Originally Posted by PearlOnyx

I think it's important to consider the state that you're talking about too though, although $18K does seem a little rediculous. When I moved from Massachusetts to Florida, I took about a $5K per year (base pay) pay cut, but without the state income tax, and some other incentives we receive, I'm actually taking home almost exactly what I was taking home in Mass. I don't know the first thing about Indiana, but maybe the cost of living is a lot lower as it is down here.

Originally Posted by PearlOnyx

BST,

I think alot of people from the North East look at salaries in some of the southern and mid-western states and compare them to what they are making up north. You really can't compare when you consider the difference in cost of living. Money goes a lot farther. Although admittedly, Florida is all over the place. South Florida is just as expensive as Mass, while North Florida is dirt cheap compared to up there. Police departments are all over the place too. In Central Florida you can start out making $38K at a municaipal department base, and the next town/city over is starting at $26K. You really have to shop around.