All you with these high-paying jobs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH & I are both 40.

My comp as an exec at a mid-cap public company:
$220K base
$90K+ bonus (not guaranteed)
$90K equity

DH’s comp as an in-house lawyer
$300K base
$100K bonus (guaranteed)

To answer your second question, there are plenty of middle class people in this country, even in HCOL areas such as the DMV, and more in LCOL areas such as the South and Midwest.

What’s the point of a guaranteed set bonus? Why not just make his base higher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH & I are both 40.

My comp as an exec at a mid-cap public company:
$220K base
$90K+ bonus (not guaranteed)
$90K equity

DH’s comp as an in-house lawyer
$300K base
$100K bonus (guaranteed)

To answer your second question, there are plenty of middle class people in this country, even in HCOL areas such as the DMV, and more in LCOL areas such as the South and Midwest.

What’s the point of a guaranteed set bonus? Why not just make his base higher?

This is the first PP…I think it’s probably a retention tactic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Double biglaw. But remember I am happier to disclose my income on this board than other stats. Like, say, how many hours of screen time a day my kids have. When it’s a “good” number for you, you post it willingly. When it isn’t, you skip the thread.

Exactly this. Much happier to talk about my salary than my weight, for example. People like to bragg, even anonymously. All the people earning $50k don’t post about it here.

The OP didn’t ask us poors to post. Actually I’m not poor (in my mid-50s as a capped GS15 I’m almost up to OP’s standard but never will be) but I’m not exceptional on DCUM. On the plus side, I weigh the same 125 lbs as I did when I got married. So I’ll brag about that instead.

That’s something to brag about for sure.

I do too but I also earn $230K.

A capped GS-15 isn’t far off from that when you consider the pension benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of people are exaggerating or rounding up.

They absolutely are. Many have a small base and the rest is variable stuff like bonuses (dependent on company and persona performance, never guaranteed), RSUs (have several years until they're vested, value is not guaranteed), etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Double biglaw. But remember I am happier to disclose my income on this board than other stats. Like, say, how many hours of screen time a day my kids have. When it’s a “good” number for you, you post it willingly. When it isn’t, you skip the thread.

Exactly this. Much happier to talk about my salary than my weight, for example. People like to bragg, even anonymously. All the people earning $50k don’t post about it here.

The OP didn’t ask us poors to post. Actually I’m not poor (in my mid-50s as a capped GS15 I’m almost up to OP’s standard but never will be) but I’m not exceptional on DCUM. On the plus side, I weigh the same 125 lbs as I did when I got married. So I’ll brag about that instead.

That’s something to brag about for sure.

I do too but I also earn $230K.

A capped GS-15 isn’t far off from that when you consider the pension benefits.

That depends. I work for a non-profit for 250K with an annual bonus of 50K. I also receive a 6% 403b contribution with 100% matching (vs. 5% in the Fed), much better health and dental benefits. I also receive a 1.5% pension for every year of service (vs. 1% in the Fed). In my case, the nonprofit sector is much better than the Fed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Double biglaw. But remember I am happier to disclose my income on this board than other stats. Like, say, how many hours of screen time a day my kids have. When it’s a “good” number for you, you post it willingly. When it isn’t, you skip the thread.

Exactly this. Much happier to talk about my salary than my weight, for example. People like to bragg, even anonymously. All the people earning $50k don’t post about it here.

The OP didn’t ask us poors to post. Actually I’m not poor (in my mid-50s as a capped GS15 I’m almost up to OP’s standard but never will be) but I’m not exceptional on DCUM. On the plus side, I weigh the same 125 lbs as I did when I got married. So I’ll brag about that instead.

That’s something to brag about for sure.

I do too but I also earn $230K.

A capped GS-15 isn’t far off from that when you consider the pension benefits.

That depends. I work for a non-profit for 250K with an annual bonus of 50K. I also receive a 6% 403b contribution with 100% matching (vs. 5% in the Fed), much better health and dental benefits. I also receive a 1.5% pension for every year of service (vs. 1% in the Fed). In my case, the nonprofit sector is much better than the Fed.

DP - that's great, but also extremely rare, as you likely know. Very few non-governmental employers offer pensions anymore - and most non-profits don't pay that well, either. So if you work for a non-profit unicorn, it may be better than a capped GS-15, but you also have to get that unicorn job in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Double biglaw. But remember I am happier to disclose my income on this board than other stats. Like, say, how many hours of screen time a day my kids have. When it’s a “good” number for you, you post it willingly. When it isn’t, you skip the thread.

