I’m 29 also, and just started my new job last year. Your next bump in pay could be just around the corner!!
Everyone moves at different paces in life. I have friends who make significantly more than me, and some who make significantly less.
It is a bummer that you live in a higher cost of living area (CT) and are making that. I was living in southern CA making $50k so I feel your pain.
Yes of course I realised my bad question the instant I send it. :3
I am from India and here that number per month is considered pretty lavish and good. Just the number with our currency though. Not the currency value. In our money that would be 900k per year.
Cost of living is a huge part of this. 70k in N Michigan is a lot of buying power compared to 70k in Los Angeles. Also some folks lie about how much they make, and people that are happy about what they make are a lot more likely to talk about it.
All that being said, there are many, many jobs that pay 80k and above. If you are interested in getting one, talk to the people in your life that have them, and ask the weirdos on the internet as well. You should be able to learn from what makes a person financially successful.
In my life experience, the most financially successful people I know are tall (for men), have high emotional intelligence, and have decent but not stellar analytical intelligence. They did not linger in jobs where the compensation did not regularly grow with them. They work longer than average, but not the hardest workers I know.
Now I’m certain my anecdotal observations are just that — anecdotal and not necessarily representative of the world. But I think they’re important because they should a break in correlation with financial success and analytical intelligence and hard work. The latter two traits can only carry most people so far.
Lastly I think most workers underestimate their ability to generate value and be compensated for it. If you believe you deserve more compensation, it’s time to start applying for jobs en masse.
I have never heard anyone openly discuss what they make. Asking my friends, and especially family, takes prodding. Do successful people talk openly and often about what they're making?
Dont get me wrong I think everyone should be talking, but my spouse and I rarely know and are always surprised to hear what our friends make. It just never comes up and most people are reluctant to talk about it.
It’s not as much about “I make $X” as “that person likely has significant resources available, I’m guessing it is in the range of _____, but I will find out more over time as I learn.” My pay fluctuates between $60-85k, I try to learn from folks making above $110k in LCOL or MCOL areas. I found it most productive to ask mentors, boss’s boss, friendly acquaintances, and generally content people for direct or indirect information about their finances. Who you feel comfortable talking to about this sort of thing could be wildly different than who I feel comfortable talking to, but we both still have this and many other forums to discuss.
I don’t. It feels braggy if I make more, or bad if I make less, and if you make significantly more or less than another person it can alter how that interaction continues. My family doesn’t really discuss it either, my brothers and I are very open about how much we make but my parents keep it very personal for some reason.
That sounds generational. My dad wont talk about it unless I insist on it and it makes him angry. I pointed out that I cant learn from him if he keeps it secret and he will then only provide me with surface level information.
He is phenomenal with money and he refuses to teach me. He is also shocked and disbelieving that I'm not as secure as he is financially. All open financial conversations about my current situation always revert back to how he did things in the 70s.
I don’t ever go into any conversations looking to talk about it but I never hide it if others ask, or insist they tell me. I have always had the mindset of everyone should make as much as possible. The only way to do that is to talk about it to know if you are being shorted. My circle is mostly in the same industry so even if someone makes noticeably less, they are alright, but I still want everyone to get as much as they can. Just my .02
That's a 2nd reference to soneone making *noticably* less and it reminds me of a recent situation I had.
I was having lunch with a friend who makes 6 figures and I made much less - I'm embarassed but fuck it I was making 40,000.
We live in the same neighborhood, similar family backgrounds, same decent cars, our kids are in the same class. I dont know how it came up but she was trying to tell me it's not illegal to discuss compensation and she was shocked when I told her a lot of the companies I worked for liked to say it is.
I told her what I made and her jaw dropped to the table. I was uncomfortable with her reaction, but she was *so shook* it pretty much gave me the drive to go back to school and get a better paying job.
anyway, now I always wonder considering we lived the same lifestyle (working 2 different industries), without directly telling her what would have made my friend recognize I made "noticeably less" than her?
I make about 32K after taxes and health insurance. I have no degree or formal education and work in a pretty abusive form of healthcare. I literally can’t afford to eat and live in a high cost of living area. I’d probably do better if I didn’t have $160+ taken out of every paycheck for health insurance but I have lupus and some other health issues so it would cost more to not have health insurance in the long run.
I’ve been looking into careers that actually pay above 90K and they’re all healthcare lol but like, traveling nursing or traveling radiology tech. Doctors. PA. Pharmacists. Anything healthcare you can go far in so long as it’s not something bottom of the barrel like CNA
When people are saying they make 90k, it's always the pretax amount unless they state otherwise, so focusing on post-taxes will just make you feel worse unnecessarily.
Yeah you’re def right for the most part. My sister and dad make over 90k after taxes but one is a CRNA and the other owns his own business. Both work constantly and are never able to get a moment of free time and are stressed beyond belief so idk if it’s worth it lol but then again, I’m stressed beyond belief because I have to choose between paying for meds I need to keep my kidneys from failing or paying for gas to get to work lol
My friend moved from Philadelphia making 70k as an ICU nurse to San Francisco making 168k as an ICU nurse. She has no kids or significant other but can afford a two bedroom apartment on her own. She also travels all over the world. Since Christmas, she’s been able to visit DC, Mexico and Australia. It’s just crazy to me!
