[Newton]

What with all the talk in the news of rising unemployment figures and falling salaries I thought it may be interesting to do a salary/job review posting and I hope I've chosen the correct forum.

All polls are of course anonymous, and text responses aren't really necessary because this isn't about knowing that Tamara earns $200,000 a month as a Government advisor.

So poll away and let's see how the numbers shape up.

Newton

[Greg L]

Of course this assumes that you are working for someone else who is setting your salary at a reasonably constant level. Some of us have to kick our own butts out of bed in the morning to try to keep the roof over our heads ;) (I averaged out the last few years for the poll).

Greg

[Mike Irwin]

Almost 5 years ago I jumped nearly 30 percent in salary by changing jobs from a financial institution to an employee-owned government contractor.

Best move I ever made, as the situation has gotten a lot better since then.

Now there's some uncertainty as our contract is coming to an end, and we're bidding on the follow on. If we get that, we're good for another 9 years, and that will give me the security I need to go back to school and gain skills that will be even more valuable to my employer.

[4v50 Gary]

I got a whopping 1% raise this year that partially compensates for the retirement pick-up that I'll be picking up. :( Oh well, better that than unemployment and besides, I can still live cheap. Guess that backpacker and starving college student mentality is never outgrown.

[Bruce H]

Weather has a lot to do with what I make. That said, my bills are paid and I have what toys seem necessary. Life is simple but good.

[Kcustom45]

I make less than 20,000, but I am going to school and living with my parents. And since I don't have many bills I can spend more money on my toys. I have to get a lot now because when I move out I don't think I will have much disposable income.

[veloce851]

I went from a nice mid 5figure income several years ago.
To less than 10K (really Mr IRS that's all I made ;) ) as a computer consultant.
And now I'm hacking fish for $9 an hour.

I've never filed for unemployment or bankruptcy. (though I probably should have...damn that pride)

The economy has changed and it is tough.. but its still possible to survive.
Because somehow I've been able to manage to add all the firearms in my collection in the past year. And still have digital cable.
It's amazing what you can do when you really play with the numbers.

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

don't get me started....

I was a contractor for a large, multinational computer manufacturer/software solutions provider (can you say HAL?) up until 4 months ago when the company downsized my contractor group. Laid off the experienced folks, moving the workload overseas. Over the previous 18 months the contractors experienced an 18% cut in pay while the 'real employees' received bonuses plus a 4% annual raise. The good news is that I'm the lead candidate for a new project that will be associated with a large security program and I'll once again be back working with the hardware I know more about than most in my field. Better pay, real benefits, bleeding edge technology. I love it. Hopefully the interview will be in mid-month. They call me every couple of days to stay on top of me. Not to count eggs, but I'm sitting on this nest until it sours.

more money= more toys.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[lee n. field]

Interesting. At the time I'm looking at it, it looks to be a fairly even distribution, not a bell curve.

FWIW, I make about half what the IT trade rags say someone with my certs and time in the field usually makes. Part of it is living where I do (2 hours boonieward from Chicago, and I ain't willingly getting any closer). Part of it is being in a small business (<10 people), not in a big business cube farm somewhere.

I've pretty much resigned myself to never having much of this world's wealth. Just glad to be alive.

Health insurance sure would be nice though.

[Monkeyleg]

The past six years have been a financial and emotional rollercoaster. I've gone from making close to six figures (which is a very good income in this state), to making roughly what a burger-flipper would make, to getting close to that six-figure income, and this year making probably what a manager of burger flippers might make.

Ah, the joys of being self-employed.

:rolleyes:

[blades67]

"Warning labels thwart the purpose of natural selection."


I work in the Nursing field because people don't believe the warning labels.:evil:

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

I used to work as a neurooncology nurse (RN/BSN) before I went back to computers. One of my goals in life is the overthrow of the HMO system.

One, among several reasons I decided to leave the field was because the beancounters thought they knew more about medicine and standards of practice than physicians and professional nurses. Dismissing a patient to go home 72 hours after intracranial surgery because their insurance company will not pay for 73 hours is not good practice.

