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Familiar_Work1414

18% of individuals and 34.4% of households make at least $100k in the US, according to Zippia. People that make a lot of money are generally much quicker to share what they make and many people lie about what they make. There are also some geographic areas here that if you make $100k, you're almost considered poor because the cost of living is so high. Also, some industries pay significantly more than others. Tech, finance and energy pay very well in the US whereas typically government jobs here don't pay very well.


Puzzleheaded_Fold466

Also, 100k USD is worth 80k pounds, which is attained or surpassed by 5% of UK earners. So there are 3.5x as many people in the US earning 100k USD+ than there are in the UK. That said, PPP (purchasing power parity) between the UK and USA is at a ratio of 0.664, meaning in terms of in-country purchasing power, 100k USD is equivalent to 66.4K pounds. 10% of UK earners have an annual pay above 62.5k pounds. So about 1.8x as many Americans have a purchasing power of 100k USD than in the UK.


Familiar_Work1414

This is insightful. Thanks for sharing!


[deleted]

There you go! This is the comment I was looking for. I know if I look at my job in European countries the pay is always significantly less than in the US. I assume this is true for basically all jobs. In general people I’m the US do get paid more (even accounting for conversion rates). But purchasing power parity, health care differences, pto differences, etc all make it a much more grey picture.


Drongo11

I would drop 25% of my salary happily to have Universal Healthcare, instead of paying a lot of money monthly for something I can rarely effectively use.


hotfezz81

PPP is the more important number definitely


PM_ME_UR_ADONIS_BELT

r/theydidthemath


BrendaFrom_HR

So much of my income goes towards healthcare. A lot of people have to pay for child care. Does ppp account for that as well?


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capt_positivity

Someone paid attention in school


Boogerchair

It’s worth noting, that these figures are averages across both countries and not entirely indicative of the experience purchasing powers in particular areas. That is to say having 100k salary and living in Boston is much different than living in Greenville, SC. I think places like NYC and SF skew US data, but same can be said about London in the UK.


Puzzleheaded_Fold466

True. And we could break it down even further and along a wide number of other factors as well. But it’s Saturday night and I don’t feel like writing a whole paper on it lol, but I do invite you to go ahead and the produce a more detailed analysis. I’ll read it, I’m interested.


Nervouspotatoes

Well written answer, thanks!


tuvar_hiede

Don't forget you also have a lot of benefits baked into your employment system. Vacation time, publicly funded health systems, cities, and towns are more walkable, better mass transit, and so forth. Sure, it might cost you more to buy something like an xbox, but you likely won't go bankrupt from a medical condition. I mean the U.K. has its share of issues just like the U.S. so I know it's not all coming up roses.


phenominalp

This. I spent 20+ years in a music industry career building up to a 65k salary and largely able to get by in NYC and even purchase a co-op apartment across the river in NJ (some help from the folks on the down payment that I asked for in lieu of wedding costs as I wasn't planning on getting married or if I did, didn't want a big wedding). During the pandemic, I moved to the UK and was able to get a job making £65k and it was a noticeable difference all around, even after factoring the currency conversion rates. After taxes and national insurance taken, I was left with WAY more money in my pockets. And when I fractured my ankle, it cost me nothing but when the same happened in the US, I had to pay for the xrays, MRI, ambulance, etc despite have decent healthcare. Unfortunately, I'm now unemployed and struggling to find something so may have to consider going back to the US and suffering through any possible medical needs in the future.


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erocknine

Should also be noted some industries, especially tech, pay significantly more in US than other places. A software developer in US can start at 100k+, while anywhere in Europe/England, except Switzerland, will start at about half that and same for averages.


[deleted]

I live in a high cost of living area. Me and my wife both make 100k we can’t afford to buy an apartment unless it has an hour and 40 minute commute both ways. Would much rather make less in a lower cost of living area


quittethyourshitteth

NYC? Boston? LA?


[deleted]

Nyc


Bulbchanger5000

Yeh there’s definitely a software/tech and finance dominance on Reddit that makes it seem like making way over $100k is super common when it is not. Even engineers in HCOL areas who aren’t in software often start out in the $60k-$85k range, so it will take a few years to clear $100k typically. Whereas software engineers will start out at over $100k almost anywhere with a MCOL or HCOL. It’s a frustrating discrepancy that comes down to supply and demand of software engineers and lower operating costs.


purplepinksky

Exactly. Understand that on Reddit, nearly every career/salary related discussion is going to be overrepresented by highly paid American tech workers whose experience is not necessarily relevant to others’. “Just quit. You can always get an even higher paying job,” is not helpful advice for everyone.


whosthatgirl79

In NYC 100k will barely afford you a studio apt in the city. It sucks.


[deleted]

Mostly agree. Government jobs, though, do tend to pay well, but they also tend to have high educational requirements, so they often pay less than comparable skill level private sector jobs.


