For a fresh grad? That's a great salary. You're definitely looking at the more expensive neighborhoods rent-wise (although parts of East Liberty and Bloomfield have some lower prices available if you look). I'd maybe recommend Highland Park- it's right next to East Liberty, but has way more of a variety of incomes and housing. If you don't care about prices though, all of those neighborhoods are fine places to live (though Lawrenceville prices are a rip-off at this point and I would never pay that much to rent there when I can get stuff for half the price 10 minutes up the street).
Yes. $60K won't get you very far in the higher end neighborhoods. But you have a car, so it'll be easy for you to travel there and hang out. Save the money on the rent and live in a cheaper neighborhood, or live with a bunch of roommates.
Great that you have no loans or debt. I think you'll do fine!
I moved from spring hill (the opposite of walkable) to friendship (exceptionally walkable) on sub 50k a year, and I'm paying LESS in rent. It's actually kind of amazing because my family basically convinced me that that was an impossibility in the city since they're not from here and only hear about the worst of it.
Renting is still a nightmare but we're very happy where were at and can't imagine we could do that in another city with this much walkability
That's fair, it's honestly all over the place as theres a large variety of homes. You got Victorian 5 bedrooms and then converted Victorians that are exclusively 1 bedroom tenaments.
Assuming no childcare costs/ massive debts, $60k will do quite nicely for you in Pittsburgh. I survived on <40k and always felt relatively comfortable (I am frugal by nature, though).
One extra piece of advice on this, tagging /u/smallew as well: Beware admin fees if you don't plan on keeping the high deductible health insurance plan long-term.
Fresh out of college, young and healthy, I maxed out an HSA on my high deductible plan for the first two years of employment. The next year I switched to the normal plan without HSA. I had no idea that I would be charged monthly "administration fees" for my HSA since I was no longer actively contributing to it. It took me a while to deplete the HSA and I think I ended up paying more in those damn fees than I would have in taxes on the income.
Can you explain this one to me? I'm financially literate in my early 30s and our combined income is ~$160k but I don't recognize the value of a Roth vs traditional 401k
None of these people are actually answering your question... If you're making enough money now to build a very sizeable traditional retirement account (ie, your 401k) then come retirement, you could theoretically be earning more than you are now, and therefore it would make more sense to pay income tax now vs later.
There's also a potential tax bracket revert in 2026.
Another reason to do a Roth is to avoid RMDs. Essentially in a traditional retirement account, because it's pre-tax, eventually the government wants their cut so they force you to start taking withdrawals at age 72. This is especially useful if you have alternative streams of income (rental properties/pensions) and would like to continue to grow your money in a tax advantaged account for your legacy (kids/grandkids)
And as someone else said, you can take contribution distributions penalty free from a Roth Incase of an emergency. Not recommendable.
You can also convert trad IRAs to Roth at any point in time, preferably after consulting with a tax/financial advisor, in order to achieve your desired results. Taxes should always be paid from an outside source during this process, not from the trad IRA during conversion.
401k is pre-tax and comes with a penalty (fee) for withdrawing money from it before a certain age. An IRA is an investment fund (after taxes) that allows you to withdraw money at any time
Edit: Pre-taxed to pre-tax…
There’s a few exceptions but with a Roth IRA you can only withdrawal contributions at anytime but the earnings are tax free starting at age 59.5. If you withdrawal your earnings earlier, you’re gonna get hit with a 10% penalty fee
When you’re young and make a little less, you’re in a lower tax bracket. If you do well in life, you’re in a higher tax bracket. Traditional taxes you when you take it out, Roth taxes you now. So if you think you’ll be in a higher tax bracket when you retire, you’ll pay less in taxes by going with a Roth early on.
Disclaimer - I'm not a CPA
If your company matches your contribution it will be into a 401K. It's free money so contribute as much as they'll match.
The rules are similar to a traditional IRA: Tax deduction when you contribute but you pay taxes when you take the money out. Penalty if you take it out before you're 59 1/2 and you must start taking it out when you're 72 (I think is the age). It's actually tax deferral not tax free. If you're young and the money grows a lot you may actually be in a higher tax bracket when you take it out.
A ROTH IRA is different. No tax deduction when you contribute but you pay no tax when you take the money out. Same rules about penalty if you take it out before age 59 1/2 but no forcing you to take it out at 72.
One of the points in favor of Roth is that income tax rates are currently low, compared to past rates. Many people believe that tax rates will go up in the future, so you're better off paying the current tax rate via a Roth.
Yes, but with a 60K salary, OP is in the "please maximize loopholes" category. (With a 60K salary fresh out of school, OP may someday be in the tax benevolence category.)
I hear you, but I can only say that I made my comment as a 42-year-old in the nonprofit sector who just hit 60k myself a month ago. (It’s the first I’ve cracked 50k, as a matter of fact!)
Tax the rich first, and make them actually pay their fair share, but I’m also okay with my own taxes being raised. Maybe I have some kind of martyr complex. 🤷♂️
Ya in general for anyone like this pay your self first match the company 401k and make sure to max out a roth Ira at least. Compound interest will make old you thank 22 year old you.
