I currently live at the edge of the rust belt/Great Lakes region. I have a wife and two young kids. My wife and I want to move out west so that we can be closer to nature and not surrounded by a post-industrial-era wasteland. We want our kids to grow up with clean air and a love of nature, but we also don't want them to be isolated and grow up antisocial.

We love mountains. Colorado is amazing, but it's so damn expensive. Other options are Arizona, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho. I am currently looking for a job so we can move out there, but not a lot hiring. Where should I be looking specifically and what kind of jobs could I get that pay well and don't require a lot of experience in that field specifically? Willing to work outside if needed.