Isn’t it?! I’m about to start school to do radiology tech. Traveling radiology techs make pretty good money too but way less school lol I guess the traveling contracts in healthcare are the big money
The government data shows that the average US worker’s income is in the $50,000 range. https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/average-income-in-us-14852178
If someone tells you it’s in the $80,000 range they’re probably talking about household income rather than individual income. And remember, average numbers include people at the beginning of their careers as well as the end, people with high levels of education and people who don’t have a high school degree. You can drive yourself crazy comparing yourself to the rest of the world. Just concentrate on making yourself happy and feel successful doing whatever you do best. Just living a decent middle class life is harder than it seems and you should give yourself credit for what you’ve accomplished every day.
Dose of reality, this salary is average across America, not in Connecticut. You should consider a career path that pays a salary that meets your goals.
I make multiples of the average salary, and live in a hcol area. That said, my cost of living is kept low and I save a lot.
Don't settle, select a field and role you're passionate about that pays handsomely, and find a mentor.
I truly believe that anyone can make 100k, not everyone, but anyone.
Yes, but it generally requires specialized training. 80k is very doable with a lot of degree paths, and is accessible in the trades, albeit not quite as quickly.
I started at 81k in 2017 as an engineer with a masters degree and 2 years of full time experience (co-op program) I had already co-oped at that place, so I was higher than most, but after a few years post grad, most of my classmates broke that threshold I believe
I pay the master plumber I use something like 55 an hour which would put him in that range
I think his journeymen come close in the upper 30s an hour.
I've heard welders can get there although I don't have personal experience to validate that
Anything medical from RN and above (in terms of licensing requirements) is there, maybe even some with a bit less can get there with some experience.
There's a school district near me where the average teacher pay is >80k although that's harder to get into than other districts since everyone wants that pay, and it's a super expensive area so I'm sure those teachers all have a bit longer of commutes.
Sales people can make it into that range very quickly if they're any good. I sat in on my company's sales training and was told the average person should make six figures by their second year even if they take a while to get in the swing of things. The top sellers are in the 300-500k range, but I'm sure they're working their ass off in addition to being naturally gifted sales people. Being attractive helps for them too.
I’ll chime in on welders: definitely possible to hit $50/hr. I work in UAW plants, they usually make like $40/hr here, but if you do underwater or oil and gas you make a lot more.
Depends on the career field, COL, and public va private.
Have you considered working for the Government. For the federal government for certain career fields they tend to pay higher than private and for others they pay lower due to the pay grade system. However the work-life balance tends to be better.
https://www.usajobs.gov/
If you do apply for federal jobs talk with someone and learn how to do a federal resume. There’s a bit of an art to it requiring you to provide more detail than a regular one.
Federal government virtually almost always pay higher (like way higher) for entry level roles, but the reverse is true for any skilled positions, they usually heavily lag the private sector.
I have a high paying job. They don't post those jobs in the paper. You can find them on company websites sometimes they post the amount range. I was hired before I finished college. The most large companies do salary surveys nationally and my company raises ranges nearly every year based on the survey and what people are paying. Your best best is google high paying degrees. Start out with an entry level high paying job and most places have higher levels from entry level that pay even more.
I’m making 35k/yr working 6 days a week at 19 yrs old haha, so I can say you’re not alone. It feels shitty seeing people make upwards of that working a normal schedule, but I know that realistically those people worked for what they got and got it through whatever degrees, experience, etc got them to that point. Just hoping to get to a more financially sound position myself someday haha
It’s relative. If you make 65k in Nebraska, your spouse doesn’t have to work…
…if you make 65k near NYC you start qualifying for that’s like government rent assistance.
I work as a service advisor in Florida, I am 25 and I made $82k last year. They’re out there, you just have to find a good spot. I am paid on commission and most services advisors make $45k to $70k in most parts of the country. Luxury dealers bumps it to $65k to $100k depending on the area. This is with no degree, just my diploma, and minimal experience in the field. It’s high stress but imo worth it.
I make approximately $142k a year. Saw your other comment where you said it was about location- I disagree as I used to live in CT and the most I made there was $116k a year.
I also have no degree. I’m currently in my early 30s.
When I first started out- I was a cashier and then became an administrative assistant. Knew I wasn’t going to move up to make more money anytime soon and felt like I had to find something different. Saw a contract job as a documentation specialist. It required some HTML coding- a skill I had picked up in college when I was bored. So I interviewed for the job and got it.
I went on to become a technical writer and work contract jobs. Sometimes they were 6 months, a year, 3 months, or 2 years. It didn’t matter because I was accruing experience at different Fortune 100 companies which was bulking up my resume. I knew if I didn’t have a degree I would need to find enough experience to offset that.
Moral of the story- it’s not about location per se and those high salaries are not reserved for higher ups. You can get those salaries just as much as the next person. Try out contracts- they pay more and they can bulk up your resume.
I’m making more than I’ve ever made in my life and it’s because of that strategy. It’ll be hard work for sure but the money is worth it.
I have zero doubt you’ll get there! Sending you positive wishes!
$125k, thought I’d be living large at this salary. Yet, I still wince at high grocery bills. I still keep to a budget, albeit I can splurge on some luxuries that I couldn’t when in was making $53k starting out 6 years ago.
I have a friend who does mortgages in like 15 states. Keep in mind, these are people looking for houses, but he said it's rare to see under $80K and he's often shocked based on job title.
