What's a "decent" salary?

[Anonymous]

I feel pretty decent as a social worker making 71K (after nearly 10 years in the field). That's a lot for social work. I would have a tough time surviving on it (live in the city, have a kid in daycare) if I wasn't married to DH who makes 110K. With those together we're comfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The average annual wage in the DC metro area is $65K.

Really? Interesting. Althoughthat takes into account janitors and part-time, etc., I assume?

I wonder what it would be for a college-educated, master's holding person with 10-20 years of experience?

I have a master's from Berkeley and 10 years of experience and I make $65k.

I have a JD and master's from Harvard and 10 years of experience and I make $60k.

[Anonymous]

To the PP who thinks an MA plus 20 years experience is worth something, doesn't depend on the field. Some fields may be more in demand than others.

Me. I have an MA in International Relations. 20 plus years of experience. I make $145K working in my field. Get premiums for fluency in in demand "hard" language, which helps. DW also has an MA in International Relations, works for on of the BigLaw firms (not as a lawyer) as a linguist. She made $125K last year.

Additional income from investments we have made over the years: $60K.

Total HHI: $330K (gross)

[Anonymous]

I was just reading in the nanny forums about a nanny who demands $61,000 per year. I find this insulting on so many levels. I made $38,500 per year in my first associate position out of law school. The most I've ever made is $95k per year. Several of my friends who have grad degrees make between $65k-$100K per year.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/nanny-forum/posts/list/331647.page

[Anonymous]

I'm curious about these numbers too. I had to drive through McLean recently and got lost (even with a GPS...I know) and I was shocked at all the huge homes. Seriously, every one I passed looked like it was $3M+. Who is buying all these homes? They must make much more than $300K a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was just reading in the nanny forums about a nanny who demands $61,000 per year. I find this insulting on so many levels. I made $38,500 per year in my first associate position out of law school. The most I've ever made is $95k per year. Several of my friends who have grad degrees make between $65k-$100K per year.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/nanny-forum/posts/list/331647.page

Well, I think teachers and nannies are dreadfully underpaid. Those who have the lives of children in their hands, as well as their psychological and educational well-being at heart, should be paid more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was just reading in the nanny forums about a nanny who demands $61,000 per year. I find this insulting on so many levels. I made $38,500 per year in my first associate position out of law school. The most I've ever made is $95k per year. Several of my friends who have grad degrees make between $65k-$100K per year.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/nanny-forum/posts/list/331647.page

Ok...i have never even completed my undergrad and make 240k/yr.

College clearly doesn't teach you how to be resourceful.

I would be so depressed if i spent as much time and effort in school as yourself and had a below average income years later to show for it.

I really wonder what went wrong for some of you people. Especially the poster up thread who went to Harvard, that is just incomprehensible. Don't you all see opportunity? We're surrounded by it. What kind entrepreneurial skills did your parents teach you, if any? Were you expected to work as a young adult/teen? Ever have to just figure life out or was everything spoon fed to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is a decent salary?

I think about this sometimes. I'm 40 and I make 175 and my husband makes 195k. total 360k. We started with negative (college debt) and then we have 4 kids. I feel like we aren't paycheck to paycheck but there's still a lot of trade offs.
I think we are 'decent' for a family. Decent to me means - you are not freaking out about $ issues but you still think a little more would be nice. I think it also means you wonder WTH is the government doing with all my tax money.

If we had a single income and I didn't spend as much money on things like work clothes, transportation to work, nannies I think decent could be @ 300k. Most single working parents with one spouse at home seems comparable with this type of income IMO.

I work with a lot of kids out of college. In your 20's it seems less and most are single. So they are 'surviving' on 60-100 right out of school. Add $2-10k per year after that. Some get high end every year, most do not.

Not sure about older folks - let's say 50+ . I wonder what would be different about that, but I don't know much people at that age or their finances.

Curious - what are your jobs, or what industry? I'm around the same age, with experience, advanced degree, and make nowhere near that. I'm thinking most of the high income posters here are doctors, lawyers, real estate developers, or sales. You all tend to think everyone around you makes the same kind of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A decent salary is variable. Median HHI in DC area is 90K. That means 1/2 the families make more and half make less. Average is somewhat higher because it is skewed by the few high earners. Most people, despite what DCUM thinks, make less than 100K. And very vew make 300K, like 1%

You think so? DCUM sure makes us feel poor at 320.

