All you with these high-paying jobs!
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Anonymous
We have a HHI of $250k and live in a SFH in Potomac, but we bought in 2015. We would not be able to afford the same house at today’s prices and interest rates. There’s no secret, we just got lucky with the timing. |
Anonymous
I think what you’re missing is 1) better/higher roles are not advertised in ordinary ways. They’re filled internally by people working to do better or externally by accomplished outsiders through recruiting firms; 2) there are no “normal” $200k jobs that don’t require specialized knowledge and/or added responsibilities. |
Anonymous
Median HHI includes single people and retired people, who may not be living in a typical SFH. You should look more at the median HHI of DINKs or families with kids to see who is affording the homes. Anyway, in our case our HHI was $150k but our parents helped us out. |
Anonymous
| The way to earn more is simple. Just pull job posting of high paid job you want and get those qualifications. |
Anonymous
OP, many of these couples had constant family help, with parents paying for their colleges, weddings, house, kids private school, some even have their parents paying for their vehicles - of course they seem rich! |
Anonymous
Oftentimes, younger professionals assume that their salary and position will organically grow. By that, I mean that their employer will provide explicit, concrete steps to achieve the next rung on the ladder. It takes a while for many to realize that they are responsible for their career and development. It's a huge mindset shift from school where the next course, next reading, next assignment is outlined for you and the student just needs to follow directions to graduate to the next ladder rung/grade. |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
| law |
Anonymous
A big part of that thought is learning from others who have succeeded. You can know your strengths and your interests and aptitudes, but you can’t get ahead on just making random guesses as to what your next move should be, or just continuing to grind and toil away and hope you get chosen for promotion. It’s part of working smarter as opposed to harder. And working smarter involves knowing what kind of work leads to more money and success, and what kind of work is just toiling on a hamster wheel. So you learn from the examples of others and then apply it to your own skills. |
Anonymous
| I was a lobbyist for a decade (making 100k-200K over that decade) and when I moved jobs, I made 250 and next over 300 base. Bonus last year was 100k. i feel like i won the job jackpot. Im an exec at a trade association |
Anonymous
| OP, I think you're not accounting for all the lawyers who live in the DC area. If they work in BigLaw or even in smaller law firms, they are making significant amounts of money that skew these numbers. I am a partner at a medium sized law firm, for example. I expect to make $500K this year. With DH's salary our HHI will be about $700K. |
Anonymous
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you are funny OP. Network, get into management, ect. So some higher level work if you can, for awhile, then ask for a raise to match.
I have a really narrow specialized knowledge and did stuff with it thus making a name for myself. Now I run a thing. I worked with this other guy at a previous job who also had specialized knowledge but he was so entitled. He thought that he should earn more than me b/c of his particular degree and he's older. Well, he didn't DO. You know what I mean? Just...I don't know what he did with his time. He's still there and his income climbs about 3-5% yr. Frankly, he's lucky to have a job. |
Anonymous
^^ we are not lawyers. 
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Anonymous
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Big Law and lobbyists are everywhere in this town.
Next, consider GovCon and specialties in IT and Finance. A lot of dual incomes at a certain age ie military retirement pensions that kicks in while you continue working a career job - that's double income right there. Sales is always going to generate income. BD/Partners and MD are plenty in DC. You have the public sector here so a ton of smaller GovCon entrepreneurs and defense contractor executives to boot. The real juicy jobs are the ones that pay a lot are aren't managerial (VP/EVP) - so the ones that are specialty individual contributors which are niche - DH doesn't do a whole lot and makes $200k + amazing benefits/PTO. Bonus is 10-15% on top annually. He just sits at home (WFH now) and maybe has a meeting a day as a Manager. There's making a lot but working a lot and then there's being human and enjoying your life and time but still making enough. To me, a great career takes into consideration how much passion you have for your industry/role but also how committed you are are willing to be long-term in order to make what you want from it. Working your way up to Big Law Partner is great once you hit the jackpot but you know, I don't want to work like a psycho for 10+ years. You can absolutely find a way to do both. You have to be very smart, know your strengths and manage your expectations for both time and money, but you can definitely make $250k without killing yourself. Luck is important too of course but as long as you are wanting the right thing for yourself, you can make it happen. My mentor once told me that the easiest thing to do is to make money and he's right. It's the other stuff you would have to do and considerations to make that happen that are harder. |
Anonymous
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Me: $155-160K
Him: $600K last year, but should hit over $700k this year We both work in finance (me - corporate role at a large financial institution and him - private equity). |