[steverb]

On the dev side, there's a crap load of .NET work. I get two or three emails from local recruiters every week.

Unfortunately, half the jobs are at companies you will not want to work at for more than a year (ignore what anyone says about turn over rates, peoples expectations are too low).

My advice for anyone starting out would be to start attending the local user groups (http://www.etnug.org , http://knoxvillesc.org , http://www.agileknoxville.com ) and start working on public stuff that you can point to (put some stuff on git, answer some SO questions).

I have no clue what starting salary around here is currently though, but it should be easy to find out by asking one of the local recruiters. Shoot me an email if you need the names of some of the more trustworthy headhunters in the area.

[crowbar]

I keep meaning to go to some of the local user group meetings. Things keep getting in the way and I keep making excuses. Perhaps I'll do so this this month!

[steverb]

Of the three I would recommend the Software Craftsmanship Group. There's beer, and last year we did a intense scotch tasting.

Plus it's technology agnostic (although samples tend to be in .NET because Knoxville), it focuses less on technologies and more on technique.