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Salary Expectations......

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H8CH
Posts: 2709 - Karma: 218

Ok - a lot of these "how much do skiiers earn" thread's etc got me thinking..... oh Jon Olsson earns 100 bajillion a year.....  etc etc etc.

I know the NS Demographic is fairly young, but there are also members who are in college etc - who probably have some kind of idea as to what they want to do for a career etc.

So - what i want to know is, realistically - what do you think a good salary is? or a high salary? What number do you think would be enough for you to live on comfortably etc...or support a family even?..   I'm interested to see the spread here....   obviously someone is going to say millions....   but when talking about earning "lots"... or being a baller, or whatever - give me a number.....    what are your expectations in life in term's of earning money? Put some numbers to this....  also - how important is it to you going forward in life? I know it varies dependant on where you live, but don't get too bogged down in that - i wanrt to know how much future earning potential drive's the decisions you make today.

I have some interesting stat's i'll post up once i see the initial feedback..... 

May 23 2011 2:12PM
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hey-dude-its-me
Posts: 4238 - Karma: 412
the thread is about salaries, what do you think my point was? I work for a food broker called Crossmark and 60-80-100 is nothing special for sales on the east coast most of my friends make more than me.
May 31 2011 10:04AM
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hey-dude-its-me
Posts: 4238 - Karma: 412
also I live in Kansas now and make a lot less than in NJ
May 31 2011 10:08AM
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hey-dude-its-me
Posts: 4238 - Karma: 412
also I live in Kansas now and make a lot less than in NJ
May 31 2011 10:09AM
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sack
Posts: 4881 - Karma: 147
seward, don't worry. I'm not angry or butthurt and I know I'm not an asshole.
Good for you for knowing those things and reading up on stuff. you are the poster boy of the american dream.
yes I have two credit cards and have for many years, as I imagine many here have a credit card or a loan. stop asking.
stupid example again--when you said they teach health/sti info etc in school, yet these are still problems. of course they are problems, but do you think they would be better off not teaching them? (rhetorical question) what has teaching abstinence in sex ed brought america? more babies born to teenagers, less condom use, more STIs etc...

same thing with finances..
so why not teach it in high school? I'm not talking an entire class on credit cards, obviously.
and some people are too stupid, too lazy, or just too impulsive to properly read up on all the info they need to know
Jun 1 2011 4:59AM
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BryantPhoto
Posts: 1574 - Karma: 891
This. Some people do work their asses off, and it should benefit them. While there is a large portion of the economy that lives off welfare and does jacksh*t. 
Jun 1 2011 8:17AM
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seward
Posts: 5233 - Karma: 2,174

Im Canadian.

i didnt ask if you had one, i asked if you had ever applied for one and if so what the first thing they handed you was?

That was my point with the health classes, re-read what i wrote, it was also a rhetorical question. ( i should have put it in brackets for you).

again, that was my point. people are too stupid, too lazy, or just too impulsive to properly read up on all the info they need to know. which is why i dont think they need to or should teach a class on loans or credit cards. teach yourself.

sounds like your agreeing with me, but without admitting it.

Jun 1 2011 10:10AM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7495 - Karma: 11,554
It has been 3 years since this was bumped, I figure it was time to check and see how people are doing with their aspirations.
Jun 23 2014 9:19PM
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Mingg
Posts: 13992 - Karma: 49,651
This thread is actually really interesting. I want to go into the medical field. My intended major is biomedical sciences but I don't really get accepted until junior year. I'm gonna be in a shit load of debt after college and med school and even though doctors make a lot they spend a lot in malpractice insurance and things like that. Also, I don't know exactly how obamacare is affecting physician salaries but that will definitely change some things n

I don't know how much I'll make. I'm a naive 18 year old just out of high school but I do know that I want to provide a better home and more opportunities to my family than I was given.
Jun 23 2014 9:42PM
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AT-AT
Posts: 3281 - Karma: 3,256
I attended college at the university of buffalo and got my degree in civil engineer, magna cum laude, and all that good stuff.

I had planned on hiking the Appalachian trail after school, but i caught Lyme disease and I still suffer strongly from it's effects.

After the trail i was expecting to find a job at an engineering firm making 50-60k. Instead I was hired by a multinational toll systems company, who has a local office in my area. I hold the position of Design/SQA Engineer. Instead of playing with Concrete Like i imagined i would, I play with computers, Log Files, Software testing, and system design and installation. It's not what i had intended to do, but i love it and i'm making more than i had ever thought i would at this point in my life.

