Job offer in Phoenix, AZ - advice?

AlpineJay · 05-08-2006, 04:17 PM

Over this past weekend, I flew out to Phoenix for an interview at Honeywell Aerospace, obviously a huge and reputable company. It is a good job - working in flight controls - and today they extended me an offer.

The offer is $65K with a $7500 signing bonus, and they are offering relocation (currently I'm wrapping up my MSEE in the Boston area). From the offers I have been getting, the base salary is roughly 10K or so lower than a normal offer I would command here in the northeast. But I assume that the cost of living is different - a website I visited seemed to suggest that living expenses overall are 25% cheaper, a figure I have a hard time buying into.

I drove around the Phoenix area but couldn't really get a feel on what it's like. I'm wondering if anyone out there in the G|A community has any knowledge of the Phoenix area and can provide any insight pertaining to living costs, and overall quality of living. If someone can make a comparison to living out in the northeast, that would be even more appreciated. Also, for those who know Honeywell as a company, any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks!

MrGreg · 05-08-2006, 04:40 PM

I spent almost a year in Phoenix (Tempe, actually).
Good BBQ, good poker rooms at the indian casinos, and more hot girls than you can shake your stick at. It was also hotter than hell. I would believe that 25% cheaper than Boston figure. 65k will go a long way in Phoenix.

But when I was there, I had this weird feeling that if the right 8 water pipes all broke at the same time, in 2 days every would be dead from dehydration. People just shouldn't live in a place that has no water.

brainsmile · 05-08-2006, 05:45 PM

Hope you like the heat. I hated Phoenix. But I think it's cause I encountered a whole bunch of rednecks. Not necessarily reflective of the city but I don't personally like 120+ degree summers and being the only asian in sight. 65k will go a long way yes but you may be able to get more somewhere else where it's a bit more expensive but worth it.

dbax791 · 05-09-2006, 03:18 PM

I've lived in Phoenix since I was 6 years old and can probably answer specific questions you have.

The cost of living is very reasonable compared to other large cities. The only thing is that real estate took a big spike in prices over the past two years. It costs about $200/sf right now. The only other thing that will get you is high electric bills in the summer.

My dad actually recently retired from Honeywell after working there for nearly 30 years. He really liked it there.

AlpineJay · 05-15-2006, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbax791

I've lived in Phoenix since I was 6 years old and can probably answer specific questions you have.

The cost of living is very reasonable compared to other large cities. The only thing is that real estate took a big spike in prices over the past two years. It costs about $200/sf right now. The only other thing that will get you is high electric bills in the summer.

My dad actually recently retired from Honeywell after working there for nearly 30 years. He really liked it there.

ygpm.

Itsme · 05-15-2006, 11:16 PM

The Phoenix area has a wide range of housing prices because there are very old areas with smaller/older houses, all the way up to super large mansions....and all in between. I lived and worked for Raytheon in the Boston area, now live in the southwest and can see a real drop in the cost of living from Boston.

05-08-2006, 04:17 PM	#1
AlpineJay Commander Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Medford, MA Posts: 1,011	Job offer in Phoenix, AZ - advice? Over this past weekend, I flew out to Phoenix for an interview at Honeywell Aerospace, obviously a huge and reputable company. It is a good job - working in flight controls - and today they extended me an offer. The offer is $65K with a $7500 signing bonus, and they are offering relocation (currently I'm wrapping up my MSEE in the Boston area). From the offers I have been getting, the base salary is roughly 10K or so lower than a normal offer I would command here in the northeast. But I assume that the cost of living is different - a website I visited seemed to suggest that living expenses overall are 25% cheaper, a figure I have a hard time buying into. I drove around the Phoenix area but couldn't really get a feel on what it's like. I'm wondering if anyone out there in the G\|A community has any knowledge of the Phoenix area and can provide any insight pertaining to living costs, and overall quality of living. If someone can make a comparison to living out in the northeast, that would be even more appreciated. Also, for those who know Honeywell as a company, any insight would be appreciated. Thanks! __________________ If con is the opposite of pro, then what's the opposite of progress?

05-08-2006, 04:40 PM	#2
MrGreg Captain Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Beaverton, OR Posts: 1,529	I spent almost a year in Phoenix (Tempe, actually). Good BBQ, good poker rooms at the indian casinos, and more hot girls than you can shake your stick at. It was also hotter than hell. I would believe that 25% cheaper than Boston figure. 65k will go a long way in Phoenix. But when I was there, I had this weird feeling that if the right 8 water pipes all broke at the same time, in 2 days every would be dead from dehydration. People just shouldn't live in a place that has no water. __________________ -The nerd formerly known as vectorcalculus

05-08-2006, 05:45 PM	#3
brainsmile Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: woah... why is welfareloser here with me so early in the morning and more importantly why am I wearing her clothes?!? Posts: 13,754	Hope you like the heat. I hated Phoenix. But I think it's cause I encountered a whole bunch of rednecks. Not necessarily reflective of the city but I don't personally like 120+ degree summers and being the only asian in sight. 65k will go a long way yes but you may be able to get more somewhere else where it's a bit more expensive but worth it. __________________ ********************************** DCM #1 (Founder) "Nobody beats Vitus Gerulaitis 18 times in a row." - Vitus Gerulaitis on beating Jimmy Connors after 17 failed attempts.

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05-09-2006, 03:18 PM	#4
dbax791 Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,177	I've lived in Phoenix since I was 6 years old and can probably answer specific questions you have. The cost of living is very reasonable compared to other large cities. The only thing is that real estate took a big spike in prices over the past two years. It costs about $200/sf right now. The only other thing that will get you is high electric bills in the summer. My dad actually recently retired from Honeywell after working there for nearly 30 years. He really liked it there.

05-15-2006, 11:16 PM	#6
Itsme Vice Admiral Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 4,813	The Phoenix area has a wide range of housing prices because there are very old areas with smaller/older houses, all the way up to super large mansions....and all in between. I lived and worked for Raytheon in the Boston area, now live in the southwest and can see a real drop in the cost of living from Boston.

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