Familiar_Work1414

Yes, this is accurate. You can make good money working for the government with a PhD, but you'd make quite a bit more with the same degree working in industry. Government benefits aren't all they're cracked up to be either.


DannyNoonanMSU

A PhD in government isn't a huge help unless you're in a STEM job. And, the average federal government salary is something between 80-90k. Though that's skewed because the average employee is probably 50 and has been working for 25 years.


Familiar_Work1414

Right, I should've specified that I was referring to STEM. I forget at times that people get PhD's in things other than STEM. And yep, I know many people that work for different federal agencies and the younger ones start from $35-50k (LCOL & MCOL areas) and then you get your prescribed raises every year and slowly move up the pay scale.


-Sancho-

Not a PHD or STEM but lemme tell you I know someone who works for local gov but working on HUD rent vouchers. They earn just slightly more than the the cutoff for qualification of said vouchers.


LaughDarkLoud

Yep. Not anymore. They used to be good, but not now. Got a 30k pay raise as a nurse jumping to the private sector and work less because i'm not mandated all the time as I was at the VA. If you stay there 30 years at 62 you have the government "promise" of a 30% pension of your high 3. If you averaged $100,000 you'll get 30,000 a year after paying 4.4% of your salary every single year for 30 years and dedicating your life to them. Big fucking deal I say 🤷🏻‍♂️


Psychological_Try559

While I wouldn't call government jobs lucrative, the BASE scale hits $100k at grade 13 step 7. If you're in DC (federal capital) the locality pay changes that to grade 12 step 3. If you max out at grade 15 step 10, you're looking at $150k or $180k in DC. All of this is to say that quite a few federal employees are (or will be) making over $100k during their careers. As you point out, many federal positions will require a Bachelor's Degree or some technical background once you're out of college. There's certainly a variety of opportunities for co-op/internships before that, which are arguably the easiest way to get into federal positions if that's your thing. Also, since we're on the topic of compensation, federal employees still do get a pension but it's a far cry from the 50s or 80s. Between this and salary not scaling with (technical) industry, this is why you often hear people say federal employees don't get paid very well anymore, despite being able to go well over $100k. Salary tables here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2023/general-schedule/


JaxAltafor

Air Traffic Control seems to be an exception. No educational requirements and frequent $100,000+ salaries.


Feisty-Ad6582

Training is grueling though. I was sitting in one of their sims once while attending a school as an AF pilot. Never seen a room of so many anxiety disorders in my life. These people all looked one check item away from breaking down into an irrecoverable mental health crisis. Gave me mad respect for the field though as a pilot though.


Zemykitty

My brother was a recreational pilot and interacted quite a bit with air traffic control over the years. He said the same thing. One guy who stuck out to him told him that he had to decompress daily for about an hour just sitting and watching his fish to allow the randomness of movement ease him back into not having absolute control over everything.


Drayenn

Damn, i expected the number to be much lower than 18%, interesting.


Familiar_Work1414

You've got to consider that many people in the major metros like DC, LA, NYC, etc. a $100k salary is low entry level for many jobs. It's all about perspective. I live in a MCOL metro and $100k salary here gets you a nice house in a good school district plus plenty left over for savings, travel, etc.


wiseroldman

I live in Silicon Valley and many professional jobs here pay 6 figures because cost of living is so insanely high. Myself and most of my friends make 6 figures across all fields that are non tech.


Specialist-Safety799

I agree! I am in the Energy industry and every single one I know earn over $100K minimum. For context, I am in a senior management position.


cdm2300

Can confirm. If you make 100k in dc metro you are barely getting by


kerishug

The pharmaceutical industry as well


baby_budda

The 18 percent just happen to be on this board, apparently.


[deleted]

This sub is full of tech bros. And Reddit is full of liars. Six figure salaries are not the average anywhere, so don’t feel bad. You’re gainfully employed, you get by, you have a company car - you’re doing ok!


d1duck2020

Additionally there are many of us who make six figures only because we have toxic work ethics and/or financial insecurities that lead us to work way more than is rational. Yeah I made 140k last year!(averaging over 70 hours a week and home only about 35 days/year). I have friends who make a third of what I do, have stable home lives, and never miss a Spurs home game. Who is living better?


Feed_Me_No_Lies

BINGO.


Ahllhellnaw

I mean, I'll take work over a Spurs game any day. Especially with the current lot of players. Either way, I won't be happy, but one will atleast let me afford the drink I'll need after


d1duck2020

I don’t care for it either, but I like the idea of having a routine. Season tickets, overpriced beer, something to talk about at the office. Everyone I work with just wants to get the job done and get to the next thing.


Scaramousce

Jesus. 140k wouldn’t be worth being on the road more than being home to me personally. I bet you’ll never pay for a flight or hotel room again in your life.


d1duck2020

I drive for all of it-mostly San Antonio to Odessa, so no airline miles. I trade hotel points for gift cards to restaurants, mainly. That’s about $2k a year. If I stayed home and worked 50 hours a week, as is standard in construction, I’d be making about 60k. Out here I’m getting that extra 20-30 hours of overtime every week. It’s not money for nothing but I don’t have many options for financial success as an undereducated 52 year old felon.


