The median wage in the US of W2 workers is $42K and $100K+ is in the top 15% of workers

[winb83]

Median is the middle value in a number set, NOT the mean, which is the AVERAGE

The average is skewed by high earners. If you have 5 people and 3 of them make under $30K one of them makes $50K and the last one makes $2 million is the average between them going to inform you of much?

 

[Lord Beasley]

i don't see why that is wild. not everybody has the same skill set, experience or schedule. it's a lot of plain dumb mfers in this country not to mention younger people that lack experience. how much do you think they should be making?

but i am glad you know what median means, most people think it means average which proves my point about plain dumb mfers. respectfully

The problem is $42K isn't a livable wage in most areas. It would be "okay" if this was 98, but it's 2025 and shyts not getting any cheaper.

Plus the only way for them to get experience is to do the job, but who wants to really work their ass off for an unlivable wage?

 

[Bubba T]

Sure one could do better but at that base level you could do alright for yourself with little to no education. If the median income is $42K and the median home price is $420K to get a 20% down payment that’s 2x your gross annual income. Realistically it would take over a decade to save just for the down payment not including closing cost and moving cost.

Should only the highly educated be allowed to really participate in the economy? Be things like home owners?

The general apathetic tone of the poster you are replying to is a reason why people consistently vote Republican.

 

[Ozymandeas]

so tf what. when i was in college and working drive thru at a bbq joint i wasn't expecting to buy a new car or a home.
i copped a used car and had an apartment roomate like a lot of young people do.
do you think i should have been able to do that with no real education or experience? lol

you're profoundly selfish. also lol at thinking the average person works at mcdonalds.

You can't speak any sense into people who think the exploited deserve it.

Once you see people argue that X-job shouldn't earn Y-salary, you already know their world view.

and its always people who make 80K, 100K talking that nonsense.

like they're rich. to the rich, they're peons. one bad health crisis away from bankruptcy.

 

[winb83]

you're profoundly selfish. also lol at thinking the average person works at mcdonalds.



and its always people who make 80K, 100K talking that nonsense.

like they're rich. to the rich, they're peons. one bad health crisis away from bankruptcy.

The majority of people are that. Unless you've reached a level where you have enough income generating assets to pay your living expenses you'd be in that position.

 

[Ozymandeas]

Does not tell the whole story to make this a "shocker" moment

Cost of living is a big factor in alot of cities. $42k a year is a decent salary in alot of cities in America that have a very low cost of living. A two household income of $84k (husband and wife) is more than enough to support yourself in alot of cities

Seems like alot of people live in their own bubble. Everyone does not live in NYC, LA, Bay Area, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, etc etc

The median price of a home in the United States in 1950 was $7,354. When adjusted for inflation, that's about $89,300 in 2023 dollars.

In 1950, the median family income in the United States was $3,300, which was $200 higher than in 1949. This is equivalent to about $39,800 in 2024 dollars.

 

[Ozymandeas]

The majority of people are that. Unless you've reached a level where you have enough income generating assets to pay your living expenses you'd be in that position.

That's why I wrote it. He's a middle-class flunkie that would be assed out if a major life crisis hit him. He needs to be humble.

 

[bourgeoisie tall freak]

you're profoundly selfish. also lol at thinking the average person works at mcdonalds.

you are pansied out sir, not to mention not too smart because i never said the average person works at mcdonalds. now why should you as a person that interpreted anything i said in this thread to mean in your head "the average person works at mcdonalds".... what would entitle a person with your poor logic to the same salary and the same ability to buy a new car as someone who knows how to reason much better?
what's the merit in that? that's all I am saying

 

[bourgeoisie tall freak]

You aren't renting anything for a family for $800. Shit I pay almost $700 a month for a 1BR 650ish square foot apartment and I have the benefit of lower rent because I've lived in the same apartment for 14 years. On the open market this same apartment is going for $800+ easy.

it's funny you pick and choose when to use specifics lol. see how you specifically made the point for "a family". that's not what the article is doing tho, it just says "all w2 workers". you can be a w2 worker and only work 10 hours a week (i do this on one of my side jobs) it doesn't break down full time workers, it doesn't say how many workers contribute to 1 household or anything like that. so if it's just going by wage, yes we already knew that not every wage is going to afford a single person a brand new car so idk what the point of even using that as a "wild" revelation is. that was the ony point i was trying to make in the whole thread

 

[UpAndComing]

I make more than $84K and live in a fairly low cost of living area and I don’t feel that that’s good enough to support a family on. If you’re frugal as hell you can make it work but it will be a tight budget. Kids are expensive.

Uh huh, Interesting. What city in Michigan do you live in?

I used to live in Michigan

 

[winb83]

it's funny you pick and choose when to use specifics lol. see how you specifically made the point for "a family". that's not what the article is doing tho, it just says "all w2 workers". you can be a w2 worker and only work 10 hours a week (i do this on one of my side jobs) it doesn't break down full time workers, it doesn't say how many workers contribute to 1 household or anything like that. so if it's just going by wage, yes we already knew that not every wage is going to afford a single person a brand new car so idk what the point of even using that as a "wild" revelation is. that was the ony point i was trying to make in the whole thread

Half of ALL W2 workers who filed taxes in the US make under that $42K. If you make $100K only 15% of the rest of W2 workers make more than you do.

Some of those part time workers you’re referring to are underemployed and don’t want part time hours.

 

[sayyestothis]

You think that half the entire workforce making under $42K is fine? You think this debt and unaffordability crisis is fine? It's ridiculous. There was a time a few generations back when everyone prospered. Today the upper class is just squeezing the fuck out of everyone below them and exploiting them. Common people living on the brink or ruin so rich mofos can pad their numbers with money their great grand kids won't even need to touch.

No where ever does "everyone prosper" breh. What world are u living in. In order for everyone to prosper everything and everyone would have to be equal. That's not how society works period.

 

[benjamin]

"Gone head calvin, look at calvin yall, he making $40k a year..go head with yo bad self "

nikkas Gone start saying 40k is the new high value.

 

[sayyestothis]

Another thing I don't get from this young breh generation that stay bytching...

My boomer parents could walk in and get a job at GM.

Well YOU all can literally make UNLIMITED money in UNLIMITED ways by having the internet at ur fingers.

U can self educate
U can create
U can monetize every aspect of life in ANYWAY.

But yeah the boomer generation had it easier...they could walk into GM and build cars for a below average wage with no avenues to becoming wealthy.

Lazy ass ppl bytch about lazy ass shyt...

 

[Rekkapryde]

Sure one could do better but at that base level you could do alright for yourself with little to no education. If the median income is $42K and the median home price is $420K to get a 20% down payment that’s 2x your gross annual income. Realistically it would take over a decade to save just for the down payment not including closing cost and moving cost.

Should only the highly educated be allowed to really participate in the economy? Be things like home owners?

FHA loan