on what kind of salary, do americans survive in california?
917560
We used to live in California, and the situation you describe is precisely why we left.\n\nWe were both professionals making good money, but we couldn't afford a home and couldn't afford much else.  We moved to Texas and have been happy ever since...
281436
I don't know if it any different in CA , but in general you figure about $100 per square foot/ more or less depending on the economy and costs of supplies at that particular point in time..
177565
I live in Missouri and I wouldn't be able to live in $9 an hour here so I know in California (where cost of living is much higher) you wouldn't be able to do so.
1008989
US Department of Labor has a nice website called the Occupational Outlook Handbook.\n\nhttp://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos161.htm\n\n"Median hourly earnings of chefs and head cooks were $14.75 in May 2004." It doesn't answer anything about California, though.
1182842
ask a laywer that works in California
462190
I am a caregiver in California.  There is a website called CalJobs (California Job Service) which describes jobs throughout CA.  Caregivers are in demand. They are in demand everywhere. I am 63 and tend to a 49 yr. old developmentally disabled man.  I earn about net=$1600/month.\nGood luck in your future....we need you.
641212
So hard to compare. \n$700/month for a professional like you would be ridiculously low here in the USA, but it is also probably more expensive to live here (housing, food, taxes, insurance, etc...)  \nIt is hard to say what that means in terms of real spending power.
1056088
For me the criteria are\nFriendly people, low taxes, low cost of living, level of Gov interferance with your life, natural scenery, climate, jobs, level of pollution (both traditional and urban) and the culture. \n\nStates I liked when I lived there \nTexas, Florida, (Loved Colorado when I lived there long ago but hated it when I went back. It was like California with more mountains. None of the Coloradian spirit was left. Just an imitation California)\n\nNorthwest Arkansas was ok. It was a pretty area but the taxes were evil. Bad enough I had to drive to Oklahoma to buy groceries once a month. I hear they've since repealed some of those taxes but it's still far to heavily taxed. \n\n\nStates that I'm interested in learning more about include Virginia, North and South Carolina, Vermont, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada and Iowa. \n\nI visited southern Ill and the area was pretty but taxes and cost of living too high in my opinion. \n\nI've not lived in Cali but I've rescued a few people from there :) The cost of living out there is insane. You get pulled over for going 5mph over the speed limit in alot of places and I've NEVER seen so many cops in my life. I think CHIPs has more officers on patrol at any given moment than most states have total cops. Seems like everything is against the law out there. I have heard tales of first offenders going to prison for things like graffiti and illegal dumping. Prison, not jail for this kind of offense. Every time I visit Cali I buy everything I need in Arizona, top off the tanks there. Then drive like I'm taking a driving test. Buy nothing and get the hell out of Cali as soon as I can. I almost expect them to ask me for a passport when I cross the border there. The people are unfriendly, the highways less than great. The climate mild but not all that spectaculer. Get up in the Santa Barbera area and you'll never want to see the color pink again. Building codes require EVERY building to look exactly alike. What would be quiant in a village becomes a monstrosity when applied to an entire town. That most of the towns in that area have the same code makes it into some sort of Twilight zone area. Well more of a puking zone area. I'm amazed people don't go postal there on a frequent basis just from having to look at the EXACT same kind of building over and over again over a period of years. Me it only took days before I never wanted to see that style ever again. This is a prime example of the kind of mentality in Cali. One of extreme conformism that makes conservitive states actually look wild. Even the "wild" people in Cali have to make a fashion statement while being "wild" it seems. To me it just seems like this huge unending trend machine. \n\nMissisippi didn't strike me as a great place to live. Very low standard of living, prevalent racism, authoritarian laws. When I go through there I just keep on going. \n\nWestern Oklahoma and West Texas are dry, windy inhospitable places. Local govs are entrenched and seem to hate outsiders. Hate both of those areas. East Oklahoma is like a whole different state. Pretty rolling hills, trees, people seemed nice when I passed through. I saw not a trace of racial tension in any visit to OK. People seemed to just be themselves there. Not alot of scenery and the jobs seemed relitively scarce. Taxes were on par with Tx last time I was through OK. Been there dozens of times over the last 10 years. Stayed overnight several times. \n\nI've driven through Kansas a few times. Bleached is the only word I can think of to describe that state :) Everything seems like it's been in the sun and wind too long. \n\nArizona is a decent place to live. People are friendly, not as friendly as in the South but close. It's a practical state and the desert has it's own kind of beauty. It's hot and it's dry. Not a state for gardeners or boaters. Taxes are reasonable, cost of living low but wa
22735
Depends on how long you plan on being here and if you can afford it.  In the bay area, houses are still SO expensive...we pay 700,000 for small 2 bedroom homes here!  Southern CA isn't as bad though and out in the middle, it's still reasonable.  \n\nIf you're only here a couple years, renting might be best, but if you're here long term, it's a good investment.
