Relocating to US from UK
Oct 12th 2025 | 8:24 am
#16
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Re: Relocating to US from UK
Oct 12th 2025 | 6:15 pm
#17
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Re: Relocating to US from UK
Thanks for the reply!
So the salaries vary from state to state as I'm sure you can imagine, but for my role in general (and I haven't checked all of the same roles in different states) but it's roughly -
Annual Salaries -
Texas - $145,000 - 160,000
New York - $105,000 - 160,000
Washington - $102,000 - 125,000
That's the rough base line of what it would be, some are a bit higher and it would depend what project I was assigned to ultimately as well as there could be a higher percentage again. From my experience level I would be at the higher end, I'm also just doing a rough average as until I took one of the roles, I haven't got a guaranteed figure.
I've spoken to a few colleagues who work in Texas as this is where the HQ is based and most of them enjoy it for various reasons, for us it would be my partner and child, child enjoys the outdoors activities, parks etc, and partner enjoys similar things, as long as she has easy access to shops and sites then she is fairly happy.
For us as a family, ideally we want somewhere that has a lot of variety on what we can do in our free time and plenty of places to go. Ideally somewhere with fairly low crime in comparison, and somewhere with good schools/community really. Getting back to the UK is not massively important, I think the option to come back to visit family etc would always be there. For the Visa option I have through the company we would be eligible for a Green card after 12 months, the Visa it's self lasts for 7 years.
So the salaries vary from state to state as I'm sure you can imagine, but for my role in general (and I haven't checked all of the same roles in different states) but it's roughly -
Annual Salaries -
Texas - $145,000 - 160,000
New York - $105,000 - 160,000
Washington - $102,000 - 125,000
That's the rough base line of what it would be, some are a bit higher and it would depend what project I was assigned to ultimately as well as there could be a higher percentage again. From my experience level I would be at the higher end, I'm also just doing a rough average as until I took one of the roles, I haven't got a guaranteed figure.
I've spoken to a few colleagues who work in Texas as this is where the HQ is based and most of them enjoy it for various reasons, for us it would be my partner and child, child enjoys the outdoors activities, parks etc, and partner enjoys similar things, as long as she has easy access to shops and sites then she is fairly happy.
For us as a family, ideally we want somewhere that has a lot of variety on what we can do in our free time and plenty of places to go. Ideally somewhere with fairly low crime in comparison, and somewhere with good schools/community really. Getting back to the UK is not massively important, I think the option to come back to visit family etc would always be there. For the Visa option I have through the company we would be eligible for a Green card after 12 months, the Visa it's self lasts for 7 years.
As some comments already mentioned, TX living costs are much lower but the hot weather is a challenge even for local people. Months after months of daily temp over 36C plus humidity makes enjoying outdoor activities a luxury except swimming. Mosquito is more than annoyance in many places due to humid weather for half of the year. You need to run AC non-stop for weeks if not months because otherwise mould would destroy stuff in home. On the other hand late autumn to spring is nice without snow. I would suggest spend a couple of weeks during summer (May to Sept) to get real feeling of it first.
Last edited by wcoastwalk22; Oct 12th 2025 at 7:25 pm.
Oct 12th 2025 | 8:01 pm
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 11,628
Re: Relocating to US from UK
Thanks for the reply!
So the salaries vary from state to state as I'm sure you can imagine, but for my role in general (and I haven't checked all of the same roles in different states) but it's roughly -
Annual Salaries -
Texas - $145,000 - 160,000
New York - $105,000 - 160,000
Washington - $102,000 - 125,000
That's the rough base line of what it would be, some are a bit higher and it would depend what project I was assigned to ultimately as well as there could be a higher percentage again. From my experience level I would be at the higher end, I'm also just doing a rough average as until I took one of the roles, I haven't got a guaranteed figure.
I've spoken to a few colleagues who work in Texas as this is where the HQ is based and most of them enjoy it for various reasons, for us it would be my partner and child, child enjoys the outdoors activities, parks etc, and partner enjoys similar things, as long as she has easy access to shops and sites then she is fairly happy.
For us as a family, ideally we want somewhere that has a lot of variety on what we can do in our free time and plenty of places to go. Ideally somewhere with fairly low crime in comparison, and somewhere with good schools/community really. Getting back to the UK is not massively important, I think the option to come back to visit family etc would always be there. For the Visa option I have through the company we would be eligible for a Green card after 12 months, the Visa it's self lasts for 7 years.
So the salaries vary from state to state as I'm sure you can imagine, but for my role in general (and I haven't checked all of the same roles in different states) but it's roughly -
Annual Salaries -
Texas - $145,000 - 160,000
New York - $105,000 - 160,000
Washington - $102,000 - 125,000
That's the rough base line of what it would be, some are a bit higher and it would depend what project I was assigned to ultimately as well as there could be a higher percentage again. From my experience level I would be at the higher end, I'm also just doing a rough average as until I took one of the roles, I haven't got a guaranteed figure.
I've spoken to a few colleagues who work in Texas as this is where the HQ is based and most of them enjoy it for various reasons, for us it would be my partner and child, child enjoys the outdoors activities, parks etc, and partner enjoys similar things, as long as she has easy access to shops and sites then she is fairly happy.
