What is a comfortable salary for you?

Crazy how much cost of living varies from place to place. You can rent sizeable 3 bedroom houses with sub 20 minute commutes for less than $1k/month here. Small apartments get down to $500/month. $150k gets you a 2000+ sqft new starter home. $300k gets you a some-what luxurious large house. $500k+ is lavish territory (either huge or in a very premium location).

 

Seriously, the entire state of CA and the western side of WA are the biggest scams since the sinking of the RMS Lusitania. I plan to move to an even lower cost of living area soon though, although other than electricity Chandler isn't bad. It's just shit for scenery and that is a big part of living somewhere for me, plus I want dogs and horses someday and down here they would just combust haha.

 

Not every one. $40k a year, I stare death in the face literally every night (cars wiz by me at 70 + mph) working as a tow truck operator. I rent a room in the San Francisco Bay area (Los Gatos) for $700 mo, live check to check most months,owe the IRS, and late on my student loans (Have two degrees) and what the fuck is this thing called retirement? Am I living comfortably...in my opinion, yes. I'm usually able to get out of the Bay Area about once a month, tons of recreational activities to do on my off time, don't work in cubicle hell, work outside in nice weather most of the time, and people appreciate the service I provide for them in most cases.

 

Haha... If only So Cal prices were like that. Rent in our neighborhood is $4,000/month plus for a moderate 3-4 bedroom home (2,500 sf +/-). Homes this size are selling in the $1,000,000 range with virtually no yard to speak of. You can get a dump in the area for $500k plus. Homes with 3,000 sf are starting in the $1.5 million range.

 

You're the hero we deserve. I admire that you are willing to put up with that to stay mentally happy. I am in a similar position, not danger wise but I am thinking of going where I have no job lined up and no local people because it would be more enjoyable than where I am.

 

Tub's cut in half, converted into a shower, and doubles as a urinal/sink. Have to crap at work, or at the nearest gas station.

 

There's people that like to spend money and those that don't. I'm the type that doesn't like spending money. I don't think I'll ever feel comfortable no matter how much is in the bank.

 

Just make sure it's some were were work is available. My uncle picked up and moved to Alaska from Tx in the 1970's with his family of 4, carrying only what he could fit in his Bronco. He got lucky and found a job the 1st few days he was there. But then again, I see people living out of their cars, that loose every thing they own when their cars get impounded for expired tags. Make sure you have a game plan, and an exit strategy if things go south, if you make the jump.

 

Sounds like Cali is pretty expensive. 50 - 60K is comfortable here, especially the more rural areas its a lot cheaper.

 

First boss once told me that you'll never get rich looking in someone else's wallet.

I used to be in computers but after 20 odd years switched to nursing. Even owned my own computer company for about 5 years. I wanted a career where I could work at night and get paid for all the hours that I work.

I make about 55k. I'm comfortable. You'll find that as you get older things will get paid off and you'll have to spend less.

I've made more in my past and when I get that chance again the extra will go into a savings account.

What was the original question? What is a comfortable salary? The answer for me would be zero. I'd rather win the lottery, put the winnings in the bank and never have to work again. Drive around in my 14 year old Tacoma and tour on my bicycle all over the states. At 52 I'm tired of working but I have to keep going for now.

 

I wasn't ready for college out of high school, I was happy I finished and thought I would be better off working while partying thru those next few years than being in school. Didn't think I could afford school either, now I think I should have done a trade school, but cann't live with should ofs.
Kids are priceless, but ya the cost both financially and stress wise, but best thing that's ever happened in my life.

 

Older, retired, debt free, house (and everything else) was paid off 12 years ago. Combined household income is roughly $55K. WY taxes are lower than most everywhere else. My property taxes (house and land) are appx $1200/yr, no income tax, sales tax (food and prescription drugs are exempt) is 4% but individual counties can increase that by 2% (proposed by county/city and voter approved) for specific projects and limited duration rates. I believe most counties sales tax rates is at 6%. Our largest expenditures are for insurance; medical (Medicare isn't free, and a supplement is absolutely necessary), and home and auto. We are comfortable with our lives and want for not much.

 

Comfort is a personal definition. You can eat well or sleep well. I prefer to sleep well so chose a career where I could be home with my family when kids were in sports, school, church stuff, etc vs. being on the road or working 60 hrs/week for a large corporation making much more money (I've been offered double what I make). I chose to stay in my 1st home and pay it off vs. a big home and making $3,000/mo payments for 30-50 years. I chose a Tacoma for me and a CR-V for my wife vs. F-350 Superduty King Ranch and BMW X5. Most important at my current age is that I chose a job which has a defined-benefit retirement vs. making a large salary and may not save what I need to keep me going until death. I sleep well on my modest lifestyle knowing I'll always have a roof over my head, food on the table (too much IMO), and an income for both my wife and I until we both die, and a little savings to give to my kids. Time and family is more important than money.

 

Why do you consider them scams? I wouldn't say all of California is overly expensive. But there is a limited amount of real estate with an ocean view, and people seem to like it. Inland California is pretty affordable. The problem is of course there aren't as many jobs there, and if you have to commute to a major metro area, your commute's going to be killer.

 

Depends, cost of living is high over here so if I get a job elsewhere in a more rural area my salary would be a lot lower too, considering minimum wage in Seattle is 15/hour.

 

60k is low my friend. 72k household is considered low income in Seattle.

 

I once lived outside NYC and thought that was expensive.

Then I moved to Seattle.

Fuck.

 

Currently taking in about 50k/yr plus medical benefits. wife is in school and I’m in military. Hoping to one day be able to retire comfortably with pension and TSP benefits before age 50. TSP wouldn’t come until around age 60 but it would be a the majority of my income. Sacrificing a lot financially now into the TSP so I dont have to when I’m old. I’d say a comfortable amount for me would be taking in 200k/yr living in the great state of Alaska. My dream is to live within my means without having to worry about money.

 

Here in king county if you make less than $72k a year. I find this absurd.

 

The national average is $50k/year. Unless you live in New York City, most areas of California, Washington DC, etc... you should be able to make $60k/year work for you. I don't know any biologists that got into their careers for big money.

As long as you like/love what you do and make a living, it's all that matters.

Also are you including your health benefits and matching for retirement when calculating your entire income?

The truth of the matter is that many career type jobs can suffer from bad management and toxic work environments, especially government jobs. When people know they can't be fired it goes to their heads. Eventually you figure out that you'd rather work for real money because if people are going to waste all your time, energy, and effort and jerk around their workers, then you should be paid extra for putting up with BS. This what led me to work for myself.