If you are in construction at all, you may as well look at a 30% pay reduction as soon as you move into the state. You are competing at a level that pits your skillset against a curve far lower than what you will find in KY, so expectations are less. If you dont believe me, look at some commercial properties on your next visit. No zoning, no real enforcement of buildinfg code standards. These things should be thought through as no one cares to build at a standard that would require the necessary expenditure.
Larry,This is 100% true. I used to be in construction back in La La Land (CA) before I got into oil, and the standards here seem to be somewhere between Mexico on the low end and Drunk Hillbilly on the high end (toungue-in-cheek here), and everybody thinks its just fine. I don't know the difference in construction wages from KY to TX, but it's got to be noticeable, due to the satisfaction with low standards here.That being said, If you are moving here to be closer to your family you will not be depressed like many of the other transplants on here. Just be sure you move to an area commensurate with the income level you can expect, and which is close to those you want to be close to (If they're in The Woodlands, Spring might be a good place to look). Houston is a place you move to because you have to, not because you want to. But as long as you are hell-bent on being happy, none of these other things people have mentioned will be able to stop you. At least you will be able to visit your loved ones whenever you want, unlike those of us who were forced to flee our homelands!
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