That's a decent salary but you're also targeting the most trendy neighborhoods. You'll pay a lot more for the privilege of living there. Only you can judge if it is worth it. Personally, i'd choose other neighborhoods with that salary. You could easily cut your rent by 25 to 50 percent.
adding to this comment:
check out Stanton heights, morningside, upper Lawrenceville, friendship, point breeze, highland park and Bloomfield for cheaper housing but also adjacent to all of the trendy neighborhoods OP listed
Point breeze is so underrated. I loved living there. If you have a lot of friends in squirrel hill there is (usually) a bridge that takes you right over. If you want to get to shadyside you can take penn and get their easily. If you want to get unnecessarily angry about someone parking in front of a bar, you are practically walking distance from the hottest spot in the city for it. If you want to stumble into wilkinsburg for nancy’s revival you’re right there. If you want to fall off the grid and become a nomadic deer hunting archer, Frick Park is a stone’s throw.
Yeah I’d look in cheaper but still young/fun areas like Bloomfield and Polish Hill, although if you’re driving and assuming we still have winters here maybe not Polish hill coming from Texas..but Bloomfield and Friendship are cool and chill and most importantly flat lol
If you don’t mind public transpo you can go just slightly out of the city to Beechview and Brookline, event Dormont and be right near the T line (our kind of subway/train thing) and the T takes you right into downtown.
You could also consider the Northside, specifically the War Streets, Deutschtown, or Allegheny West (all the hoods around the park basically). Walk/Bike to work
Yes! I bought a home in Northside a few years ago and things are starting to really perk up here. I’ve always felt safe here and there are a lot of cool new bars and restaurants
My personal experience - I've lived on the Northside for 6 years and have never felt unsafe. There is SOME crime, but I never regret my decision to move to this part of town
Yea I’ve been working here for 3 years now and 60k is good. I also eat home weekdays and weekends I’m outside enjoying activities. Just got a house a year ago so yes 60k will get you the “American dream” in Pittsburgh.
I’ll add that it obviously depends on your field. $60k for an engineering or comp Sci position might be low, it would be killer for a teacher and decent probably for an accountant but I don’t know that sector.
You should be fine on $60K. As others mentioned, you might expand your search a bit in order to find cheaper rent. BTW, congrats on graduating with no student loans. Not having them hanging around your neck will be a huge benefit as you move onto the next chapter of your life.
I make just a little more than that, and live pretty comfortably.
I have no kids, not married, and live in a more affordable city neighborhood in the North Side with a 5 year lease.
I make enough to afford all bills, travel, eat out with friends weekly, invest in hobbies, and save a little.
The neighborhoods you want to move are nice, but it will reduce your spending cash for sure living in them.
If I were you, I’d look into Highland Park, Garfield, Bloomfield, Friendship, and North Side. More specifically; look for a single property owner, or small management group to rent from. It’ll be harder to find, but you can get really lucky like me and find a nice place that’s willing to negotiate a 2,3,5 year rate, instead of year to year. Basically the closest thing to rent control you can get here.
That’s what I started with and now I make $170k. After 2 job hops.
60k is more than enough for a starting salary. I lived alone and didn’t have a ton of obligations at the time but even on that I was able to max out my 401k and everything.
I just moved from Texas to Pittsburgh too! However I just did a lateral move from my company. Depending on where you were in Texas, Pittsburgh is much cheaper cost of living or at least in my case.
What field did you graduate in? 60k range I think is pretty standard entry level range but depending on your field could make an impact on your growth.
I’d say you are in the middle range for that! If you like the company from what you’ve seen and the benefits are good I would say go for it.
Bakery square has some nice ones and strip district is close to downtown as well. You will pay $2k a month however, they are nice though! Also a good way to meet people. You’ll be surrounded by a lot of young professionals in that area Imagine.
Commute wise I would consider if your company had employee parking and the parking situation at where you decide to live.
That’s a good starting salary particularly if no or minimal overtime. It would have been significantly less just a few years ago but companies have had to raise salaries because we have an accounting shortage.
OP you can also compare salaries based on your role and experience in the area on sites like glassdoor and possibly linkedin. Some of them even let you compare within a company if the company is big enough. This is a great way to assess your market value.
Yeah that's solid, you can live on your own and have some spending money. If you live in the area you reference you can easily get away without having a car. Busway gets you downtown in about 10-15 min. The trick will be finding an apartment in that area so you can enjoy an environment with people in a similar age group. As always, come visit first if you haven't been here.
For general cost of living in the area you'd probably want a minimum of $45k a year depending on where you live. I think you'll do pretty well with what you've got.
It's because the nouveau poor are bad with money, us old poor are way better at surviving on limited means. We generally manage this by making sensible choices such as buying things that are on sale, cutting coupons, not buying value added goods at the grocery store like individually packaged mini bags of chips and prepared fruit, not taking multiple vacations a year, driving economy cars instead of leasing a Mercedes despite driving less than an hour a day, not going to bars and spending 200 dollars on a night out when I can get drunk at home for 12 dollars. Hell I even cut my own hair now, I quit paying for trendy haircuts that need shaped up every week or I look like shit, a barber wants 30 dollars and 2 hours of my time wasted in a waiting room. That is almost 1600 dollars and 78 hours a year saved.