I strongly suggest going into engineering, i give this suggestion to everyone. You can do literally anything with an engineering degree, and i'm one big example of that.
Jun 23 2014 9:55PM
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Anathema
Posts: 21048 - Karma: 5,061
six figures is the goal. hard to aim for much more than that, realistically, without either inheriting riches / business or being a doctor.

if i can land six figures, im sure ill be really happy and able to do everything i'd like to with my life.
Jun 23 2014 9:56PM
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op14
Posts: 1769 - Karma: 4,586
To live comfortably with one kid and a significant other would cost you atl east 120k a year imo
Jun 23 2014 10:04PM
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TheBigApple
Posts: 1169 - Karma: 488
mmccarthy14To live comfortably with one kid and a significant other would cost you atl east 120k a year imo


Depends where you live but sounds like you need a reality check.
Jun 23 2014 10:07PM
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Nacho+
Posts: 3748 - Karma: 7,791
Wow really glad someone bumped this thread... Good read. It's really gotten me thinking about my future and it's kinda freaking me out haha.

I'm in high school now, so I'd like people to asses what I have to say to give some advice or whatever they want to do because Choosing what you want to do can be tricky at my age. Anyway, at this point what I really want to do is work as a mountain guide. The 'plan' I sort of have right now is to work at going to guide school in the last 2 years of HS, as well as finishing it up in a gap year before college. (I'm looking at taking courses from the Mountain Training School, as well as the AMGA but I'll have to see how that goes. Both take about 2 years of work.) According to the Mountain Training School, their graduates make an average of $40,000 a year, which I think would be a comfortable place to start if you are always moving around. I'm definitely planning on going to college because it helps with the social part of guiding, but it gives me another option as well. But who knows? Maybe I'll find something else by the time I get to college so we'll have to see. My main concern with guiding for a living is having a family. I'd love to have a family with kids, but making $40,000 IMO isn't enough to live comfortably with a family.
Jun 23 2014 10:28PM
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Bread.
Posts: 769 - Karma: 540
In business school at the moment and i will be double majoring in ether advertising & design or advertising and marketing. Salary is a very good question. At the moment I'm earning $21 an hour at my part time job so i would hopefully be earning more than that first year out of university. In my mind however i think there is a trade off between money and how good a job is. For example if i was earning 80k at a job i hated i wouldn't mind. If i was working for 30k a year for somewhere like red bull i think that would be the best thing in the world.
Jun 23 2014 10:45PM
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profa_212
Posts: 8950 - Karma: 36,506
hippys_sex_toy. My main concern with guiding for a living is having a family. I'd love to have a family with kids, but making $40,000 IMO isn't enough to live comfortably with a family.


Eh....if your wife had a joke it could Definately be doable. Even with just a barely above minimum wage ($20000ish per year), that is $60,000 per year conbined. That is plenty IMO to raise a kid. So it could be doable for sure. But you would probably need a wife that's willing to work.
Jun 23 2014 10:47PM
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Nacho+
Posts: 3748 - Karma: 7,791
Profahoben_212Eh....if your wife had a joke it could Definately be doable. Even with just a barely above minimum wage ($20000ish per year), that is $60,000 per year conbined. That is plenty IMO to raise a kid. So it could be doable for sure. But you would probably need a wife that's willing to work.


Ya that would we great. Having a wife who guides as well. Perfect life IMO
Jun 23 2014 10:49PM
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cydwhit
Posts: 5074 - Karma: 43,034
Interesting thread, I need to read the whole thing though. To the guys above, my dad started out on 20 something a year and was able to care for us just fine. Then again, cost of living in Moscow is cheap. I don't know what kind of salary to hope for, graduating salary for my old major was 85ish, now I am looking at an average of 20-30 but I am working on some fun stuff now that could work out well.
Jun 23 2014 10:51PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51747 - Karma: 163,573
Since this thread is back

I'm still doing the same thing I was doing 3 years ago, and 5 years before that. My career might keep me below the poverty line but I love it. I don't expect to get rich doing my job but if there's any opportunity for advancement I plan on seizing the shit out of them and trying to work my way up. Pretty much just for the job though, a pay increase would be a bonus. And would likely be still making so little it could never be about the money.


I don't plan on ever having a family. It would take a fucking miracle for me to accidentally end up with a kid so I'm not too worried.

