WilliamAS

Hello,
I have just been offered to move in my current UK-job to the USA. This is great news, but I am trying to work out what salary I should expect.
I am currently making around GBP 67k + 10% bonus+ 7k car allowance + medical + pension. How much should I expect to earn in New Jersey?

Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks
William

Untitled 3

What field are you in? It can vary by industry.

md95065

Also, where are you in the UK and what kind of lifestyle do you want to have in the US?

A GBP 67k salary + 10% bonus gets you a lot more in Leeds than it does in London.

New Jersey can be a fairly expensive place to live but even there a lot depends on exactly where you are in NJ and what your expectations are.

All that having been said, if I had to pull a number out of the air, I would guess that you should be looking for something in the $140k - $150k range.

GeoffM

As the others have said, it's not a straightforward calculation. For example, in my position in the UK (software technical authority) I can't expect much more than 5-10% extra in the US at the current exchange rate, whereas my wife (CCU nurse) could expect at least double her current salary - plus get signing on bonuses in certain areas. Take off insurance and other things you don't pay in the UK and I might get the same salary in the US.

WilliamAS

Thanks for your input. I am in the Telecom industry moving from London to a pretty nice area approx 1 hr from the City.

Sally Redux

Have they put a figure on the table?

chrisbeale

http://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm


Very rough though, people under/overestate their salaries for various reasons.

GeoffM

That's still a pretty broad industry - and an equally broad description of where, both of which still vary the (even subjective) figures considerably!

WilliamAS

They offered to match my UK base pay in USD, but all benefits will be removed. I.e. I will lose my 7k GBP car allowance.

Does anyone know whether in the UK a car allowance is considered part of base pay or whether it is normally considered a special benefit.

I remember that in Holland it was considered part of Salary, but I am not sure of the UK-rules

Thanks,
William

Sally Redux

It sounds like you would be worse off with that deal. You will need to be sure you will have a good medical plan before moving here. If they are going to just pay you at today's exchange rate that's about $107,000. It's a good wage, but as others have mentioned, depending on where you live it may not go that far. Of course it depends what your other options are and your motivations for moving.

Jerseygirl

Is it a permanent move...are you actually leaving the UK firm and joining the US firm? If so NJ is a fire at will state...so you can lose your job and receive little or no compensation. Also check holiday entitlement...the normal is 5 to 10 days...so you may want to look into being compensated for the extra days you are working each year. Check the pension scheme available...how long will you have to work before you're vested in the scheme?

Retseh

I tripled my salary when I moved over, and was able to make more choices about where to spend it/save it (paid less tax, more healthcare options, more retirement investment options etc).

Just remember though that it's not all about the money, vacation is EXTREMELY important - I came from 6 weeks of holidays in the UK to just 2 weeks over here. So I had all this money, and no time to enjoy it. Of course it means that after 9 years I now have several hundred thousand $ sitting in investment accounts and no real idea what to do with it all, but I miss those vacations that I didn't get to have.

Remember to negotiate time off just as vigorously as the cash deal.

WilliamAS

Thanks. I am actually staying with the same company after over 10 years of service so the vacation will not be decreased significantly.

Thanks for all your help. If anyone know of some 'official' document or formula to use please let me know

TGFKASE

Make sure you have your vacation entitlement in writing. I was in the same boat and assumed that the 32 days I had accrued would be matched. Not so...

Jerseygirl

What I meant was...when you move here will your contract of employment be with the UK company or the US company? Terms and conditions of employment could be very different in terms of severance pay, holiday entitlement etc. What visa will you have...make sure you get it in writing that the company will apply for a Green Card asap if applicable.