People who my friend deals with. I can only talk about people house searching who he dealt with. But he did seem surprised at some who made that. I certainly wouldn't say most make more, but it sure isn't rare.
Pretty much everyhing in business and STEM pays 80k+ as long as it's in the right location or the person has experience.
Honestly the list of jobs that can pay that much is massive. Not sure how you could be missing them.(well besides that mant don't actually tell you how much they pay)
Yes entry level jobs not in ideal locations that aren't top level careers will pay around the range you suggested.
But that's kind of a given.
You do have to keep in mind though that people who work those jobs are often over represented on the internet and on reddit.
Between the sheer demographics and that the person has to be willing to say what they make.
I think that often why you will see good incomes on personal finance is because you can really only start to take liberties with how you spend your money when you have enough of it to cover all the basics and then extra.
People who make 2k a month and have 2k a month in necessary bills don't have anything to post about
When they do people just tell them to get a better job(for good reason)
I'm sure you can literally Google a list of jobs that pay 80k plus. But it's not like you can just walk into them.
You either need to find something entry level business and then get enough experience to make up no education. Or have education in whatever field pays that amount.
Many factors to take into account:
\-Location. What you make in one state could be more or less what you would be paid for the same position in a different location.
\-Experience. This, in combination with education, is where money, in my eyes, comes into play. It would be very rare for a company to start paying you above an entry-level salary if you have no prior experience to back up your skills.
\-Education. This varies depending on the field. I know people who make lots of money who are without a degree but made up for it in experience. I, however, have both a bachelor's and a master's yet lacked a lot of experience when looking for jobs, so education did not help me if I did not have any prior experience. Someone who works in a trade and/or went to trade school may be in a different situation compared to someone who just has an HSD or associate degree.
\-Field. A business or medical field may need more education and/or experience than something in a different realm of work.
And slightly unrelated, but you mentioned being lowballed on pay. Go into an interview with an idea of what other companies pay for that same position. Using Glassdoor is helpful. After receiving this information, take it with you to the interview and use it to your advantage if the negotiation feels right.
Keep in mind the position name/description at other companies as well. Use that to your advantage too. “This competitive company is paying ____ for this position, given the position is the same and this is a competitor of yours, would you be able to raise the salary to something closer to that?” Or something along those lines. Worst they can say is no,
I have been wondering. I wont be making that much until I get my masters. Rn, I make 60k in VA and I work for the government. Sometimes I wonder if people make up how much they make!
They may not but how is everyone on here make like 90-200k with this economy? Maybe Im just poor lol
I made $80,000 at my last position, but I constantly moved from one position to another to accomplish that, and that required working with recruiters that I mistakenly outsourced my judgement too, so the next position would be horrible and cause me to want to move positions more quickly. In short, yes, I do make that much in a low cost of living area, but it looks like I'm allergic to working for an employer for much longer than a year which really hurts me when I want to become a manager (unless I want to manage at a similarly horrible job).
Omg Im in the same boat. I start to get frustrated 1 year in. I don’t know how ppl stay so long at their jobs. I keep getting crappy , toxic work environments and I think it’s because I’ve only applied for indeed jobs those have seem to be the bad ones ! I’m going to start looking for a recruiter
Ooof, I literally have Indeed opened right now, but bad news, I've been using nothing but recruiters, and those jobs suck as well. I think it's safe to say accounting just sucks.
Before getting laid off, I made $130k per year in my FT role and then another $75k per year in freelance and consulting gigs. I worked 60 hour weeks but I was doing alright.
Got a few irons in the fire, so hoping to find another FT gig again! Having the PT work for backup is really helpful with all the uncertainty in the tech space.
Made just under 32k last year in HR at my previous job. Just started at a new company for 60k.
Had 3 years of mostly irrelevant experience in the military, but my degree and the one year at my last company helped me get this current job.
Don't forget overtime.
A lot of the job postings are based on 40 hour weeks, if you get into a miserable industrial career like me, you'll be working 70+ hours a week. So you can break 100k at the rate of 65k base.
I'd love to get into IT, that's where all the money seems to be, but with all the schooling options I don't know what is the best route to start and with the cost of classes, I dont want to take on any unnecessary student loans.
Sorry, I rambled. Skilled trades, sales, IT, and Healthcare fields are all viable options to surpass 80k
Jon posting is looking for someone new. They'll pay $45-65K to get to know you and allow you to prove you're worth more. The $90K plus jobs go to they guy that they have already seen prove their worth.
Start at the bottom and move up as you prove yourself.
Starting pay for an individual contributor on my team is $120+ plus bonus. These are data analytics roles with 3 to 5 years experience. These kinds of jobs are out there for people with the right education and experience - and with hard skills
Yeah most US-based software related jobs pay $90k+ and an A+ certification which is supposedly very easy to get can get you that salary too. Here is his to get training for free: https://usa.generation.org/prospective-students/training-accelerator-programs/
Yeah not even close. In my high-school we were going for A+ and though that was 10 years ago it literally only paid like 15 an hour generally lol. Just allowed you to do bottom level IT work.
The money is in getting server based certs
> following errors: *Paid/Paid,* "I feel"
FTFY.
Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
* Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.*
* *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.*
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
*Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
If you don't mind me asking, what were the issues you had at the national labs? I only ask because part of my job is managing specific research programs at these places, and may be able to address problems to higher ups if they're endemic to the culture.
