Poll: How much do you make per year?

[alkemyst]

I did the worst I did in the past 5-6 years this past year making only about $34k working for myself....I wasn't really hustling as the beginning of 2003 was spent more lining things up for now. Combined income is closer around $65k. This year that should be significantly higher.

The median US income for a family 2 or more is about $40k, for 4 or more around $60k.

Individual I think hovers around $26-30k or so.

These are country-wide numbers in some areas of the country median/averages may be much higher or lower (though it's more of a leaning tower towards the higher side)....

In this economy you are doing not so bad 'in most areas' if your are bringing home around $26ish to 30k per year individually and only working under 5 years or so. Of course if you been in your field 10years+ this is probably a terrible wage....this is just the low line in the sand.

Personally I think it's very hard to live comfortably on your own (assuming a couple) for less than $60k a year and even then you are just doing the minimums (1 family vacation per year, modest cars, modest home, modest savings)....once you break the 100k barrier (without kids) you can get more creative and your money grows much faster.

 

[TallBill]

Heh, 10-20k. But I'm all messed up.

 

[DT4K]

Depends on where you live. Making between 50 and 75 I have just enough to live in a brand new but small house, drive a brand new but cheap(Kia) minivan, and support my wife and 4 kids. If I was making this much and I was single, I would feel fairly wealthy.

 

[jaydee]

Somewhere around $13k per year before taxes (full-time student). Almost enough to pay for school.

 

[gistech1978]

$20000-29,999 range

hopefully in a few months and a new job, i can move up a notch.
or 6.

 

[atom]

$50,000-$74,999

Much closer to the 50k than the 75k. Decent, but considering where I live and work it's not all that.

 

[elektrolokomotive]

$o.

I just got laid off about an hour ago.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Combined we are easily in the 9th option. Probably be in the 10th this year if all continues to go well with the side business.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: elektrolokomotive
$o.

I just got laid off about an hour ago.

Yikes. I'm sorry.

:beer:

 

[GreasyBurger]

I made 52K last year and I dont' have a college education. I'll start college this fall, though.

 

[Gravity]

Just changed jobs and got 85k as a base. Expecting a raise in a few months. Been at this a long time. Remember, it's not about the $$.

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: Gravity
Just changed jobs and got 85k as a base. Expecting a raise in a few months. Been at this a long time. Remember, it's not about the $$.

Easy for you to say.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Gravity
Just changed jobs and got 85k as a base. Expecting a raise in a few months. Been at this a long time. Remember, it's not about the $$.

Sure it is.

Struggling with payments, broken down cars, not being able to recieve adequate medical and dental care, not having a stable place to live, it is about money. If you really enjoy your job, and it pays well enough for you to live comfortably then you're a lucky person.

 

[Entity]

Starting my own business, so it's variable. Was in the 30k range last year as a student, but now I'm on my own.

Rob

 

[Gravity]

Originally posted by: Entity
Starting my own business, so it's variable. Was in the 30k range last year as a student, but now I'm on my own.

Rob

Good luck in your business. I wish you luck in your pursuit of the american dream!!!

 

[Beattie]

Originally posted by: LordJezo

Originally posted by: freegeeks
30k euro = $36k

I have low professional ambitions

Is $36k a low/decent/good salary in the USA ????

Here in NJ that is a salary for poor people. You wouldn't be able to get by on that and expect to have a decent life.

No. here in NJ, that's about average for a younger person not going into something like biotech or some other technology.

 

[Svnla]

I make about somewhere between the 7th and 8th choice. I am single with no kid so it is a decent salary.

For the poster that asked if 36K is a good salary. It is middle class salary down here in the South if you are single, but you will need more than that to live in northern states.

 

[GreasyBurger]

Originally posted by: freegeeks
30k euro = $36k

I have low professional ambitions

Is $36k a low/decent/good salary in the USA ????

Your income is just one of many factors to determine how wealthy you are. You'd also have to take the living expenses, housing, food, etc. into consideration.

 

[JetsFanatic]

80K last year

 

[GreasyBurger]

Your income is very irreverent . Instead of telling your income, you should ask how many modern cars are in your garage? How big is your house? How often do you get to eat out? Where do you go for your vacation? What do you do for leisures? How big is your big screen TV?

 

[alkemyst]

Really how you spend dicates a lot of how your income reflects your lifestyle.

I have often lived better than "higher up's" and had more toys to show for it.

Many go for the brand new car instead of the 1 year old or even current year used....eating out every night at places that cost 1/2 a c-note for a couple....paying 2x the rent each month to live 15mins closer to work....buying $50-75 dress shirts when they can get them for $25-50 on sale if they would have waited....paying full price on things they know will be cheaper in a couple days....buying tons of memberships they never use, etc and then can't take a vacation with their vacation time....

I used to do this, it's crazy how much money you waste when you just spend freely...

Coupons are great too....I never really used them until they started coming in the mail almost every day My average savings is 30% on my grocery bill sometimes up to 50%....it takes about 5 mins of planning, but no extra driving around. Fortunately all the stores are in a row from my house...This is a pretty real $1000-1500 per year savings, not that much really but there are only 2 of us here...if I had the typical 2 kids it'd be at least $3000 saved. Either way that's a pretty nice trip, furniture, even a nicely equipped PC.

This past year I shopped around for a cheap but nice apartment, it took a while, but in a place where $800-900 is a decent 1 bedroom, I found one for $500. It's nice clean and mostly problem free, one of the guys I know is paying $1000+ for a 2/2 and his car has been broken into twice. Now my plan is to buy a house, it was last year as well, but I am not paying a future value on a property *even if* my payment is going to be only $x. The average person moves every 5 years, with all these people spending inflated values on homes...it's going to be sad if the market takes even a slight dip as the first 5 years hardly any real equity is realized.

Having low monthly bills is also a good thing, I have about $8k in revolving debt which is mostly from college and $33k in school loans...between those two about $500 in monthly payments...some people are paying $1500+ for stuff they don't even have anymore. That's almost $20k in income wasted when you do the math.

Å

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: GreasyBurger
Your income is very irreverent . Instead of telling your income, you should ask how many cars are in your garage? How big is your house? How often do you get to eat out? Where do you go for your vacation? What do you do for leisures? How big is your big screen TV?

1, no garage
120 sq ft room in an apartment
I work at a restaurant, so very often, but I get a massive discount
Nowhere
Read
I don't have one

 

[DrPizza]

12% more than the purchase price of my house.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
12% more than the purchase price of my house.

So in the $100-300,000 range?