Exactly this. Much happier to talk about my salary than my weight, for example. People like to bragg, even anonymously. All the people earning $50k don’t post about it here.

The OP didn’t ask us poors to post. Actually I’m not poor (in my mid-50s as a capped GS15 I’m almost up to OP’s standard but never will be) but I’m not exceptional on DCUM. On the plus side, I weigh the same 125 lbs as I did when I got married. So I’ll brag about that instead.

That’s something to brag about for sure.

I do too but I also earn $230K.

A capped GS-15 isn’t far off from that when you consider the pension benefits.

That depends. I work for a non-profit for 250K with an annual bonus of 50K. I also receive a 6% 403b contribution with 100% matching (vs. 5% in the Fed), much better health and dental benefits. I also receive a 1.5% pension for every year of service (vs. 1% in the Fed). In my case, the nonprofit sector is much better than the Fed.

DP - that's great, but also extremely rare, as you likely know. Very few non-governmental employers offer pensions anymore - and most non-profits don't pay that well, either. So if you work for a non-profit unicorn, it may be better than a capped GS-15, but you also have to get that unicorn job in the first place.

Those unicorn nonprofit jobs tend to be in two places…associations and trade unions. Preferably ones with a stable source hefty recurring or mandatory dues revenue and lobbying activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Double biglaw. But remember I am happier to disclose my income on this board than other stats. Like, say, how many hours of screen time a day my kids have. When it’s a “good” number for you, you post it willingly. When it isn’t, you skip the thread.

Exactly this. Much happier to talk about my salary than my weight, for example. People like to bragg, even anonymously. All the people earning $50k don’t post about it here.

The OP didn’t ask us poors to post. Actually I’m not poor (in my mid-50s as a capped GS15 I’m almost up to OP’s standard but never will be) but I’m not exceptional on DCUM. On the plus side, I weigh the same 125 lbs as I did when I got married. So I’ll brag about that instead.

That’s something to brag about for sure.

I do too but I also earn $230K.

A capped GS-15 isn’t far off from that when you consider the pension benefits.

That depends. I work for a non-profit for 250K with an annual bonus of 50K. I also receive a 6% 403b contribution with 100% matching (vs. 5% in the Fed), much better health and dental benefits. I also receive a 1.5% pension for every year of service (vs. 1% in the Fed). In my case, the nonprofit sector is much better than the Fed.

DP - that's great, but also extremely rare, as you likely know. Very few non-governmental employers offer pensions anymore - and most non-profits don't pay that well, either. So if you work for a non-profit unicorn, it may be better than a capped GS-15, but you also have to get that unicorn job in the first place.

Those unicorn nonprofit jobs tend to be in two places…associations and trade unions. Preferably ones with a stable source hefty recurring or mandatory dues revenue and lobbying activities.

I’ve pulled up my association’s tax forms and I’ve seen the Execs make 200-380k and CEO around 500-600k. And most of our execs wouldn’t make it in the corporate world

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ad agency exec.
Here’s how I did it:
- I work insanely hard and over the past 10y have worked every evening and weekend. I don’t have a ton of boundaries
- I changed jobs every 2 ish years.
- I am always job hunting. Always.

Do you have kids? Do you have a SAHP?
I'm tired just reading what you do!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Double biglaw. But remember I am happier to disclose my income on this board than other stats. Like, say, how many hours of screen time a day my kids have. When it’s a “good” number for you, you post it willingly. When it isn’t, you skip the thread.

Exactly this. Much happier to talk about my salary than my weight, for example. People like to bragg, even anonymously. All the people earning $50k don’t post about it here.

The OP didn’t ask us poors to post. Actually I’m not poor (in my mid-50s as a capped GS15 I’m almost up to OP’s standard but never will be) but I’m not exceptional on DCUM. On the plus side, I weigh the same 125 lbs as I did when I got married. So I’ll brag about that instead.

That’s something to brag about for sure.

I do too but I also earn $230K.

A capped GS-15 isn’t far off from that when you consider the pension benefits.

I am a fed and the pension benefits are on top of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Double biglaw. But remember I am happier to disclose my income on this board than other stats. Like, say, how many hours of screen time a day my kids have. When it’s a “good” number for you, you post it willingly. When it isn’t, you skip the thread.

Exactly this. Much happier to talk about my salary than my weight, for example. People like to bragg, even anonymously. All the people earning $50k don’t post about it here.

The OP didn’t ask us poors to post. Actually I’m not poor (in my mid-50s as a capped GS15 I’m almost up to OP’s standard but never will be) but I’m not exceptional on DCUM. On the plus side, I weigh the same 125 lbs as I did when I got married. So I’ll brag about that instead.