I do moonlight some in the field PRN, but I choose my assignments.


Regards,
Rabbit.

[Skunkabilly]

Make less than $25k per year, but I'm good enough w/ my money to still survive in the Los Angeles suburbs and live tactically and still have a few hundred bucks to put away every month.

[Ala Dan]

Since my hometown has been renamed "Poverty, U.S.A.",
I think the title speaks for its-self?:) :uhoh:

Lot's of unemployment, no good jobs available, high cost
of living, taxes helping support welfare receipent's and
drug addict's are some of the reasons I list as causes
for why this town was renamed!:rolleyes: :D

At least I'm not among that list~

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Destructo6]

I'm one of those stinking college students, at least for another few weeks.

Got a fed leo job all lined up, though. Could be a lot of fun, if things go right. Oh, and it would get me out of CA for good!

Skunk, you're my hero.

[Majic]

I'm one of them decently paid craftsman, with plenty of overtime, that hates to get those service calls. They keep interupting the card and computer games. :cuss:

[OEF_VET]

I start my new job in about 1/2 an hour, so my income will increase a little. But, then again, with VA disability, Army retirement, and my GI Bill check, I'm doing fairly well. Heck, I make more money going to school than I will when I graduate. That's actually kind of screwed up, ain't it?

Frank

[Matt G]

I agree with Lee N Field-- it's surprising how flat the distribution is.

I would have liked to have seen a field for 7 figure incomes, just out of personal curiosity.

[Tim Currie]

Net 33,000 a year currently @ Walgreens. Soon to be 44,000 and then with some luck, and a whole lotta work, up to 52,000 plus BONUS when I get my own store.

I would have liked to have seen a field for 7 figure incomes, just out of personal curiosity

Ditto

[Norton]

One of the few good things about teaching in MD is that the salaries are relatively good, thanks to the local NEA affiliate. Though I steadfastly refuse to join due to the politics associated with that union, er I mean professional organisation, they still take 80% of the dues out for a "representation fee".

That 52,000 still goes pretty far along with side music gigs, teaching lessons, etc. I figure that salary is pretty good for a two hundred day contract (though my Saturdays and evenings that I work are totally uncompensated for beyond that contract.) I get tired of hearing these teachers moan and groan about their pay, yet they refuse to do anything with the other 165 days a year they don't have to be at school.:banghead:

[Kharn]

I'm currently a college student making $13.50/hr during the summer, so I voted 20-30, but next year (after graduation) it should be more like 40-50.

Kharn

[Dorrin79]

I make about 42K a year.

My wife earns about 35K (assuming she finds a teaching position for this next year)

we do alright.

[Newton]

Surprising what an even spread of salaries we have in our membership, I wasn't expecting that.

I don't like to see that approximately 1 in 10 of respondants are currently out of work, and I wanted to add at the start of this thread that if you are in that position please accept my very best wishes that things get better for you real soon, I really mean that.

Newton

[Soap]

Another full time college student here. I work one job only three months out of the year, and then another 30 hours/week while attending classes. So I'm in the 20-30K range. If you would annualize both jobs though I would be in a much higher bracket. Whenever I get out of school my income will surely go upward. I already have a few leads with great companies, not to mention a few other financial opportunities. Independently wealthy here I come! Life is good. :)

[themic]

cost of living, though, makes a big difference. i make what would be considered a great salary in most of the country, but can hardly survive in a 600 square foot apartment inside the beltway.

[Mike Irwin]

You're not kidding Themic.

Housing prices have risen DRAMATICALLY in Northern Virginia over the past couple of years.

I bought my house in 1993 for $154,900. Today it's worth almost double that. I'm in a prime location, in Fairfax, just a mile from the entrance to I-66 and the Vienna metro station on the Orange Line.

Were I coming into today's market, making what I do, it would be a toss up whether I could afford an apartment down here or not.