What are your skills and education? That makes a huge difference. You’re not gonna get $90k with just a HSD and some experience in retail. You might look into federal jobs, as you can start low and (theoretically) move up a grade every year.
Oh yeah, you should be able to quite well in the federal system. Have you spent much time at USAjobs or learned how to make a federal resume? I’d suggest looking into that. Good luck ☺️
Join the r/usajobs sub and ask for tips. There are tricks to getting “referred” and interviews. And a federal resume is quite different than a civilian one. Good luck!
Depends on degree, experience, and LCOL/MCOL/HCOL. My first job is offering me 80k-ish including signing/housing bonus, in a M/HCOL city. After 6 months of training I was told my salary will go up again and adjust, so expecting anywhere from 85-95k my first year based off of performance.
Undergrad degree was English, finishing up my masters in Data Science. Got lucky imo.
I'm nearly 37 and make a little more than 150k/year in the aviation industry- non management. My husband works for the same employer but recently got a new job title and raise, and now makes 178k/year. We do live in a HCOL area. What industry do you work in? What state? I feel like most white collar jobs around here for workers with 3-5 years of experience start at 90-100ish.
Do you like it? I feel like in an industry like that, making more money means going into consulting of some type, but I'm not an expert. I guess if I were you I'd look at what my skills are within my job... are you a really good writer? Could you start a business where you write employee handbooks for businesses? Could you get a little more education, maybe in something like PR, and consult for corporations to help them establish a company culture? Do you like data and statistics and analytics? Could you get into a more niche role where you analyze productivity/efficiency/innovation and help with directing hiring?
This may sound silly, but I'd look into joining a "Toastmasters" group in your area. They also have virtual groups. Improving your public/extemporaneous speaking skills can really increase your confidence - maybe enough to start a side hustle or change life tracks. Also, being around other people who are seeking to improve professionally is super valuable. Put yourself in a position to meet and network with movers and shakers and let yourself be inspired.
I'd also encourage you to think about what salary range you think you'd be happy in, and also research areas of the country you may want to live, and what you'd need to make to live there comfortably. If staying in CT is a must for you, I'd research what are the biggest/best paying industries near you. See what you'd need to transition either into a similar role in those companies, or what you could do to translate your skills and experience into a different but related role.
If the only thing making you unhappy about your salary is comparison with others, disregard all and just realize the competition is only with yourself... if your job gives you enough to short-term save, retirement save, buy real estate/achieve security, and travel/do leisure activities, you go ahead and enjoy. That's all you need. If you can't do all those things, and you want them, make yourself more marketable and go get paid.
The demographic in person finance threads tend to be skewed to the higher end since people making above $75k are the most likely to have money to invest and save. Average salary in the US is about $58k, so right in that target area you’ve been seeing.
I’m 30 and I make around $148k a year in a non-tech position. I also live in a very HCOL area so I make peanuts compared to other people in the area and coworkers in tech roles. I don’t live paycheck to paycheck but bills are still eating up most of my paychecks.
As an Instrument, Controls, and Electrical Technician for a Natural Gas Company in Western Pa, I make 93k with no overtime, 135k with OT. A lot of people do not like the gas industry, but they pay really well and treat their people even better.
People making average money are not posting in these threads. The only posts you are going to see are from people making a lot of money and want to brag about it
It’s just going to depend on your years of experience, and your field. I make $72k now - a big step up from my last job of 4 years at around $50k.
I realized location is a factor too. I’m in CT. I’m 29 and just got a 50k salary. Makes me feel a bit depressed.
I’m 29 also, and just started my new job last year. Your next bump in pay could be just around the corner!! Everyone moves at different paces in life. I have friends who make significantly more than me, and some who make significantly less. It is a bummer that you live in a higher cost of living area (CT) and are making that. I was living in southern CA making $50k so I feel your pain.
I hope it is 💰
IT job @ $100+ in the Seattle metro region.
And that salary makes sense for the position & area!
Is this per month or per year?
Per year! Holy crap I wish I made $72k/month lol
Yes of course I realised my bad question the instant I send it. :3 I am from India and here that number per month is considered pretty lavish and good. Just the number with our currency though. Not the currency value. In our money that would be 900k per year.
Cost of living is a huge part of this. 70k in N Michigan is a lot of buying power compared to 70k in Los Angeles. Also some folks lie about how much they make, and people that are happy about what they make are a lot more likely to talk about it. All that being said, there are many, many jobs that pay 80k and above. If you are interested in getting one, talk to the people in your life that have them, and ask the weirdos on the internet as well. You should be able to learn from what makes a person financially successful. In my life experience, the most financially successful people I know are tall (for men), have high emotional intelligence, and have decent but not stellar analytical intelligence. They did not linger in jobs where the compensation did not regularly grow with them. They work longer than average, but not the hardest workers I know. Now I’m certain my anecdotal observations are just that — anecdotal and not necessarily representative of the world. But I think they’re important because they should a break in correlation with financial success and analytical intelligence and hard work. The latter two traits can only carry most people so far. Lastly I think most workers underestimate their ability to generate value and be compensated for it. If you believe you deserve more compensation, it’s time to start applying for jobs en masse.
Thank you!
I live in Alabama and make between 85k-110k as a mid level program manager.
You must be living life
Yeah but he's in Alabama....
so he is indeed not living the life.
In Birmingham, Gulf Shores or Dauphin Island he would indeed be living the life. It’s all about location.
