2 Job offers...Cant decide!

Ok so I have two job offers on the table and I literally have no idea which one is better/worse. I can’t even come to a conclusion making a positive and negatives table. Any advice would help…

Job#1
Location: Maryland
Salary: $99,000/yr
Title: Cyber Security (DoD)
Function: Pen testing/ Vulnerability assessments

Job#2
Location: Hawaii
Salary: $68,000/yr
Title: Electronics Technician NON-IT (Federal Aviation Administration)
Function: Navigational aids, GPS tech, tactical air navigation

I have a wife and 2 kids, no debt.

Salary is a big difference, I would love Hawaii, I enjoy working with my hands (electronics tech), I enjoy security….I cant freakin decide and I need to make a decision fast!

…Wife would do either.

Find more posts tagged with

Free for TechExams community: Cybersecurity salary guide

Compare cert salaries and plan your next career move

Button

Comments

lsud00d

Although Hawaii would be awesome, that doesn't seem like a live-able salary unless some costs (housing...?) were offset in some way.

networker050184

I've never lived in Hawaii but as lsud00d said I've heard the COL is pretty high there, especially housing. Might want to do some thorough research there.

GAngel

Random people on the internet won't be any help either

why not both over a period of time. if your wife won't be working that salary will have you poor in hawaii.

DeZi xP

If money is not a concern (or savings), why wouldn't Hawaii be the top choice? There's nothing better than coming home to a nice beach house!

But honestly there is a lot to consider even if your wife and kids don't mind. I would say look at Living Expenses ($1,000/mo for a tiny beach house in Hawaii vs $1,000/mo for a 2 story 2200 SQ FT huge house), Education (how well the schooling district is for your kids near your employment),and I would also just look at Fun Facts about each city where you will be employed! I turned down an offer two years back in Oklahoma because I was just frightened of how many tornadoes pass through annually.... =]

IT-Fella

I doubt that in the city where Cyberscum is offered 99K will be a "$1,000/mo for a 2 story 2200 SQ FT huge house" in a good area...
However, I would pick the first offer since there will be more job opportunities in MD if that position won't work out well. Also, moving to Hawaii will be a pain, especially with cars and such.

Cyberscum

IT-Fella wrote: »

I doubt that in the city where Cyberscum is offered 99K will be a "$1,000/mo for a 2 story 2200 SQ FT huge house" in a good area...
However, I would pick the first offer since there will be more job opportunities in MD if that position won't work out well. Also, moving to Hawaii will be a pain, especially with cars and such.

Housing in the area of MD would be pretty damn high...2k and up

Cyberscum

GAngel wrote: »

Random people on the internet won't be any help either
why not both over a period of time. if your wife won't be working that salary will have you poor in hawaii.

Its in Hilo, which is less than Honolulu but I still dont know if that would be a wage we could live on. My wife could work, but I dont want to get into a position where she must.

jamthat

How about quality of living? Not sure what Hawaii is like, but after enduring 270 traffic in Maryland for many years, it'll wear on you. I'd take waking up in Hawaii every morning vs an unpredictable 20 mile, 18-120 minute one-way commute any day. On days I had to go down to DC - forget getting anything else done that day. I think that's worth $30k to me

snunez889

I would take the second option if thats something you would want to do and have no experience in. You already have a background in IT and can come back to it if the other doesn't work out. The second option might be something that doesn't get offered to you very often.

Cyberscum

jamthat wrote: »

How about quality of living? Not sure what Hawaii is like, but after enduring 270 traffic in Maryland for many years, it'll wear on you. I'd take waking up in Hawaii every morning vs an unpredictable 20 mile, 18-120 minute one-way commute any day. On days I had to go down to DC - forget getting anything else done that day. I think that's worth $30k to me

It really is a choice of lifestyle like you say. Hilo is a pretty quite place in HI. I would love to pick up surfing too

jamthat

Cyberscum wrote: »

It really is a choice of lifestyle like you say. Hilo is a pretty quite place in HI. I would love to pick up surfing too

Feel free to PM if you have any questions about the area of MD you're looking at. I'm pretty familiar with..well, all of MD haha

Cyberscum

snunez889 wrote: »

I would take the second option if thats something you would want to do and have no experience in. You already have a background in IT and can come back to it if the other doesn't work out. The second option might be something that doesn't get offered to you very often.

I have about 10 years in electronics and 6 in IT. Its a tough decision, I love IT exploitation and I love technology equally. I love to work outside though, which I cant do in IT.

@Jam,
Copy thanks!

NOC-Ninja

Hawaii is VERY nice. Are they going to pay for relocation?

Cyberscum

NOC-Ninja wrote: »

Hawaii is VERY nice. Are they going to pay for relocation?

Nope, We would pretty much sell everyhting and ship the cars. So guessing about 5-6k to move

Burnsie

Currently living on Oahu, here. Love it, but the expense of living on the islands is huge compared to the mainland. Hilo isn't as bad as Oahu as far as real estate costs, but the Utilities are something most people overlook. Our electricity is .29 cents/Kw. That equates to about a $400/month electric bill for a 1700sqf house with air conditioning. Water is also very high. Most people don't realize that when you move out here, everything costs more. Those costs add up quickly. I highly suggest looking up some cost of living comparisons.

Another thing to consider is the recent hurricanes and the current lava flows. Hilo always gets the short end of the stick when it comes to natural disasters.

I think that if the salaries were equal this would be open for discussion, but considering one is $30,000 less, this shouldn't even be a thought.

Feel free to PM me, if you need any other info.