Those are the stats

NP. This article which is based on the 2010 census data states that in the DC area it takes an income of $520K to be in the 1%. It's less nationally, $387K. So PP is not exactly poor at 320 but not a 1%er either.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/local/what-it-takes-to-be-a-1-percenter-in-the-washington-area/2012/02/01/gIQA571JiQ_story.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The average annual wage in the DC metro area is $65K.

Really? Interesting. Althoughthat takes into account janitors and part-time, etc., I assume?

I wonder what it would be for a college-educated, master's holding person with 10-20 years of experience?

I have a master's and 12 years of experience and I make 70K as a teacher.

Not in DC, about an hour outside in northern MD - 14 years and a Masters = ~$90k here.

Ph.D., 17 years experience, 100K

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was just reading in the nanny forums about a nanny who demands $61,000 per year. I find this insulting on so many levels. I made $38,500 per year in my first associate position out of law school. The most I've ever made is $95k per year. Several of my friends who have grad degrees make between $65k-$100K per year.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/nanny-forum/posts/list/331647.page

Well, I think teachers and nannies are dreadfully underpaid. Those who have the lives of children in their hands, as well as their psychological and educational well-being at heart, should be paid more.

That's a cute thought to have. Why would employers pay one penny more than necessary to fill a position? There are tons of folks willing to fill those teaching positions. The nanny business - it's a racket that benefits (spoiler alert) wealthy families. If you want to make more money, seek a field with significant barriers to entry (niche fields requiring certifications or specialized education) working for deep-pocketed employers. Avoid fields with a large labor pool and/or that have a "mission" that would attract many folks willing to work for peanuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A decent salary is variable. Median HHI in DC area is 90K. That means 1/2 the families make more and half make less. Average is somewhat higher because it is skewed by the few high earners. Most people, despite what DCUM thinks, make less than 100K. And very vew make 300K, like 1%

You think so? DCUM sure makes us feel poor at 320.

Those are the stats

NP. This article which is based on the 2010 census data states that in the DC area it takes an income of $520K to be in the 1%. It's less nationally, $387K. So PP is not exactly poor at 320 but not a 1%er either.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/local/what-it-takes-to-be-a-1-percenter-in-the-washington-area/2012/02/01/gIQA571JiQ_story.html

Note - these numbers and the article refer to household income.

[Anonymous]

learn to program if you want easy 6 figures. It takes <6 months to become proficient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was just reading in the nanny forums about a nanny who demands $61,000 per year. I find this insulting on so many levels. I made $38,500 per year in my first associate position out of law school. The most I've ever made is $95k per year. Several of my friends who have grad degrees make between $65k-$100K per year.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/nanny-forum/posts/list/331647.page

Ok...i have never even completed my undergrad and make 240k/yr.

College clearly doesn't teach you how to be resourceful.

I would be so depressed if i spent as much time and effort in school as yourself and had a below average income years later to show for it.

I really wonder what went wrong for some of you people. Especially the poster up thread who went to Harvard, that is just incomprehensible. Don't you all see opportunity? We're surrounded by it. What kind entrepreneurial skills did your parents teach you, if any? Were you expected to work as a young adult/teen? Ever have to just figure life out or was everything spoon fed to you?

What do you do? Maybe you just got lucky?

I was calculating what realtors make just the other day and realized that if you only sold 10 homes a year, you would make about 240K in N. Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was just reading in the nanny forums about a nanny who demands $61,000 per year. I find this insulting on so many levels. I made $38,500 per year in my first associate position out of law school. The most I've ever made is $95k per year. Several of my friends who have grad degrees make between $65k-$100K per year.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/nanny-forum/posts/list/331647.page

Ok...i have never even completed my undergrad and make 240k/yr.

College clearly doesn't teach you how to be resourceful.

I would be so depressed if i spent as much time and effort in school as yourself and had a below average income years later to show for it.

I really wonder what went wrong for some of you people. Especially the poster up thread who went to Harvard, that is just incomprehensible. Don't you all see opportunity? We're surrounded by it. What kind entrepreneurial skills did your parents teach you, if any? Were you expected to work as a young adult/teen? Ever have to just figure life out or was everything spoon fed to you?

What do you do? Maybe you just got lucky?

I was calculating what realtors make just the other day and realized that if you only sold 10 homes a year, you would make about 240K in N. Arlington.

Following the dream and working as an engineer in the renewable energy industry. I'm raking in over $60k a year! Lucky? Sure. Lucrative? Not so much.