Is 80k a decent salary for a degree holder in his 30s?

[Anonymous]

No that's really bad

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:If you are a cpa, I would expect to earn more. It is very easy to get a masters part time. You could do that easily and increase your pay.

It is a decent salary but not much to raise a family in the dmv.

150k is enough to raise a family in the DMV. Many of us do it just fine.

It would be very easy for OP and partner to increase pay. That is all I was saying.

I worked in finance and earned 200k out of grad school. For a bachelors, OP is earning fine. Most people we know attend grad school and earn more.

DH earns a seven figure income.

Very few people earn 200k even with a PHD. And less than 1% of the US population makes 7 figures. You're the exception.

Pp here. It seems very easy to break six figures if you have a masters in accounting or mba plus cpa.

DP. Getting a masters isn't easy. Masters are expensive, particulary if you want yours at a decent school. They're also time consuming which means you gotta have a flexible job or a part-time job which is not always available and can easily cut your income a lot. That's why very a few people have these.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It's not a spectacular salary nor a great salary. You're basic middle class. In the DMV it means an apartment or a modest townhouse in the exurbs.

Up to you if you want to make more and figure out how to make more. Some people who have six figures+ income lucked into it, most figured out how to make it happen and pushed their way into it. They made that choice.

80k is actually the median or above the median in most professions. Most people will never make 6 digits because there are not enough jobs out there that pay that much. That night be average in YOUR circle, but not in the DMV at large. You're also talking like being middle class, which HHI is far lower by the way, is some kind of moral punishment. It's not. You're just an elitist giving advice.

OP and his partner do not make six figures. Their combined HHI is six figures. Low six figures.

In DMV that's probably the entry level income needed for a HHI to buy a very modest SFH in the outer suburbs or a small condo closer in. We're talking Columbia, Burke, Manassas.

You are out of touch with reality and the cost of living and what it takes to achieve basic middle class benchmarks, like owning your own house and having a decent 401k and savings.

FYI median HHI in metro DC is 111k and that is factoring in everything from singles on welfare to law partners: https://datausa.io/profile/geo/washington-arlington-alexandria-dc-va-md-wv#:~:text=Between%202020%20and%202021%20the,%24111%2C252%2C%20a%204.55%25%20increase.

Per capita income is $71k: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/DC,US/PST045223 and OP and his partner are pretty much smack dab right in the middle. Which is why I said they are basic middle class.

The question at hand is whether 80K is good compared to what other degree holders make, not how good 80K is compared to the cost of living. The fact that DC is expensive doesn't make it untrue that OP makes around what an average degree holder makes in DC which is slightly lower than 80K.

Yes, I'm aware OP doesn't make 6 digits and most people don't and never will, but OPs HHI is 150K, around 40K higher than the HHI of the average DC household. OP is in the average range for professional households, but as a household they're not smacked in the middle, they're above the middle.

Eh. Middle is a confusing term in many ways. Middle of the income spectrum or middle class lifestyle? The two are not the same.

If we consider middle class the ability to own a property and be able to save a bit of money for retirement and emergencies, OP is just barely qualifying.

OP's 80k is average. Not great. Not special. Not rich. Not poor. Not upper middle class. It's just that.

DP. OP was clear that he was referring to income. Income wise, 80k is above the median in DC and around the median in DC for someone holding a degree.

Just barely. By about a $700. https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/-in-Washington,DC

Statistically, he is the median. Not above median. He's not flipping burgers but he's also not living in Chevy Chase or Arlington.

But he's below the median age for a worker which is typically considered 25-54 in these configurations to get at similar full-time employee rates and he has a partner earning similar. Doing more than fine.

[Anonymous]

It is not your age it is fact things cost a lot more. I finally got a big promotion in 2001 and moved salary from 69k to 83k and was huge. But today in 2024 moving from 69k to 83k is nothing almost.

In 2001 homes on my old block were 330k today those homes are 770k.

In 2001 I could buy a good used late model car for 12k and a Disney pass was $42 a day.

Today a good used car is 25k and Disney passes are $150 a day.

2024 prices make 80k today a low salary. As recent as 2010 was a fantastic salary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not a spectacular salary nor a great salary. You're basic middle class. In the DMV it means an apartment or a modest townhouse in the exurbs.

Up to you if you want to make more and figure out how to make more. Some people who have six figures+ income lucked into it, most figured out how to make it happen and pushed their way into it. They made that choice.