If you don't spend a lot of $ you don't really need to make a lot.
Jun 23 2014 10:56PM
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cornholio
Posts: 3952 - Karma: 3,057
Profahoben_212Eh....if your wife had a joke it could Definately be doable. Even with just a barely above minimum wage ($20000ish per year), that is $60,000 per year conbined. That is plenty IMO to raise a kid. So it could be doable for sure. But you would probably need a wife that's willing to work.


only really doable if you and your wife work different shifts, which to most people would not be ideal or acceptable.

also threads so i can read this through. curious to see what has been said
Jun 23 2014 11:00PM
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profa_212
Posts: 8950 - Karma: 36,506
cornholioonly really doable if you and your wife work different shifts, which to most people would not be ideal or acceptable.

also threads so i can read this through. curious to see what has been said


Why is that? You could have a daycare take care of the kid. While not ideal, it could be done. And once the kid is in school, they have after school programs that take care of the kids till like 530. Once again not ideal, it could be done.

It all depends on what time you are willing to give up for that kid in order to get this "ideal number". So while you may not like having to leave your kid for a couple hours at school, it could be worth it so you can afford that set of skis or whatever for him.
Jun 24 2014 1:02AM
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cope+
Posts: 763 - Karma: 870
H8CHThis is a good point... 
Although I say Salary in term's of graduating and starting a career, it could also mean earnings you make from starting your own business too etc....    
Also - if you're at college - what is your degree, and what is a typical starting salary for a graduate?


Snow Science...... $0.00
Jun 24 2014 1:08AM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
I guess I'll chime in seeing how there might not be too many viewpoints from someone supporting a family already. I'm a tradesman, I make $130k-$150k per year, I'm married with a 1 year old. One income can be tricky at times, one would think that my income would be plenty however kids and life in General can get very expensive the older you get. We're doing ok on my income but were definitely not living the high life.
Jun 24 2014 1:12AM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
Profahoben_212Why is that? You could have a daycare take care of the kid. While not ideal, it could be done. And once the kid is in school, they have after school programs that take care of the kids till like 530. Once again not ideal, it could be done.

It all depends on what time you are willing to give up for that kid in order to get this "ideal number". So while you may not like having to leave your kid for a couple hours at school, it could be worth it so you can afford that set of skis or whatever for him.


Not sure what the cost of living where your from but daycare is usually $750-$1000 a month, 2 kids * 12 months, might not make sense for her to work (or vice versa).

Marry a lawyer is the answer haha
Jun 24 2014 1:16AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51747 - Karma: 163,573
RusticlesI guess I'll chime in seeing how there might not be too many viewpoints from someone supporting a family already. I'm a tradesman, I make $130k-$150k per year, I'm married with a 1 year old. One income can be tricky at times, one would think that my income would be plenty however kids and life in General can get very expensive the older you get. We're doing ok on my income but were definitely not living the high life.


Idk what living the high life is considered then.

Maybe my living standards are just absurdly low.
Jun 24 2014 2:01AM
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profa_212
Posts: 8950 - Karma: 36,506
RusticlesMarry a lawyer is the answer haha


Always the a good plan in life.
Jun 24 2014 2:13AM
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cornholio
Posts: 3952 - Karma: 3,057
Profahoben_212Why is that? You could have a daycare take care of the kid. While not ideal, it could be done. And once the kid is in school, they have after school programs that take care of the kids till like 530. Once again not ideal, it could be done.

It all depends on what time you are willing to give up for that kid in order to get this "ideal number". So while you may not like having to leave your kid for a couple hours at school, it could be worth it so you can afford that set of skis or whatever for him.


RusticlesNot sure what the cost of living where your from but daycare is usually $750-$1000 a month, 2 kids * 12 months, might not make sense for her to work (or vice versa).

Marry a lawyer is the answer haha


Rusticles pretty much hit where I was going with that. Daycares expensive, some friends of mine were recently quoted around $1200/mo for daycare. Kids are expensive- I'm sure you could find a way to make it work but would have to drop a lot of the luxuries most of us on the site are accustomed to
Jun 24 2014 6:12AM
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lorida
Posts: 2833 - Karma: 46
sewardagain, that was my point. people are too stupid, too lazy, or just too impulsive to properly read up on all the info they need to know. which is why i dont think they need to or should teach a class on loans or credit cards. teach yourself.
sounds like your agreeing with me, but without admitting it.



I disagree 1000%.

For someone of average intelligence, it should be intuitive to minimize debt, to have disposable income, savings, etc.

However, you're leaving out far too many variables:

1) Marketing. We're wired to want everything new and now.
2) Debt, in today's society, is considered to be normal.
3) Living paycheck to paycheck is also VERY common. More than you'd think.