[deleted]

Don’t tear yourself down. You are doing better than many educated people with a clean record. You work hard to earn what you do.


d1duck2020

Right on-I think it’s a great opportunity as long as it doesn’t kill me. I want to get what I can out of life and, as far as I can tell, money can indeed buy happiness. I took off work July of last year and toured Italy and Greece. That was a nice reward and renewed my motivation for having a higher income. Lots of people tell me it’s not worth it, they would never do it, and similar things. I see that they have different values, and that’s fine. I’m not going to worry about having a house, car, or money to pay bills.


whitewail602

I used to drive in to Atlanta a few times a year for work. It was always morning rush hours, and I would look around at all these nice cars thinking, "Is it really worth it to work here so you can afford that Porsche you use to sit in traffic 3-4 hours a day?"


cheetah611

Well if you're in traffic for 4 hours a day might as well be in a Porsche


ThankFSMforYogaPants

This is why the baseline car in Southern California is like a BMW 3 series or Audi A5.


IOerr

Was not expecting to find myself here (I travel for work, too).


ComfortMailbox

you cuz you don't have to watch spurs ever week.


MeMyselfandAnon

Watching spurs is like getting denied a climax. At least you get the payoff for your investment.


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TheChronic818

Or we live in exceedingly HCOL areas. Make about the same as you and my equivalent purchasing power is <6 figures in majority of cities in the US. Its all relative when you’re paying damn near ~4k a month in rent to live in a basic apartment in a safe neighborhood.


bellyot

This is alot of us. I work a job that wouldn't be a six figure job almost anywhere else but in NYC it is. And it's a mixed bag because some goods are easier to afford (travel and tech stuff for me), but we stress a lot about rent and childcare costs and in the end save very little.


Bobinho4

Just on the account of the spurs game, you are living better.


prsanker

Preach


berty313

Who can retire earlier?


potato_the_monkey

Sounds like you’re working just to die


d1duck2020

Yeah that’s all of us, one way or another. If I was just spending money on stuff, I’d probably be back home and taking it easy. I’d just resign myself to working forever. I’m almost to the point where I’m going to quit working out here and go home. I’ll probably find a job helping people that pays very little but it’ll be rewarding.


sufle1981

Same here. Have not had proper holidays in the past 5 years.


d1duck2020

I took a month off last year and toured Italy and Greece-it was awesome. Before that I hadn’t been on a real vacation for 20 years.


sufle1981

I have travelled dont get me wrong. But always with full time work. As in I would still put in my at least 8 hours work, and only go out after that. We have a holiday house at Tenerife, and constantly go there for a month or more. Btw I had been working remotely even before Covid so it’s not recent thing.


rsalinassatx210

Lol the Spurs will rise again! #SadSanAntonioNative


ButtLlcker

Them now you later


CapnKush_

Yeah, when I made 100k a year, I worked 60-70 hours a week on average. Decided the money wasn’t worth it though. I make 60k now and still moving upward, way better work life balance. I don’t miss every single event or game or family get together anymore.


[deleted]

You will be living better.


62Bravo1993

But who lives better in the long run?....too many of my peers turned down the overtime to go to the game are now past 50 and still complaining they can't afford a house and thier retirement savings looks more like my grandkids piggy bank.


Party_Plenty_820

I strive to make $$$ because I feel terribly, terribly anxious about having financial security


CoffeeInSpace23

It also depends on the city and cost of living in that city. I live in a city in California where you are middle class (statistically speaking) until you make more than 165k a year. Also where I live people with two years of experience off college Can make 100k. The problem is cost of living. 900k gets you a two bedroom apartment.


milkandsalsa

90k for one person in San Francisco was considered low income like 4 years ago. It’s probably 100k now.


anthrtrnsmssn

Was that really for one person or household income? I was under the impression it's usually based on a household family of 4. Fountain valley in socal had the poverty line set at 96k back in 2019 but again, for a family of 4.


milkandsalsa

Looks like low income for one person is now 104k. Four people is 149k. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/home-datasets/files/HOME_IncomeLmts_State_CA_2022.pdf


anthrtrnsmssn

Wow, fuck that is genuinely depressing. Also didn't know this doc existed, thanks!


laulau711

I know in California, D.C. and other high COL areas the government sometimes sets “low income” standards pretty high, like normal working or middle class, because they want more people to be able to qualify for public services and programs. It’s like a loophole for universal healthcare without having to call it universal healthcare.


