They are being hard hit by the recession with unemployment. The unemplyment rate will be over 8% this month and a 1 bed apt runs $1500–1800, 2 bed $2200 up. Most younger teachers can’t afford to live in the area and end up in working class towns across the Bay. We are about to hit a giant wall in education. We have the biggest deficit in the history of California and since education is the biggest expense in the budget, it will take the biggest hit.
Most of us have multiple credentials and a CLAD is almost universally required. Not all states’ credentials transfer without at least rigorous subject matter testing and sometimes add’l classwork. A lot of districts play games when it comes to hiring. For the first few years you might only be hired as a long term sub. Contract teachers have to be notified in April if there might be layoffs the following year. Long term subs are only hired for the year so they are expendable and don’t get pink slipped. This is the worst time I remember for new hires in 20 years
If you are serious about moving out here, you should come out for a few weeks with a great resume and a dynamite interview schtick. Look into the places that have difficulty keeping teachers, like Oakland or Pittsbug/Antioch. If you have some really special skills or experience, you might try some private schools.
Good Luck, there is no place in the world like the Bay Area.