80k is actually the median or above the median in most professions. Most people will never make 6 digits because there are not enough jobs out there that pay that much. That night be average in YOUR circle, but not in the DMV at large. You're also talking like being middle class, which HHI is far lower by the way, is some kind of moral punishment. It's not. You're just an elitist giving advice.

OP and his partner do not make six figures. Their combined HHI is six figures. Low six figures.

In DMV that's probably the entry level income needed for a HHI to buy a very modest SFH in the outer suburbs or a small condo closer in. We're talking Columbia, Burke, Manassas.

You are out of touch with reality and the cost of living and what it takes to achieve basic middle class benchmarks, like owning your own house and having a decent 401k and savings.

FYI median HHI in metro DC is 111k and that is factoring in everything from singles on welfare to law partners: https://datausa.io/profile/geo/washington-arlington-alexandria-dc-va-md-wv#:~:text=Between%202020%20and%202021%20the,%24111%2C252%2C%20a%204.55%25%20increase.

Per capita income is $71k: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/DC,US/PST045223 and OP and his partner are pretty much smack dab right in the middle. Which is why I said they are basic middle class.

The question at hand is whether 80K is good compared to what other degree holders make, not how good 80K is compared to the cost of living. The fact that DC is expensive doesn't make it untrue that OP makes around what an average degree holder makes in DC which is slightly lower than 80K.

Yes, I'm aware OP doesn't make 6 digits and most people don't and never will, but OPs HHI is 150K, around 40K higher than the HHI of the average DC household. OP is in the average range for professional households, but as a household they're not smacked in the middle, they're above the middle.

Eh. Middle is a confusing term in many ways. Middle of the income spectrum or middle class lifestyle? The two are not the same.

If we consider middle class the ability to own a property and be able to save a bit of money for retirement and emergencies, OP is just barely qualifying.

OP's 80k is average. Not great. Not special. Not rich. Not poor. Not upper middle class. It's just that.

DP. OP was clear that he was referring to income. Income wise, 80k is above the median in DC and around the median in DC for someone holding a degree.

Just barely. By about a $700. https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/-in-Washington,DC

Statistically, he is the median. Not above median. He's not flipping burgers but he's also not living in Chevy Chase or Arlington.

But he's below the median age for a worker which is typically considered 25-54 in these configurations to get at similar full-time employee rates and he has a partner earning similar. Doing more than fine.

He's not starving on that income but he's most likely living paycheck to paycheck. What are you trying to pretend or claim? It's not an amazing salary. It's barely comfortable. I remember when I made 80k about 10 years ago. After maxing 401k I had enough to cover the rent and day to day food expenditures and a bit of a social life and not a whole lot more. I remember worrying about money all the time even though I had no debt, and I knew the only way I could have anything more was to get my butt up the career ladder. Which is what I did.

He's probably not maxing his 401k so he has a bit more leeway in his spending but my comparison was also 10 years ago while things are more expensive now. He does have economy of scale benefit I didn't have at the time with a spouse bringing in her income too.

I would never say he is "doing more than fine." He's just doing ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are a cpa, I would expect to earn more. It is very easy to get a masters part time. You could do that easily and increase your pay.

It is a decent salary but not much to raise a family in the dmv.

150k is enough to raise a family in the DMV. Many of us do it just fine.

It would be very easy for OP and partner to increase pay. That is all I was saying.

I worked in finance and earned 200k out of grad school. For a bachelors, OP is earning fine. Most people we know attend grad school and earn more.

DH earns a seven figure income.

Very few people earn 200k even with a PHD. And less than 1% of the US population makes 7 figures. You're the exception.

Pp here. It seems very easy to break six figures if you have a masters in accounting or mba plus cpa.

DP. Getting a masters isn't easy. Masters are expensive, particulary if you want yours at a decent school. They're also time consuming which means you gotta have a flexible job or a part-time job which is not always available and can easily cut your income a lot. That's why very a few people have these.

DH was finishing up residency after med school around the same age. Easy is relative. I guess I would want to increase my income with the next step. It would seem easy to me.

I have two masters, one was paid from by my employer. I took 1-2 classes part time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not a spectacular salary nor a great salary. You're basic middle class. In the DMV it means an apartment or a modest townhouse in the exurbs.

Up to you if you want to make more and figure out how to make more. Some people who have six figures+ income lucked into it, most figured out how to make it happen and pushed their way into it. They made that choice.

80k is actually the median or above the median in most professions. Most people will never make 6 digits because there are not enough jobs out there that pay that much. That night be average in YOUR circle, but not in the DMV at large. You're also talking like being middle class, which HHI is far lower by the way, is some kind of moral punishment. It's not. You're just an elitist giving advice.

