How much you need to earn to live comfortably where you are (2024)

Workers now say they need a salary of £49,300 to live comfortably. For those in London, a £65,000 wage is needed to combat the rising cost of living, a survey by recruitment firm Reed found.

The average wage that was seen as a sum on which people could live comfortably is £16,300 more than the £33,000 median annual pay for full-time employees in the tax year ending in April 2022, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.

More than a quarter (26pc) of the 5,000 workers surveyed stated they are unhappy with their current salary, Reed found. Six in 10 (61pc) of these people said their salary is not rising in line with living cost rises. More than a third (36pc) believed they could get a higher salary by switching jobs.

The research also unveiled that a fifth (20pc) of people are actively looking for new job opportunities and more than a third (38pc) are considering looking for a new job.

Reed also analysed job adverts as well as commissioning a survey.

Its findings suggest that the engineering and manufacturing sectors have seen relatively big salary increases over the past year, while the financial services and insurance sectors have seen some salary declines.

Ian Nicholas, global managing director at Reed, said: “It's clear that despite the jobs market remaining largely positive, the uncertainty and price shocks in food and fuel have created uncertainty for both businesses and employees.

“There is some hope, however, as there remains a healthy level of activity in the employment market.”

He added: “Even though we aren't expecting a massive shake-up with salaries, which are likely to follow the current trends, we are still seeing a lot of movement - people are taking the risk and looking for a better-paying job and businesses looking to hire are able to put themselves forward to find fresh, new talent.”

The research also found that more than a third (35pc) of workers surveyed feel satisfied that the work they do is right for the salary they receive, according to Reed, which has produced some sector-specific salary guides for 2023 on its website.

How much you need to earn to live comfortably where you are (2024)

FAQs

How much income is enough to live comfortably? ›

The data used in the study analyzed the cost of living in each city as of 2022. For California cities like Los Angeles, Berkeley and San Diego, a single person must make more than $76,000 to “live comfortably,” the data shows.

Is $100 000 a year good? ›

Earning more than $100,000 per year would put you well ahead of the median American household, which brings in $74,784 as of 2021. Assuming you're an individual without dependents, that salary would qualify you as upper class, according to three different definitions (Brookings, Urban Institute and Pew Research).

Can you live comfortably on 50000 a year? ›

A single person will spend much less than if you need to provide for someone else. Your living expenses and ideal budget are much less. Thus, you can live extremely comfortably on $50000 per year.

How much money do you need to live comfortably without working? ›

Using the 4% rule to estimate how much money you need to never work again involves knowing how much you plan on spending that first year or retirement. For example, if you want to spend $200,000, the math is $200,000/. 04 = $5,000,000. Another way to calculate this is that you would need 25x your annual spending rate.

Can you live comfortably on 100k a year? ›

In almost every case, yes. It's well above the poverty line as well as the American median income for both individuals and smaller families. Even in the face of rising inflation, a $100,000 annual income can typically afford a comfortable lifestyle and financial stability.

Is 40k a year good? ›

According to Pew Research, a middle-class family of three makes between $56,000 and $156,000. Families of that size who bring in $40,000 a year would not be considered middle class. However, an individual making $40,000 a year would likely qualify as middle class.

What percent of 25 year olds make 100k? ›

Only 2% of 25-year-olds make over $100k per year, but this jumps to a considerable 12% by 35. That's a whopping 500% increase in the share of people making $100k or more. 21% of 66-year-olds make $100k per year or more.

How much does the average American make? ›

The average annual average salary in the U.S. is $60,575. The median annual salary, which is often less skewed by outlying numbers, is $56,420. It's worth noting that average and median salaries vary quite a bit by state.

What percentage of Americans make $100000? ›

In the U.S. 18% of individuals earn more than $100,000, according to Zippia, a career advising company, and like the cost of living, income varies greatly between cities and states.

How much is $30 an hour annually? ›

How much does a 30$ An Hour make? As of May 30, 2023, the average annual pay for a 30$ An Hour in the United States is $240,666 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $115.70 an hour. This is the equivalent of $4,628/week or $20,055/month.

How much is $25 an hour annually? ›

Frequently Asked Questions. $25 an hour is how much a year? If you make $25 an hour, your yearly salary would be $52,000.

Is $2000 a month good for a single person? ›

Yes, it is possible to live on $2000 a month. But, it depends on several factors such as the cost of living in your area, your lifestyle, and expenses. High expenses, such as supporting dependents, paying for medical bills, or living in an expensive city, can make it difficult to live on $2000 a month.

What yearly salary do you need to survive? ›

Overall, Americans need an average post-tax income of $68,499 to live comfortably in the U.S., according to recent data from SmartAsset.