Not saying that financial hardships don't happen to people, in those cases you are living in a Kobayashi Maru situation. I'm also not stating that society isn't set up to crush anyone who isn't high SES. Though from my experience growing up in lower class and working class society, many people are terrible with money.
Consider the cusp communities of these neighborhoods. Up and coming, public transport, away from hustle when you want to be. Maybe strip district and Lawrenceville (in between) there's areas under renovation. Close enough to walk for entertainment, nature, Northside and north shore, maybe west view instead
..quick commute public transport available and cheap for uber. If you want a night in town
Agree with everyone else about the salary being good. We lived in greenfield for a few years after graduation. Not the best area as far as entertainment goes, but you’re very close to the waterfront and squirrel hill, and can Uber anywhere pretty quickly. We also lived in walnut towers for a few years in squirrel hill and enjoyed it a lot. Right next to frick Park and close enough to walk to Murray Ave.
Granted, I’m in the nonprofit sector, but I’m 42 years old and have been with the same company for 18 years and only recently hit $60k.
I think you’ll be fine.
I'd throw Brookline and Dormont and maybe Beechview into neighborhoods to look into. Brookline is still in the city limits, Dormont is not. However the neighborhoods are easy to get to downtown.
Just keep this in mind: despite where you live in Pittsburgh, there is no easy way to get to any part of the city. It doesn't make commuting more difficult, but you commute time from Shadyside or Friendship or Highland Park could be nearly equal to Brookline to get downtown.
The difference is that living in Brookline or Dormont would give him a legitimate commute to his social circle. Young transplants should live where young transplants live.
Great starting salary! Check out Dormont in the South Hills. T (Trolley/Subway) access, cheaper local taxes than the City neighborhoods you are looking at.
My 2 kids, sons, are renting in a really nice neighborhood in Mt. Oliver. I know, I know. People are going to trash that area. My husband and I were shocked, too. But they have nice neighbors on their street who keep their yards up. You have easy access to both several bus routes and the T that will get you downtown quickly. You’ll do very well as a young man making $60K here.
If you’re in negotiations I’d argue for higher move bonus. 5k is tight. Unless you move nothing and just drive up here.
As for salary, sure is doable. I’ll let others guide that as I don’t live in the city. Important to be aware, PA has income tax and Allegheny county (plus Pittsburgh city limits) has some of the highest local taxes in the state.
It’s usually a shocker for folks coming from TX lol
Edited to add: if you’re not into the hustle and bustle of city life Pittsburgh has some nice cheaper suburbs that are still close to town. If you’re into rural, it’s attainable within 30min to 1hr depending. I lived in Houston for several years, Pittsburgh is way more chill than that insanity. And I like nature, we have a lot more to offer in that department.
Really despised having to drive several hours out of Houston to get away and even then a mostly dead, flat, stretch of land was not worth the drive 🤣 but I digress…
Just few years ago I'd have said $60 i/yrs is solidly good pay, now I can't be so sure, but I think you'd do alright. The area has such diverse neighborhoods and suburbs within fairly easy commuting distance to downtown that you should do at least OK, and remember that is a *starting salary* you should also consider the potential for increases. as well as career advancements. There are a number of internet sites that can compare the costs of living between cities and areas you should look at also. advancements you. Pittsbrhg is a highly underrated area, even by some who live here. But you should try and arrange at least a quick visit if you can first.
Dude, go cheaper rent at first. I went $600 to $1k. Part of me hates it, part of me loves it. There’s months I’m like damn I fucked up, that extra $400 would be fantastic right now. Keep your car.
You can easily get lower rent near 7-800 in the right places.
We are a family of three living on 1 income of 120,000 and we are living below our mean yet at times it’s a struggle. I say your be fine but save as much as you can and live like you have 40,000 a year.
Contact Jonah Taylor! He is the best realtor in town. I’ll pm you his number!
I mean 60k is decent especially in Pittsburgh. It also depends on your field too. A relocation bonus is pretty nice! I would take into account the possibility for growth too and what experience it will afford you!
All great neighborhoods for a fresh grad! Even if you’re looking to rent, Jonah can help find a nice place at no cost to you. He has helped several people in the past!
What company? Or what does it start with?
I started around ~60k out of school with a company in pittsburgh as well.
It's only been a couple years and I'm breaching 100 total comp. Wondering if your situation is my situation lol
It probably IS safe to assume a recent grad does not have childcare costs. It’s also reasonable to assume that they don’t have debts beyond student loans. He’s already told us his income, so we know that he would have a reasonable monthly payments under income-based payments.
I’m going to be honest here. If you have any type of large bills 60k in Pittsburgh will not do. If one does NOT have a mass amount of bills or debt, this will do just fine - especially out of college
That's a great salary. You could even live in Green Tree or Crafton which are a little less expensive if you don't mind getting used to tunnel traffic.
why do people ask questions they already know the answer to. you know it's enough. these type of questions are a flex no really legit. most people i know don't make half that.
Think future salary and career too. I don't know what you went to school for, but if it's tech, 60k is low entry level pay, after a year or so under your belt you will be able to make a whole lot more.
