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NelTec reports average salaries across the USA with regards to education. According to NelTec, a person that drops out of high school can expect to make less than $7/HR. Someone with a high school diploma is expected to average about $10/HR. Persons with college degrees can expect to make approximately $14/HR, while individuals with Doctorates can expect to make approzimately $30/HR. Note: These are supposed to be STARTING wages/salaries.

Apparently NelTec hasn't surveyed the Shoals area where college grads and employees with YEARS of professional experience are expected to RAISE families on LESS THAN $9/HR.

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Examining Shoals Employment & Wage Data





General Wage Information
The average wage for unskilled workers is $7.50 to $8.00 per hour. Semi-skilled workers average $8.75 to $11.00 per hour, while highly skilled workers average $12.00 to $15.50 per hour.

Percent of Industry Type to Number of Manufacturers
Metal/Industrial Machinery 39%

Employed Persons 16 years and Over by Occupation
Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, Alabama
Business Information Solutions provides the following information
(February 2006) on occupations within the Florence-Muscle Shoals MA.

Population 16+ by Occupation 57,699
Professional 17.9%
Services 15.7%
Sales 14.2 %
Administrative Support 11.6%
Production 11.2%
http://www.seda-shoals.com/laborforce.html

National Consortium on Remote Sensing in Transportation - Environmental Assessment
Socioeconomic Data
http://www.ghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/land/ncrst/walasocio.html

Metropolitan Area Wages and Income
Florence-Muscle Shoals
Average wage per job 2003 - $27,255
Per Capita income 2002 - $22,769
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis

Auburn-Opelika & Gadsden MSAs were lower than the Shoals.

Huntsville MSA was the highest, even higher than the U.S. per job average, but slightly lower than the per capita U.S. average.

Tishomingo Tri-State Commerce Park
includes wage rate & socio-economic data (2004)
Lauderdale average wage per job 2001 $23,145
Colbert average wage per job 2001 $27,998
Electrician $19.92
Mechanic $18.93
Engineer $17.36
Millwright $16.80
Tool & die maker $16.62
Chemical operators $16.04
http://www.tishomingo.org/Tri_StateCommercePark/tristate1.htm

Income:
MSA Median Family Income: $46,723 (2005)
MSA Per Capita Income: $19,252 (2005)
http://shoalschamber.com/Community/Demographics/index.html

Occupational Employment and Wages
Florence MSA, Alabama
AL Dept of Industrial Relations
http://www2.dir.state.al.us/OES/2004_NOV_EST/MSA/TOC007.asp

Major Employers, Colbert and Lauderdale Counties:
Name: Product: Employment
Coffee Health Group Health Care 1,498
Tennessee Valley Authority Government 1,253
Sara Lee Foods Meat Processing 1,042
Lauderdale County Schools Education 1,000
Wise Alloys Aluminum Can Sheet 957
City of Florence Government 850
Helen Keller Hospital Health Care 756
University of North Alabama Education 667
Florence City Schools Education 530
Walmart Supercenter (Lauderdale) Department Store 520
Norfolk Southern Railroad Transportation 500
NW-Shoals Community College Education 500
Wages are sad here. I moved to the shoals for TVA and about 55 an hour. They jerked the chain and I didnt fall for it so other than 6 months in Huntsville at a marginal rate I work out of state when I work. I love the shoals but something is going to have to change. People just cant have a family and quality life on 50 or 60 grand a year. I never have understood police or corrections folks, they are worse off than teachers, I dont know how they do it on the low wages I see published. I spent some time near Angola (near not in) prison and the State of LA provides housing for many of its officers to make up for the wages. I guess that helps but I wouldnt like living in a prison or having someone decide to lay me off and by the way you need to find a place to live also?
quote:
Originally posted by dogsoldier0513:
NelTec reports average salaries across the USA with regards to education. According to NelTec, a person that drops out of high school can expect to make less than $7/HR. Someone with a high school diploma is expected to average about $10/HR. Persons with college degrees can expect to make approximately $14/HR, while individuals with Doctorates can expect to make approzimately $30/HR. Note: These are supposed to be STARTING wages/salaries.

Apparently NelTec hasn't surveyed the Shoals area where college grads and employees with YEARS of professional experience are expected to RAISE families on LESS THAN $9/HR.