OP and his partner do not make six figures. Their combined HHI is six figures. Low six figures.

In DMV that's probably the entry level income needed for a HHI to buy a very modest SFH in the outer suburbs or a small condo closer in. We're talking Columbia, Burke, Manassas.

You are out of touch with reality and the cost of living and what it takes to achieve basic middle class benchmarks, like owning your own house and having a decent 401k and savings.

FYI median HHI in metro DC is 111k and that is factoring in everything from singles on welfare to law partners: https://datausa.io/profile/geo/washington-arlington-alexandria-dc-va-md-wv#:~:text=Between%202020%20and%202021%20the,%24111%2C252%2C%20a%204.55%25%20increase.

Per capita income is $71k: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/DC,US/PST045223 and OP and his partner are pretty much smack dab right in the middle. Which is why I said they are basic middle class.

The question at hand is whether 80K is good compared to what other degree holders make, not how good 80K is compared to the cost of living. The fact that DC is expensive doesn't make it untrue that OP makes around what an average degree holder makes in DC which is slightly lower than 80K.

Yes, I'm aware OP doesn't make 6 digits and most people don't and never will, but OPs HHI is 150K, around 40K higher than the HHI of the average DC household. OP is in the average range for professional households, but as a household they're not smacked in the middle, they're above the middle.

Eh. Middle is a confusing term in many ways. Middle of the income spectrum or middle class lifestyle? The two are not the same.

If we consider middle class the ability to own a property and be able to save a bit of money for retirement and emergencies, OP is just barely qualifying.

OP's 80k is average. Not great. Not special. Not rich. Not poor. Not upper middle class. It's just that.

DP. OP was clear that he was referring to income. Income wise, 80k is above the median in DC and around the median in DC for someone holding a degree.

Just barely. By about a $700. https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/-in-Washington,DC

Statistically, he is the median. Not above median. He's not flipping burgers but he's also not living in Chevy Chase or Arlington.

But he's below the median age for a worker which is typically considered 25-54 in these configurations to get at similar full-time employee rates and he has a partner earning similar. Doing more than fine.

He's not starving on that income but he's most likely living paycheck to paycheck. What are you trying to pretend or claim? It's not an amazing salary. It's barely comfortable. I remember when I made 80k about 10 years ago. After maxing 401k I had enough to cover the rent and day to day food expenditures and a bit of a social life and not a whole lot more. I remember worrying about money all the time even though I had no debt, and I knew the only way I could have anything more was to get my butt up the career ladder. Which is what I did.

He's probably not maxing his 401k so he has a bit more leeway in his spending but my comparison was also 10 years ago while things are more expensive now. He does have economy of scale benefit I didn't have at the time with a spouse bringing in her income too.

I would never say he is "doing more than fine." He's just doing ok.

His household income is 150k. This is considerably higher than the median of 101k in DC. He might be doing even better compared to the median if he doesn't live in DC as the median outside this area migh actually be lower.

If you're living paycheck to paycheck on a 150k income you're probably spending too much money on things that you don't need, such as a new car when you could buy used, expensive restaurants or detached homes when you could easily afford a condo or town house in a decent, but not posh area. Husband and I have a combined income of 120k and we don't live paycheck to paycheck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are a cpa, I would expect to earn more. It is very easy to get a masters part time. You could do that easily and increase your pay.

It is a decent salary but not much to raise a family in the dmv.

150k is enough to raise a family in the DMV. Many of us do it just fine.

It would be very easy for OP and partner to increase pay. That is all I was saying.

I worked in finance and earned 200k out of grad school. For a bachelors, OP is earning fine. Most people we know attend grad school and earn more.

DH earns a seven figure income.

Very few people earn 200k even with a PHD. And less than 1% of the US population makes 7 figures. You're the exception.

Pp here. It seems very easy to break six figures if you have a masters in accounting or mba plus cpa.

DP. Getting a masters isn't easy. Masters are expensive, particulary if you want yours at a decent school. They're also time consuming which means you gotta have a flexible job or a part-time job which is not always available and can easily cut your income a lot. That's why very a few people have these.

DH was finishing up residency after med school around the same age. Easy is relative. I guess I would want to increase my income with the next step. It would seem easy to me.

I have two masters, one was paid from by my employer. I took 1-2 classes part time.

Not everybody's employer pays for their education. Most do not. And it's easy to go part-time when your husband is making 7 digits as a 200k income is not much of a loss in this case.

[Anonymous]

To me, that’s a very normal salary and HHI. Similar to what I make.

