High Pay & Affordable Cost of Living?

[DEPO]

What are some good agencies that pay good and don't have a really high cost of living that tend to recruit pretty often? I'm 21, clean background, and currently posses 67 credits (Associates degree). I'd like to go and get a BA if neccessary. I live in NJ where the cost of living is pretty high and its almost impossible to get a job. I'm starting to consider going out of state but I don't know where to start. Any info would be great, thanks.

[AirmanE3]

what do you consider high paying?

[ask80]

las vegas metro?
dallas pd?
phoenix pd?

not sure on those.. but they are lower costs of living with cheap housing.

if you looking for CA, maybe Riverside so, hemet, indio , or other places out in riverside...

[MRRBEST]

What are some good agencies that pay good and don't have a really high cost of living that tend to recruit pretty often? I'm 21, clean background, and currently posses 67 credits (Associates degree). I'd like to go and get a BA if neccessary. I live in NJ where the cost of living is pretty high and its almost impossible to get a job. I'm starting to consider going out of state but I don't know where to start. Any info would be great, thanks.

There's a lot more to pay and cost of living but since you mentioned it, definitely look around and take some time to seriously research and consider all of the pros and cons.
Personally, I couldn't be any happier or any more excited with my career decision and everything. I'm from New York (Long Island) so I know all too well about the high cost of living that you speak of. I also understand what your talking about with difficulty getting hired locally. I went to college in Rhode Island and recently graduated. I seriously looked into a few departments in Connecticut. I also looked at several other departments but never applied.
You have to really weigh out the pros and cons and see what works for you.
Are you willing to relocate? If so, how far away? Are you married or in a serious relationship? If so, whats their opinion on everything? If your looking at moving out of state, try and take a vacation and see whats its really like (where your considering applying). See it for yourself, you know?
If your looking for encouragement, I'd reccomend finishing your BA degree since your used to college and already in school now. I was lucky and had a choice to stop in the middle of the BA degree for a career in law enforcement. I know it would have been much tougher to go back at a later date and get started again and finish. Plus, I would have felt like I left something unfinished. You know what I mean? I took advantage of being in the Criminal Justice field and having so many professors involved in the field outside of school as well as their friends and associates that are either retired or still in the field. I spoke to as many people as I could and took in what everything said. In the end, I made the decision on my own, and then listened to friends, family, and my girlfriend (her family too), haha, but I knew its what I wanted to do and it really was my decision and I was lucky to have their support (although some were more reluctant at first)....

Bottom line, if possible, I'd say try and finish with earning your BA degree and look into what departments/locations you'd like to work for. Try and take a trip to that location and if possible, a ride-a-long with the department. See what you think. Your going to be the one thats going to have to like living there and working for the department, etc.

[DEPO]

Not high, i mean like 40,000 start, 60+ top out, at a place where a cop can live a nice life with a nice house, ect. Is dallas high crime?

[MikeUD]

You can't consider salary numbers at face value when factoring cost of living. $40k is about average police starting salary in Delaware, but that will get you a pretty nice two-story house in a decent neighborhood, where as in most of central NJ it would get you a two-bedroom ranch.

I'm starting at $35,600. My monthly "must-pay" expenses in northern Delaware are right around $1000 a month. You do the math. My "quality of life" would cost me $2000+ easy a month in my old hometown of Howell NJ.

[DEPO]

You can't consider salary numbers at face value when factoring cost of living. $40k is about average police starting salary in Delaware, but that will get you a pretty nice two-story house in a decent neighborhood, where as in most of central NJ it would get you a two-bedroom ranch.

I'm starting at $35,600. My monthly "must-pay" expenses in northern Delaware are right around $1000 a month. You do the math. My "quality of life" would cost me $2000+ easy a month in my old hometown of Howell NJ.

Thats why I said a department with a lower cost of living, I know about the prices in jersey, i live there and trying to get out.

[ask80]

i'm sure dallas has crime since it's a large city..or you can try to get federal level and hope to get a low cost of living area...i got offered border patrol position in arizone... heck i'd be making $70k in 3 years and in AZ... houses are cheap there and you can buy real guns... lol sorry i live in Kalifornia

[MaineSqueeze]

To the OP - Why is it almost impossible to get a job in NJ?

[Mystikal]

if your significant other (if you have one) is working a decent job you really could work anywhere and live comfortably if you don't budget/charge beyond your means. if not, you could still find a decent apartment complex within the 40k price range about anywhere. most of the larger agencies i've found countrywide pay at least 40k if not more at least once you graduate the academy. as stated before, do some extensive research and weigh out what you look for in a department.. that may also help you out in your oral board too.

[DEPO]

i'm sure dallas has crime since it's a large city..or you can try to get federal level and hope to get a low cost of living area...i got offered border patrol position in arizone... heck i'd be making $70k in 3 years and in AZ... houses are cheap there and you can buy real guns... lol sorry i live in Kalifornia

I mean is Dallas a dump like Baltimoe City or is it just like any other city? I know it has crime but is it extra bad like Baltimore or Detroit, or even Philadelphia? Is it a nice place to live/work?

[jayhawk5]

Kansas City, MO Police Dept
6 month academy and 6 month probation = $36K
then a raise to $39K topping out at $58K, although that will be $64k by october!

Average hires per year is around 150.

2200-2400 sq ft house, 4 br/2 bath will run you around $200K in a NICE neighborhood in a suburban school district. Good department, benefits could use some work though. Retirement contribution is 10.55% of your annual pay, and you get 2.5% per year with a 25 year retirement is 62.5%, 30 year mandatory is 75%. 1200 officers on department mean you get lots of choices on work details.

Good Luck

[ask80]

holy cow. 10.55% employee retirement contribution ? :eek:

[jayhawk5]

Yeah, they take 10.55% of my salary and put it in our pension system. Then you retire at 2.5% times the number of years on, based on your salary.

Many departments are either 3% multipliers, or non-contributary, or BOTH!

Other than that, though, KCPD is pretty good.

[ask80]

yeah most agencies in CA cover employees contribution into retirement. and they use the 3% @ 50 formula...

[DesertRat]

I learned the hard way to look at the entire package. In NV I took home 89% of my pay check. Here, I take home 69% of my pay check. Makes a big difference. I should have done my homework a lot more but having been in NV so long it never even occurred to me. For those of you looking I don't think you can do much better than NV for total package.

I'm researching everything a lot closer now. I thought this was going to be my last employer but I've already found a couple places around here where I can increase my take home 50% lateralling in the door and have a better raise structure. Yes, I wanted to stay in investigations but heh, I've been rich and I've been poor in my life. I liked rich a whole lot better. Just call me rookie flatfoot again pretty soon :) (If anybody will have me)