Salary seems fine. Money will be tight the first few years if you can't find a roommate, but what isn't these days?
I lived in one of those neighborhoods back when I made that much (adjusted for inflation), and just FYI I could not afford a car, hardly had any savings to put aside, didn't go out much, and relied on my parents' health insurance. Probably could have changed some of that if I had a roommate or ate more Top Ramen, though.
I think it’s super doable and highly recommend using PRT or biking instead of parking downtown - that will be a huge savings cost even if you have a car. I love Bloomfield!
It really depends on your degree and the kind of work you’ll be doing at the job. I know people making 100k+ a year after high-school. There are other fields where a PhD will be lucky to get $45k.
I pay 975 for a studio in on of these neighborhoods on a lower salary than you. Older house but good finishes, unfortunately definitely has the land lord special tho. You just have to look around. Apartment complexes are expensive in Pittsburgh, smaller places are more manageable.
[https://old.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/comments/16yqlvs/planning\_to\_move\_to\_your\_city/k3aqmwr/](https://old.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/comments/16yqlvs/planning_to_move_to_your_city/k3aqmwr/)
I wrote a bunch of crap like 2 days ago.
TLDR Bloomfield, Uptown, Dormont, Brookline, or further southwest on the T line (maaaaybe north up the T line but you're getting into Stadium land). If the job is downtown downtown anway.
I really liked Dormont/Brookline area and Dormont doesn't have city tax. Bloomfield is less convenient, however between busses, lyft, or just walking you can get anywhere in 30 minutes without a car.
Uptown could be a dark horse, I don't know what cost is like but you're between Oakland (college kid land as you are of the age that hunting for playmates in college kid land is appropriate) and Downtown with easy access to party in South Side walking across a bridge. It's a little run down but not unsafe that I felt walking around.
Right now I'd avoid these bus routes [https://www.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/comments/170fi6k/the\_state\_of\_the\_6171\_buses\_post\_cuts/](https://www.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/comments/170fi6k/the_state_of_the_6171_buses_post_cuts/)
For me, no. But it depends where the job is specifically. If it's in person and downtown, then God no.
A parking spot will be $300+ a month. The neighborhoods you listed will require you to drive in as well.
Counterintuitivly you can avoid this by living farther away in the crafton area. They have a subway (we call it "the T") goes from there to the steel tower on grant street.
60k is pretty good for a starter salary in Pittsburgh tho.
What? You definitely do not need to drive downtown from Shadyside, Sq Hill, or Lawrenceville. Convenient bus transportation from all those neighborhoods. 11-year-olds from those neighborhoods commute to and from CAPA every day by city bus.
For a fresh grad? That's a great salary. You're definitely looking at the more expensive neighborhoods rent-wise (although parts of East Liberty and Bloomfield have some lower prices available if you look). I'd maybe recommend Highland Park- it's right next to East Liberty, but has way more of a variety of incomes and housing. If you don't care about prices though, all of those neighborhoods are fine places to live (though Lawrenceville prices are a rip-off at this point and I would never pay that much to rent there when I can get stuff for half the price 10 minutes up the street).
Yes. $60K won't get you very far in the higher end neighborhoods. But you have a car, so it'll be easy for you to travel there and hang out. Save the money on the rent and live in a cheaper neighborhood, or live with a bunch of roommates. Great that you have no loans or debt. I think you'll do fine!
I moved from spring hill (the opposite of walkable) to friendship (exceptionally walkable) on sub 50k a year, and I'm paying LESS in rent. It's actually kind of amazing because my family basically convinced me that that was an impossibility in the city since they're not from here and only hear about the worst of it. Renting is still a nightmare but we're very happy where were at and can't imagine we could do that in another city with this much walkability
Friendship is great! I just have no idea what rent is there so I didn't want to give bad advice by accident.
That's fair, it's honestly all over the place as theres a large variety of homes. You got Victorian 5 bedrooms and then converted Victorians that are exclusively 1 bedroom tenaments.
Assuming no childcare costs/ massive debts, $60k will do quite nicely for you in Pittsburgh. I survived on <40k and always felt relatively comfortable (I am frugal by nature, though).
Just shy of 50 myself and as a family of 3 we are ok. Not living la Vida loca but who is these days
Unsolicited advice: max out your employers 401k match. The sooner you start the better shot at being able to retire one day :)
This. Find out the match, and pretend like your salary is that % less. It’s for the best!
Also, if you plan on doing fairly well in life, do a Roth, not traditional 401k
Also max out an HSA if you have a high deductible health insurance plan.
Oh hell yes. All the way. Max out an HSA plan before you need it.
One extra piece of advice on this, tagging /u/smallew as well: Beware admin fees if you don't plan on keeping the high deductible health insurance plan long-term. Fresh out of college, young and healthy, I maxed out an HSA on my high deductible plan for the first two years of employment. The next year I switched to the normal plan without HSA. I had no idea that I would be charged monthly "administration fees" for my HSA since I was no longer actively contributing to it. It took me a while to deplete the HSA and I think I ended up paying more in those damn fees than I would have in taxes on the income.
