How do all of you make these $200k salaries???

[Anonymous]

Your pay as a project manager without PMP is pretty high already. Honestly, there are a lot of them around so I don't pay my contractors more than that unless they also bring a technical expertise with them. No reason you are not getting higher offers.

Can you become a PM and manage people with a contractor? Becoming PM with a federal agency that runs a large program is a good stepping stone to become VP for a defense contractor.

[Anonymous]

My DH is in IT. I left my job when he was making $150K. HHI dropped from 220K to $150K but I had just had my second baby and both of us decided to have one SAH parent. Luckily, our cost structure was pretty low because we had clawed our way up from a very subsistence HHI and were super frugal, so we were living on around 80K. We crossed 200K when we were in our 40s. DH got an eMBA (in the same job) more for job security vs seeing some advancement. However, it did get him advancement in his job. We are at 350K now in our 50s. Around 10 yrs left to retirement. Very secure job with great benefits and pension etc. We were very lucky that DH had landed this gig years ago. Truth is that majority of people we know are MC - and make from 50K - 180K individually. There are couples we know who make 300K combined. It takes a lot of time and patience and upgrading your skill to reach this point. I feel at 30 you are doing pretty good.

For your wife to SAH, you should really run the numbers. Can she do part time work? Or can you lower your cost structure? I could stay home because we bought a nice house but not in not great school pyramid. That changed the trajectory of our life.

Also, don't read DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you move out of the DC area to a LCOL city? That's what we did and now we make a combined 300K and live like Kings! I am a CRNA and DH is a RN

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH is in IT. I left my job when he was making $150K. HHI dropped from 220K to $150K but I had just had my second baby and both of us decided to have one SAH parent. Luckily, our cost structure was pretty low because we had clawed our way up from a very subsistence HHI and were super frugal, so we were living on around 80K. We crossed 200K when we were in our 40s. DH got an eMBA (in the same job) more for job security vs seeing some advancement. However, it did get him advancement in his job. We are at 350K now in our 50s. Around 10 yrs left to retirement. Very secure job with great benefits and pension etc. We were very lucky that DH had landed this gig years ago. Truth is that majority of people we know are MC - and make from 50K - 180K individually. There are couples we know who make 300K combined. It takes a lot of time and patience and upgrading your skill to reach this point. I feel at 30 you are doing pretty good.

For your wife to SAH, you should really run the numbers. Can she do part time work? Or can you lower your cost structure? I could stay home because we bought a nice house but not in not great school pyramid. That changed the trajectory of our life.

Also, don't read DCUM.

What role does he have in IT making $350k? That's exactly what I'm looking for!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While i don't think everyone is making $500k, $200k is pretty run of the mill for people in late 30s and 40s with DC-area education.

I mean, OP -- you make $150k in government, where the benefits alone are probably worth $30k-$50k more than what you'd get in the private sector. So it's not like you're particularly far off these salaries, so is it really that hard to conceptualize that someone is making $200k in private sector at your age?

200 isn’t run of the mill for someone in their 30s

I said "run of the mill for people in late 30s and 40s with DC-area education". As in, a top college degree and more typically, a masters degree. Yes, most people 15 years out of a masters degree are making $200k, give or take in DC.

I highly doubt that

Yeah, PP is spewing typical DCUM BS.

A $200K individual salary in the District puts you in the top 8% of all income earners, so it’s really only “run of the mill” in PP’s delusional mind.

That 8% stat likely includes students, interns, 22 year olds, semi retirees, and part timers. Around 30 percent of dc has a masters degree so yeah, I’d say $200k, being in the top 8% of earners in dc, literally translates to around the average income of a full time working person with a graduate degree in their 40s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While i don't think everyone is making $500k, $200k is pretty run of the mill for people in late 30s and 40s with DC-area education.

I mean, OP -- you make $150k in government, where the benefits alone are probably worth $30k-$50k more than what you'd get in the private sector. So it's not like you're particularly far off these salaries, so is it really that hard to conceptualize that someone is making $200k in private sector at your age?

200 isn’t run of the mill for someone in their 30s

I said "run of the mill for people in late 30s and 40s with DC-area education". As in, a top college degree and more typically, a masters degree. Yes, most people 15 years out of a masters degree are making $200k, give or take in DC.

I highly doubt that

Yeah, PP is spewing typical DCUM BS.

A $200K individual salary in the District puts you in the top 8% of all income earners, so it’s really only “run of the mill” in PP’s delusional mind.

That 8% stat likely includes students, interns, 22 year olds, semi retirees, and part timers. Around 30 percent of dc has a masters degree so yeah, I’d say $200k, being in the top 8% of earners in dc, literally translates to around the average income of a full time working person with a graduate degree in their 40s.

You go on believing that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While i don't think everyone is making $500k, $200k is pretty run of the mill for people in late 30s and 40s with DC-area education.

I mean, OP -- you make $150k in government, where the benefits alone are probably worth $30k-$50k more than what you'd get in the private sector. So it's not like you're particularly far off these salaries, so is it really that hard to conceptualize that someone is making $200k in private sector at your age?

200 isn’t run of the mill for someone in their 30s

I said "run of the mill for people in late 30s and 40s with DC-area education". As in, a top college degree and more typically, a masters degree. Yes, most people 15 years out of a masters degree are making $200k, give or take in DC.

I highly doubt that

Yeah, PP is spewing typical DCUM BS.

A $200K individual salary in the District puts you in the top 8% of all income earners, so it’s really only “run of the mill” in PP’s delusional mind.