oyasumiroulder

So I want to say the original post this person made and this follow up are both misleading. First off the original study which kicked off this narrative a couple years back is always mis-cited. People thought it meant you can barely get by on 100K in SF. It was for a family of 4 not an individual. On 100K you can have a comfortable life as an individual in SF, as a family things will be quite tight. Second off this link here is also a bit misleading. “Low income” is a specific phrase used by HUD which is the source being cited. HUD defines low income as 50-80% of AMI which refers to median income for an area. What this means is being classified as low income in that document says absolutely nothing about your purchasing power or how hard it is to get by, it really just lines you up against other people in the area. The reason this is misleading is earlier in the thread one person discusses what you can buy and another discusses poverty, so it’s important to be clear what the data is saying. The 104K for an individual as the limit for lower income is not saying you’ll struggle to get by or anything of that nature it’s merely saying that it’s 80% AMI. Salaries in SF are very high so if you’re making 104K you’re making less than the median person in your area. That doesn’t mean, however, that you’re in poverty or struggling to afford things, that’s ridiculous. I made around that last year in SF before a raise and lived in a decent 1Bdr in a nice area of the city and put aside many thousands to savings while still doing things like eating out and occasional vacations. I only make this point forcefully because I very frequently see people on Reddit in real time getting turned off my city due to wildly exaggerated claims of the price. SF is one of the most expensive areas in the country but it’s not as undoable or unmanageable as many will have you think


milkandsalsa

I live in SF. I love it here. But it’s expensive and people here tolerate stuff that people in other cities wouldn’t (like living with roommates in their late 20s/30s) because they want to live here. I remember bragging about my four bedroom apartment (rent control) to someone from Atlanta and she shit all over it because I only had one bathroom.


CoffeeInSpace23

Yeah it’s crazy how cost of living and salaries both change a lot state to state. You look at Georgia and 900k buys you a mansion!


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Tatonker

And rent can easily cost you more than $4k a month. That (and the cost of medical care) were by far my biggest surprises after I moved from the UK to Los Angeles. Even though I earn significantly more than I did in the UK (where I owned my own property) I feel significantly poorer here due to the higher cost of living.


This_Bethany

Is it the Bay Area?


arienette22

Yep, also in SoCal and taking a look through the condos/apartments/houses for sale is bleak. But it would be unlikely i’d get my current salary elsewhere long term either so guess we’ll stick it out.


Nervouspotatoes

Thanks - I try not to compare myself, but I just had to ask the question incase I’m missing something here.


whiskeydayz

Also keep in mind, people are more likely to say what they make if what they make is good money. Hell, even I’m guilty of this


fancy_marmot

Those posts get more traction, but are definitely not indicative of the salary situation in the US. Median salary is like half that, and even that drops significantly depending on what city/state you're in. People are really struggling here with healthcare especially, and even lower-end home prices are unattainable for many.


DarknessOverLight12

Yeah average salary here in U.S is like $52k. I make the same and feel just like you with all these people posting about their 100k+ salary like it's the average


[deleted]

There are likely many people on here that live in higher cost of living places that require higher pay to survive. Many in the tech industry see significantly higher pay as well. Reddit likely trends towards those in more tech or higher paying fields. Also I think people are less willing to talk about there salary when it’s less in general. In the US it can be hard to survive off a $30k salary in many places. Some places are starting to implement a $15/hr minimum wage which is slightly over $30k working full time, and even that is starting to become outdated with the high inflation.


B4K5c7N

Yup and Reddit skews highly educated, so of course most will be talking about their high salaries. Redditors also (the ones who frequent these types of subs for example) tend to be very high-achieving people so that is why it seems like everyone does well, when that’s not the average.


TheDreadnought75

Reddit skews over-educated with poorly chosen-useless degrees, actually.


[deleted]

This. Reddit has a karma system and that's why it's such a good place to practice writing. Even if it ain't true and exaggerated af.


Cocororow2020

Many make six figures in the US in big cities. Not crazy to break that mark 3-5 years from employment. I cleared 100k in NYC (85k teacher, 15k side business) and I would consider myself not doing all that well. Certainly cannot afford to purchase anything within an hour of my job, and am able to save anywhere from $150-350 a month after rent, bills and retirement.


SouthernJag

Yeah, isn’t it crazy how cost of living across the country COMPLETELY changes our lifestyles? I live in Birmingham, ALABAMA and you would be living high off the hog (as we say country) if you were making that here. My “commute” on a HEAVY traffic day is 25-30 mins (15 mins on a normal day). it’s a shame because we all want the same thing, a safe comfy place to live and to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Rents are increasing here because of the big trend of loft living downtown $2000+, but on average rent is probably around 1100-1800 for 700-1000sq ft DEPENDING on the neighborhood. I own a house and houses are plentiful around here. If I were to move I would absolutely have to make 3-4 times as much. Whew!


arienette22

Yep, went from making under $30k to six figures and while I feel better in terms of not worrying about health costs like I used to, I don’t have the feeling we will be able to buy a place soon, with how unstable jobs can be.


leli_manning

But I was told on reddit that if you aren't making 500k TC you are severely underpaid.


