Anonymous
07/29/2025 12:52
Subject: Is a 100k salary in a HCOL for a 50 years old easy to get?
Anonymous
07/29/2025 12:30
Subject: Is a 100k salary in a HCOL for a 50 years old easy to get?
No. It gets harder after 40.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 11:24
Subject: Is a 100k salary in a HCOL for a 50 years old easy to get?
Depends on the field, I guess? Several RIFed Feds who were in comms are having trouble finding jobs that pay 6 figures.
Anonymous
07/28/2025 18:22
Subject: Is a 100k salary in a HCOL for a 50 years old easy to get?
Anonymous wrote:100K is hard to get a job over 50 as it is a 24-24-29 year old salary. So people might questions unless you are a SAHM coming back to work force after a few years why would you take it. Makes no sense.
Plus 401k at 50 is $31,000 add in I would most likely be on Family plan medical out of paycheck to properly save for retirement and pay for medical I almost have no paycheck. Maybe if my spouse had a good job and just wanted to pretend I have a career or get out of the house is fine.
I was a single earner over 50 and was only making 165K in Covid era for two years and I literally was bleeding out. The salary was less than my expensive each month I worked my savings account went down,
DMV is expensive. In past three weeks got hit with $2,600 mortgage payment, $4,000 home insurance renewal, property tax bill first half of $7,500 and car insurance bill for six months (kids on policy) $2,000 and a $500 in utility bills and $150 landscaper than my car broke another $3,000 on a major repair. And around $3,000 on food, clothes back to school on credit card.
What the heck is 100k doing. A 50-60 year old man with kids, SAHM wife and a mortgage in a good school district needs at least $250K to not bleed out.
Exactly this. Emphasize “at least” in your last sentence.
Anonymous
07/28/2025 18:16
Subject: Is a 100k salary in a HCOL for a 50 years old easy to get?
Anonymous wrote:One of the things I never figured out was how to land one of these sweet six figure jobs. I almost got there but was already close to 50 at the time and got laid off. Have not gotten close again.
On the other hand, the Washington area is awash with numerous people making $200-$500k. There are so many that people at that level assume anyone could walk into that salary with a little effort and focus. And, yes, the non-profit sector in Washington accounts for many of these high salary jobs. "Non-profit" is a particular organizational structure that should not be confused with charities.
I broke 100K in 2004 and could barely pay my bills That was 21 years ago in my little tiny starter home I put a big downpayment on.
Anonymous
07/28/2025 18:13
Subject: Is a 100k salary in a HCOL for a 50 years old easy to get?
100K is hard to get a job over 50 as it is a 24-24-29 year old salary. So people might questions unless you are a SAHM coming back to work force after a few years why would you take it. Makes no sense.
Plus 401k at 50 is $31,000 add in I would most likely be on Family plan medical out of paycheck to properly save for retirement and pay for medical I almost have no paycheck. Maybe if my spouse had a good job and just wanted to pretend I have a career or get out of the house is fine.
I was a single earner over 50 and was only making 165K in Covid era for two years and I literally was bleeding out. The salary was less than my expensive each month I worked my savings account went down,
DMV is expensive. In past three weeks got hit with $2,600 mortgage payment, $4,000 home insurance renewal, property tax bill first half of $7,500 and car insurance bill for six months (kids on policy) $2,000 and a $500 in utility bills and $150 landscaper than my car broke another $3,000 on a major repair. And around $3,000 on food, clothes back to school on credit card.
What the heck is 100k doing. A 50-60 year old man with kids, SAHM wife and a mortgage in a good school district needs at least $250K to not bleed out.
Plus 401k at 50 is $31,000 add in I would most likely be on Family plan medical out of paycheck to properly save for retirement and pay for medical I almost have no paycheck. Maybe if my spouse had a good job and just wanted to pretend I have a career or get out of the house is fine.
I was a single earner over 50 and was only making 165K in Covid era for two years and I literally was bleeding out. The salary was less than my expensive each month I worked my savings account went down,
DMV is expensive. In past three weeks got hit with $2,600 mortgage payment, $4,000 home insurance renewal, property tax bill first half of $7,500 and car insurance bill for six months (kids on policy) $2,000 and a $500 in utility bills and $150 landscaper than my car broke another $3,000 on a major repair. And around $3,000 on food, clothes back to school on credit card.
What the heck is 100k doing. A 50-60 year old man with kids, SAHM wife and a mortgage in a good school district needs at least $250K to not bleed out.
Anonymous
07/28/2025 17:13
Subject: Is a 100k salary in a HCOL for a 50 years old easy to get?
No, OP. It is not easy.
It took years of climbing the ladder and learning data analyst type skills to now make 140k in a multidisciplinary position. I’m mid 40s and female and not hiding my age or trying to look cute for anyone I am fairly certain that if I were to be laid off and have to start over again, it would be all over for me. I would be lucky to make half my salary. Ageism and sexism are real.
I could put makeup on and color my hair and I might get hired somewhere, but I just don’t think I have it in me.
