I left NH 30 years ago due to lack of jobs with decent pay. My brother, still in NH feels stuck at a job he absolutely hates because there is nothing else with comparable pay. If pay is a big concern for you, stay in MA. Even with the taxes here, chances are you'll be better off financially. That said, the suggestion to try to get into Fidelity in Merrimack might be worth a shot. Great pay, great benefits, great bonuses. Only thing is, there is ALWAYS the threat of layoffs there. They know that you know that someone in India can do your job for much less and that can be stressful. The mantra really was, "Do more with less" when I left Fidelity in Boston. Once you hit the 10 year mark, it seems they do everything they can to make you leave, including moving your office to a different state. But it was hard to leave because... bonuses. You can build up your 401k very easily.