Saying we don't need classes on finance (budgeting etc.) is like saying we don't need math class. Sure, you could teach it to yourself, but will you? Will you take the time to figure it out?

IMO, we need at least one high school class on finance/budgeting. Will it change anything in society? Likely not, but fixing societal problems starts with better knowledge/education. I learned sewing and how to cook an egg. I'd scrap that class and replace it with real world knowledge.





Regardless, I plan to earn a household income of $200k-$500k. In my and my partner's industries, it's possible, however it depends how much we want to work.

Personally, I think above $150k household income, with 2-3 kids, you're doing okay. You'll have a decent house, recent cars, take a vacation or two a year, and still have disposable income for retirement. Anything above $150k, you simply have a bigger house, nicer cars, nicer vacations, etc. It doesn't really change anything.
Jun 24 2014 8:58AM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
theabortionatorIdk what living the high life is considered then.

Maybe my living standards are just absurdly low.


That's enough to own a modest house, enjoy a few nice vacations a year. and put food on the table and good beer in the fridge. I still scrutinized purchases that are over $100 and aren't necessary. I don't wake up and find a few extra thousand dollars to blow on something useless.
Jun 24 2014 10:59AM
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Jeebus.
Posts: 4904 - Karma: 5,822
Im gonna be a way richer dad than all of you fucks
Jun 24 2014 11:03AM
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yelsel
Posts: 12967 - Karma: 3,451
RusticlesMarry a lawyer is the answer haha


Haha oh gosh NO! I've been dating one for a while now and sadly, I make more than he does at the moment.
Jun 24 2014 11:10AM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,143
Anathemaif i can land six figures, im sure ill be really happy and able to do everything i'd like to with my life.

Haha... dude this is so, so not true.
Jun 24 2014 11:16AM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
yelselHaha oh gosh NO! I've been dating one for a while now and sadly, I make more than he does at the moment.


haha I guess so, think of it as a long term investment.
Jun 24 2014 11:30AM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
70k year out from school right now...doing pretty well. Would love to be making high six figures by the time i hit 40.
Jun 24 2014 11:46AM
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49566738265
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TheBigAppleDepends where you live but sounds like you need a reality check.


Depends on where you live. Like you said. It is enormously dependent on that.
Jun 24 2014 4:29PM
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op14
Posts: 1769 - Karma: 4,586
TheBigAppleDepends where you live but sounds like you need a reality check.


Upper middle class white suburs in massachusetts... It's my goal to make atleast 6 figures and live a good life where i have money to spend.
Jun 24 2014 5:09PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51747 - Karma: 163,573
I feel like if I make 50k a year at some point I'll be rich.
Jun 24 2014 5:21PM
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Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,152
I'd like to be between 70k-90k as of my current level/age/level of education. I currently make less than that, but am applying for jobs in that range. At my peak I'd like to earn around 120-130k-- but who knows, maybe more.

To be middle class in my area, a household has a combined income of about 140-240k.
Jun 24 2014 5:28PM
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Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,152
Anathemasix figures is the goal. hard to aim for much more than that, realistically, without either inheriting riches / business or being a doctor.

if i can land six figures, im sure ill be really happy and able to do everything i'd like to with my life.


pretty much this
Jun 24 2014 5:33PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14502 - Karma: 10,730
JStrathernI'm personally hoping to make around 150k a year or more as an adult just because I like the comfort of being able to support myself and future family as well as extra funds for spending and saving, it's just the lifestyle I'd like to have. In addition 150k is going to pretty much be a necessity in 10-20 years with the rising prices of pretty much everything.


This is exactly what I was referring to way back three years ago on page 1. At least a few people understood that.

I've been out of college for a year now. Right now I am making $10 / hr with 40 hour weeks. Luckily I can live at home over the summer and save all my money. I barely made a dime after expenses this winter working at a ski resort. Like I said early on in this thread, I consider having a solid savings part of the equation.
Jun 24 2014 5:59PM
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saskskier
Posts: 4774 - Karma: 10,005
loridaRegardless, I plan to earn a household income of $200k-$500k. In my and my partner's industries, it's possible, however it depends how much we want to work.

Personally, I think above $150k household income, with 2-3 kids, you're doing okay. You'll have a decent house, recent cars, take a vacation or two a year, and still have disposable income for retirement. Anything above $150k, you simply have a bigger house, nicer cars, nicer vacations, etc. It doesn't really change anything.


I grew up in a home where my dad had his own small (ie - he and another guy) contracting company and my mom was a stay at home. Our family also took in foster children so besides my brother and I, there were usually between 1-3 other kids in our home.