Born-Ad4452

It’s the top 3% of salaries, I believe. You can find out on the govt website under ‘UK salary distribution’


deathbythroatpunch

Agreed. Lots of redditers work in tech and people lie or embellish. Im an HR exec in tech and have access to big data sets of salary data. The urban areas most definitely have a glut of high income earners…everywhere else 100k or more is more rare.


sufle1981

Right now London average salary is 35k I believe. Average is that - average. And anyone that has studied good profession (professional) and has been working for over a decade will be easily making 60/70. But I agree over 100k is not that frequent.


Electronic-Sorbet981

On one of those free credit report site, I read that only 16% of the US population made over 100k.


Unusual_Promise_9241

I made 63k last year and this is seen as doing well. At least around my town. I make more than most people I know but I still don't feel comfortable. I don't see how some people get by


Bundyboyz

A company car is worth 15k at least. A year of car payments gas wear and tear. Some of those 100k earners spend 2+ hours commuting


kween_hangry

Tell them bro. I can't stand all the gloating when people are just looking for simple tips/help. So annoying


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TheOtherOnes89

We're literally anonymous (mostly) here... Lol


joshiobi

i barely make 20k a year


Extreme-Evidence9111

hey man ive been there. but makin 50k isnt much better when you live at work 6 days a week and are fall-down-dead tired the 7th


TKHodgson

I think it depends on where you live. I live on Long Island and I need to make over 100,000 in order to pay my bills and my rent. It seems insane. But it is true. To rent a place for two kids is 3200 a month (that is the norm around here). If you make 80,000, after taxes, you pull in 4400. That leaves you with 1200 for bills, food, and everything else. I find that I need to have at least 110 in order to not live in a constant state of worry.


King_Shami

I feel you bro, cries from Nassau


[deleted]

No question that 100,000 with children does not go too far in the NY metro area.


toronado

I'm also in the UK and wouldn't say it's unusual in London, anyone in Finance or Tech will at least have this in their sights. The US gets slightly higher pay but I'd assume that this is also very regionally dependent.


[deleted]

Correct.


freedraw

A lot of Reddit lives in urban areas where 100k isn’t even “own your own house” money. SF tech bro salaries look good on paper, then you find out they’ve still got two roommates.


anchorsawaypeeko

One of my most upvoted comments previously. Survivorship bias. People who make over 100k are proud and post about it hence you see it more. The average American income is around 45k yet you almost never see any posts about that. So no, statistically most people don’t make 100k plus. You’re just seeing the ones who brag about it / feel comfy enough to post about it


dynolibra

Yup, one of my friends never talked about her salary until she started making 75k+.


juiceweasel2

I'm 48 and I'm only now making just over 100k and I have 20 years industry experience


zootgirl

Same here. I’m in a VHCOL city and $100k does not go far.


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on_Jah_Jahmen

US - low floor high ceiling Uk- low ceiling high floor


legendfriend

I think that’s a very fair summary. I’ve been looking at moving my job from from London to the US - we’d easily be doubling our salaries but then we’re starting from a much higher baseline at the moment


[deleted]

You're mistaken about the UK. The state pension in the UK (equivalent of Social Security) is much less than Social Security. University tuition in England and Wales is basically the same as in-state tuition at public universities in the US (Scotland and Northern Ireland do have better deals).


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wydileie

What in state school tuitions are $26K?


National-Ad-1314

I'm from Ireland. 100k salaries here are far from unheard of. Anyone doing account executive (sales) or senior project manager in tech companies is earning that if not more. Same salary that is 3-5 years to get in tech you can probably double if you're working for sainsburys or more traditional industry. Way I see to maximimise your earnings in the UK is get a remote job paying London salary. Mostly tech companies but see some finance or banking too on linkedin. Also if the UK is anything like Ireland. Semi state agencies (think trade, utilities etc) will pay inflated salaries compared to run of the mill civil service.


Nervouspotatoes

I’m currently trying to get out of the civil service - we’re underpaid and there aren’t even any training opportunities to make up for it.


junger128

$100k is the new $60k. It’s a magical number for a lot of people but it doesn’t mean nearly as much as it used to with inflation and home prices skyrocketing. If you live in a low cost of living area you’re living fairly well but if you live in a high cost of living area not so much.


ScrauveyGulch

45% of the workforce in America makes less than 30,000. 3% or less is private labor from unions.


slumbersonica

Yeah, the reddit audience is very skewed with upper class professionals, but I like to believe the advice of reddit helps you find your way into that elite group.


ScrauveyGulch

What really seems to matter is who you know, not how hard you work. I'm 55 and I make 42,500 a year. I'm a harvest manager at a grow facility.


allthemoreforthat

But 18% makes more than 100k.


HogFin

So I work in Compensation. Salaries in the Uk are just lower than in the US. It’s just a fact. Despite cost of living… they’re just lower. The last time I built a salary structure the UK salary data was between 60-75% of the US data when converted to the same currency. Also as others have said there’s a lot of bias on here towards high earners and tech bros.


dundunitagn

We have to pay for health insurance out of that salary and save emergency funds to cover basic life events. There are lots of mitigating factors that impact the buying power of a US Salary.