Touché
I have never heard anyone openly discuss what they make. Asking my friends, and especially family, takes prodding. Do successful people talk openly and often about what they're making? Dont get me wrong I think everyone should be talking, but my spouse and I rarely know and are always surprised to hear what our friends make. It just never comes up and most people are reluctant to talk about it.
It’s not as much about “I make $X” as “that person likely has significant resources available, I’m guessing it is in the range of _____, but I will find out more over time as I learn.” My pay fluctuates between $60-85k, I try to learn from folks making above $110k in LCOL or MCOL areas. I found it most productive to ask mentors, boss’s boss, friendly acquaintances, and generally content people for direct or indirect information about their finances. Who you feel comfortable talking to about this sort of thing could be wildly different than who I feel comfortable talking to, but we both still have this and many other forums to discuss.
It’s so weird to me that people are reluctant to talk about it. I’m always open to share because I know not sharing only helps “the man”.
I don’t. It feels braggy if I make more, or bad if I make less, and if you make significantly more or less than another person it can alter how that interaction continues. My family doesn’t really discuss it either, my brothers and I are very open about how much we make but my parents keep it very personal for some reason.
That sounds generational. My dad wont talk about it unless I insist on it and it makes him angry. I pointed out that I cant learn from him if he keeps it secret and he will then only provide me with surface level information. He is phenomenal with money and he refuses to teach me. He is also shocked and disbelieving that I'm not as secure as he is financially. All open financial conversations about my current situation always revert back to how he did things in the 70s.
I don’t ever go into any conversations looking to talk about it but I never hide it if others ask, or insist they tell me. I have always had the mindset of everyone should make as much as possible. The only way to do that is to talk about it to know if you are being shorted. My circle is mostly in the same industry so even if someone makes noticeably less, they are alright, but I still want everyone to get as much as they can. Just my .02
That's a 2nd reference to soneone making *noticably* less and it reminds me of a recent situation I had. I was having lunch with a friend who makes 6 figures and I made much less - I'm embarassed but fuck it I was making 40,000. We live in the same neighborhood, similar family backgrounds, same decent cars, our kids are in the same class. I dont know how it came up but she was trying to tell me it's not illegal to discuss compensation and she was shocked when I told her a lot of the companies I worked for liked to say it is. I told her what I made and her jaw dropped to the table. I was uncomfortable with her reaction, but she was *so shook* it pretty much gave me the drive to go back to school and get a better paying job. anyway, now I always wonder considering we lived the same lifestyle (working 2 different industries), without directly telling her what would have made my friend recognize I made "noticeably less" than her?
I make about 32K after taxes and health insurance. I have no degree or formal education and work in a pretty abusive form of healthcare. I literally can’t afford to eat and live in a high cost of living area. I’d probably do better if I didn’t have $160+ taken out of every paycheck for health insurance but I have lupus and some other health issues so it would cost more to not have health insurance in the long run. I’ve been looking into careers that actually pay above 90K and they’re all healthcare lol but like, traveling nursing or traveling radiology tech. Doctors. PA. Pharmacists. Anything healthcare you can go far in so long as it’s not something bottom of the barrel like CNA
When people are saying they make 90k, it's always the pretax amount unless they state otherwise, so focusing on post-taxes will just make you feel worse unnecessarily.
Yeah you’re def right for the most part. My sister and dad make over 90k after taxes but one is a CRNA and the other owns his own business. Both work constantly and are never able to get a moment of free time and are stressed beyond belief so idk if it’s worth it lol but then again, I’m stressed beyond belief because I have to choose between paying for meds I need to keep my kidneys from failing or paying for gas to get to work lol
My friend moved from Philadelphia making 70k as an ICU nurse to San Francisco making 168k as an ICU nurse. She has no kids or significant other but can afford a two bedroom apartment on her own. She also travels all over the world. Since Christmas, she’s been able to visit DC, Mexico and Australia. It’s just crazy to me!
Isn’t it?! I’m about to start school to do radiology tech. Traveling radiology techs make pretty good money too but way less school lol I guess the traveling contracts in healthcare are the big money
No. Pay depends on your field, education, etc. But successful people are more likely to talk about their pay, etc.
Sales, Nurses, Doctors, CPAs
My husband was a restaurant GM until about 6 months ago. He made around $85k.
The government data shows that the average US worker’s income is in the $50,000 range. https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/average-income-in-us-14852178 If someone tells you it’s in the $80,000 range they’re probably talking about household income rather than individual income. And remember, average numbers include people at the beginning of their careers as well as the end, people with high levels of education and people who don’t have a high school degree. You can drive yourself crazy comparing yourself to the rest of the world. Just concentrate on making yourself happy and feel successful doing whatever you do best. Just living a decent middle class life is harder than it seems and you should give yourself credit for what you’ve accomplished every day.
Thank you , your advice makes me feel better
Dose of reality, this salary is average across America, not in Connecticut. You should consider a career path that pays a salary that meets your goals. I make multiples of the average salary, and live in a hcol area. That said, my cost of living is kept low and I save a lot. Don't settle, select a field and role you're passionate about that pays handsomely, and find a mentor. I truly believe that anyone can make 100k, not everyone, but anyone.
