Anyone Here NOT Make $100K (yet)?

[Anonymous]

OP here, checking in....

Glad to see there are so many in the sub-$100k (or just slightly above it). In fact, I just started this thread this morning, and we already have more posts than the "I reached $100k thread at 22!" bragging thread started two days ago. I was starting to feel like an anomoly among all the high-earning DCUMers - and glad to learn I'm among so many "normal" earners!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my early 50's. Moved across country to became first year Fed months ago with a salary under 100K so we could take several vacations a year traveling 1st/business class overseas.

If you're making under $100k, how are you affording to fly first-class?

By using the money I made before I became a Fed.

What kind of work do you do? I would have thought if you made that much pre-gov't, you should have at least started at GS-14/15. But good for you if you're all set.

[Anonymous]

I'm a fed. GS11, making around $70k. I'm a single parent and bought a home a few years ago in DC. We're doing just fine.

[Anonymous]

Lol, I'll never make six figures. I'm a legal secretary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol, I'll never make six figures. I'm a legal secretary.

Our experienced legal secretaries can make $87 plus overtime for trials.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ooo me! I make $85k as a non-profit accountant at 34. I could definitely make more, but the schedule is great (9-5, one day wfh, absolutely no after hours expectations) and the work is easy. Great mom job!

Yes, just talked about the work-life balance above. (OP here.) I'm always home by 5:30 p.m., dinner on the table by 6:30 p.m.

+1000! Especially when the kid is under 5 or even 10. My boss casually mentions that if I want to put in more hours at work, boss could give me substantial raise. Well............ I make about 85K after deduction and all is good for me for now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a fed. GS11, making around $70k. I'm a single parent and bought a home a few years ago in DC. We're doing just fine.

How did you afford a house in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a fed. GS11, making around $70k. I'm a single parent and bought a home a few years ago in DC. We're doing just fine.

How did you afford a house in DC?

DC Opens Doors and the low income tax abatement (I was making under 65k then and qualified), and I bought in a cheap but safe neighborhood. I could just barely afford to buy my house now, but instead I have a comfortable mortgage payment and I got really lucky with neighbors. You don't have to make 6 figures to live comfortably in DC, you just need to be prudent.

My child is also in elementary school, so daycare expenses are much lower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a fed. GS11, making around $70k. I'm a single parent and bought a home a few years ago in DC. We're doing just fine.

How did you afford a house in DC?

DC Opens Doors and the low income tax abatement (I was making under 65k then and qualified), and I bought in a cheap but safe neighborhood. I could just barely afford to buy my house now, but instead I have a comfortable mortgage payment and I got really lucky with neighbors. You don't have to make 6 figures to live comfortably in DC, you just need to be prudent.

My child is also in elementary school, so daycare expenses are much lower.

That's awesome, nice work!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a fed. GS11, making around $70k. I'm a single parent and bought a home a few years ago in DC. We're doing just fine.

How did you afford a house in DC?

DC Opens Doors and the low income tax abatement (I was making under 65k then and qualified), and I bought in a cheap but safe neighborhood. I could just barely afford to buy my house now, but instead I have a comfortable mortgage payment and I got really lucky with neighbors. You don't have to make 6 figures to live comfortably in DC, you just need to be prudent.

My child is also in elementary school, so daycare expenses are much lower.

That's awesome, nice work!

Thanks! I love my little house!

[Anonymous]

I'm 43 and make $80k. Fantastic work-life balance. I could easily make $125k but then my time would not be my own.

[Anonymous]

71K, age 32. Husband now make almost 110K at 34, though. I think he cracked 100 a couple years ago.

[Anonymous]

I am 33 and only make around $65K per year. I doubt I will ever see the $100K amount. Some days I am sad about this and feel like I should put more into my career. But then I remember how lucky I am to be able to have a comfortable, flexible job with very low stress so I can WAH. My kids are young (under 2) and I am able to drop off and pick up early and get everything done around the house, bills, etc so our lives aren't too stressful during the weekends.

Plus DH is a high earner (over $250K) so my salary is mostly for daycare, retirement and health insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol, I'll never make six figures. I'm a legal secretary.

Our experienced legal secretaries can make $87 plus overtime for trials.

I'm corporate, not litigation. I make $80.

[Anonymous]

28 and a teacher at about 65 k. Sometimes a bit more w overtime. Will likely never break 100 unless I leave the field which, given my age, I probably will. I love teaching but not sure I can be in a classroom for 30+ more years