Retirement Planning - Lessons Learned

[RickB]

There are two tiers of employers here. The first pays over $15/hr with full benefits. They require a basic level of skill in reading and math, no addictions and that you show up for work regularly. The second tier pays over $10/hr without benefits (there aren't any "minimum wage" jobs anymore) and just requires you to show up. Neither can find workers.

Pretty much like here.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Buddy of mine owns his own electrical contracting business in PA, has been looking for an electrician for over a year; starting pay, $30 bucks an hour, clothes, van, and health ins. No takers...

 

[Fuddy1952]

Buddy of mine owns his own electrical contracting business in PA, has been looking for an electrician for over a year; starting pay, $30 bucks an hour, clothes, van, and health ins. No takers...

What's wrong with young people today. That's insane! $1,200/wk. All those perks.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Buddy of mine owns his own electrical contracting business in PA, has been looking for an electrician for over a year; starting pay, $30 bucks an hour, clothes, van, and health ins. No takers...

Electricians here start at $50/hr. Yours probably all moved for better pay. A carpenter's helper with 1 year experience averages $27/hr. How are you supposed to live a middle class life on the East Coast for $30/hr? That's the equivalent of $4.25/hour in 1970.

By comparison, the average RN salary in Oregon is $34.90/hour after 10 years of experience, and that's substantially higher than the national average. In return they often have to cancel plans to fill shifts, where they sometimes don't even get bathroom breaks.

Nurse salary in Oregon

The average salary for a Nurse is $34.24 per hour in Oregon. Learn about salaries, benefits, salary satisfaction and where you could earn the most.

www.indeed.com

It's not a great surprise that so many are moving to other professions for comparable pay and much better working conditions. I know one who quit nursing and manages a doctor's office, with the same pay, shorter hours, and she doesn't have to watch people die.

 

[Oaktree]

Electricians here start at $50/hr. Yours probably all moved for better pay. A carpenter's helper with 1 year experience averages $27/hr. How are you supposed to live a middle class life on the East Coast for $30/hr? That's the equivalent of $4.25/hour in 1970.

$30/hr translates to a bit over $60k a year. I never made that much in my life, and I think I did pretty well. Don't think I was making anywhere close to $4.25 in 1970 either.
I question these statistics that show what you need for a "living wage".

 

[two_bit_score]

$30/hr translates to a bit over $60k a year. I never made that much in my life, and I think I did pretty well. Don't think I was making anywhere close to $4.25 in 1970 either.
I question these statistics that show what you need for a "living wage".

Old saying, it’s not what you make, it’s what you spend. I would add it’s also how you save and invest.

Quite a few people of ‘modest means’ have left sizable estates.

 

[ultrarunner]

Was in Hoquiam Washington the other week and a large sign at the mill saying forget the commute and work here offering up to $37.50

Be hardpressed to offer less than $55 hourly for SF Bay Area RN...

We have a hiring freeze as do many providers but RN with experience can and do work anywhere...

Area minimum wage is often $15...

Everywhere in 4 states I saw help wanted signs... California, Oregon, Nevada and Washington...

 

[goeduck]

I have a friend who was a firefighter/ems in Texas. He retired from that and became an RN. He was working and happy when he was looking on line one evening and saw an advertisement for RN jobs in the PNW. He was offered double what he was making in Texas and they were packed and moved within a week.

I hope they checked cost of living out here.

 

[two_bit_score]

I hope they checked cost of living out here.

Knowing him - yes they did. His wife does something where she can work from anywhere and I think they will just scrape up as much OT as possible for as long as they want to stay and then return to Texas.

He already has a couple different rentals out here.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Old saying, it’s not what you make, it’s what you spend. I would add it’s also how you save and invest.

Quite a few people of ‘modest means’ have left sizable estates.

Exactly... and the same rules for wages applies to real estate. My house and acreage just an hour and a half away would double, three hours and it would triple; in northern Cali, God only knows ...