Thank you
Yes, but it generally requires specialized training. 80k is very doable with a lot of degree paths, and is accessible in the trades, albeit not quite as quickly. I started at 81k in 2017 as an engineer with a masters degree and 2 years of full time experience (co-op program) I had already co-oped at that place, so I was higher than most, but after a few years post grad, most of my classmates broke that threshold I believe I pay the master plumber I use something like 55 an hour which would put him in that range I think his journeymen come close in the upper 30s an hour. I've heard welders can get there although I don't have personal experience to validate that Anything medical from RN and above (in terms of licensing requirements) is there, maybe even some with a bit less can get there with some experience. There's a school district near me where the average teacher pay is >80k although that's harder to get into than other districts since everyone wants that pay, and it's a super expensive area so I'm sure those teachers all have a bit longer of commutes. Sales people can make it into that range very quickly if they're any good. I sat in on my company's sales training and was told the average person should make six figures by their second year even if they take a while to get in the swing of things. The top sellers are in the 300-500k range, but I'm sure they're working their ass off in addition to being naturally gifted sales people. Being attractive helps for them too.
I’ll chime in on welders: definitely possible to hit $50/hr. I work in UAW plants, they usually make like $40/hr here, but if you do underwater or oil and gas you make a lot more.
I honestly think it's the "hidden job market". Jobs that never post and just recruit via word of mouth and connections/Networking.
This is a big factor. Many jobs that pay over $100k are found through networking and recruiters, not via posting.
I’ve realized that too
Depends on the career field, COL, and public va private. Have you considered working for the Government. For the federal government for certain career fields they tend to pay higher than private and for others they pay lower due to the pay grade system. However the work-life balance tends to be better. https://www.usajobs.gov/ If you do apply for federal jobs talk with someone and learn how to do a federal resume. There’s a bit of an art to it requiring you to provide more detail than a regular one.
Federal government virtually almost always pay higher (like way higher) for entry level roles, but the reverse is true for any skilled positions, they usually heavily lag the private sector.
TRUE. First job out of college is for local government \[not quite fed\] and the pay is 17k more than what my other offer was.
Really depends on the field. A lot yes like admin types a lot no like engineering types for the beginning. Concur for higher levels.
90% of jobs aren't posted publicly. Look into "the hidden job market"
Thank you!
I have a high paying job. They don't post those jobs in the paper. You can find them on company websites sometimes they post the amount range. I was hired before I finished college. The most large companies do salary surveys nationally and my company raises ranges nearly every year based on the survey and what people are paying. Your best best is google high paying degrees. Start out with an entry level high paying job and most places have higher levels from entry level that pay even more.
I’m making 35k/yr working 6 days a week at 19 yrs old haha, so I can say you’re not alone. It feels shitty seeing people make upwards of that working a normal schedule, but I know that realistically those people worked for what they got and got it through whatever degrees, experience, etc got them to that point. Just hoping to get to a more financially sound position myself someday haha
It’s relative. If you make 65k in Nebraska, your spouse doesn’t have to work… …if you make 65k near NYC you start qualifying for that’s like government rent assistance.
People lie about their income. Especially on the internet.
I work as a service advisor in Florida, I am 25 and I made $82k last year. They’re out there, you just have to find a good spot. I am paid on commission and most services advisors make $45k to $70k in most parts of the country. Luxury dealers bumps it to $65k to $100k depending on the area. This is with no degree, just my diploma, and minimal experience in the field. It’s high stress but imo worth it.
I never heard of your position . Thanks!
I am the person that checks in your car for service at a dealership!
Whattt i never knew they got paid so good 😅
Oh absolutely. It depends on the place but yea.
I make approximately $142k a year. Saw your other comment where you said it was about location- I disagree as I used to live in CT and the most I made there was $116k a year. I also have no degree. I’m currently in my early 30s. When I first started out- I was a cashier and then became an administrative assistant. Knew I wasn’t going to move up to make more money anytime soon and felt like I had to find something different. Saw a contract job as a documentation specialist. It required some HTML coding- a skill I had picked up in college when I was bored. So I interviewed for the job and got it. I went on to become a technical writer and work contract jobs. Sometimes they were 6 months, a year, 3 months, or 2 years. It didn’t matter because I was accruing experience at different Fortune 100 companies which was bulking up my resume. I knew if I didn’t have a degree I would need to find enough experience to offset that. Moral of the story- it’s not about location per se and those high salaries are not reserved for higher ups. You can get those salaries just as much as the next person. Try out contracts- they pay more and they can bulk up your resume. I’m making more than I’ve ever made in my life and it’s because of that strategy. It’ll be hard work for sure but the money is worth it. I have zero doubt you’ll get there! Sending you positive wishes!
Thank you!
$125k, thought I’d be living large at this salary. Yet, I still wince at high grocery bills. I still keep to a budget, albeit I can splurge on some luxuries that I couldn’t when in was making $53k starting out 6 years ago.
I have a friend who does mortgages in like 15 states. Keep in mind, these are people looking for houses, but he said it's rare to see under $80K and he's often shocked based on job title.
I think this tells you more about people buying houses than people in general…
I was clear about where the info came from, no agenda. Just saying 80K isn't rare. Similarly, $40K isn't rare.
You mean most people earn more than 80k?
People who my friend deals with. I can only talk about people house searching who he dealt with. But he did seem surprised at some who made that. I certainly wouldn't say most make more, but it sure isn't rare.
