Yeah they are important, but funny, nobody else has posted much about benefits. Most people I know are worried how much they will make a week after taxes. So to me the 3rd most important thing would be expected overtime. Benefits are becoming more important though thanks to the rising insane cost of healthcare, but most people looking for that are looking for house jobs IMHO. 3 of my friends do excel spreadsheets, and I have done them too. Never put benefits in there. Unemployment rates for the states the jobs are in sometimes make the cut on those spreadsheets. I haven't seen many contract jobs that have good benefits but I do know Humbolt had them and this made it a very attractive job on top of the high pay/diem. I think the reason benefits are not included in our thought process is because we all expect to be shafted there. But really, the Paducah job is a house job in my opinion and I wouldn't go there and most of the roadtechs I know wouldn't go there unless they were thinking long term/had strong local connections. We all see that job come up and everyone I know scoffs at it as a true travelling position. It is considered a house job, although I'm sure a fringe group of people would travel for it. It isn't even discussed when people are talking about where they want to go. I have brought it up a couple of times and people chuckle, I kinda bring it up as a joke...Paducah is paying 42!!! and 63 for time and a half....we all laugh because the 63 for OT is already known but they put it in there sometimes to highlight it, I guess because there is no per diem. I agree though a column for benefits is becoming more important. I have worked 4 long term jobs with per diem (2 DOE and 2 not) and the benefits were lacking, but it was nice to have them when they were there. The monthly price of healthcare premium for a large family is approaching the monthly rate of per diem at some places so hey AA you have a good point, but for those of us that have health insurance, are fairly healthy, or have little family probably wouldn't trade in benefits for per diem.