 15 and itching to work. He wouldn't have been able to do that until I had GC status. Was offered a job today near Nottingham doing exactly what I am doing in the US. However, if you convert the pounds to dollars, it pays 50% more per year. AND 6 weeks vacation!!! Currently I am getting only 3 weeks.

So there you go. Not bitter - but clearly the 'American dream' isn't all it's cracked up to be. At least not for regular people. lol.