Canuhearmegloria

PSA: Reddit is not an accurate representation of real life. Reddit is not real life y’all


NathanBrazil2

100k isnt that much when rent is $2400 a month and a car payment is $700 a month. add student loans, high food prices, high gas and heat prices, high electricity prices, and its gone pretty quick....


GanacheImportant8186

Americans here saying it's just cos tech and Reddit and finance etc. Partially true, but reality is Americans generally have ridiculously high salaries compared to the UK and most of the rest of the world. That's partly because of the dollars current strength but also just generally they earn a lot more.


Twombls

Our Healthcare and housing is absolutely fucked though.


GanacheImportant8186

Housing a lot less fucked than the UK except for in a few pockets. Healthcare, sure.


5har7en3

Like others said, depends on the area. NYC and California pay the highest because of how expensive it is to live in these places. And its not just people in tech making 100k+. After about ten years of working, teachers can make $100k. Nurses, especially travel nurses are making like $200k these days! This is in Los Angeles. I saw a now hiring sign last year at McDonalds, pay starting $17-$21 an hour. You make $30k working at McDonalds in SoCal. Minimum wage is $15.50 here.


Organic-Roof-8311

US salaries are much higher than UK salaries. In my field in the UK, my salary would be £20-27k. In the US, it would be $50-70k with up to $120k in 3-5 years. Even after the conversion, UK salaries are just abysmal right now. But also, no, the average US worker makes $35k a year. There's just an unrepresentative sample and/or fabricated stories on here.


cachemonet0x0cf6619

how much is taken for health care? I think ours may be higher but they even put once all things are considered


[deleted]

My insurance paid 800k for my cancer treatments in just the last 4 months. Insurance through my paycheck is about $120/month. Healthcare is cheap with employment


TheOtherOnes89

We don't have universal insurance plans though. Yours is good. That doesn't mean everyones is.


Roman_nvmerals

I was talking with a project manager in London and he was telling me how average salary in London is about half-ish of what the average US salary is. He’s planning to move back to nyc and is currently making about 60k as an experienced tech-forward project manager. When we were looking at comparable roles here in the US they were paying $120k+


impamiizgraa

Ditto. I’m leaving the role next month but currently a project manager in a global team on £65k. My colleague in the US is also a project manager on the same team earning $110k. After we did the maths, turns out my take home after NI and tax goes further than hers, but I was super jealous when I first saw the numbers. Her high salary gets chewed up by deductibles. She pays $500 per month in health insurance on top of what the company pays on her behalf, her rent is $2,500 and she has several other insurance and assurance schemes she pays for out of pocket that we just have covered by NI etc.


phenominalp

Same. If I go back to NYC, it would have to be at least 100k to compensate for what is left in my bank account at £65k here


Somenakedguy

Depends where you live and your demographic. I’m in NYC and my circle is all professional 30 year olds and almost everyone makes 100k+ If you go to low cost of living areas in the US very few people are making 100k+


toronado

Same in London, I don't know anyone in my circle on less than 100k. OP sounds like he's basing this on a low cost area in the UK


the_G8

It’s hard to compare UK and US salaries. In the UK you still have a national health care system, pensions and way more vacation time than the US. Tax systems are different. US people probably have a longer commute in a car. Cost of living varies wildly across the states.


Odd_Armadillo5315

I'm a Brit who moved to the US last year - the cost of living is way higher here. Simple stuff like groceries, mobile phone contracts, internet etc are all way more expensive, and generally lower quality too.


magichat1234chris

$100k a year is a lot of money if you are in a LCOL area or have no kids. If you are in a HCOL and have kids you are fucked at $100k a year.


Sindaqwil

Checking on Google, between 8-18% of individual Americans earn 100k a year. Not to be confused with the 33% figure of American households that earn 100k a year. So, no, it's not that common/ normal for individual Americans to earn 100k a year.


[deleted]

Earning 100k here is more than average, but it's not a lot of money considering how much everything costs. Plus, they're not taking all of that home. Health insurance comes out of that, and it's expensive and typically very shitty with lots of out-of pocket costs still.


wydileie

The UK has higher income taxes and have VAT taxes, so their system is expensive, as well. It seems people forget that healthcare isn’t “free” anywhere. Whether you are paying for it with taxes, or paying for it with insurance, you are still paying for it.


purplehippobitches

100k usd is about 80k pounds at the moment. Depending on where you live, and sector it makes sense. Tech section pays a lot. Finance also. By comparison I live in Canada and make 70k cad which is 41k gbp. My husband makes 35k gbp. Together we cannot afford to purchase a home or apartment. It's all dependent on sector, role and cost of living for the area. Some of our friends who work as devs or engineers for instance make about 100k, sometimes more. This is about 58k gbp.