How can a person service the student loan debt reqired to obtain a Doctroate on 30 bucks an hour? (and have a home, car, food, maybe a kid or two)
SHOALS LOVER: Your post is filled with the "statement" that is standard for SEDA. Based on what FACTS? An average of which groups. Does anyone at the various Anderson companies make an average of $9.00 an hour if not in management? How about the multitude of retail establishments on Cox Creek and Florence Blvd. Qouting the report you did was like believing in THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHARLIE BROWN and was written with about the same amount of REAL data. After all everything in it came from SEDA and the Chamber of Commerce, the main two groups who have fiddled while Florence and the Shoals area burned
quote:
Originally posted by MADDOG 20/20:
SHOALS LOVER: Your post is filled with the "statement" that is standard for SEDA. Based on what FACTS? An average of which groups. Does anyone at the various Anderson companies make an average of $9.00 an hour if not in management? How about the multitude of retail establishments on Cox Creek and Florence Blvd. Qouting the report you did was like believing in THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHARLIE BROWN and was written with about the same amount of REAL data. After all everything in it came from SEDA and the Chamber of Commerce, the main two groups who have fiddled while Florence and the Shoals area burned

The jobs he listed, have got to be union scale. I work in construction and those trades make no where near those scales..... ask someone from Tim Rhodes Elec, or Irons Elec. Didnt see pipefitters or plumbers scales there... but your everyday tradesman makes alot less per hour than those scales. LOL and yeah, the ones operating SEDA and your local COC are the ones making the money.... not your general labor. We wait in this area for them to bring in jobs? We'll starve to death first.
quote:
Originally posted by NashBama:
Ignore SL's posts, it's always useless copy/paste mumblings.

The cost of living in the Shoals is pretty low, that's why the wages are low. However, the pay there is less than competitive. That's why most people move away like I did.

Key words.... less than competitive.... i agree.. and yeah the cost of living is low compared to alot of places.... but pay should be above poverty level
quote:
Originally posted by MADDOG 20/20:
SHOALS LOVER: "Your post is filled with the "statement" that is standard for SEDA. Based on what FACTS? An average of which groups."


quote:
"Ignore SL's posts, it's always useless copy/paste mumblings."
- NashBama, Posted 30 November 2006, 05:28 PM



The entire post is filled with a variety of reliable, reputable and outstanding sources ranging from NASA, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Tishomingo (Mississippi) Tri-State Commerce Park, AL Dept of Industrial Relations, and a gnat is being strained in order to swallow a camel, merely because one don't like SEDA?

I neither like nor care for SEDA or the poor job they've historically done, but to proverbially shoot the messenger because one don't like the message?

Please!

If one has a problem with the citations, contacting the researchers with citations of error or questions would be the appropriate methodology. It's known as the peer-review method.


I am a native of Florence, AL and currently reside in the Washington DC area. I have been living here for almost 10 years where the cost of living is pretty high. My wife and I are excited about our decision to relocate back to the Shoals. Unfortunately, I have been really disappointed by a lot of the replies in some of these forums I have read thus far. I am aware of freedom of speech...However, at this point I am compelled to reply to these postings. With all due respect, I say what you put in is what you get out. It takes little effort to find fault and point the finger at community leaders, politicians, and the like, when the results are not favorable to the masses. I would like to ask what energy are we putting into making things better? The easy way out is to look for opportunities found in other communities, not to mention at some time in history they experienced similar, if not the same, growing pains. What investments have been made individually or collectively to bring about a positive change? We are either part of the problem or part of the solution.

Additionally, I sincerely believe that there are some things money cannot buy. I would NOT trade the southern hospitality experience I am accustomed to back home in AL, the "true" spirit of the south, for any place I have visited thus far in life. (REMINDER: Many people across the world browse the web and view your postings and may be turned off by the spirit portrayed by your comments-translation, negative stigma of the south/AL continues to be perpetuated...and with the lack of a major interstate system in the area (among other reasons) major industries/companies do not need any other reasons why not to invest in our well respected communities.

Anwhow, I know what it's like to make good money and NOT be happy in the environment in which you live and work. It is not a good compromise. I am also aware of the dynamics of NOT receiving the compensation you fully deserve, while you sincerely enjoy your contribution to the community where you serve.

Furthermore, succes is not always determined by how much money you make, how many degrees you have, how much estate you own, the clothes you wear or the cars you drive...I would like believe it is measured by the lives you have positively impacted along the way to your ultimate destiny. How did YOU (within your area of influence) give back to the community and make it a better place to live and work. Each one of us can examine his/herself to measure where we all fall short. The challenge then is to make a change NOW that will make a positive impact on those we can realistically reach TODAY, TOMORROW and in generations to come. What will YOUR legacy be known for? JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT...

For those who just don't understand, I really believe there is no place like home and that some things in life are priceless. Although I believe that there is plenty of room for improvement in the job market/wage-salary atmoshpere, I am sure you can find something positive to say (even if it's the fact that YOU were born/raised/educated/lived/worked in the area and that YOU are still doing positive things in your area now)

Don't hate, celebrate!!! SMILE

Happy Holidays to all!!!