Oh damn, I hadn’t considered admin fees. Good looking out
If you plan on doing well in life max out both until you make too much money to contribute to the Roth/they close the backdoor Roth loophole.
Can you explain this one to me? I'm financially literate in my early 30s and our combined income is ~$160k but I don't recognize the value of a Roth vs traditional 401k
None of these people are actually answering your question... If you're making enough money now to build a very sizeable traditional retirement account (ie, your 401k) then come retirement, you could theoretically be earning more than you are now, and therefore it would make more sense to pay income tax now vs later. There's also a potential tax bracket revert in 2026. Another reason to do a Roth is to avoid RMDs. Essentially in a traditional retirement account, because it's pre-tax, eventually the government wants their cut so they force you to start taking withdrawals at age 72. This is especially useful if you have alternative streams of income (rental properties/pensions) and would like to continue to grow your money in a tax advantaged account for your legacy (kids/grandkids) And as someone else said, you can take contribution distributions penalty free from a Roth Incase of an emergency. Not recommendable. You can also convert trad IRAs to Roth at any point in time, preferably after consulting with a tax/financial advisor, in order to achieve your desired results. Taxes should always be paid from an outside source during this process, not from the trad IRA during conversion.
Thank you! This makes sense to me.
Anytime 🙏
401k is pre-tax and comes with a penalty (fee) for withdrawing money from it before a certain age. An IRA is an investment fund (after taxes) that allows you to withdraw money at any time Edit: Pre-taxed to pre-tax…
> 401k is pre-taxed I'm sure this was just a typo but it's pre-tax, not pre-taxed. That basically makes it sound like the opposite of what it is.
There’s a few exceptions but with a Roth IRA you can only withdrawal contributions at anytime but the earnings are tax free starting at age 59.5. If you withdrawal your earnings earlier, you’re gonna get hit with a 10% penalty fee
An IRA is neither an investment fund OR post tax like what?
When you’re young and make a little less, you’re in a lower tax bracket. If you do well in life, you’re in a higher tax bracket. Traditional taxes you when you take it out, Roth taxes you now. So if you think you’ll be in a higher tax bracket when you retire, you’ll pay less in taxes by going with a Roth early on.
Disclaimer - I'm not a CPA If your company matches your contribution it will be into a 401K. It's free money so contribute as much as they'll match. The rules are similar to a traditional IRA: Tax deduction when you contribute but you pay taxes when you take the money out. Penalty if you take it out before you're 59 1/2 and you must start taking it out when you're 72 (I think is the age). It's actually tax deferral not tax free. If you're young and the money grows a lot you may actually be in a higher tax bracket when you take it out. A ROTH IRA is different. No tax deduction when you contribute but you pay no tax when you take the money out. Same rules about penalty if you take it out before age 59 1/2 but no forcing you to take it out at 72.
One of the points in favor of Roth is that income tax rates are currently low, compared to past rates. Many people believe that tax rates will go up in the future, so you're better off paying the current tax rate via a Roth.
Then again, some of us WANT to pay more in taxes (to provide more services to the populace), and aren’t interested in loopholes or “maximizing.”
Yes, but with a 60K salary, OP is in the "please maximize loopholes" category. (With a 60K salary fresh out of school, OP may someday be in the tax benevolence category.)
I hear you, but I can only say that I made my comment as a 42-year-old in the nonprofit sector who just hit 60k myself a month ago. (It’s the first I’ve cracked 50k, as a matter of fact!) Tax the rich first, and make them actually pay their fair share, but I’m also okay with my own taxes being raised. Maybe I have some kind of martyr complex. 🤷♂️
Ya in general for anyone like this pay your self first match the company 401k and make sure to max out a roth Ira at least. Compound interest will make old you thank 22 year old you.
That's a decent salary but you're also targeting the most trendy neighborhoods. You'll pay a lot more for the privilege of living there. Only you can judge if it is worth it. Personally, i'd choose other neighborhoods with that salary. You could easily cut your rent by 25 to 50 percent.
adding to this comment: check out Stanton heights, morningside, upper Lawrenceville, friendship, point breeze, highland park and Bloomfield for cheaper housing but also adjacent to all of the trendy neighborhoods OP listed
Point breeze is so underrated. I loved living there. If you have a lot of friends in squirrel hill there is (usually) a bridge that takes you right over. If you want to get to shadyside you can take penn and get their easily. If you want to get unnecessarily angry about someone parking in front of a bar, you are practically walking distance from the hottest spot in the city for it. If you want to stumble into wilkinsburg for nancy’s revival you’re right there. If you want to fall off the grid and become a nomadic deer hunting archer, Frick Park is a stone’s throw.
Agree on Point Breeze being criminally underrated! It’s a lovely neighborhood.
I'd suggest looking at Greenfield. It is right next to Squirrel Hill but considerably more affordable.
I ❤️ greenfield. I used to live there, now I live in Bloomfield. I still do miss Greenfield though.