For a number of years (particularly in the years leading up to and the few years following my dad starting his business), my parents would joke around tax season that we could literally qualify for social assistance.

Despite this, we had a great (albeit small) home, reliable vehicles (I took by drivers road test in a Chevy Astro with a wheelchair ramp in it), and went on a ski trip to the mountains pretty much every year. Even though we lived near the poverty line for a long time, in the past 5-10 years they have committed to giving ever increasing amounts (I think they are up to more than half now) of their income to community organizations (including our local church. Say what you will about that, but most it goes to community organizations and global poverty/first aid/disaster/food/water/education projects)

Living a good, fulfilled life has almost nothing to do with income. Being smart with your money and content with what you have goes a really, really long way.
Jun 24 2014 6:16PM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
SweetumsThis is exactly what I was referring to way back three years ago on page 1. At least a few people understood that.

I've been out of college for a year now. Right now I am making $10 / hr with 40 hour weeks. Luckily I can live at home over the summer and save all my money. I barely made a dime after expenses this winter working at a ski resort. Like I said early on in this thread, I consider having a solid savings part of the equation.


This is pretty interesting. 12 years ago when I was trying to figure out a career path I was hoping that hopefully at some point in my life I would be making 100k a year. Surprisingly I hit that when I was 25 years old, (wages are fairly inflated where I'm from) however it didn't seem like that much money and I thought "but how could my parents have raised my family on that?" How will I i ever pay off my house? It gave me a fairly unrealistic expectation of money and income. A few more years down the road and now that all my friends and I are starting families we kind of joke that 100k a year now is what 60k was only a few years ago and 150k a year is what 100k a year was at that time.
Jun 24 2014 6:17PM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
saskskierLiving a good, fulfilled life has almost nothing to do with income. Being smart with your money and content with what you have goes a really, really long way.


This is important, sometimes hard to remember though.
Jun 24 2014 6:19PM
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Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,152
RusticlesThis is pretty interesting. 12 years ago when I was trying to figure out a career path I was hoping that hopefully at some point in my life I would be making 100k a year. Surprisingly I hit that when I was 25 years old, (wages are fairly inflated where I'm from) however it didn't seem like that much money and I thought "but how could my parents have raised my family on that?" How will I i ever pay off my house? It gave me a fairly unrealistic expectation of money and income. A few more years down the road and now that all my friends and I are starting families we kind of joke that 100k a year now is what 60k was only a few years ago and 150k a year is what 100k a year was at that time.


I thought that inflation was implied in this thread, though.

When I said I'd like to make 120-130k in my prime, I meant whatever the equivalent is at the time to 120-130k now.
Jun 24 2014 6:22PM
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Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,152
^for instance, using 3% inflation, 130k 25 years from now will be closer to $272k-- so I guess that's what I should have posted/was attempting to imply.
Jun 24 2014 6:25PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51747 - Karma: 163,573
theabortionatorI feel like if I make 50k a year at some point I'll be rich.


And I mean in terms of purchasing power today not when bread costs 10k a loaf.
Jun 24 2014 6:27PM
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Zimmerman
Posts: 6992 - Karma: 1,021
I never want to own a home or have a family or really ever have much stability. I just need enough to get an apartment or something like that and live pretty comfortably, make my car payments, got to concerts, etc... I'm not sure what number fits that bill but it surely isn't that high compared to most peoples' hopes.
Jun 24 2014 6:36PM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
snobunny^for instance, using 3% inflation, 130k 25 years from now will be closer to $272k-- so I guess that's what I should have posted/was attempting to imply.


Yeah, inflation just seemed to have jumped a lot in the last 5 years
Jun 24 2014 7:21PM
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Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,152
sewardwell somehow you know his income, so why not ask him how he invests it?
im shocked how many of you know, or think you know your parents income. what did you parents just walk up to you one day and say son, together we make bla k/year?

im 26, have no idea what my mom or dad makes, and never have. if i asked they would say none of your fucking business, and if they told me i would call them douches, cause the only people that share their income IS douches.
my parents dont even know what i make, and my dad helped me to negotitate my benefits.


I think at a certain age you're able to place them within a certain range--if not for that, then you can just ask them.

I know what my parents make, and they are not douches for telling me--I'm an adult. They also know what I make.
Jun 24 2014 7:42PM
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Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,152
Oh-- the other thing that should be pointed out is the added value of benefits. For instance--someone making 85k supplemented with great benefits may be the equivalent to someone making 105k who owns their own business and needs to pay for bennies out of pocket.
Jun 24 2014 7:46PM
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