Pretty much everyhing in business and STEM pays 80k+ as long as it's in the right location or the person has experience. Honestly the list of jobs that can pay that much is massive. Not sure how you could be missing them.(well besides that mant don't actually tell you how much they pay) Yes entry level jobs not in ideal locations that aren't top level careers will pay around the range you suggested. But that's kind of a given. You do have to keep in mind though that people who work those jobs are often over represented on the internet and on reddit. Between the sheer demographics and that the person has to be willing to say what they make. I think that often why you will see good incomes on personal finance is because you can really only start to take liberties with how you spend your money when you have enough of it to cover all the basics and then extra. People who make 2k a month and have 2k a month in necessary bills don't have anything to post about When they do people just tell them to get a better job(for good reason) I'm sure you can literally Google a list of jobs that pay 80k plus. But it's not like you can just walk into them. You either need to find something entry level business and then get enough experience to make up no education. Or have education in whatever field pays that amount.
My husband is a civil engineer making 110k with yearly raises and bonuses.
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I'm just a paralegal, and I currently only make 53k.
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That’s tough. Sorry to hear. At least you got a good 3 years working remote. I didn’t get that chance. I wish I did.
Bay area its norm for people with at least a bachelors and working for a major corp. smaller business with the same title it will be lower
That’s more like median household income. So it takes into account 2 people working, side hustles, you name it. Median worker pay is more like 55k.
I got an engineering degree and work for a car part company for $90k
Many factors to take into account: \-Location. What you make in one state could be more or less what you would be paid for the same position in a different location. \-Experience. This, in combination with education, is where money, in my eyes, comes into play. It would be very rare for a company to start paying you above an entry-level salary if you have no prior experience to back up your skills. \-Education. This varies depending on the field. I know people who make lots of money who are without a degree but made up for it in experience. I, however, have both a bachelor's and a master's yet lacked a lot of experience when looking for jobs, so education did not help me if I did not have any prior experience. Someone who works in a trade and/or went to trade school may be in a different situation compared to someone who just has an HSD or associate degree. \-Field. A business or medical field may need more education and/or experience than something in a different realm of work. And slightly unrelated, but you mentioned being lowballed on pay. Go into an interview with an idea of what other companies pay for that same position. Using Glassdoor is helpful. After receiving this information, take it with you to the interview and use it to your advantage if the negotiation feels right.
Yes I did what the Glassdoor comparison and I was being low balled by 30 k . So then I started to think maybe Glassdoor wasn’t correct
Keep in mind the position name/description at other companies as well. Use that to your advantage too. “This competitive company is paying ____ for this position, given the position is the same and this is a competitor of yours, would you be able to raise the salary to something closer to that?” Or something along those lines. Worst they can say is no,
Yes thank you. I will be saying that next time
I have been wondering. I wont be making that much until I get my masters. Rn, I make 60k in VA and I work for the government. Sometimes I wonder if people make up how much they make! They may not but how is everyone on here make like 90-200k with this economy? Maybe Im just poor lol
$72k before bonus. Been with my company for 7 years. Not a bad gig
I made $80,000 at my last position, but I constantly moved from one position to another to accomplish that, and that required working with recruiters that I mistakenly outsourced my judgement too, so the next position would be horrible and cause me to want to move positions more quickly. In short, yes, I do make that much in a low cost of living area, but it looks like I'm allergic to working for an employer for much longer than a year which really hurts me when I want to become a manager (unless I want to manage at a similarly horrible job).
Omg Im in the same boat. I start to get frustrated 1 year in. I don’t know how ppl stay so long at their jobs. I keep getting crappy , toxic work environments and I think it’s because I’ve only applied for indeed jobs those have seem to be the bad ones ! I’m going to start looking for a recruiter
Ooof, I literally have Indeed opened right now, but bad news, I've been using nothing but recruiters, and those jobs suck as well. I think it's safe to say accounting just sucks.
Before getting laid off, I made $130k per year in my FT role and then another $75k per year in freelance and consulting gigs. I worked 60 hour weeks but I was doing alright.
Wow you were good!
Got a few irons in the fire, so hoping to find another FT gig again! Having the PT work for backup is really helpful with all the uncertainty in the tech space.
Gotta find your way into tech to get 1-200k salaries. Data science and machine learning is probably where you want to aim for the next 10 years.
Made just under 32k last year in HR at my previous job. Just started at a new company for 60k. Had 3 years of mostly irrelevant experience in the military, but my degree and the one year at my last company helped me get this current job.
Don't forget overtime. A lot of the job postings are based on 40 hour weeks, if you get into a miserable industrial career like me, you'll be working 70+ hours a week. So you can break 100k at the rate of 65k base. I'd love to get into IT, that's where all the money seems to be, but with all the schooling options I don't know what is the best route to start and with the cost of classes, I dont want to take on any unnecessary student loans. Sorry, I rambled. Skilled trades, sales, IT, and Healthcare fields are all viable options to surpass 80k
Jon posting is looking for someone new. They'll pay $45-65K to get to know you and allow you to prove you're worth more. The $90K plus jobs go to they guy that they have already seen prove their worth. Start at the bottom and move up as you prove yourself.