That’s something to brag about for sure.

I do too but I also earn $230K.

A capped GS-15 isn’t far off from that when you consider the pension benefits.

That depends. I work for a non-profit for 250K with an annual bonus of 50K. I also receive a 6% 403b contribution with 100% matching (vs. 5% in the Fed), much better health and dental benefits. I also receive a 1.5% pension for every year of service (vs. 1% in the Fed). In my case, the nonprofit sector is much better than the Fed.

DP - that's great, but also extremely rare, as you likely know. Very few non-governmental employers offer pensions anymore - and most non-profits don't pay that well, either. So if you work for a non-profit unicorn, it may be better than a capped GS-15, but you also have to get that unicorn job in the first place.

University jobs offer things like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems like everyone who discloses their income makes over $200K as an individual/$400K HHI.

I'm sure you realize how exceptional you are, given that even in high-cost, high-income areas, you are the cream of the crop. What exactly is it that you do? Are you all big law partners and plastic surgeons? C-Suite executives? And you have time to trawl around internet forums during the work day?

I felt like I scored when I landed a six-figure job in my early 30s. I still live pretty modestly, especially since I'm single. I make enough to have a condo, a car, and a dog. I still make above the median FAMILY/HOUSEHOLD income in MOCO as a household of one. I have a great job at a great company.

And yet... here you all are making multiples of what I make. And I know there has to be some truth to that, because the cost of SFHs require those kind of incomes. So somebody is making that kind of money, lots of somebodies. I don't feel myself a slouch making $130K at 35, but I don't see myself on track to making $300K anytime soon. In fact, and it could be a degree of imposter-syndrome here, I'm worried that if i ever did get laid off, I'd have trouble finding a similar job for similar pay, and I face the issue that if I continue to get promoted, I'll be too expensive and more likely to be cut. So what are all these uber-lucrative jobs around here? We can't ALL be senior management and executives. Where are all these crazy-paying jobs (and how can I get one?)

What did you study? Where did you go to school?

That largely determines this.

[Anonymous]

You get paid a lot to do things others don’t want to do if you are good at it.
Sales
Long work hours
Travel
Public speaking
Stressful Crisis situation
Hired Gun situation
Jobs that no one wants to do
Working at companies that are not ethical
Getting companies out of trouble
Jobs you know you will be fired from before you take it.

I am there to get paid. I interviewed at Juul for a senior mgt position for instance, I traveled to 26 states and 7 counties for work, worked 60 hour work weeks months on end, spoke at conferences up to 800 people, sold millions in sales, worked private equity, start ups, crypto, takeovers and regulatory issues.

Any hot thing cyber Jump on bandwagon

The uglier and harder the better. That’s the real secret to high pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ad agency exec.
Here’s how I did it:
- I work insanely hard and over the past 10y have worked every evening and weekend. I don’t have a ton of boundaries
- I changed jobs every 2 ish years.
- I am always job hunting. Always.

I realized changing jobs can lead to better comp 5 years ago. While it has worked for me $ wise, changing jobs didn’t lead to meaningful title progression. Can you share how to navigate that? I am also a short, young looking minority woman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Double biglaw. But remember I am happier to disclose my income on this board than other stats. Like, say, how many hours of screen time a day my kids have. When it’s a “good” number for you, you post it willingly. When it isn’t, you skip the thread.

Exactly this. Much happier to talk about my salary than my weight, for example. People like to bragg, even anonymously. All the people earning $50k don’t post about it here.

The OP didn’t ask us poors to post. Actually I’m not poor (in my mid-50s as a capped GS15 I’m almost up to OP’s standard but never will be) but I’m not exceptional on DCUM. On the plus side, I weigh the same 125 lbs as I did when I got married. So I’ll brag about that instead.

That’s something to brag about for sure.

I do too but I also earn $230K.

A capped GS-15 isn’t far off from that when you consider the pension benefits.

That depends. I work for a non-profit for 250K with an annual bonus of 50K. I also receive a 6% 403b contribution with 100% matching (vs. 5% in the Fed), much better health and dental benefits. I also receive a 1.5% pension for every year of service (vs. 1% in the Fed). In my case, the nonprofit sector is much better than the Fed.

DP - that's great, but also extremely rare, as you likely know. Very few non-governmental employers offer pensions anymore - and most non-profits don't pay that well, either. So if you work for a non-profit unicorn, it may be better than a capped GS-15, but you also have to get that unicorn job in the first place.

They are not rare, very common in nonprofit.