Thinking About Moving to LA
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- Alu
From the UK, currently living in China. I've been offered a Creative Directors gig in downtown LA, with a salary of 80k p/a.
Is LA doable with a small family on 80k? Anybody live in a decent area close to downtown? Any tips?
Thanks...
- utopian0
Compton awaits you.
- DRIFTMONKEY0
- Mamma Mia, here I go again, my my, how can I resist you...Horp
- orrinward0
I have no idea on LA costs, but $80k for a CD in a major city does not sound like a good amount for a family man.
- depends on the size of the company?mydo
- if the family is more than you and a small dog, that's not a lot for LA.johnny_wobble
- vaxorcist0
How likely is the company to exist a year or two from now?
I turned down a gig once that was far away because it smelled a bit fishy.... the company went belly-up a few months later, so I was glad I didn't take the gig...
- supersimple0
for 80k, you and your family arent going to live anywhere near downtown (probably wouldnt want to either). Get a nice car, you'll be spending a lot of time in it.
- JSK0
80k is really tiny for even a tiny company.
- mtgentry0
Just make sure you aren't chasing a fancy title
- dbloc0
yeah man...for a CD around here, at least 6 digis.
- TresLeches0
80 is shit. i know several peoples who make about that and aren't even close to CDs
- orrinward0
I have no idea on how it would translate from China, but if you think you could live on £40k, with a family, in London then you'd be able to do it.
But you'll be wanting to save up if you have kids though, and that's not really going to happen on that. Is your partner working as well?
- fresnobob0
80k for a CD does seem low, but as far as being able to live off it, yeah, its possible, you won't be living high by any means though.
You're not going to want to live in downtown, but you could easily live within a 10-15 minute commute. Or less if you want to live in the 'hood...
- Miguex0
wow, really impressed by all of you guys here!
I'm ashamed of saying how much I make here in SD if 80k is low..- 190k + some company benefits
supersimple - in Detroit too!
vaxorcist - :Dsupersimple
- i don't make 80K either brother, but cost of living is a lot lower in dallas.johnny_wobble
- You're not alone MIguex.DRIFTMONKEY
- just you and me driftmonkey?
everyone else is rollin on doughMiguex
- 190k + some company benefits
- vaxorcist0
I look back at some of my FT jobs...respect, autonomy and a lack of craziness... much more important than pay.... some of the crazier environments couldn't be saved by a near-infinite salary.... and some of my favorite gigs paid the least....
but I'm a free agent now, can't stand the idea of being a domesticated animal again, no matter what it pays....
- Alu0
I've been a CD in China for the last 5 years, so I'm not chasing a title. I am chasing a bit of normality and a better routine. I'm doing 12-16 hour days, everyday at the moment and its killing family life. The company in LA has been going 5 years already and are on an upward curve, so no fear of them closing. The job is not exactly what I want to do but when you've been in the game 15 years and have a family, priorities have to change. I've loved everyday I've gone to work so far but now providing foe the family is more important than doing crazy stuff. I wanted at least 115k but the company cannot quite afford that yet, maybe in 6-12 months I can get close to that level.
But for sure I don't wanna hang with Snoop and his old pals.
- Big difference between 80 and 115k. You'll be lucky to get to 95k within 12 months.Amicus
- Amicus is right.luckyorphan
- JSK0
If you are in creative field and you are not doing or want to do 10-16 hours a day, it's time to change industry. Time to move out of agency.
Actually you never mentiones being on the agency side, maybe for in house at a small company, 80k is ok.
Regardless, you can't really have a decent living with a family for 80k. You will need two cars with a family in LA. Walking is not an option.
If you plan to move to states and change jobs after for higher / better company, it's tougher than you think if you have a family.
CDs are glorified salesmen, at least get paid for the selling. Add salary contingency on sales or growth of company along with equity as you will be selling and selling.
- sephil0
Surprised you can actually be on QBN in China. This website should definitively be on the Great Firewall listing
- vaxorcist0
What's the market position of this company? I.e. are they the bmw dealer of their market or the cheapest and fastest?
I look back on my ft gigs and the market position and reputation of the company seemed to determine how much extra random stuff the sales staff had to promise at the last minute to keep clients... how likely cluents were likely to qyestion everything creative or go along with our ideas
- luckyorphan0
If you're looking to come to LA as your main priority, then take the gig as a short-term deal, and aggressively pursue other options. But if you're looking for a new home to stay at and have a more normal life, 80k is not acceptable for a CD in LA. And frankly, if you're the only bread-winner, then 80k is not going to very far in LA. Your small family will be stretching your dollars pretty thin in order to live in a decent place.
As a CD working in LA, I can tell you that you should definitely be asking for at least $115k. Check the stats:
http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWiza…
As you'll see, 80k is at the very low end. Now, that said, you can negotiate if they want you that bad. Since they are 35k short of your ask, you can ask for lesser days or hours, required re-evaluation in 6 months, profit sharing, etc. But that said, if they aren't even remotely close to your ask, the odds are that they won't be interested in any negotiations.
But here's a question: You mentioned that they're on an upward curve. If that's true, then it's time for them to put on their big boy pants and pay for what they want.
But frankly, last time I was paid that rate, I was a Senior Designer.
- Thanks! There are other perks on offer but not many...Alu
- Alu0
So if I could get $115 it would be worth the move.
Any suggestions about good areas and which ones to avoid?- Since you have a family, make sure you use this: http://www.greatscho…luckyorphan
- Cool places sometimes have shitty schools. Get yer priorities in line.luckyorphan