Average pay for people in their mid 20s?

[UselessInfo]

Cost of living in NYC:

In Manhattan:

Upper east side has some affordable housing. About $1200 for a studio apartment. One bedroom you're looking at $1500+. By one bedroom, I mean enough space for a full sized bed. Desk has to sit outside in the 'living room'.

Around Grand Central station, you're looking at 2k+ for a 1 bedroom.

In Queens, you're looking at $1200 for a one bedroom if you're willing to commute for about 30-45 mins into midtown.

Further out, you could get a bit cheaper. Also depends on neighborhood.

Subway - Monthly pass = $76.
LIRR - Monthly pass = $120-180+ depending on how far out in Queens you are.
Car insurance - 160/month for me.
Food = 700-800 a month. Working in midtown, a subway meal goes for $7.
Cable(Internet/TV) = 100+ a month.
Dry Cleaners = $2+ / dress shirt. 5 days a week, 4 weeks a month. Black slacks also need to go to the cleaners but I wash/iron myself.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

it depends on what you do and where you live

 

[osiris3mc]

Originally posted by: isasir

Originally posted by: osiris3mc

Originally posted by: isasir

Originally posted by: osiris3mc
Get a JD, work in a nyc law firm, get 125k a year. That's the way to do it.

And prepare to work your ass off with ridiculous hours. Stories of 18 hour workdays make me cringe.

Sometimes. However, on the whole it's not that bad. For the money, it's worth doing for a few years - then move on. It's a great door-opener.

Yeah I agree it's definitely not bad to do for a few years when you're younger, as it's just killer on your resume.

In many ways though, I'm glad that my g/f (who's a lawyer) chose to have a more "stable" 8:30-6:30 job at the law firm she works at. I still do enjoy actually having time to spend with her.

Ah, I see you're a fellow NYU student. (Class of 2000 here). Cool. I'm heading back to NYU this Sat. actually for this cool conference they're having.

Yup, nyu law (class of 2006). Did the ol' BA at ucla.

 

[jlee]

Most you make alot..heh

21yo, 12-13k/yr, fulltime student.

 

[osiris3mc]

Originally posted by: CadetLee
Most you make alot..heh

21yo, 12-13k/yr, fulltime student.

When I was an undergrad, i'd take 12-13k/yr - not bad all things considered.

 

[BlueWeasel]

27 years old, currently making $50K as a civil engineer in Tupelo, MS.

 

[m2kewl]

$45k in NYC???

dayum, how do you live???

 

[ILikeStuff]

27 yrs old, college dropout, $52K in St Louis, MO

 

[shopbruin]

i'm 24, make 31,500 a year (just got a raise) and i would kill to make 45,000 right now.

 

[BigDonJohnson]

40K at 21 with no college degree, just a diploma in IT

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Zombie
I don't think age has much to do with what you make or what you should be making. But if you are in 50's I guess that's average.

Age has a LOT to do with it.

 

[Ramma2]

26, MN Twin Cities area.

Making 39,500 currently, pushing for a raise to 55k or so. Do pretty much a little bit of everything here, support, dba, programming.

 

[BigDonJohnson]

Originally posted by: xospec1alk
40k, just turned 23, QA analyst...

but honestly...with all my bills and what not, im practically living paycheck to paycheck...with car payments, insurance, gym, and rent...sigh..

exact same situation as u dude, only I'm 21

 

[Zombie]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: Zombie
I don't think age has much to do with what you make or what you should be making. But if you are in 50's I guess that's average.

Age has a LOT to do with it.

So if you are 50 you automatically earn more money or are expected to be earning more money than a 30 year old?

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Zombie


So if you are 50 you automatically earn more money or are expected to be earning more money than a 30 year old?

Realistically, yes. It's not right but that's the way it is. I guess they think someone who is older has more experience, even if they really don't.

 

[iversonyin]

Originally posted by: Isocene
Those of you in NYC who say cost of living is so high, how much are yall paying a month for rent and bills?

Im very intersted in hearing this. Im moving to Austin in June to start my fulltime job with a CS degree and im paying $675 for a 900 sq feet one bedroom with WD included. I dont expect to pay more than 100 extra for bills and internet.

You are looking at $1000/mo+ for a studio in Manhattan...

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: rh71
btw, don't get discouraged with some figures you see on this forum. Techies / programmers will make more than other industries and we're on AT.

Good point.. 80k! Ack! It just really blows to see half of your pay taken away due to taxes. Most of my friends have jobs as waiters, etc. but they seem to be doing fine - they party, dress well, etc. but I'm struggling - I guess I have to learn how to manage what I have better since the rate seems fair.

you can make some pretty good coin waiting tables.

don't worry about salary. Its not what defines you and not to be used as a measure of your worth.

You wanna talk about worth, talk about net worth and what you offer the world in means other than money - like caring for friends/family/SO

 

[Maximus96]

$52k at age 26 in bay area ca.

 

[randal]

Originally posted by: jjoyner
Married and two year degree with 3 years experience...
Pay at a local ISP = $22,000/year (SUCKS)
Fixing to change jobs = $28,000/year with company vehicle, insurance, and free equipment + service at cost for company...(no markup)

Good improvement, less hours, and no more working for a dickhead CLEC...

Been there, done that. Get out from underneath the local ISP as fast as possible -- it'll be the best thing you ever do for yourself.

 

[kalster]

around 75k, 26 san diego,

 

[alent1234]

Originally posted by: Isocene
Those of you in NYC who say cost of living is so high, how much are yall paying a month for rent and bills?

Im very intersted in hearing this. Im moving to Austin in June to start my fulltime job with a CS degree and im paying $675 for a 900 sq feet one bedroom with WD included. I dont expect to pay more than 100 extra for bills and internet.

I live in Queens and bought a 1 bedroom apartment with my wife

$700 mortgage
$530 for maintenance/utilities/AC
$163 garage
$76 Metrocard
$400 car payment
$20 gas (2500 miles on the car in the last 6 months)

Every time I see someone complain about the cost of living in manhattan I laugh. For all the money they are wasting on rent, they could have bought a place years ago and rode the equity up. I bought 18 months ago for $134,000 and now it's worth $180,000. People that bought earlier have made a lot more money. Meanwhile you have people in "the city" living with crazy roommates to be able to afford the rent so they can make their landlord rich.

 

[deejayshakur]

23, SF, infectious disease research, 30K.
supposedly 40hrs/week but things are so lax here i work about ~30/week.

 

[Boze]

24, high school education, $28,000 annual salary from the Navy, $64,000 annual salary from my business

Originally posted by: alent1234
Meanwhile you have people in "the city" living with crazy roommates to be able to afford the rent so they can make their landlord rich.

These people fuel my business, so please don't give them too hard a time!

 

[SpazzyChicken]

23, $65k, PACS Administrator. I have a BS in CS, and I live in Keizer, OR.

Cost of living isn't all that high here.

 

[Danman]

19, no degree, $32k in the IT field. Should have my BS in IT sometime next year hopefully.