Anyone Here NOT Make $100K (yet)?

[Anonymous]

The other thread with people posting they reached $100k by age 26, 27, 28, got me to thinking. Anyone here NOT earn that much (individual)?

I confess that I am over $100k, barely, but I didn't reach it until 50. My closest friends and I are pretty open, and they are in the same range - $90k to $110k. One is a publications manager in a corporation, one an accountant at a non-profit, and one a sales rep for a clothing line. We are all college-educated.

How rare or typical is this?

[Anonymous]

Very typical. I make 35k in a low COL area, ex makes more than that (around 90k). Two kids, doing just fine and manage to save. That said, I'll be going back to school for nursing and ultimately hope to get my masters - so I can make more than 100k.

[Anonymous]

I'm a 31 year old fed and I make 85k. DH makes similar and we're doing just fine in this area.

[Anonymous]

I went to a well-regarded Big Ten school and hang out with a lot of alums who settled in the DC area. I'd say about half of them don't earn $100k, most are over 30, and most have graduate degrees. They're pure idealists who moved to DC to change the world. They work in museums, non-profits, and research fields.

No shame in their game. I feel like they could earn more, but are making a pure lifestyle choice based on principles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The other thread with people posting they reached $100k by age 26, 27, 28, got me to thinking. Anyone here NOT earn that much (individual)?

I confess that I am over $100k, barely, but I didn't reach it until 50. My closest friends and I are pretty open, and they are in the same range - $90k to $110k. One is a publications manager in a corporation, one an accountant at a non-profit, and one a sales rep for a clothing line. We are all college-educated.

How rare or typical is this?

Having a college education doesn't guarantee you a 100k, FYI. If you have kids who are already college grads, you'd know. There are many fresh college grads working for sub 40k salary in this area and some are even on unpaid internship. You also need to consider the totality of the circumstances, mainly being work/life balance, when evaluating your income relative to your career level. Most people who reached 100k earlier on most likely sacrificed other aspects of their life.

As an aside, the kids who posted their income are a self-selecting group.

[Anonymous]

I make $85k, but I have worked part-time and freelance jobs for the last 10 years in order to have a very flexible schedule.

[Anonymous]

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!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The other thread with people posting they reached $100k by age 26, 27, 28, got me to thinking. Anyone here NOT earn that much (individual)?

I confess that I am over $100k, barely, but I didn't reach it until 50. My closest friends and I are pretty open, and they are in the same range - $90k to $110k. One is a publications manager in a corporation, one an accountant at a non-profit, and one a sales rep for a clothing line. We are all college-educated.

How rare or typical is this?

Having a college education doesn't guarantee you a 100k, FYI. If you have kids who are already college grads, you'd know. There are many fresh college grads working for sub 40k salary in this area and some are even on unpaid internship. You also need to consider the totality of the circumstances, mainly being work/life balance, when evaluating your income relative to your career level. Most people who reached 100k earlier on most likely sacrificed other aspects of their life.

As an aside, the kids who posted their income are a self-selecting group.

OP here. Excellent points, especially about the work-life balance. I did have one friend, early on, who graduated from law school and went to work as an associate for almost $100k at age 24. (Remember, we are talking 25 years ago.) But she worked round the clock with all sorts of pressure. I couldn't have handled it, personally.

Also, as far as the new college grads, my daughter is in her mid-20s and earns $55k. She rents an apartment in a close-in suburb with another girl, and she seems fairly comfortable. (I am also delighted that she was able to get a job related to her college major. That in itself is an accomplishment these days.)

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I make $85k, but I have worked part-time and freelance jobs for the last 10 years in order to have a very flexible schedule.

And yup, the work-life balance again.

[Anonymous]

OP here. An interesting pattern is starting to show. Many of us who are not at $100k by our 30s (or, in my case, finally at $100k at 50) did not have as a primary driver the ability to make lots of money. I admit this was/is me. I wanted to use my skills and be comfortable - food is great! - but I also wanted evenings free (other than the occasional work crisis).

The lawyer friend I mentioned, who made a ton early on (and who left me in the dust)? I knew her since we were 14, and even then she said she wanted to make a lot of money. Different strokes for different folks.

[Anonymous]

I'm a social worker and I make $65k a year. Making a ton of money was never one of my priorities.

[Anonymous]

I just went over the $100k threshold at 42 after having had my MBA for 8 years, Balt suburb.

I'm the majority earner in my household, by about $20k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The other thread with people posting they reached $100k by age 26, 27, 28, got me to thinking. Anyone here NOT earn that much (individual)?

I confess that I am over $100k, barely, but I didn't reach it until 50. My closest friends and I are pretty open, and they are in the same range - $90k to $110k. One is a publications manager in a corporation, one an accountant at a non-profit, and one a sales rep for a clothing line. We are all college-educated.

How rare or typical is this?

I responded to the other thread. I'm a public school teacher with advance degrees outside of education. If I hadn't switch fields, I would have hit $100k a long time ago. Now, it's still about 6 mos away. I'll be 46.

[Anonymous]

I'm 33 years old and "only" make $86k but I get to WFH full time, only work 40 hours a week, and can live anywhere in the US that has broadband internet access. No grad degree but I do have a BS.

DH is 36 and makes $65k a year and is a lawyer. But he's in a public service job and loves what he does. He also only works 40 hours a week (although in an office).