How much $$$ do you make?

i'm a lowly teacher living in jersey, one of the most expensive states to live in. i make a little over $40k. if i lived alone, i could not afford to own a house where i am, and probably would be working to pay rent.

we can do a poll about spouses...but do we say what they made before the mortgage industry went sour, or now??

Interesting thread! I currently make $50K, without a degree. I am currently working on getting my B.S. I do regret not getting a degree earlier in life because I know the earning potential for my current industry (Govt contracting company; I work on proposals) with a degree is another $30-40K, especially with my years of experience. Oh well! Just another few years. I also work as a consultant on the side doing the same type of work as my regular job, but that's not consistent work.

I could switch career tracks to become an Exec. Assistant and make another $10-15K or so immediately, but not sure if that's the route I want to take. Sure could use the money with gas being $3.90/gallon!

Alyssa I think that you will find a lot of DH's and FI's make more, but I am the bigger bread winner in our family. Will is currently in grad school and hopefully will make more money because of it but right now he works for a non-profit and while the benefits are great he actually makes a couple thousand less than I do per year, but all in all we make good money together (just need to pay off some debt so we can buy a house in this super expensive area)

Being a SAHM, I make NADA!!! Although apparently the estimated amount for my services is averaged to be something like $134,000 annually.

PAY UP BRIAN!!!!!!

When I did work, I made a decent income, but like Laruen, living in NJ basically sucks up every penny of our paychecks. So I didn't get to enjoy a lot of my salary, but I was by no means broke.

Now that Brian is the sole provider, we live comfortably, but there's not much room for error if you know what I mean.

Very interesting thread because I JUST GOT A NEW JOB! woo hoo!

I am going to be a nonprofit fundraising consultant (grant writing and major donors) and I'll make 65k. It's the first time EVER I've made as much as DH, though his bonus is bigger.

I'm definitely grateful for the opportunities I've had living in DC. My salary has more than doubled in 4 years and I don't think the bad economy will affect my work. Like Christine said though, it's expensive to live here.

I used to be an actress/waitress and made around $50,000 when I was working a lot. I wanted a career change and Now... I am a full time graduate student getting my MA in Drama therapy. I waitress part time which can be lucrative here in NYC but it is horrid and I hate it. So the past year has been a huge year full of change both financially and emotionally.

Next week I start my UNPAID internship and I will eventually have to stop working all together. The student loans pile up but it's worth the type of work that I will eventually be able to do. It's very challenging and exciting. Eventually I would like to have a private practice.. we'll see where my journey takes me to next.

I'm a teacher in my first year substitute teaching and this year I have made about 37K. Teacher salaries are higher in Canada though it seems. Starting full-time teachers with one degree are 40k, teachers with 10 years are 65k, and it's up to 80k for those with masters & 15 years. I hope to get my masters in 10 years or so when I my kids are in school full-time (my non-existent kids- haha)

WOW thats crazy how much they pay teachers in Canada. Im not sure exactly what they pay here, but I remember like 5 years ago I was a soph in college and I was working and made more than my mom and think I only made 25k that year. Crazy how little they get paid.

Yeah, it makes me truly quite sad to hear how little teachers make in the USA. I consider teaching to be one of the most "important" jobs of our society and it makes me sad to hear how undervalued teachers are down south. I often think they're not paid near enough up here for the number of hours and dedication they put into their work, but when I hear of down south I just feel lucky it's not that bad. There are some school districts up north (in our cold cold regions) who make upwards of 100k due to Northern living allowance. (basically the government gives those who live in extremely remote areas a monetary allowance to make up for the cold and remote conditions!)

ETA: I don't know why I keep saying "down south" I just mean the US! lol