283656
Any state with a large medium salary would also have the highest tax deduction and a higher cost of living, so you would look at Massachusetts, California, New York.\n\nIf you are looking for a career move, then consider AZ, NM, TX.  They don't pay as much but the taxes are lower as is the cost of living
878243
There is no "average" income. There are set income limits decided upon by the US Department of Education based on poverty guidlines from the prior year. These limits are dependent upon your family size. Here is a brief listing of family size and income limits for the 2006-2007 California Board of Governors fee waiver application:\n\nFAM SIZE                    2005 INCOME\n1                                  14355\n3                                   19245\n4                                   29025\n6                                   38805
643751
Have you evern seen the fields in California, in Arizona? Those people working under the hundred degree weather are all Mexicans, South Americans, Central Americans, probably undocumented. So far I have not seen an Anglo doing those jobs! How about construction? Those jobs are so dangerous, so hard to do! As for myself, I would not expose my life, my health, doing those tasks, for the cheap pay. Someone has to do it.\n\nWhat are my excuses? My allergies, my "education," my pride, you name it, I got it. I prefer to work in the shade, with "educated" people, with benefits. There's a lot of people like me... I love to buy my vegetables, my fruit, at a decent price. What will we do without immmigrants? The cost of everything will get so high it would not be affordable.\n\nAlso, when I travel, I like to find a clean bed in the hotel where I spend the night. I love to eat in restaurants too. Who do you think cooks that delicious Mexican or Chinese food you and I like? Who will be humble enough to clean the mess we Anglos make?\n\nOne more point: when I grow old, I want for those people who take care of me in the nursing home to be nice to me.
1120586
Many variables there. What profession? Minimum wage varies from the standard to $6.75/hr in LA and Orange Counties and $8.84/hr in San Francisco. Cost of living is higher in these areas as well.
360806
Spanish.\n\nRecent census data shows that 26% of Californians speak Spanish in the home, and this figure is only likely to grow in future years. \n\nHaving a good working ability in Spanish will not only help you to communicate in your own state, but will also help you if you travel to Spain and many countries in Central and South America.
550491
California, like anywhere else has benefits and disadvantages to living here.  San Diego politics are a mess, Duke Cunningham was just hauled off to jail, we have a huge pension problem, several of our city council members were indicted in a strip club scandal and it seems like our city governement is unresponsive to the people who live here.  The state is no better, remember we recalled our governor and replaced Davis with the girlie man terminator.  \n\nWe have a huge problem with illegal aliens who use services like education and health care to which they don't contribute.  As a result, most of our schools are over crowded and under performing.  Our public hospital emergency rooms can have 6-8 hour waits, are inefficient and rate poorly for service.  We are always faced with some new school bond, hospital bond, library bond or increase in the sales tax because of it.\n\nIt is really expensive to live here.  Traffic conjestion is a fact of life.  Owning a home is out of reach for a lot of middle income people.  \n\nBut, it is a beautiful state to live in, as well.  Miles of beaches, mountains, deserts, forests, and there is always something to do.  Where else can you go from the ocean to the mountains in the same day?  The weather is generally comfortable throughout the year.  \n\nWe have an election coming up and Californians aren't afraid of change.  Maybe some fresh faces will change the course of our future!
346879
New York or California
758793
This does vary from state to state but in Cal it is solely on Base pay only.  There has been legislation in the past that was trying to change this but then it got put to the side and a new administration came in.  Sorry, I know this is not the answer you were looking for.