Are $500k+ jobs really that common?

[Anonymous]

Uh, it is very uncommon. WTF!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We aren’t in DC, in a mid sized MCOL city

Well, this is a DC website so comments may offer a DC perspective, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:sure, if you look at a $500k income nationwide, it is impressive and rare. In DC/NY/SF it's not terrible uncommon in certain zip codes.

Here are some avg incomes for zip codes in Bethesda/CC:

"The average household income ($321,268) for 20816 is less than the average household income for 20817 ($325,502), 22101 ($360,494), Brookmont CDP ($434,332), and Somerset town ($419,599)"

In Somerset or Brookmont, you are just above avg at 500k.

That’s average, not median.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:sure, if you look at a $500k income nationwide, it is impressive and rare. In DC/NY/SF it's not terrible uncommon in certain zip codes.

Here are some avg incomes for zip codes in Bethesda/CC:

"The average household income ($321,268) for 20816 is less than the average household income for 20817 ($325,502), 22101 ($360,494), Brookmont CDP ($434,332), and Somerset town ($419,599)"

In Somerset or Brookmont, you are just above avg at 500k.

That’s average, not median.

That’s also household income, whereas OP is talking about individual salaries. Based on a 2 earner household, the incomes above are actually 160-200k each.

[Anonymous]

I said boom-da-boom! That is a lot of money! Super uncommon.

[Anonymous]

Why are you removing all the high paying professions? I think in the DC area those salaries are "common" but that's due to the jobs you removed - big law, doctors, commission based sales, etc. I think, for example, a partner at Deloitte probably clears that pretty easily, but that's bonus/commission based. And that's not a totally uncommon job for someone to have around here.

But anyway, to your original question, no I do not think it is common for people to make a base salary of $500k+ if they are NOT a lawyer, doctor, partner at a consulting firm, or high-up software engineer.

[Anonymous]

DH is in tech sales and he clears like 250k, not 500k. Anything in sales with that amount of upside is also SUPER VOLATILE.

[Anonymous]

its average in dc and close in zip code

[Anonymous]

I have also become aware that there are lots of jobs that sound really impressive but actually don’t pay that well at all. Directors of museums, historic homes, university librarians, heads of art galleries, curators, head of fundraising for a symphony. Director of a prestigious private school, head of a think tank, or a prestigious center at a university.

I remember initially meeting a lot of people in DC who had what I considered high powered jobs and in some cases looking them up to find that they pay peanuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have also become aware that there are lots of jobs that sound really impressive but actually don’t pay that well at all. Directors of museums, historic homes, university librarians, heads of art galleries, curators, head of fundraising for a symphony. Director of a prestigious private school, head of a think tank, or a prestigious center at a university.

I remember initially meeting a lot of people in DC who had what I considered high powered jobs and in some cases looking them up to find that they pay peanuts.

I think it's kind of a status thing for some people, tbh. You are so wealthy you don't even need an income; your job is for prestige and access to power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:its average in dc and close in zip code

Not it’s not. Median HHI in DC is less than 90k.

[Anonymous]

What do you think?

Have you been introduced to Google’s search function?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have also become aware that there are lots of jobs that sound really impressive but actually don’t pay that well at all. Directors of museums, historic homes, university librarians, heads of art galleries, curators, head of fundraising for a symphony. Director of a prestigious private school, head of a think tank, or a prestigious center at a university.

I remember initially meeting a lot of people in DC who had what I considered high powered jobs and in some cases looking them up to find that they pay peanuts.

Because they have very different values than you.

Not everyone is primarily motivated by money (and many of us have minimal respect for those who are…)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:its average in dc and close in zip code

Lol no. The median HHI doesn’t come close to this even in the wealthiest zip codes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:sure, if you look at a $500k income nationwide, it is impressive and rare. In DC/NY/SF it's not terrible uncommon in certain zip codes.

Here are some avg incomes for zip codes in Bethesda/CC:

"The average household income ($321,268) for 20816 is less than the average household income for 20817 ($325,502), 22101 ($360,494), Brookmont CDP ($434,332), and Somerset town ($419,599)"

In Somerset or Brookmont, you are just above avg at 500k.

Yes but a lot of that is bonus money. Even most attorneys in the DC area do not have a 500k+ base.

This is household income so there is no way to know if it is one or two spouses contributing.