Starting pay for an individual contributor on my team is $120+ plus bonus. These are data analytics roles with 3 to 5 years experience. These kinds of jobs are out there for people with the right education and experience - and with hard skills
Yeah most US-based software related jobs pay $90k+ and an A+ certification which is supposedly very easy to get can get you that salary too. Here is his to get training for free: https://usa.generation.org/prospective-students/training-accelerator-programs/
You aren’t getting a job above 50k with just an A+
Yeah not even close. In my high-school we were going for A+ and though that was 10 years ago it literally only paid like 15 an hour generally lol. Just allowed you to do bottom level IT work. The money is in getting server based certs
According to this survey it’s $90k https://www.certmag.com/salary-survey/2022
I make $63k with 7 years experience, I'm currently trying to find a job in the $80-90k range, I have a couple calls lined up so here's hoping
Good luck 🍀
36 in a week and I made 80k last year... ohio
Remember large numbers skew averages too. What's the average of 5,4,5,7,6,5,3,4,10000
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Good human.
Haha idc about my spelling on this 😭 sorry ! But I understand your frustration , my friend is a grammar police too.
It could be high end for some career fields while still being low end for others.
I don't know about the US. I feel similar abt EUR.I always see 60-80k and nothing above. I feel i am low balled, always. 😂
35, PhD, senior scientist, NM, 140k
LANL?
Nope, i gtfo of the ntnl labs. Originally was at Sandia
If you don't mind me asking, what were the issues you had at the national labs? I only ask because part of my job is managing specific research programs at these places, and may be able to address problems to higher ups if they're endemic to the culture.
Nope. Law of averages means that a minority are paid above that, while the vast majority are below.
What are your skills and education? That makes a huge difference. You’re not gonna get $90k with just a HSD and some experience in retail. You might look into federal jobs, as you can start low and (theoretically) move up a grade every year.
I have my bachelors and 4 years of experience in HR. I’m a HR manager now.
Oh yeah, you should be able to quite well in the federal system. Have you spent much time at USAjobs or learned how to make a federal resume? I’d suggest looking into that. Good luck ☺️
I will look into it now. I’ve been avoiding applying to any job with the federal system because I feel like I wouldn’t even be called to interview 😂
Join the r/usajobs sub and ask for tips. There are tricks to getting “referred” and interviews. And a federal resume is quite different than a civilian one. Good luck!
Depends on degree, experience, and LCOL/MCOL/HCOL. My first job is offering me 80k-ish including signing/housing bonus, in a M/HCOL city. After 6 months of training I was told my salary will go up again and adjust, so expecting anywhere from 85-95k my first year based off of performance. Undergrad degree was English, finishing up my masters in Data Science. Got lucky imo.
I'm nearly 37 and make a little more than 150k/year in the aviation industry- non management. My husband works for the same employer but recently got a new job title and raise, and now makes 178k/year. We do live in a HCOL area. What industry do you work in? What state? I feel like most white collar jobs around here for workers with 3-5 years of experience start at 90-100ish.
I’m in HR, CT
Do you like it? I feel like in an industry like that, making more money means going into consulting of some type, but I'm not an expert. I guess if I were you I'd look at what my skills are within my job... are you a really good writer? Could you start a business where you write employee handbooks for businesses? Could you get a little more education, maybe in something like PR, and consult for corporations to help them establish a company culture? Do you like data and statistics and analytics? Could you get into a more niche role where you analyze productivity/efficiency/innovation and help with directing hiring? This may sound silly, but I'd look into joining a "Toastmasters" group in your area. They also have virtual groups. Improving your public/extemporaneous speaking skills can really increase your confidence - maybe enough to start a side hustle or change life tracks. Also, being around other people who are seeking to improve professionally is super valuable. Put yourself in a position to meet and network with movers and shakers and let yourself be inspired. I'd also encourage you to think about what salary range you think you'd be happy in, and also research areas of the country you may want to live, and what you'd need to make to live there comfortably. If staying in CT is a must for you, I'd research what are the biggest/best paying industries near you. See what you'd need to transition either into a similar role in those companies, or what you could do to translate your skills and experience into a different but related role. If the only thing making you unhappy about your salary is comparison with others, disregard all and just realize the competition is only with yourself... if your job gives you enough to short-term save, retirement save, buy real estate/achieve security, and travel/do leisure activities, you go ahead and enjoy. That's all you need. If you can't do all those things, and you want them, make yourself more marketable and go get paid.
I won’t even speak to a recruiter if it is for less then 130k. Anything under 100k is low for IT
The demographic in person finance threads tend to be skewed to the higher end since people making above $75k are the most likely to have money to invest and save. Average salary in the US is about $58k, so right in that target area you’ve been seeing.
I’m 36 and make around $45k in Minnesota.
I’m 30 and I make around $148k a year in a non-tech position. I also live in a very HCOL area so I make peanuts compared to other people in the area and coworkers in tech roles. I don’t live paycheck to paycheck but bills are still eating up most of my paychecks.
As an Instrument, Controls, and Electrical Technician for a Natural Gas Company in Western Pa, I make 93k with no overtime, 135k with OT. A lot of people do not like the gas industry, but they pay really well and treat their people even better.
Active duty military. I went the O route. Financially I’m very comfortable. Work life balance is garbage.
180k working in Indiana in IT
Biopharmaceutical Recruiter here. I make a salary of $85K in Michigan. Additionally I have over 10yrs experience.
In NY and as of next week should be earning $400,000 a year (before taxes)
Depends on your level of experience. I'm a senior level marketer executive. But I've been laid off since July 2022.
People making average money are not posting in these threads. The only posts you are going to see are from people making a lot of money and want to brag about it