In your lifetime, have you ever earned more than $100,000 in a single year? If so, was this at one job or multiple jobs? Your own personal business or anothers?
According to Yahoo! Finance, just 9 percent of Americans earn six figures each year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019 the median yearly income for Americans was $47,000.
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When I started teaching twenty years ago, my children qualified for free/reduced lunch. That’s how low starting teacher pay was in my area of California. My salary has doubled over these last 20 years, but I will never make $100,000 a year before I retire. But I know I’ve made a difference in children’s lives over the years. And they have certainly made a difference in mine.
I enjoy my job because I know I’ve helped several over the years, but a good living I do NOT make, lol. I investigate allegations of abuse, neglect and misappropriation of the elderly. It’s not a job anyone thinks about really, but I’m glad I do it. I make under $45k and have done this for 15 years.
Wow! I din’t know I was so poor.
Both my wife and I for many years. That’s why the bulk of our political donations go to candidates who support education, regardless of party.
Jim, retired as a teacher and always support education. Now I counsel children and cannot emphasize the importance of a good education.
As a teacher in Tennessee with 40 years and a master’s degree, the most I ever made was $49,000 in a year. Around here, a 6-figure salary makes a person rich!
in terms of *total compensation*, sure. salary is what most focus on but it’s just part of the package. the cost of health insurance, paid time off, retirement or 401k matches and others are all part of an employee’s compensation.
Left Vietnam in 73 and started working as a tech in Silicon Valley. When I retired as staff engineer in 2005 with incentives and profit sharing I was making double that. It was able to provide a nice retirement.
I am Retired ENLISTED Air Force for 28+ years and didn’t get near half that amount.
Thanks for your service Ray!
In a single decade, yes.
🙂
As a nurse and nurse manager in California for the last 30 years i was making that for many of those years . I continue to do well even in retirement.
Started my own business back in 1997. Broke 6 figures every year since then, even the years when I tried working for someone else again (for 5 years before Medicare age when health insurance went so high). Retired in 2014 and have continued to stay over six figures thanks to investment income and a few consulting gigs.
Got lucky in the Stock Market and in 1992 sold my stocks, put them into investments and retired at age 49. Just lucky, not any particular theory or knowledge. Not interested in trying that method again. Has not worked for the Lottery either.
Stay safe, Stay well.
Yes most years in the 90s with a lot of overtime. Retired in 2000 at age 55.
I did for several years working a single job and no overtime or travel. It enabled me to retire at age 61.
I had to come back and change my vote. After checking my most recent pay-stub I actually did it for the first time this year.
Started out as a private making $62.50 a month, before deductions. Reckon not.
The year my youngest son attended Nashville Auto Diesel College (NADC) I worked 7 days a week 6 12 hour days and 1 10 hour day for the whole year. I think I aged 5 years in that one. He is a successful mechanic today so it was worth it.
Yes, over a 3 year period in the 90’s. Worked in Naval Ship Design and Construction. Lots of overtime and travel.
i only broke that threshold 1 year working offshore in the oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico.
jointly yes, on my own – – – no