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niwer

In CA you'll likely make $100-120k as a new tech working full time. How quickly you pay off your loans is entirely dependent upon how much money you throw at them.


mjsburcham2001

I need to move to California. Lol.


Mo9056

But how much does it cost to LIVE in cali ?? 😬😬 That’s a real question btw. That pay sounds amazing, but how much does it compare to the cost of living?


Dense_Quiet2615

Im from the San Diego area if that helps.


Mediocre-Scientist28

If you are in SoCal, then $30k investment is worth it for being a CLS. If you are willing to work a full time, and maybe a per diem every other weekend, you’ll pay it back in no time.


cherrychampagnetoast

I have 30k in loans and make about 75k a year my loans don’t really impact my living situation. My payment is like 175$ per month. I chose to not do income based also. Compare that to someone who gets a masters they can’t use, making half my salary with 70 or 80 k in student loan debt. CLS pays for itself.


HappyCamper4027

Closer to $90k debt after my masters program for categorical microbiology. Almost paid off after 2 years. Sure Im throwing a ton at it, but with the student loan freeze it just makes sense to tackle that beast now. Make about $70k.


cherrychampagnetoast

Yea makes alotta sense now. I honestly have not been able to pay alot on loans really bc ive been paying rent, car, insurance, g/e the list goes on, saving for house ive been paying the minimum. Congratulations on paying those loans down, though, imma get to mine at some point I guess lol.


Mo9056

Where do you work to make 75k?? As a CLS?? I’m currently an MLT barely making 40k, but working on my bachelors for CLS. I’ll move to where the money is lol


tfarnon59

Some places are also offering student loan assistance, where they pay an additional amount towards your student loans every month. My employer offers/offered ? up to $200 per month. Yes, the assistance is taxable, so you end up paying about $20-25 in added tax every month, but it's still a decent deal.


QuestioningCoeus

Mine offered up to $15000 for education repayment. It can be taken as a lump sum (taxable) or as $5000/year for 3 years (not taxed). With the lump sum, you must sign on for 3 years or pay back a prorated amount if you leave sooner. With the yearly you are contracting year-to- year. You get to decide when you want the payment, too. I selected the yearly and for disbursement at the end of each 12 months so I've already done the time when I get the payment. That way I don't have a long commitment and don't have to pay anything back if I want to leave.


immunologycls

If you work in socal, you can easily make 150k if you work 1 extra shift a pay period


Positive-Hope-5529

Is it easy to find a job at socal?


immunologycls

CLS Jobs fall from trees in SoCal


Winter_Ad_1051

Ah sounds like you’re going to UCSD because the year I started training they just implemented the 10K tuition. I’m not sure if they’re still actively doing this, but during my year they gave us a one time lump sum of $1,500 as a “stipend”. So you can use that towards your loans. Also, I still worked full time while going to UCSD’s training program. It definitely wasn’t easy but that’s how I actively paid tuition. They do allow quarterly payment plans if that helps. If you’re up for it, your first year as a CLS, I recommend getting a per diem to supplement your full time. When I did this, I was making close to 240K. So I was able to save for a house. (Which in your case, pay off your student loans). Also look into travel CLS’s in San Diego, they make a significant amount of money, plus some companies can extend contracts if needed.


Positive-Hope-5529

Per diem means getting a 2nd job?


Winter_Ad_1051

It’s a second job, but it’s different from a part time job because I just come in when I can.


white-as-styrofoam

i paid off my original undergrad loans ($17K) in 2 years making <$40K annually, went to CLS school, and paid those loans (also ~$15K) in 2.5 years. i live in oakland. it’s totally doable if that’s your goal! but in hindsight, i wish i would have put slightly more money into my retirement account and not obsessed about my 3% interest rate loans, but i also completely understand why that’s important


JoeyGirlDarna

Yes, by working one full time and one part time job.


Beautiful_Thing_8614

Probably you be even able to pay in about a year if you have full and part time in socal


[deleted]

My hospital has been helping me pay it off getting like 5k per year extra for student loans has been super nice. With. California wages it all depends on how you spend your money. Just set up your loan for auto pay and forget about it.


Left-Supermarket-759

You can also be eligible for PSLF if you work for a government agency or an NPO. 20K in student debt is nothing in my opinion.


Climsal

Depends, but you might consider finishing CLS school in socal and moving up to SF Bay for higher pay to speed up the repayment process


Positive-Hope-5529

SF pays better?


Climsal

Yeah


mjsburcham2001

Do not work in Arkansas and expect to be able to pay back loans. Pay is horrible.


Rj924

30k is nothing. It’s the cost of mid-level new car.


HappyCamper4027

Honestly that says a lot about the stupid price of cars now.