I may hate my ex-wife, but I love her for her telling me I could keep the house! :D

[Mauserlady]

Actually had no clue how much my annual was, had to do the math.. All I care is that all the bills are paid every month and I have a little to splurge on my girls with, they went without for too many years...

[Skunkabilly]

"I want 5 Wilson CQBs. And a Barrett M82A2 to round out my armory of 4 Bushmasters, 4 870s, 4 back up guns, two sets of body armor and Gen III night vision. And at least 50 mags for each." --Daniel Flory

:D (not verbatim but the point is there)

Destructo6...sarcasm? ...drip...drip.... :scrutiny:

[Destructo6]

Skunk, no sarcasm. I'd have a tough time making it on 25k/year. My rent up here in SB is $900/month and I'm renting somebody's converted garage! Isla Vista isn't any less expensive, but it's closer to campus, nosier, and lots more crime. The benifit, of course, is the naked college chicks running loose.

[DF357]

in Mass were just reported to us. The AVERAGE single family house in Ma is now over $400,000. Wanna come and live here????

[Soap]

Skunk- Patience my brother. I'll fly you out on my private jet so you can shoot some of my guns in the near future ;)

[Smoke]

I clicked the choice based on my total house hold income. My wife makes about $3,500.00 more annually than I do. Figure out which choice I cliked and my personal income is roughly half that.:)



My rent up here in SB is $900/month and I'm renting somebody's converted garage!

My house payment is less than that and its 3600 sq. ft.! Glad I live in Bosque County.

[ElToro]

prefer not to disclose entirely but its more than 50k less than 100k my fiance makes about half those ranges.. BUT i still live like the rat I was in college a few years ago making nothing and working 2 lame jobs to get by.. even though my monthly income has gone up substantially i just increased my 401k contribution to about 1k a month and put ALL the rest above bare necessities in a savings account.. been laid off before empty handed and its not fun. NO debt except a mortgage and could sell the house quickly in a emergency. and still walk away with a few bucks in hand

people say a 3-6 month cash reserve is good... im more comfortable with 1 year in cash, the rest in single stocks like GE, HD, WM, JNJ, PG. places i shop, products i use, no Dr Koop.com for me... also have at least 1 months worth of canned groceries at my insistance, trying to convince wifey to be that 6 months is more appropriate.. no funky cream of nasty soups either.. stuff we actually eat for dinner..also a large supply of 1 pint bottled water probly 5-10 cases depending on how frequently we hit costco. she thinks i'm sooo paranoid.. also aquiring a new qun every other moth or so, or as something cool becomes available (PRK gun import laws, ya know)
I also drive abeat up old honda taht still gets 33mpg but reverse just went S-bag on me... tranny shop says 2k... im shopping for a used car in the 3-5k range... i could afford (want) a new vette but not practical...

i wear the same dozen or so workshirts and ties and slacks since 1995 when i started working in a white collar jobs... always cleaned and pressed of course...

im the orginal cheap ??? basterd!

sorry more info tahn asked but felt it was ok to vent

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Yeah, dont'cha just love rural Texas real estate, Smoke? I think I'll just save up and buy Archer county.

Oops...sorry...McMurtry already did that. Didn't get much to show for it, though.


Regards,
Rabbit.

[einnor1040]

I am in the middle of the options given on the poll. But since me and the wifey paid off the mortgage 4 years ago, she quit her teaching job and started her own business,I still save half of what I make. I'm planning on an early retirement.:D :D :D

[MarkDido]

I have a C&R License.

I don't HAVE any money!

[doctorhumbert]

My brother and I have inherited considerable $$$ from our father. We invested it together, and opened a wholesale business. I would say, together, we make $300,000 annually. But we have sacrificed much to get this far. All this from working in flea market ten years ago. I still work seven days a week, and haven't had a real vacation in 10 years. In America, you have no real execuse to be poor. Harder you work, more you make (provided that you work for yourself).

[YodaVader]

"Lot's of unemployment, no good jobs available, high cost
of living, taxes helping support welfare receipent's and
drug addict's are some of the reasons I list as causes
for why this town was renamed!"

