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Post by Tweetiepy on May 22, 2006 18:08:34 GMT -5
I don't wanna know how much everyone or anyone makes - that's none of my business. But in movies & on TV we hear about how the salaries are different in the US and houses are less expensive in the states because of this. Now here in Canada a secretary that works in the government (with basic high school education) can make up to $35K. I know government has lots of high paid idiots running stuff that they know nothing about, but does this seem pretty much the same as in the states?
This is because my other thread for house prices got me thinking about the price difference between both countries...
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Post by deb193 on May 22, 2006 18:36:47 GMT -5
Is that 35K Canadian dollars? Depending on the job duties and seniority, 35k US dollars is a little high w/o college degree.
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Post by Cher on May 22, 2006 18:48:10 GMT -5
Tweet a whole lot matters on where your at. A medical transcriber up where I live might make 24K if they are lucky but if they moved to the Twin Cities area they could easily add 10k or more to it.
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Post by Alice on May 22, 2006 18:57:55 GMT -5
I think it comes out to pretty much the same if you do the exchange rate thing Tweetie.
It also depends on what province you live in also.
Someone in BC will more then likely make more then someone living in Manitoba, because the cost of living is higher.
Someone living in California will probably make oodles more then someone living in (lets say) Kansas.
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earthdog
Cave Dweller 
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on May 22, 2006 20:34:03 GMT -5
I agree with Cher, it depends on where you are at. Around here w/o college a state office worker can easily make 35k a year and thats first year in. My wife makes kick ass cash working for child support but the next county up, which is 5 miles away, they make probably 5/7 dollars an hour less. If I drove a cement mixer 5 miles south in Il. I would be making about 4/5 dollars an hour more.
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Post by hermatite on May 23, 2006 13:26:58 GMT -5
Its much more complicated than that. Here, for example, I make alot as a secretary. But health insurance is higher, food is cheaper, but housing's higher, clothes are cheaper but property taxes are higher. I've found, after living in both places to say one is cheaper than the other is comparing apples and oranges.
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on May 23, 2006 13:48:39 GMT -5
I can't help you since here in Serbia with college (faculty of geology, master degree) one is making only 3200 US$ per year.
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Post by hermatite on May 23, 2006 14:09:44 GMT -5
Hey Zotika,
Will Montenegran independence affect you at all?
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on May 23, 2006 14:34:36 GMT -5
Not at all. I think that things are going to be a bit better for Serbia. Serbia and Montenegro already were functioning as two different countries. So no big difference now. Serbia budget is going to be a little bigger since there wouldn't be federal budget givings.
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KG1960
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2008
Posts: 512
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Post by KG1960 on May 25, 2006 19:56:29 GMT -5
I think the best way to compare wages in differetn countries is to see how much time one has to work to buy certain things. Example, how many hours per week does one have to work to keep oneself or one's family well fed.
You used the example of the price of a house. The problem is that it varies greatly in different parts of the country. My same house here just outside of Peoria, IL would cost twice as much (maybe more) in the Chicago area.
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Shelbeeray
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2006
Posts: 688
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Post by Shelbeeray on May 28, 2006 17:10:39 GMT -5
I've kind of found it balances out. My wages, as a secretary, are double what they were but so are the income taxes. BUT, I don't have to pay the $400 per month for medical insurance or deductibles or prescription costs like I did in the U.S., which balances out the tax costs.
Housing costs and utilities are about the same, groceries can be a bit more expensive, but then again, I live up near Alaska so the shipping adds to the cost. Vehicle insurance is more expensive as is gasoline.
I work 35 hours per week compared to 50+ - so in the end, I'd say my lifestyle and cost of living is much better than before - especially with the medical coverage here. While there may occasionally be waiting lists for some services, our care is excellent. I have a friend who is currently going through chemotherapy. She will pay nothing for her surgery, treatments or medications. She was told that the chemo she is on costs the government 20k per month and that in BC more chemo drugs are covered than anywhere else in Canada. At least she doesn't have to worry about finances and can concentrate on getting better. For this, I will gladly pay increased taxes.
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