Since you're not going to get much but "my job went to India" - I'd take a look and see what you NEED. Do you have a family? $40-45K would be good ($20-22.50 per hour), especially if your spouse works. Take the highest you can get. Resume' experience and skills pay off.
I make $45K in LA, and let me tell you, supporting a family on that in SoCal is hard. We pay almost $1000 for a one bedroom apartment in a safe (but not luxurious) neighborhood, where my wife and I live with our toddler and our infant. Things are tight out here; I had to move from San Diego to get this job, and one of my co-workers moved from Silicon Valley. The salary range actually topped out at $40K but the wanted the skillset I was bringing to the table badly enough to come up the extra five. Asking
Think about this for a second. $45K is pre-tax. Take away social "security" tax, state tax, federal tax and with luck $30K remains. Now take away $12K for rent, that leaves 18K. Per month, that is $1500. Now take away food, clothes, medical bill, and maybe a car payment and gas, and there isn't a lot of wiggle room.
I thought the US was supposed to have low taxes! You're talking of an average tax rate of 33%. I'm earning a lot more than that but living in Canada... my average tax rate is 26%, although the marginal rate has topped out at 43%. I felt like I was getting a better deal when I moved here from the States, now you've confirmed it! To think my taxes actually include something useful like decent health care.
Canida has a free military, paid for by me. This is what I get instead of healthcare...
You can argue the merrits of this until you pass out... Just realize that nations like Canida and Japan save a lot of money by effectivly realying on our Navy to insure stability.
I'll stop before I loose my calm:) (no I didn't vote for bush) --
I don't know a good rate... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I don't know a good rate... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I don't know a good rate... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:I don't know a good rate... (Score:-1, Troll)
Re:I don't know a good rate... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I don't know a good rate... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:I don't know a good rate... (Score:1)
You can argue the merrits of this until you pass out... Just realize that nations like Canida and Japan save a lot of money by effectivly realying on our Navy to insure stability.
I'll stop before I loose my calm
(no I didn't vote for bush)
--