And I thought Jacksonville , NC was a real hell hole! Was working at a forging plant for nearly 14 years and was laid off and later changed to termination - was out of work for 7.5 months. Now employed with at an RV factory - funny thing though , make as much there or sometimes even more than I did at the forging plant!

[moa]

In the news of late is that many big blue chip corporations are trying to shed their higher paid American workers and ship their jobs overseas. The company I work for has been doing that since 1997, sending off IT work to India and/or importing Indian workers. Can pay them about one half or even much less than an American worker, and probably no benefits because they are supplied by contractors.

The location I work at is starting to look like downtown Bombay.

I think a lot of Amerian companies can hang out signs that read: "American workers need not apply".

[Daniel T]

I was unemployed until two weeks ago. Guess what I did with my first weeks paycheck?




Bought a 1911. :D

[taoshooter]

I've seen polls that ask:

Where do you live
What work do you do
What are your political leanings
What ethnic group do you belong to
What is your annual income
Oh, and..........
What guns do you own

Next I guess it will be what deodorant do you prefer.
:rolleyes: :D

[Bigjake]

I'm a college student, work full time during the summer and almost full time in the winter. i deliver water for a spring water company (think 5 gal) and i farm on the side to pay my way through this god-aweful college thing that i still have no career direction in.... cash flow is somewhere between 20-30 k

[txgolfer45]

I went from over $100,000 to unemployed this year. Currently seeking employment in accounting/auditing. I have 10+ years Big 4 audit/consulting experience and am looking for management opportunities in accounting or auditing: Accounting Manager, Assistant Controller, Controller, Internal Audit Director, etc. I also have Oracle Financials experience as well.

Scott

[Shalako]

Occupation: State Worker

Salary: Bwaaaahaaahahaaaaa!

Days Off: Anything Imaginable (Caesar Chavez day, anyone?)

Up till a week or so ago, us State Workers were going to get paid minimum wage until the budget passed...Try paying student loans on that.

I actually just passed the CA Civil Engineer Exam so now I make another...... 5%. Yippee. :rolleyes:

Shalako, PE

[doctorhumbert]

Next I guess it will be what deodorant do you prefer
I use 'secret'. Unscented. It's $.99 at wal mart.

[MeekandMild]

Interesting, the graph is nearly a straight line with a little bit of a bow toward the middle. I wonder if that means gunnies are a representative sample of American citizens? :D

Doc, before we get to it, I prefer "forest floor" scented deodorant, for that fresh humus aroma. Deer love it!!:neener:

[lee n. field]

Where do you live
What work do you do
What are your political leanings
What ethnic group do you belong to
What is your annual income
Oh, and..........
What guns do you own

Next I guess it will be what deodorant do you prefer.

USonia

Answer the question "Why is my Windows slow?" too many times a week.

Anarcho-Calvinist.

pure bred WASP

po, when you factor in how many other mouths I feed.

mumble

soap.

'Bout cover it? :)

[Skunkabilly]

Skunk, no sarcasm. I'd have a tough time making it on 25k/year. My rent up here in SB is $900/month and I'm renting somebody's converted garage! Isla Vista isn't any less expensive, but it's closer to campus, nosier, and lots more crime. The benifit, of course, is the naked college chicks running loose.

:eek: for a garage?? :eek: :what:

I liked UCSB until I saw Isla Vista....

[Monkeyleg]

$900 a month for an apartment, much less one in a garage? I pay less than $500 for a two-story house on a full city lot, and in eight years it will be paid off. Plus, my motorcycle gets to live in my garage for free!

Oh, thank God I don't live in CA!

[Tim Currie]

A friend's husband makes $60,000 as an Asst. Mgr. for Walgreen's

How's that? Are you sure he is not the store manager? I'm an assistant and make $16/hr. Just curious, if its true I want to know whats going on :eek:

[Ewok]

Sure Clear & Dry Unscented.
Oh, and I'm in the "Over 100,000" category. As Dr. Science says, I have a Master's Degree, in Science. ;)