I imagine it sounds obscenely low to people making millions a year and high to people earning min wage. But, if your bills are paid and it’s working for you, who cares how other people are living?

I guess I just don’t see why it matters if some random poster on the internet thinks it’s low

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is not your age it is fact things cost a lot more. I finally got a big promotion in 2001 and moved salary from 69k to 83k and was huge. But today in 2024 moving from 69k to 83k is nothing almost.

In 2001 homes on my old block were 330k today those homes are 770k.

In 2001 I could buy a good used late model car for 12k and a Disney pass was $42 a day.

Today a good used car is 25k and Disney passes are $150 a day.

2024 prices make 80k today a low salary. As recent as 2010 was a fantastic salary.

OP's income is 150k, and there are plenty of houses for 400k outside the posh areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not a spectacular salary nor a great salary. You're basic middle class. In the DMV it means an apartment or a modest townhouse in the exurbs.

Up to you if you want to make more and figure out how to make more. Some people who have six figures+ income lucked into it, most figured out how to make it happen and pushed their way into it. They made that choice.

80k is actually the median or above the median in most professions. Most people will never make 6 digits because there are not enough jobs out there that pay that much. That night be average in YOUR circle, but not in the DMV at large. You're also talking like being middle class, which HHI is far lower by the way, is some kind of moral punishment. It's not. You're just an elitist giving advice.

OP and his partner do not make six figures. Their combined HHI is six figures. Low six figures.

In DMV that's probably the entry level income needed for a HHI to buy a very modest SFH in the outer suburbs or a small condo closer in. We're talking Columbia, Burke, Manassas.

You are out of touch with reality and the cost of living and what it takes to achieve basic middle class benchmarks, like owning your own house and having a decent 401k and savings.

FYI median HHI in metro DC is 111k and that is factoring in everything from singles on welfare to law partners: https://datausa.io/profile/geo/washington-arlington-alexandria-dc-va-md-wv#:~:text=Between%202020%20and%202021%20the,%24111%2C252%2C%20a%204.55%25%20increase.

Per capita income is $71k: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/DC,US/PST045223 and OP and his partner are pretty much smack dab right in the middle. Which is why I said they are basic middle class.

Since when is $150,000 low six figures? The average HHI in the area is $111,000 and they make $40,000 more that. Plus housing is a lot cheaper in the area compared to NYC, Boston, high tech areas of California. DC also has an older population that other comparable cities don’t and that pushes the income up.

Six figures run from 100k to 999,999. 150k is low six figures.

HHI average includes everyone from retiree widows on a fixed income to a family with multiple kids and single analysts on the Hill and single moms on welfare. For a dual income working couple their income is pretty average because it is average.

If you're a retiree living off SS and a pension together worth 80k and own outright a split in Rockville and have another few hundred grand in investments, you're in a different place than a 30 year old worker early in his career who rents and has no savings, even with an 80k salary.

Housing is pretty expensive in DC. 150k will not buy you the median SFH around DC. Are you someone who's never left her Silver Spring condo since 2004?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is not your age it is fact things cost a lot more. I finally got a big promotion in 2001 and moved salary from 69k to 83k and was huge. But today in 2024 moving from 69k to 83k is nothing almost.

In 2001 homes on my old block were 330k today those homes are 770k.

In 2001 I could buy a good used late model car for 12k and a Disney pass was $42 a day.

Today a good used car is 25k and Disney passes are $150 a day.

2024 prices make 80k today a low salary. As recent as 2010 was a fantastic salary.

Not sure I understand your logic whatsoever...moving from $69k to $83k is significant regardless of what happened with underlying prices.

The rates of inflation on the things you mention above are very low...the change in house prices is 3.5% annually. The change in car prices is 2.5% annually.

Not sure why you would mention Disney passes...the nominal prices for airfares, computers, TVs is actually lower today vs. 2001.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To me, that’s a very normal salary and HHI. Similar to what I make.

I imagine it sounds obscenely low to people making millions a year and high to people earning min wage. But, if your bills are paid and it’s working for you, who cares how other people are living?

I guess I just don’t see why it matters if some random poster on the internet thinks it’s low

DCUM attracts high earners with expensive lifestyles who don't realize that most people don't make six digits, which is supported by the numbers of US Census Bureau. Many of them can fathom that outside their bubbles most people aren't sending their kids to private schools, paying for university out of pocket, living in million dollar homes or driving luxury SUVs.

[Anonymous]

*Can't fathom

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't date a guy in his 30's only making that unless I were willing to date a public school teacher.