It took years of climbing the ladder and learning data analyst type skills to now make 140k in a multidisciplinary position. I’m mid 40s and female and not hiding my age or trying to look cute for anyone I am fairly certain that if I were to be laid off and have to start over again, it would be all over for me. I would be lucky to make half my salary. Ageism and sexism are real.
I could put makeup on and color my hair and I might get hired somewhere, but I just don’t think I have it in me.
Anonymous
07/28/2025 17:01
Subject: Is a 100k salary in a HCOL for a 50 years old easy to get?
Anonymous wrote:One of the things I never figured out was how to land one of these sweet six figure jobs. I almost got there but was already close to 50 at the time and got laid off. Have not gotten close again.
On the other hand, the Washington area is awash with numerous people making $200-$500k. There are so many that people at that level assume anyone could walk into that salary with a little effort and focus. And, yes, the non-profit sector in Washington accounts for many of these high salary jobs. "Non-profit" is a particular organizational structure that should not be confused with charities.
It's because the federal government is a poor negotiator. It awards very generous contrats to consultants, lawyers etc. that's why you see those $200k+ salaries.
Anonymous
07/28/2025 15:41
Subject: Is a 100k salary in a HCOL for a 50 years old easy to get?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I’m 50 and a woman. I was hired fairly easily last year for 90k. I’m not in the DMV but this definitely isn’t good money. I took it to change trajectories. A couple of months ago, I was hired at a different company for 145k. That’s okay money here but not great. No networking, no referrals. Straight applying and hiring.
So, it’s all possible at 50 and female.
What field?
Trade regulations. Not a lawyer or customs broker.
What is your background? Degree? How many years have you worked ?
I have a MA in something relatively useless. International Politics/Relations or something dumb like that. I’m 50 so you can guess at how many years I’ve worked. I’ve never SAH. But I worked in a variety of capacities. I’ve been in this general field for about 10 years and, outside of my 90k step back, it’s been about 145-160k a year plus bonuses. Not amazing but at least employed for the time being. I live in a MCOL so it’s not bad with dual income.
Anonymous
07/28/2025 15:24
Subject: Is a 100k salary in a HCOL for a 50 years old easy to get?
One of the things I never figured out was how to land one of these sweet six figure jobs. I almost got there but was already close to 50 at the time and got laid off. Have not gotten close again.
On the other hand, the Washington area is awash with numerous people making $200-$500k. There are so many that people at that level assume anyone could walk into that salary with a little effort and focus. And, yes, the non-profit sector in Washington accounts for many of these high salary jobs. "Non-profit" is a particular organizational structure that should not be confused with charities.
On the other hand, the Washington area is awash with numerous people making $200-$500k. There are so many that people at that level assume anyone could walk into that salary with a little effort and focus. And, yes, the non-profit sector in Washington accounts for many of these high salary jobs. "Non-profit" is a particular organizational structure that should not be confused with charities.
Anonymous
07/28/2025 09:25
Subject: Is a 100k salary in a HCOL for a 50 years old easy to get?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I’m 50 and a woman. I was hired fairly easily last year for 90k. I’m not in the DMV but this definitely isn’t good money. I took it to change trajectories. A couple of months ago, I was hired at a different company for 145k. That’s okay money here but not great. No networking, no referrals. Straight applying and hiring.
So, it’s all possible at 50 and female.
What field?
Trade regulations. Not a lawyer or customs broker.
What is your background? Degree? How many years have you worked ?
Anonymous
07/27/2025 18:46
Subject: Is a 100k salary in a HCOL for a 50 years old easy to get?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I’m 50 and a woman. I was hired fairly easily last year for 90k. I’m not in the DMV but this definitely isn’t good money. I took it to change trajectories. A couple of months ago, I was hired at a different company for 145k. That’s okay money here but not great. No networking, no referrals. Straight applying and hiring.
So, it’s all possible at 50 and female.
What field?
Trade regulations. Not a lawyer or customs broker.
Anonymous
07/27/2025 18:44
Subject: Is a 100k salary in a HCOL for a 50 years old easy to get?
Anonymous wrote:I’m 50 and a woman. I was hired fairly easily last year for 90k. I’m not in the DMV but this definitely isn’t good money. I took it to change trajectories. A couple of months ago, I was hired at a different company for 145k. That’s okay money here but not great. No networking, no referrals. Straight applying and hiring.
So, it’s all possible at 50 and female.
What field?
Anonymous
07/27/2025 18:38
Subject: Is a 100k salary in a HCOL for a 50 years old easy to get?
I’m 50 and a woman. I was hired fairly easily last year for 90k. I’m not in the DMV but this definitely isn’t good money. I took it to change trajectories. A couple of months ago, I was hired at a different company for 145k. That’s okay money here but not great. No networking, no referrals. Straight applying and hiring.
So, it’s all possible at 50 and female.
So, it’s all possible at 50 and female.
Anonymous
07/27/2025 14:46
Subject: Is a 100k salary in a HCOL for a 50 years old easy to get?
No, when my 50yo family members were laid off around 2010, they were making around 30K.