Pulaski

Agreed, in the US much of the cost of living in high cost locations, such as Boston, San Francisco, New York, and DC, falls on the residents. That is one of several reasons that I left New York. I probably wouldn't take a job back in New York even if I was offered three TIMES what I am currently paid because the cost of housing (including insane property taxes for home owners) alone is massively higher than where I live now. Other costs of living (heating, car insurance, restaurants, etc.) are also higher.

Hotscot

120K in Silicon Valley is pretty basic. You'd need to live a good distance out in the East Bay for something decent. Hell of a commute. Soul destroying.

You mentioned better weather? All depends...the Bay Area can get pretty cold and damp.

Anyway...you mention possible job offer...you're quite a ways from packing your bags. What is it you do?

guitarman001

Thanks for the further replies.

Agree about high cost of living areas but if $120k nets $6k or so a month, rent=$2.5k say and another $2k(!!) for everything else, that's $1.5k left for savings etc, right? Just trying to get a feel for it. In the UK my net savings (no mortgage right now, though) are £1600 a month after all spending. So pretty comparable (then add in the girlfriend's earnings). So really, I think it would be for the 'experience'.

If it were Boston I'd be living just outside of Boston so a little less expensive.

Girlfriend thinks it's a great chance, big name on the CV and DEFINITELY better weather than where we are now. However she can work here (though it's low-paid) and we could be mortgage free in 5-10 years if we wanted (on a 4-bed detached home). Plus, life is relaxed here - 9am-5:30pm work-wise, never work weekends, free healthcare, pension contribution, no stock options, lower salary (£45k), I've got time to pursue other interests passionately (guitar). I understand if I worked for a tech giant there I'd have to devote all my waking hours to it... in some ways I wouldn't mind, but having HAD a life now, it would be hard to give it up (I can't believe how some people can be brainwashed into working 60+ hour weeks and thinking it's good for them!). Oh, and holidays all-in is 33 days here.

Yes, I heard $120k was a MINIMUM I should accept, though my friend out there also said he'd take $110k as it'd get you out there and you could then switch to something else for more money if you liked (as if it were easy to do!). I would want to live closer rather than further from work - hate long commutes! Mountain View to Cupertino is what I would be looking at.

Yeah, so this is conjecture so far as I'm 60% of the way through the interview process. I'm an IC designer specialising in analogue chip design, but I can do a little programming (nothing much), some digital, know about test and chip bring-up and qualification etc. The role would either be chip design or systems-level (defining the chip, architecting chips, talking to customers etc). I'd LOVE to do the systems role - more travel, less nitty-gritty design work etc... but I do hear it pays less. Chip design in the UK is paid much less than in the States. Another option is Europe - I know another language (well, the basics) but we're not 100% sure on that - some places in Europe can be isolating and cold.

See what happens I guess. If anybody knows any more about this role in the US (and in particular, best places for it, or just California/Boston) then feel free to enlighten me!

Thanks!

FYI $120k was an estimate. I think at one time salaries were higher but I understand wages have fallen somewhat (whereas ridiculous rental prices have not!!). Here is a decent engineering salary calculator if interested:
http://www.engineersalary.com/

Michael

In my opinion, the bay area (excluding San Francisco) has the best weather in the world although when my son comes up from LA in the winter, he says it is cold at 60 F. It is also not damp. If you think it is cold and damp, you won't last a month on your pending move back to the UK.

If someone likes moderate weather with 4-5 months without rain and moderate sunny winters, the bay area is nearly perfect.

Salaries and benefits vary wildly in the Silicon Valley and a lot depends on need, experience, ability, and the company. As an example, the salaries of Senior Software Engineers within one company can be paid significantly more than lower level managers and the pay range can be over double the salary at the high end compared to the low end. Generally besides the basic salary, most Silicon Valley companies offer annual bonuses and stock options.

As far as salary calculators, if it indicates $120K for a certain position, salaries could range from $80K to over $200K for that same position and if you hire in at too low of a salary, salary increases can come very quickly. Of course, that depends on how important you become in the eyes of your managers/division.

Hotscot

Yes, I was thinking more of SF itself with the marine layer as it can indeed get cold and damp..but I'm aware the south is very warm and sunny generally.
Personally I love cool damp weather and feel it is much healthier than the arid desert I currently live in.

Hotscot

I know the OP is talking about Silicon Valley but this is an interesting read.

http://jasonevanish.com/2013/01/17/2...san-francisco/

Michael

I agree about San Francisco but that marine layer slowly moves down the bay during the summer months and by 9PM, 80 F can drop to 60 F and by midnight, it is usually covering the entire bay area and by 4 AM, the temperatures can be in the 50s. But by the time you are ready to go to work, it is sunny and nice.

When that marine layer stops doing that (usually about once a year for 4-5 days), temperatures rises into the 100s instead of the typical mild 75-80F with low humidity. With the right exposure, air conditioning is seldom needed in the bay area. Unfortunately I currently live in a Condo (5th floor) with a western exposure so I do need air conditioning during the summer (it actually gets hotter in my condo than outside) but don't need heat during the winter. All my other places had a northern exposure so I never had air conditioning (seldom got above 68F) but required heat during the winter.

ScousePete

Great article!

Bob

Plan for it to be the same as the UK and be happy if it's better.

MA is not a cheap state to live in, especially if you're looking to live in Boston itself, or in a house.

Flights to the UK tend to be cheaper though.

Anyway, a couple of recent threads talking about MA, so you could look those up, talking about the metrowest area.

Bob

Boston wouldn't be a bad hub, with MIT and all the related tech companies from it. IBM/nVidia//Boston Dynamics-Google/iRobot (Roomba/Military)/Microsoft/Intel/Philips/Samsung/Olympus etc and then all the other feeder hardware tech companies that do military contracts like Lincoln Labs. Got Cognex, Math Works and other hardware companies in the burbs and plenty of medical hardware companies.

kevntrace

Brings back fond memories of my move from the UK to California back in 1994. Bear in mind there was basically no internet back then (in the form we have it today), so no ability to do online research.

I had never been to the US West Coast before, did not know a single sole in the area, and had no idea San Francisco was one of the most expensive areas to live.

I took a job that paid $50k (but was also on per diem). My job back in the UK paid around £22k at the time.

I lived in Alameda, a small island across the bay from San Fran (commuting to SF by ferry is one of the best experiences, but expensive) so rent and cost of living was a little cheaper.

I moved to the US with the mindset it was a bit of an adventure, it was temporary (the H1B only lasted 3 years), and I could move back to the UK if things did not work out.

I was in my late twenties when I moved, had no ties to the UK (no property, no wife, no kids), although did have a long term girlfriend. She would not move to the US with me unless we were married. I moved to the US anyway. Two years later we got married and she moved out to the US with me. Practically 20 years later and I am still here, and still married.

When I look back, I probably would have been put off by research if the internet had been available back in 1994. But I am glad I made the move, even if I was terribly naïve at the time.