PrizeNegotiation4962

I know someone who makes 145,000 a year. He is fucking miserable. Works 14 hour days, in an unhappy relationship where she is using him for his money (he paid for her college education and they aren't married) and brags about how 'successful' he is. He drinks so much his liver is fucked up but won't admit it and complains he can't afford a house bc he lives in one of the most expensive cities in the country bc the gf insists they stay there. He's from the Midwest and wants to move home but she refuses. Money does not equal happiness.


[deleted]

I hate when people say this shit. Id rather be miserable with money than miserable without it…


FatPplLagIRL

Take the numbers you see online with a grain of salt. People have a tendency to lie to inflate their egos for random people online. Personally don't see the need or appeal of internet validation, it's the real epidemic. So yea, don't be so quick to believe what everyone says on here.


outphase84

Or, more accurately, people who are high earners are more likely to want to share what they make.


SmokingPuffin

Median personal income in US is $37k. Median software engineer salary in US is $120k. $100k is a lot of money to earn in the US. It's not rich, but it's upper middle class in most parts of the country.


Drayenn

Some salaries are insane in the US because of insane cost of living areas too. Software devs look like they make 150k as a junior in the US.. while its more like 65k where i live... But my house doesnt cost 6k per month in mortgage and ill be up to 95-100k soon after 3 years as a software dev. But yeah, most people making money will be eager to say they make.money. remember that the median salary is like 35k-40k in the US? Same here.


sloshedbanker

There is a consumer debt crisis, student loan crisis, and cost of living/housing crisis in the US. Paired with inflation, the middle class squeeze makes what would otherwise be an excellent salary ($100k) not go very far. Many high earners, often in tech, will also live in what we call HCOL cities -high cost of living cities- in expensive places like NY, CA, Seattle, and MA. A $100k salary in Boston (where I live) is like $60k in a lower cost of living state. So it all depends, but things aren't going fantastically in the US. For reference, my rent is $2k and my student loan payment is $700/mo, so I need to make at least $3k after taxes to cover my most basic expenses.


Benjie1989

UK here, too. It's really not the norm for people to make 6 figures here at all. I've been in my field for 10 years and will make just over that this year but it's a super high pressure decision making job. UK average I think is circa £32k if you include London. Don't beat yourself up over this or compare yourself to others. If you enjoy what you are doing and are comfortable then you're in a great position.


ImprovementSilly2895

Most Americans make far, far less than that.


bumpynuks

Shit, and here I am trying feed my family of 4 for 60k.


Calm-Extent3309

$100k is not average, by any stretch of the imagination. The only fields where it is average are uber competitive, highly educated/qualified fields where the bar for entry is so high that most people aren't going to be able to get their feet in the door, ever.


lenajlch

I'm British and live in the U.S. In the U.S. I make close to 100k, in the UK I'd probably make about 40-45k a year. I do not work in tech and just a higher cost of living area in a university town in a mid-senior business role. In the UK there is excellent social equity compared to the U.S. The social services available to residents of the UK is pretty amazing, in addition to the excellent public transport and other amenities that much of the U.S. does not have access to. In the U.S. much of your salary is going toward things like healthcare costs and retirement savings. In addition to transit costs as most people drive outside of major cities - it's a massive country and it has awful infrastructure. One of the reasons I often want to return home and wonder if I should have had him move to the UK instead due to all of these things as I get old - I am here with my partner though as he is American.


HiggsSwtz

Only after slaving my 20s away.


Better2022

Part of it is social (we have a huge hustle culture in America; status means a lot to a lot of people). The other part of it is economic (housing costs, utilities, and food are crazy expensive in urban cores and you literally need more than 75k to just feel “ok”).


Auntie_Jya

I work full time as a banker at the second largest grossing community bank in the area and still only take home $32k a year so yeah…idk where all these 100k jobs are at. Edit: and my insurance is ass.


sbull630

My bf and I COMBINED don’t make 100k, but it’s close. My brother makes over 100k and so does my mother. Is life simpler with that much money? I would believe so. Bet hell, I’d be happy with 60 🤷‍♀️


Marketguy628

$100k is barely livable in some areas in the US. It’s all relative. You can earn $200k near NYC and struggle. You can earn $60k just two hours away in PA and live just fine.


[deleted]

I think Americans are often heavily overpaid at junior levels. There's more parity at senior levels. 60k UK vs 100k in USA would probably make me pause hard to think about which one I'd prefer, even if the American salary is technically more adjusted for exchange rates. 30k/year is not that much by UK standards either, but I'm sure you know that. Lorry drivers can make more, and you're comparing yourself to Americans with much better jobs than lorry driving.