Well said, leviticust! Well said, and cogent indeed!

Kudos to you, and to your wife, on your decision to move back to the Shoals!

You all will be MOST welcome!

(I am unashamedly a Shoals advocate, hence my nome de plume.)

BTW... are you taking a retirement, or are in any way part of the BRAC?

What is the anticipated time frame for your move?

LEVITICUS: Do not worry about moving back here. You are the retirees this area is longing for. I am sure you will have a healthy pension to live on, can eat out often, play golf everyday, and will not burden the area with school age children. Yeah, you will be welcome with open arms. UNFORTUNATELY, some of us weren't either as smart or lucky to leave and have the opportunity to come back flush with cash. We have stuck it out here through the muck and mire of higher taxes, school closings, law enforcement shrinkage, and worst of all unemployment or underemployment. So don't worry, you will come back and enjoy the same hospitality, just remember that while you were gone some decisions were made that caused a lot of grief for those you left behind. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!
Trader.... I worked for several years as a part-time police officer for $7.34/HR. Just before I resigned, my wages were upped tp $7.54/HR. There were NO benefits and I had to supply ALL of my duty gear, sans uniform. I have a Masters in Education and retired (semi) after 23 years. Before moving to the Shoals area, my wife (she's 40) and I (I'm 45) inquired about the job market and were ASSured that neither of us (she has a B.S. in Business and several years as a juvenile probation officer under her belt) would have difficulty finding good jobs. It took her 4 months to find an $8.00/HR job. 6 months later, I'm STILL waiting on the state to issue my Alabama teacher's license...... Roll Eyes
Thank you (Shoals Lover & MADDOG 20/20) for the replies. I am not affiliated with the BRAC crew although we live in Alexandria, VA near Arlington & just across the bridge from DC. Former resident of DC for about 5 years total, I am a few decades away from being retired. Don't mean to disappoint you guys, but MADDOG your premature assumptions of me are way off. "...Burden the area with school age children."??? Next to music working with children is one of my strongest passions (I have years of experience teaching & coaching students in elementary & high school levels in DC, MD & VA). Please don't judge a book by it's cover. Did you read my initial reply carefully? At your leisure, please read it with an open mind and heart (seriously). I understand where you are coming from with the grief in the area. Let's get through this thing together. Moreover, just because some of were blessed with opportunities away from home during a particular season in life does not mean we ever stopped feeling connected. My wife will tell you since I've opened this account with TimesDaily several years ago that I stay abreast of what's going in the Shoals (probably better than some local residents). Even though many of us are far away, we are there in spirit and know that our prayers are being answered. Everything will work out for the best. You will see.

Oh yeah, as for the time frame (Shoals Lover) we plan to arrive some time after Christmas, Dec 2006. We are expecting our first child, which explains in part why this move is so critical to us during this juncture in our life. Cannot see our kids growing up in the DC area with our (quality) standard of living. We enjoyed the area for what is was worth, but again there are just some things (you don't find everywhere) that are priceless on earth.

P.S. MADDOG 20/20 I am seriously trying to feel the love here? You are making me nervous...just kidding. Be encouraged buddy!!!
I too grew up in the Shoals area and had to leave to get an education and good job. Thankfully, I work for a company with a location that allowed me to move back to the Shoals and still keep a roof over our head. My husband is college educated and had a hard time finding suitable employement. He now has a job working for the State. The pay is not great but the long term benefits are better than anything else around.

My point is, the Shoals is a great place to live and raise a family. I have lived MANY places in the last 10 years and I wouldn't trade any of them for what I have here in Northwest Alabama! I moved here from Selma, Alabama. I assure you, the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. The Shoals is head and shoulders above other places in Alabama.

Just my opinion. You are free to disagree.

Welcome Home, Leviticust.
quote:
Originally posted by leviticust:"...just because some of were blessed with opportunities away from home during a particular season in life does not mean we ever stopped feeling connected. My wife will tell you since I've opened this account with TimesDaily several years ago that I stay abreast of what's going in the Shoals (probably better than some local residents). Even though many of us are far away, we are there in spirit and know that our prayers are being answered. Everything will work out for the best. You will see. Oh yeah, as for the time frame (Shoals Lover) we plan to arrive some time after Christmas, Dec 2006. We are expecting our first child, which explains in part why this move is so critical to us during this juncture in our life."


Oh, how marvelous to hear the good news of y'all's first child!

Praise the LORD!

"Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine."

- Exodus 13:2, KJV

Welcome back home, y'all!

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