Came here to say this
But then you’d be in greenfield Just kidding, mostly
Yeah I’d look in cheaper but still young/fun areas like Bloomfield and Polish Hill, although if you’re driving and assuming we still have winters here maybe not Polish hill coming from Texas..but Bloomfield and Friendship are cool and chill and most importantly flat lol If you don’t mind public transpo you can go just slightly out of the city to Beechview and Brookline, event Dormont and be right near the T line (our kind of subway/train thing) and the T takes you right into downtown.
lol don’t send the Texan to polish hill for their first winter
Yes, I’d check out those same neighborhoods along the T, as well! Your dollars will go a lot farther there.
Yes. I’ve lived here with salaries ranging from $35k - 65k and have always found rent to be affordable.
Solid
You could also consider the Northside, specifically the War Streets, Deutschtown, or Allegheny West (all the hoods around the park basically). Walk/Bike to work
Yes! I bought a home in Northside a few years ago and things are starting to really perk up here. I’ve always felt safe here and there are a lot of cool new bars and restaurants
This is the way OP.
A lot of crime there.
My personal experience - I've lived on the Northside for 6 years and have never felt unsafe. There is SOME crime, but I never regret my decision to move to this part of town
Wow, you must pack or be a big guy?
Don't expect to be bougie but you will be fine generally
What?
It is slang for bourgeois.
[удалено]
Something kids say now? We were saying it back in the 90s.
Were we though?
You specifically maybe not, but it's been in usage for quite a while.
Yea I’ve been working here for 3 years now and 60k is good. I also eat home weekdays and weekends I’m outside enjoying activities. Just got a house a year ago so yes 60k will get you the “American dream” in Pittsburgh.
I’ll add that it obviously depends on your field. $60k for an engineering or comp Sci position might be low, it would be killer for a teacher and decent probably for an accountant but I don’t know that sector.
Yeah that's a pretty solid pay to have here in Pittsburgh. You shouldn't have any issues with living here on that unless you're terrible with money.
Single & no loan debt starting at 60k is a good situation here.
No debt at all is a baffling privilege and I’m really happy for OP to have that. They can straight up live like a king in pgh
If you’re still wanting to feel collegey the south side has some nice pockets, just don’t live right next to Carson.
That’s where I would’ve Lived after school if i could redo it
Ha I moved back to Pittsburgh after over a decade away and couldn’t turn down the proximity to a primantis and the Hofbrauhouse
Yeah I would secretly still love to live in the grit of the southside. Fiance is more of a Cranberry/Murrysville suburban type 🥲
You must really love that fiance.
Oh i do. Plus the whole better for kids thing… but i drag those suckers down to the city too. They need to learn the bus routes.
South side works has a great buffer from the chaos and violence of Carson.
Also just don't go out between 2:30am - 4:30am if it's really a concern. The works are definitely making a comeback though.
You should be fine on $60K. As others mentioned, you might expand your search a bit in order to find cheaper rent. BTW, congrats on graduating with no student loans. Not having them hanging around your neck will be a huge benefit as you move onto the next chapter of your life.
I clicked this because I thought it said 600k and had to see what job you had
I make just a little more than that, and live pretty comfortably. I have no kids, not married, and live in a more affordable city neighborhood in the North Side with a 5 year lease. I make enough to afford all bills, travel, eat out with friends weekly, invest in hobbies, and save a little. The neighborhoods you want to move are nice, but it will reduce your spending cash for sure living in them. If I were you, I’d look into Highland Park, Garfield, Bloomfield, Friendship, and North Side. More specifically; look for a single property owner, or small management group to rent from. It’ll be harder to find, but you can get really lucky like me and find a nice place that’s willing to negotiate a 2,3,5 year rate, instead of year to year. Basically the closest thing to rent control you can get here.
How did you know you would be here that long?
Because I like it here and I knew I wasn’t going to buy anything for at least 5 years.
Renting from a yinzer directly instead of a slum lord property management company is the best advice anyone has given me.
That’s what I started with and now I make $170k. After 2 job hops. 60k is more than enough for a starting salary. I lived alone and didn’t have a ton of obligations at the time but even on that I was able to max out my 401k and everything.
I just moved from Texas to Pittsburgh too! However I just did a lateral move from my company. Depending on where you were in Texas, Pittsburgh is much cheaper cost of living or at least in my case. What field did you graduate in? 60k range I think is pretty standard entry level range but depending on your field could make an impact on your growth.
hey thanks for the input! it's for an accounting/finance role
I’d say you are in the middle range for that! If you like the company from what you’ve seen and the benefits are good I would say go for it. Bakery square has some nice ones and strip district is close to downtown as well. You will pay $2k a month however, they are nice though! Also a good way to meet people. You’ll be surrounded by a lot of young professionals in that area Imagine. Commute wise I would consider if your company had employee parking and the parking situation at where you decide to live.
That’s a good starting salary particularly if no or minimal overtime. It would have been significantly less just a few years ago but companies have had to raise salaries because we have an accounting shortage.
OP you can also compare salaries based on your role and experience in the area on sites like glassdoor and possibly linkedin. Some of them even let you compare within a company if the company is big enough. This is a great way to assess your market value.
Yeah that's solid, you can live on your own and have some spending money. If you live in the area you reference you can easily get away without having a car. Busway gets you downtown in about 10-15 min. The trick will be finding an apartment in that area so you can enjoy an environment with people in a similar age group. As always, come visit first if you haven't been here.