For us as a family, ideally we want somewhere that has a lot of variety on what we can do in our free time and plenty of places to go. Ideally somewhere with fairly low crime in comparison, and somewhere with good schools/community really. Getting back to the UK is not massively important, I think the option to come back to visit family etc would always be there. For the Visa option I have through the company we would be eligible for a Green card after 12 months, the Visa it's self lasts for 7 years.
Oct 12th 2025 | 11:34 pm
#19
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 30
Re: Relocating to US from UK
Thanks everyone.
I will see if I can get a more confirmed number on potential salaries and then come back and hopefully that will help a little bit, but the feedback has helped greatly, thanks all.
I will see if I can get a more confirmed number on potential salaries and then come back and hopefully that will help a little bit, but the feedback has helped greatly, thanks all.
Oct 13th 2025 | 3:25 am
#20
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Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Eee Bah Gum
Re: Relocating to US from UK
For the last 13 years of our time in the USA we lived in The Woodlands, just north of Houston and where many large corporations have their headquarters. Very nice place, population about 120,000 and very well laid out, a series of “villages†around a town center. We had adult children so can’t comment on the schools there. Our daughter went to university in Austin and she worked there for a few years afterwards. Both Austin and The Woodlands were good places to live but I much preferred Austin.
Oct 13th 2025 | 4:08 am
#21
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 47,659
Re: Relocating to US from UK
Whatever was I thinking. I know, I was thinking as an American with only a college degree who worked in an industry unrelated to the degree. Shame on me for assuming foreigners might be comfortable with my way of life.
Oct 13th 2025 | 4:46 am
#22
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Joined: May 2019
Posts: 527
Re: Relocating to US from UK
- Unaware of the cost of certain items, for example groceries anywhere around NYC is enormously more expensive than the UK
- The cost of travelling home occasionally to visit friends and family
- Budgeting for healthcare costs which you've never had to do before - even with good employer insurance
- Not having a network of friends/family to help share the costs of things (for example, most Americans I know split their cell phone plan with someone else).
- The physical cost of moving and starting from scratch is very expensive.
- Visa restrictions can mean that there's only one person in the family who can work (i.e. H4)
Oct 13th 2025 | 4:51 am
#23
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Re: Relocating to US from UK
So the same way of life that you had for $100k may well cost the OP double that by the time everything else is factored in, including being a family of 3.
Oct 13th 2025 | 4:54 am
#24
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 30
Re: Relocating to US from UK
So, managed to get some better information on the salaries, so this ranges from -
Texas - $185,750
New York $170,500 - $250,000 (depending on area)
Others -
Washington
California
San Fran
All range from around $160,000 - $200,000
Texas - $185,750
New York $170,500 - $250,000 (depending on area)
Others -
Washington
California
San Fran
All range from around $160,000 - $200,000
Oct 13th 2025 | 5:12 am
#25
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 35,186
From: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Re: Relocating to US from UK
Good luck.
Oct 13th 2025 | 5:14 am
#26
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Re: Relocating to US from UK
Those sound more realistic (maybe not SF). As a very rough rule, I'd say most things cost 3 times what they do in the UK, but I'm in a higher cost state. But if you work on 2-3 times your UK salary for a similar standard of living (depending on location), that should give you a good idea.
Good luck.
Good luck.
But yeah, its a bit more of a bettet estimation to work from I think as a general guide anyway.
Oct 13th 2025 | 5:52 am
#27
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Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 297
From: New York
Re: Relocating to US from UK
Agree with 2-3x, that works as a general estimate for most day-to-day, groceries (eye-watering), travel. Petrol is much cheaper, but insurance, car prices and services more than outweigh it.
As mentioned healthcare will go from 0 to meaningful. My insurance costs me around $5k/year for me an my wife via payroll deductions even if we don't need anything. This year we'll probably spend another $5k because we did need some care.
Watch out for property taxes, often not at all comparable to UK council tax. e.g many areas commutable to NYC like NJ or Westchester are 10-15x what you'd pay in a London suburb. You don't pay this as a renter but if you are evaluating becoming a homeowner and browsing sold properties on Zillow, check the tax amount too.
As mentioned healthcare will go from 0 to meaningful. My insurance costs me around $5k/year for me an my wife via payroll deductions even if we don't need anything. This year we'll probably spend another $5k because we did need some care.
Watch out for property taxes, often not at all comparable to UK council tax. e.g many areas commutable to NYC like NJ or Westchester are 10-15x what you'd pay in a London suburb. You don't pay this as a renter but if you are evaluating becoming a homeowner and browsing sold properties on Zillow, check the tax amount too.
Oct 13th 2025 | 2:39 pm
#29
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Posts: 28
Re: Relocating to US from UK
Oct 14th 2025 | 12:46 am
#30
DE-UK-NZ-IE-US... the TYP
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,018
Re: Relocating to US from UK
There are always articles on this, this one at least acknowledges that you can “get by†on half of what you need to “live comfortably†and it’s right that rent is more than a mortgage, I had to buy in NYC because the rent was to high…
https://nypost.com/2025/10/11/lifest...ill-shock-you/
https://nypost.com/2025/10/11/lifest...ill-shock-you/
