Going Rate in NYC?

Josh Shuffman · #1 03-28-2002, 04:28 AM

Howdy, all!
I'm new to cheftalk and this is my first post, but I've got a question that some of you might be able to answer. I'm about to move back East from the recession riddled Pacific Northwest and am trying to figure out the conversion rate for New York City. I'm seeing apartment rents of $2500+ for Manhattan one-bedrooms, which, to me, seems astronomical, but I'm assured by some friends that earning potential is commensurately higher. I have not, however, been provided with details. So my question is: How much should I expect to make per year in an upscale rest. in NYC with a culinary degree and ten+ years experience, five years of which is at the sous chef/ executive sous chef/ executive chef level? I've always thought my weakest attribute was my negotiating skills, and I'm afraid without some idea of what I'm worth I'll get taken advantage of. I appreciate any advice I could get. Thanks!

ShawtyCat · #2 03-28-2002, 06:02 AM

Access to Salary information in NYC for Restaurant and Foodservice Industry.

Salary Calculator at Net-Temps.com

Salary.com Salary info on all jobs

This should help you out. FYI, the best thing to do is maybe try to get an apartment in Astoria or on the Upper West side. Manhattan goes for about 2 grand for a studio and up. Lower Manhattan is just as bad plus the neighborhood gets worse the lower you go in some places.

Ex Noo Yawka and Recruiter

marmalady · #3 03-28-2002, 07:04 AM

I actually heard on tohe radio the other day that prices in lower Manhattan are crashing because of 911. Try to get hold of a Sunday New York Times and check out want and real estate ads.

ShawtyCat · #4 03-28-2002, 08:14 AM

Due to the clean up going on the air quality in lower manhattan isnt very kosher right now. Thats another reason why I suggested the upper west side or Astoria. I actually prefer Astoria to manhattan though. It only takes 10 - 15 minutes to get to manhattan from there on the N.

Suzanne · #5 03-28-2002, 10:51 AM

Hey guys, not ALL of downtown is that bad! The air and environment, that is. The real estate prices, yes, they are horrendous, not falling at all! Remember, too, that one block can be totally different from the one across the street from it.

I live three blocks from the northeast corner of what used to be the WTC site. Our part of town is pretty much back to normal, and has been for a while. People who live right next to the site, or near where the barges get loaded with debris, yes, they are a long way away from a return to normality. They are the ones who scream about air quality and all, but they do not always have any evidence to back up their screaming, only fear.

Reports of the death of real estate prices here are GREATLY exagerrated. My building is a co-op, and one of the smaller units (1100 sq. ft.) just sold for $625,000. As a point of comparison, when I bought mine (1800 sq. ft) in 1980, it cost $121,000. And someone who combined 2 apartments into one huge one has it on the market now for over $1.5 million

So, no, values are not falling here.

Shawty Cat's suggestion of Astoria is excellent: it's a great neighborhood, and easy to get to/from. Affordable places in much of Manhattan (if they exist at all) are barely habitable. Remember that the subway runs 24 hours a day. It's a big, but manageable, city.

Keep in touch, and let me know when you get here!

ShawtyCat · #6 03-28-2002, 11:42 AM

Just going by what the news was saying about the "air quality" and EPA snafu. I meant for him to stay away from Alphabet City. Where you live is was on of the few reasonably priced better neighbourhoods of NYC. I apologize for any misunderstanding.

Most everyone I know goes to Astoria though. The apts out there have great views too.

marmalady · #7 03-28-2002, 12:38 PM

Suzanne - It's good to hear from a resident; I've always loved lower Manhattan; and I too, apologize for just parroting what I only heard via the radio about real estate prices! Another lesson in not beleiving everything you hear!

Josh Shuffman · #8 03-28-2002, 12:45 PM

Thanks everybody! (especially Shawtycat; those links were just what I was looking for.)
As far as lower Manhattan, I've been there and know it's nice, but everything that smacks of good sense to me says that your dollar goes further in another borough. I've already got some trails lined up for jobs in Williamsburg when we reach the East Coast and a few friends are telling me that Greenpoint will be the next up and coming area to get into now for good rent. Funny, though, that's not the first time I've heard that Astoria is the place to be. When I was growing up in the tri-state-area (Jersey, admittedly) Astoria was almost a joke... where everybody's grandmother lived. Now everybody's saying it's the next multicultural utopia. What a difference twenty years makes (ha, ha, I guess it's been kind of a long time since I've been back.)

ShawtyCat · #9 03-28-2002, 12:49 PM

Glad to know that my past career as a recruiter has come in handy. Astoria is also a great place to eat by the way. Very nice restaurants down that way. I had cheesecake better than "Juniors" at a diner in Astoria. The grandma of the owner made it. Absolutely to die for.

You said you lived in Jersey? Another mistake a few people do is try to live in Jersey City near the water. The rent there is killer.

Suzanne · #10 03-28-2002, 12:57 PM

Josh: it's great that you have trails there; that is really the up-and-coming area for good restaurants (believe it or not, East Village/LES is already getting tapped out!) But watch out, rents are rising there, too!

Shawty & Marmalady: Not to worry. I still love you both! And I know how hard it is to get VALID information about this whole mess. Maybe I'm a little touchy because of those guys I mentioned who just scream and scream, and scare other people (and make a shambles of community meetings, because they won't listen to reason OR give up the floor). Sigh. I know you guys are extremely reasonable!

ShawtyCat · #11 03-28-2002, 01:15 PM

They are planning to get rid of the fixed rents in the Upper West side I heard. That's why Im promoting going to Astoria. I live 15 minutes away from NYC on a good day (off Rte 80) 30 - 1hr on a bad. And the rents here are going at 600-900. The home owners are renting at 1 grand!

At least we are home owners, mortgage and all. All those high rents make me wonder why people dont just invest in a house instead. My mortgage is cheaper than the studios in Manhattan.

Pete · #12 03-28-2002, 04:08 PM

If you are looking for a Sous chef position in NYC, good luck. I have sent resumes out to NYC a number of times (I have a good many years in the industry, and as a Sous), but all I have ever gotten as offers are for lead line cook positions. I get the feeling that chefs prefer to hire management positions from local talent, as opposed to someone from out of the area. At least this is what I have encountered. And if NYC is anything like Chicago right now, nobody is making any moves until the recession passes by.