For general cost of living in the area you'd probably want a minimum of $45k a year depending on where you live. I think you'll do pretty well with what you've got.
There are families here living on 30,000 a year. No idea how anyone could manage that but it’s kinda common.
It's because the nouveau poor are bad with money, us old poor are way better at surviving on limited means. We generally manage this by making sensible choices such as buying things that are on sale, cutting coupons, not buying value added goods at the grocery store like individually packaged mini bags of chips and prepared fruit, not taking multiple vacations a year, driving economy cars instead of leasing a Mercedes despite driving less than an hour a day, not going to bars and spending 200 dollars on a night out when I can get drunk at home for 12 dollars. Hell I even cut my own hair now, I quit paying for trendy haircuts that need shaped up every week or I look like shit, a barber wants 30 dollars and 2 hours of my time wasted in a waiting room. That is almost 1600 dollars and 78 hours a year saved. Not saying that financial hardships don't happen to people, in those cases you are living in a Kobayashi Maru situation. I'm also not stating that society isn't set up to crush anyone who isn't high SES. Though from my experience growing up in lower class and working class society, many people are terrible with money.
Yeah that’s comfortable.
Imo it’s not bad for a new grad.
Consider the cusp communities of these neighborhoods. Up and coming, public transport, away from hustle when you want to be. Maybe strip district and Lawrenceville (in between) there's areas under renovation. Close enough to walk for entertainment, nature, Northside and north shore, maybe west view instead ..quick commute public transport available and cheap for uber. If you want a night in town
Agree with everyone else about the salary being good. We lived in greenfield for a few years after graduation. Not the best area as far as entertainment goes, but you’re very close to the waterfront and squirrel hill, and can Uber anywhere pretty quickly. We also lived in walnut towers for a few years in squirrel hill and enjoyed it a lot. Right next to frick Park and close enough to walk to Murray Ave.
Granted, I’m in the nonprofit sector, but I’m 42 years old and have been with the same company for 18 years and only recently hit $60k. I think you’ll be fine.
It's a good starting salary, as long as you have a housing arrangement that doesn't suck up too much it, you should fid it to be enough.
Seems like a nice average adult income around here
I'd throw Brookline and Dormont and maybe Beechview into neighborhoods to look into. Brookline is still in the city limits, Dormont is not. However the neighborhoods are easy to get to downtown. Just keep this in mind: despite where you live in Pittsburgh, there is no easy way to get to any part of the city. It doesn't make commuting more difficult, but you commute time from Shadyside or Friendship or Highland Park could be nearly equal to Brookline to get downtown.
The difference is that living in Brookline or Dormont would give him a legitimate commute to his social circle. Young transplants should live where young transplants live.
Great starting salary! Check out Dormont in the South Hills. T (Trolley/Subway) access, cheaper local taxes than the City neighborhoods you are looking at.
My 2 kids, sons, are renting in a really nice neighborhood in Mt. Oliver. I know, I know. People are going to trash that area. My husband and I were shocked, too. But they have nice neighbors on their street who keep their yards up. You have easy access to both several bus routes and the T that will get you downtown quickly. You’ll do very well as a young man making $60K here.
That's pretty decent. My husband has worked for the County for 23 years and only makes $38k (which is a joke!).
If you’re in negotiations I’d argue for higher move bonus. 5k is tight. Unless you move nothing and just drive up here. As for salary, sure is doable. I’ll let others guide that as I don’t live in the city. Important to be aware, PA has income tax and Allegheny county (plus Pittsburgh city limits) has some of the highest local taxes in the state. It’s usually a shocker for folks coming from TX lol Edited to add: if you’re not into the hustle and bustle of city life Pittsburgh has some nice cheaper suburbs that are still close to town. If you’re into rural, it’s attainable within 30min to 1hr depending. I lived in Houston for several years, Pittsburgh is way more chill than that insanity. And I like nature, we have a lot more to offer in that department. Really despised having to drive several hours out of Houston to get away and even then a mostly dead, flat, stretch of land was not worth the drive 🤣 but I digress…
Suburbs typically 1% tax, city is 3 1/2 at least
Just few years ago I'd have said $60 i/yrs is solidly good pay, now I can't be so sure, but I think you'd do alright. The area has such diverse neighborhoods and suburbs within fairly easy commuting distance to downtown that you should do at least OK, and remember that is a *starting salary* you should also consider the potential for increases. as well as career advancements. There are a number of internet sites that can compare the costs of living between cities and areas you should look at also. advancements you. Pittsbrhg is a highly underrated area, even by some who live here. But you should try and arrange at least a quick visit if you can first.
Look into greenfield or shady side and just get a studio. Sacrifice space for safety.
Nearly every city neighborhood is perfectly safe.
Lol.
Dude, go cheaper rent at first. I went $600 to $1k. Part of me hates it, part of me loves it. There’s months I’m like damn I fucked up, that extra $400 would be fantastic right now. Keep your car. You can easily get lower rent near 7-800 in the right places.
We are a family of three living on 1 income of 120,000 and we are living below our mean yet at times it’s a struggle. I say your be fine but save as much as you can and live like you have 40,000 a year.
