As a society we’ve placed a $100K per year salary on a pedestal and we need to stop. A recent Business Insider article stated that 60% of Millennials are living paycheck to paycheck despite making over $100K per year. Sure there may be some folks living beyond their means and trying to keep up with the joneses’, but you cannot deny something else is going on when its the majority of a demographic. In fact, this can not be explained away solely with a lack of financial literacy.
The true reality is, $100,000 doesn’t go as far as the general public may think.
Reason #1 – $100,000 isn’t $100,000 in reality
This is just simple math and to illustrate this lets look at an example using a single person with a Master’s degree, living in Long Beach, CA while $100,000 per year salary and contributing just 5% pre-tax to a 401K plan.
Using the Smart Asset California Paycheck Calculator you’ll see that your semi-monthly take home pay is $2,515 ($5,030 per month).
The average rent according to RentCafe for a 1-bedroom apartment in Long Beach, CA is $2,170. If we subtract this amount we are left with $2,860.
We are then left with $1202 after subtracting an average student loan payment of $695 per month, groceries for $400 per month, and a car payment of $563.
That is $601 per paycheck to now purchase gas, insurance, pay a cell phone bill, any credit card bills, and save for an emergency.
As you can see once you look at the math, $100K doesn’t go far very quickly.
Reason #2 – Inflation
Inflation is the highest its been since the 2008 financial crisis. At an average increase of 4.2%, the buying power of $1 continues to erode every year despite an increase in the median household income.
If you made $100K a year in 1970, you were firmly planted into the Upper Middle Class and perhaps lower upper class in some states. Today that income places you into the lower end of a middle class that is shrinking by the day.
We can’t ignore that this is occurring nor the fact that the wealth gap is increasing between demographics.
Reason #3 – Student Loan Debt is out of control
I freaking hate student loans just like the rest of the world and the reality is student loan debt is out of control.
A 2013 article from Cornell reviewed the debt-to-income ratios needed to enter a particular profession. That article showed it was still advantageous to take on a large student loan debt burden if you became a physician however other professions were not as lucky.
In 2020, Experian noted that outstanding student loan debt in the U.S. has grown at double the rate it had in previous years—now reaching a record high of over $1.57 trillion. Americans are drowning in student loan debt and those who aspire to be enter professions which will make at least $100K per year will need to often take on hefty loans to do so.
Reason #4 – Cost of living isn’t the same everywhere
Ask anyone from Washington, DC, Southern California, New York City, or any other major urban city and you’ll find out how expensive it is. Until the pandemic hit and the forced work-from-home, Americans were forced to live in high cost areas where majority of the high paying jobs existed. This is changing as more companies push towards remote-first initiatives, however its not changing fast enough.
Reason #5 – Family Obligations
Have you ever heard of the Black Tax? As stated in a Vox article from March 2021, “the reality is that for those of us able to generate wealth and reach a level of comfort, we are often also financially supporting family members or paying down debt.”
Whether its helping others to pay bills or paying for astronomical child care costs such as daycare or school tuition, these family obligations can take its toll on your $100,000 salary.
Now you’ll probably make the argument that these are costs that could be avoided but in actuality they can’t. Just think about the fact that high paying positions often require working hours or have obligations which might place severe constraints on a busy schedule. To meet these obligations and make a high salary parents need help. That help often comes in the form of daycare which in places like Chicago, IL can cost up to $20K per year, per child.
Improved financial literacy can solve a lot of problems with money management. However it can’t fix a system which has eroded what $100,000 per year will obtain. We need to make an effort to manage our money well and get to the bag each and every time. Stop using a $100,000 year as your goal and reach higher.
As always if you have questions or concerns regarding creating an emergency fund, investing, real estate, insurance, or planning for the future, don’t be afraid to speak with qualified financial advisor. Smart Asset has a great tool to find an advisor in your area or feel free to email me (contact@surgifi.com) to help you on your path to financial independence.
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