That 8% stat likely includes students, interns, 22 year olds, semi retirees, and part timers. Around 30 percent of dc has a masters degree so yeah, I’d say $200k, being in the top 8% of earners in dc, literally translates to around the average income of a full time working person with a graduate degree in their 40s.

No honey, it includes the workforce, so not students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While i don't think everyone is making $500k, $200k is pretty run of the mill for people in late 30s and 40s with DC-area education.

I mean, OP -- you make $150k in government, where the benefits alone are probably worth $30k-$50k more than what you'd get in the private sector. So it's not like you're particularly far off these salaries, so is it really that hard to conceptualize that someone is making $200k in private sector at your age?

200 isn’t run of the mill for someone in their 30s

I said "run of the mill for people in late 30s and 40s with DC-area education". As in, a top college degree and more typically, a masters degree. Yes, most people 15 years out of a masters degree are making $200k, give or take in DC.

I highly doubt that

Yeah, PP is spewing typical DCUM BS.

A $200K individual salary in the District puts you in the top 8% of all income earners, so it’s really only “run of the mill” in PP’s delusional mind.

That 8% stat likely includes students, interns, 22 year olds, semi retirees, and part timers. Around 30 percent of dc has a masters degree so yeah, I’d say $200k, being in the top 8% of earners in dc, literally translates to around the average income of a full time working person with a graduate degree in their 40s.

You are clueless

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DH is in IT. I left my job when he was making $150K. HHI dropped from 220K to $150K but I had just had my second baby and both of us decided to have one SAH parent. Luckily, our cost structure was pretty low because we had clawed our way up from a very subsistence HHI and were super frugal, so we were living on around 80K. We crossed 200K when we were in our 40s. DH got an eMBA (in the same job) more for job security vs seeing some advancement. However, it did get him advancement in his job. We are at 350K now in our 50s. Around 10 yrs left to retirement. Very secure job with great benefits and pension etc. We were very lucky that DH had landed this gig years ago. Truth is that majority of people we know are MC - and make from 50K - 180K individually. There are couples we know who make 300K combined. It takes a lot of time and patience and upgrading your skill to reach this point. I feel at 30 you are doing pretty good.

For your wife to SAH, you should really run the numbers. Can she do part time work? Or can you lower your cost structure? I could stay home because we bought a nice house but not in not great school pyramid. That changed the trajectory of our life.

Also, don't read DCUM.

What role does he have in IT making $350k? That's exactly what I'm looking for!

I mean isn’t that what everyone in it making less is looking for? Lol

[Anonymous]

Marketing VP, $300k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DH is in IT. I left my job when he was making $150K. HHI dropped from 220K to $150K but I had just had my second baby and both of us decided to have one SAH parent. Luckily, our cost structure was pretty low because we had clawed our way up from a very subsistence HHI and were super frugal, so we were living on around 80K. We crossed 200K when we were in our 40s. DH got an eMBA (in the same job) more for job security vs seeing some advancement. However, it did get him advancement in his job. We are at 350K now in our 50s. Around 10 yrs left to retirement. Very secure job with great benefits and pension etc. We were very lucky that DH had landed this gig years ago. Truth is that majority of people we know are MC - and make from 50K - 180K individually. There are couples we know who make 300K combined. It takes a lot of time and patience and upgrading your skill to reach this point. I feel at 30 you are doing pretty good.

For your wife to SAH, you should really run the numbers. Can she do part time work? Or can you lower your cost structure? I could stay home because we bought a nice house but not in not great school pyramid. That changed the trajectory of our life.

Also, don't read DCUM.

What role does he have in IT making $350k? That's exactly what I'm looking for!

Manager. Manages big IT projects with big teams. Started as programmer, then tech lead, and slowly got more and more into the management role. Still has to keep himself very sharp technically and is also a very highly regarded manager and very well liked boss.

I stayed home on a HHI of 150K. We really kept our cost structure very low (house in inexpensive area) and living a MC lifestyle. We are in our 50s now. You are in your 30s. I think you have to give yourself time and experience to reach where you want to reach. Also, maybe the dream of 200K will be delayed, but with careful planning and downsizing, the dream of having a SAH parent for your kids can happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Work as a govt project manager for a technical agency (NIST), making about $150k.

Everything is so expensive, from housing, to saving for college, to daycare. DW is in a good paying job that she loathes and I can tell she dies each day dropping off kids at daycare every morning.

I have applied to dozens of jobs, had 2 dozen interviews, and receive probably a dozen offers, and NONE of them pay anymore than I make now.

How do people make the leap to a bigger salary; for DW to quit I need to make at least $250k, but I can't even break $200k?

I'm mid-career, late 30s with some programming skills, project management, and domain knowledge in our contract specialty at NIST (so it's pretty niche). Do I need to get an advanced degree? Get an MBA?

I would love to get a sales engineer job, I think I would be a good fit as someone who is technically proficient and personable, but no bites and all the postings look for existing sales engineer experience. Am I wrong in thinking that could pay more than $200k (at like Salesforce or Google or something?).

I know many people must be making these numbers, as we see people buying crazy expensive houses and the wives SAH or have part time yoga gigs. But what I am doing wrong?

OP, you have a great job. Decent pay, excellent benefits. The grass isn't always greener on the other side, especially the private sector. Does your wife want to stay home with your kid(s) and stop working because she would prefer to be a SAHM, or does she still want to work? Even if you get a 250K salary, it won't be nearly as secure as your current gig. It sounds like you and your wife value security. Your govt. job gives you that. Maybe she could work part time? NIST is close to Frederick County, you can buy way more house there than in MOCO....though even Frederick is getting expensive.

[Anonymous]

Financial Regulator

[Anonymous]

Onlyfans

[Anonymous]

150k is plenty to live on, even here.