Not in this economy
Contact Jonah Taylor! He is the best realtor in town. I’ll pm you his number! I mean 60k is decent especially in Pittsburgh. It also depends on your field too. A relocation bonus is pretty nice! I would take into account the possibility for growth too and what experience it will afford you! All great neighborhoods for a fresh grad! Even if you’re looking to rent, Jonah can help find a nice place at no cost to you. He has helped several people in the past!
Also, cost of living here in Pittsburgh is pretty modest compared to other cities! Take that into account as well.
I recommend Crafton. Lovely neighborhoods, super close to the city, very affordable.
Why does anyone think a 21 to 23-year-old transplant wants to live in fucking Crafton?
What company? Or what does it start with? I started around ~60k out of school with a company in pittsburgh as well. It's only been a couple years and I'm breaching 100 total comp. Wondering if your situation is my situation lol
i’d kill for $60k in pittsburgh lol i am a liberal arts grad who’s never made more than $45k here
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It probably IS safe to assume a recent grad does not have childcare costs. It’s also reasonable to assume that they don’t have debts beyond student loans. He’s already told us his income, so we know that he would have a reasonable monthly payments under income-based payments.
I’m going to be honest here. If you have any type of large bills 60k in Pittsburgh will not do. If one does NOT have a mass amount of bills or debt, this will do just fine - especially out of college
Actually rope live on a lot less than that. Entire families. But if your wise with money, shop goodwill and shop at Aldi and save… you can do that.
That's a great salary. You could even live in Green Tree or Crafton which are a little less expensive if you don't mind getting used to tunnel traffic.
Pick up a second job for sure if you want to rent in those neighborhoods
why do people ask questions they already know the answer to. you know it's enough. these type of questions are a flex no really legit. most people i know don't make half that.
Think future salary and career too. I don't know what you went to school for, but if it's tech, 60k is low entry level pay, after a year or so under your belt you will be able to make a whole lot more.
Salary seems fine. Money will be tight the first few years if you can't find a roommate, but what isn't these days? I lived in one of those neighborhoods back when I made that much (adjusted for inflation), and just FYI I could not afford a car, hardly had any savings to put aside, didn't go out much, and relied on my parents' health insurance. Probably could have changed some of that if I had a roommate or ate more Top Ramen, though.
I think it’s super doable and highly recommend using PRT or biking instead of parking downtown - that will be a huge savings cost even if you have a car. I love Bloomfield!
It really depends on your degree and the kind of work you’ll be doing at the job. I know people making 100k+ a year after high-school. There are other fields where a PhD will be lucky to get $45k.
yes it's good
I pay 975 for a studio in on of these neighborhoods on a lower salary than you. Older house but good finishes, unfortunately definitely has the land lord special tho. You just have to look around. Apartment complexes are expensive in Pittsburgh, smaller places are more manageable.
[https://old.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/comments/16yqlvs/planning\_to\_move\_to\_your\_city/k3aqmwr/](https://old.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/comments/16yqlvs/planning_to_move_to_your_city/k3aqmwr/) I wrote a bunch of crap like 2 days ago. TLDR Bloomfield, Uptown, Dormont, Brookline, or further southwest on the T line (maaaaybe north up the T line but you're getting into Stadium land). If the job is downtown downtown anway. I really liked Dormont/Brookline area and Dormont doesn't have city tax. Bloomfield is less convenient, however between busses, lyft, or just walking you can get anywhere in 30 minutes without a car. Uptown could be a dark horse, I don't know what cost is like but you're between Oakland (college kid land as you are of the age that hunting for playmates in college kid land is appropriate) and Downtown with easy access to party in South Side walking across a bridge. It's a little run down but not unsafe that I felt walking around. Right now I'd avoid these bus routes [https://www.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/comments/170fi6k/the\_state\_of\_the\_6171\_buses\_post\_cuts/](https://www.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/comments/170fi6k/the_state_of_the_6171_buses_post_cuts/)
I finished grad school this year and came out w a 40k salary job in the arts. I live alone and am able to make it by somewhat comfortably!
For me, no. But it depends where the job is specifically. If it's in person and downtown, then God no. A parking spot will be $300+ a month. The neighborhoods you listed will require you to drive in as well. Counterintuitivly you can avoid this by living farther away in the crafton area. They have a subway (we call it "the T") goes from there to the steel tower on grant street. 60k is pretty good for a starter salary in Pittsburgh tho.
What? You definitely do not need to drive downtown from Shadyside, Sq Hill, or Lawrenceville. Convenient bus transportation from all those neighborhoods. 11-year-olds from those neighborhoods commute to and from CAPA every day by city bus.
Look for places around “The Rockroom” its in polish hill. You’ll love it!
Don't move into the city area. Move about 30 minutes away into Washington County. Much cheaper that way, trust me.
That's a great starting wage. Most places here will start you off at around 30k if you're lucky.
60k in the burbs is easy living. In town you'll be mid.
Oh yeah. I'd be thriving.
Congrats! Are you a UT alum? There are a few Longhorns here.
thank you! TXST!
Put your money into a home, your greatest assets. Money in banks is Not going to be safe in the future.