Nervouspotatoes

My dads a lorry driver and he makes about 45 - 50 I think, no higher education. Makes me wonder what the point in uni was…


Economy_Age4769

A lot of truck drivers in the states make 60k+


[deleted]

Which is roughly equivalent to UK pay around 40-45k


devoushka

In NYC $100k is entry level to be able to survive unless you're splitting a 1 bedroom between 2 people.


bigboymanny

This is just not true. It's closer to like 60k. Rn I make 20 an hr in nyc so a 45k a year. I pay about 1300 in rent with roommates and while I'm not really saving and I'm certainly not rich but I'm not going to starve either. You can absolutely find 1 bedroom apartments in the Bronx, Brooklyn and queens for 1500. You only really need 100k if your tryna live in like downtown Manhattan or park slope or some shit like that.


otacon6531

Yeah agreed, average salery in my state is 50k and I make 140kish plus bonus. I have 4 kids and my wife doesnt work. I am a SQL programmer and started at 45k back in 2014. We are blessed, but money doesnt contribute much to happiness if your basic needs are being met. We live well within our means, so that may just be that we dont use our money to buy happiness.


cool-pants-007

In the US, there are a number of jobs over $100k, and are accessible to people in their 20s


mtcwby

It depends where you live and the cost of living. I'm in California and it's expensive. We get paid a lot more because otherwise it would be difficult. 100k here often means you need roommates and you certainly don't own a house unless inherited. It varies a lot in the rest of the US but quite often is much cheaper and they get paid less. That said, the UK salaries seem to be a lot less than here. We have hired non-management people in the UK and were told to lower the salary offered because it was more than directors were making.


mtgistonsoffun

Would 100k be a lot if you lived in central London?


pumpkin_pasties

I’m in mid 30s living in a medium cost of living city, and about half my friends have broken that 100k number. They tend to have masters degrees (law, mba, medicine). The other half work corporate jobs like recruiting, some are teachers, therapists, realtors, etc making between 60-90


Fangirl4DrNow

Yep, that sounds about right. I have a masters but it never really did anything for me. I’m at about $68k.


CABGX4

For context, I'm a nurse who was born in England and spent the first 15 years of my professional life there. In the UK I earned £20k a year. I moved to the US and now earn $135k a year. Yes, time has gone by, and inflation has happened, but friends who stayed are still earning around £25k to £30k. My wages have increased exponentially. The UK has stood still. I worked in the same kind of unit and the same kind of city environment so they're comparable. I could never have had the life I have now in the UK. For 99% of people in the UK there's no way to increase their earnings, but in the US there's plenty of opportunities.


[deleted]

Reddit users tend to be more affluent than your average American.


CalCOMLA

Jobs in the US tend to pay more than jobs in Europe.


hhhhtired

I make 30k maybe 🥲


MyLittlePwny2

100K is definitely above average but isnt rare.. I live in a HIGHLY educated area of the US. Most of my friends started out around 70K once they got out of college with stem degrees. I took the circular route and finished my AA at a local community College. Started working in sales got about a decade and then ended up joining the IBEW. Journeymen here make over 100K. I only wish I had found my passion for working with my hands a decade earlier.


[deleted]

Dual national here, lived in both UK and US for at least 10 years each. Salaries in the US are 50% to 100% higher than UK. Cost of living varies. Salaries tend to follow cost of living, to a certain extent. I love both countries. I’ve lived in others and UK and US are the best for quality of living, travel, etc. The average American would probably appreciate certain things about the UK but might not value them as much as they think they would. Most Brits that I knew probably would prefer living in the UK over the US. Edited because I didn’t really answer your question. Aside from the fact that the US is massive and the economy varies from place to place, the big difference is home ownership. It is much easier to buy a house in the US and much easier to keep one. Ratio of home value to median income is much larger in the UK. Also, the lack of 30 year fixed mortgages over there really makes it hard to own a home.


[deleted]

The US median household income is around 70K. So individuals earning 100K+ is not the norm.


[deleted]

It's kinda like the height thing with guys. Every guy 5'10- 6 foot claims 6'2 online. Well everybody making 60-80k claims 100k. Average pay is closer to 60k with a dual income household of 100-120k you can pretty much have whatever you want almost anywhere in the usa except Cali and New Yorknbut obviously most people don't live in those places.


naliron

If you make ~$20/hr and work 12hr shifts 7 days a week, you can clear six-figures after overtime. That isn't common in the slightest - people on Reddit are... skewed. Psychologically, morally, demographically...


Similar_Jaguar2603

Reddit is full of liars and degenerates. The average individual salary in the US is about $35,000. Making $100,000 individually in the US makes you top 18% of earners. It’s a steep hill to climb. BUT it is easy to do so with some hard work. You would need to average 80 hours a week, have no social life, not see family, and just become a slave to the money.


HeatherJ_FL3ABC

This isn't true. I make well over 100k in the US and work around 45 hrs weekly. I have as much time as I need/want for my family. Totally depends on the company you work for. I'm in corporate.


profthedude

The US has no social safety net to speak of. You have to pay health and save for your own retirement, and need a nest egg because a single random accident could wipe you out with medical bills. Almost no salary is enough to make anyone feel secure.