B

markulous

Have you been to Hawaii? It's a great place to visit but living there is likely a completely different story. I think I'd get island fever. And as others mentioned, the prices there are insane. I remember the prices at McDonald's and at grocery stores were both like double the amount what I was paying in California. Not everyone likes the humidity either.

Unless it's your dream to work in Hawaii and/or to be an Electronics Tech, I'd take the job that pays 30k more easily.

Chitownjedi

Hawaii has an astronomically high cost of living... If you are going with a wife and two kids and you have the only income at 68,000... yeah.. man.. that will be pretty rough.

ArabianKnight

I lived on Oahu for 7 years and recently accepted a position there. Moving my truck cost me $2600 and don't forget furniture, rental car for 3-4 weeks, hotel and plane tickets. The only reason I accepted this gig was for the career development and experience. They gave me 86K for salary, I am single so a place to live for me goes for about $1100-1300 bucks(300-600 sqft). If it was $68k on Oahu I would say no way! The big island is different but I got island fever when I lived in Hawaii in the past, 2 hours any way and you hit water. I would for sure take the MD gig, do not let the "island life" fool you! Over-rated IMHO!!!

JGDaily

This should be an easy choice. You have to consider some factors into play like cost of living (housing, traffic, gas and food). Pick which one you really want (that is also approved by the family) and factor that into cost of living -- you'll be set.

I moved from Minnesota to North Carolina, and finally residing in Los Angeles. I've had positions in all three coast with three different pay scales.

If it helps, everyone told me Los Angeles would be expensive to live in -- I think my salary in Los Angeles makes it worth while. I am glad I made the choice to settle in my dream city.

emerald_octane

Wow, that salary in Hawaii is a nonstarter. If you could do $100k in Hawaii then that'd be the winning option IMO. I'd go for the other option

Hammer80

You also mentioned that you have two kids, if their education is important to you then don't move to Hawaii they have one of the worst education systems in the country vs. Maryland which has one of the best. Seriously at 68k with a wife that stays at home and two kids Hawaii will eat you alive financially, don't do it. If you were single that would be one thing, but with wife and kids Hawaii should not be even be a consideration due to salary vs. cost of living.

MrAgent

I would definitely go with the DoD job. More more and doing some pretty cool security stuff.

MattyIceVA

I have heard people say living in Hawaii is expensive. I have also heard people say if you want something, do it. I for one am jealous of your predicament.

Burnsie

Hammer80 wrote: »

You also mentioned that you have two kids, if their education is important to you then don't move to Hawaii they have one of the worst education systems in the country vs. Maryland which has one of the best.

I don't have kids and forgot to mention that. The education system is horrendous out here.

ArabianKnight

Oh yea....and we used to make fun of the guys in my unit that were "local" because of the edu system!

I also forgot to mention the BAH for an E-1 to E-4 single is $2190. Up from $1461 in 2012!

Cyberscum

Now I understand the cost of living is much higher, but it just seems like it is not as bad as people say it is. Say fir instance this

4 bedroom, 2.5 baths

This is near Hilo, where the job will be. I also have read some posts from locals saying that if you are not in the tourist areas the cost of living is not that bad....

MeanDrunkR2D2

I say forget them both. Move into the Appalachian mountains and start your own bootleg moonshine business. That is where all the money is now. Just need to find a couple of young guys with a fast car that can outrun the local overweight mayor and his incompetent sheriff.

Bonus, there are short shorts in that situation too.

Chitownjedi

Cyberscum wrote: »

Now I understand the cost of living is much higher, but it just seems like it is not as bad as people say it is. Say fir instance this

4 bedroom, 2.5 baths

This is near Hilo, where the job will be. I also have read some posts from locals saying that if you are not in the tourist areas the cost of living is not that bad....

IMHO this absolutely screams that you want to go Hawaii. So do it. One thing I've never done or never tried to do was enable is someone literally being afraid to do something. Your choice, your life. Live with the consequence for good or bad, and if it don't work out, bust your tail to make it better by moving back or somewhere that offers better support if Hawaii doesn't.

Either choice you got a job and you getting paid doing something you want to do. If you are trying to keep Hawaii in the race contrary to what you already have researched and have heard already about the main con, then it's pretty simple man. If you were defending 1 1/2 hour long commutes in MD, and saying it probably isn't that bad, I would say the same thing.

Just do Hawaii... it's Hawaii....

I notice sometimes people ask for advice to do the opposite of the consensus.

ArabianKnight

The BAH for the big island is $1098 about half of what it would be for Oahu, wow!

Another website you can go to check your income is paycheckcity.com type in your specific info in the calculator and it spits out what your paycheck would be.

Cyberscum

No I hear ya man. I am really just trying to convince myself that 70k would suffice, which it wouldn’t for a family. Would be cool to be in Hawaii, but maybe some other time with a better offer. Looking at the two offers on paper is really open shut especially for the fact the move would be paid for in the MD job.

Chitownjedi wrote: »

IMHO this absolutely screams that you want to go Hawaii. So do it. One thing I've never done or never tried to do was enable is someone literally being afraid to do something. Your choice, your life. Live with the consequence for good or bad, and if it don't work out, bust your tail to make it better by moving back or somewhere that offers better support if Hawaii doesn't.

Either choice you got a job and you getting paid doing something you want to do. If you are trying to keep Hawaii in the race contrary to what you already have researched and have heard already about the main con, then it's pretty simple man. If you were defending 1 1/2 hour long commutes in MD, and saying it probably isn't that bad, I would say the same thing.

Just do Hawaii... it's Hawaii....

I notice sometimes people ask for advice to do the opposite of the consensus.