Can you live comfortably without a job? ›

Most workers dream of the day when they no longer have to work, either by striking it rich or retiring with a hefty amount of money in their accounts. As it turns out, you can live without a job and be ok! In fact, many people do it! It's just a matter of putting the right plan in place.

Is $10 million dollars enough to retire on? ›

A retirement portfolio of $10 million will very likely cover the retirement needs of most people. Whether it's enough to support a comfortable retirement for any given person depends on different factors.

What is the average age to make 6 figures? ›

Some workers begin earning six figures in their twenties and thirties. Economists nickname them HENRYs, for “high earners, not rich yet.” But for most people, their “peak earning years” are from age 35 to 54. The majority of people who make six figures will do so in their 30s.

What salary is considered rich for a single person? ›

To keep things simple, let's consider where the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sets the bar for the top 1% of earners first. According to the most recent data available for fiscal year 2019, an income of $540,009 per year puts you in the top 1% category.

How much Social Security will I get if I make $100000 a year? ›

If your highest 35 years of indexed earnings averaged out to $100,000, your AIME would be roughly $8,333. If you add all three of these numbers together, you would arrive at a PIA of $2,893.11, which equates to about $34,717.32 of Social Security benefits per year at full retirement age.

How much is $20 an hour annually? ›

How much does a $20 An Hour make? As of May 30, 2023, the average annual pay for a $20 An Hour in the United States is $40,760 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $19.60 an hour. This is the equivalent of $783/week or $3,396/month.

How much is $17 an hour for a year? ›

If you make $17 an hour, your yearly salary would be $35,360.

How much is $40 an hour per year? ›

Frequently Asked Questions. $40 an hour is how much a year? If you make $40 an hour, your yearly salary would be $83,200.

What income is middle class? ›

Pew draws on the same formula used in the SmartAsset report, defining the middle class as those with incomes between two-thirds and twice the national median income. That works out to a national salary range of roughly $52,000 to $156,000 in 2020 dollars for a three-person household.

How many Americans make over $1 million? ›

21,951,000 people in the U.S. have a net worth of $1 million or more. Among all states, New Jersey has the most millionaire households. Only 3% of American millionaires received an inheritance of $1 million or above. Real estate makes up about 40% of a typical millionaire's net worth.

How many men make 6 figures? ›

And because of racial and gender wage gaps, women are less likely to reach the six-figure threshold compared with men. Just 11% of women make $100,000 or more on a national level, whereas 21% of men do.

What is a teacher's salary in the US? ›

In 2022, the average public school teacher salary was $66,397, an increase of $1,104 or 1.69% from 2021. National Center for Education Statistics.

Why are American salaries so high? ›

In general, wages in the United States tend to be higher than those in Europe, particularly for skilled and high-paying jobs. Part of the reason for this is that the cost of living in the U.S. is usually higher than in Europe. This means that workers need to make more money to keep their standard of living the same.

What is the highest paying occupation? ›

Highest-Paying Occupations
OCCUPATION2022 MEDIAN PAYPERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER NATIONAL MEDIAN
Chief Executives$189,520309.20%
Orthodontists$174,360276.50%
Computer and Information Systems Managers$164,070254.30%
Architectural and Engineering Managers$159,920245.30%
17 more rows

What percent of Americans make 6 figures? ›

While many might see it as a wall that few get past, it's surprisingly common these days compared to being a millionaire. At first glance, 5.4% of the US population makes a six-figure income every year.

What is considered the upper class? ›

What Is the Upper Class? The term upper class refers to a group of individuals who occupy the highest place and status in society. These people are considered the wealthiest, lying above the working and middle class in the social hierarchy.

What percentage of Americans have $100000 for retirement? ›

14% of Americans Have $100,000 Saved for Retirement

Most Americans are not saving enough for retirement. According to the survey, only 14% of Americans have $100,000 or more saved in their retirement accounts. In fact, about 78% of Americans have $50,000 or less saved for retirement.

What is $3 an hour annually? ›

$3 hourly is how much per year? If you make $3 per hour, your Yearly salary would be $6,240.

What is $18.00 an hour yearly? ›

Exactly how much is $18 an hour per year? If you're working full time, $18 an hour equals $37,440 per year. To get this number, multiply your hours per week — 40 for full time — by the number of weeks per year — 52.

What is $1 per hour annually? ›

$1 hourly is how much per year? If you make $1 per hour, your Yearly salary would be $2,080. This result is obtained by multiplying your base salary by the amount of hours, week, and months you work in a year, assuming you work 40 hours a week.

Is 25 an hour a livable wage? ›

An analysis of the living wage (as calculated in December 2022 and reflecting a compensation being offered to an individual in 2023), compiling geographically specific expenditure data for food, childcare, health care, housing, transportation, and other necessities, finds that: The living wage in the United States is ...

How much is $22 dollars an hour annually? ›

$22 an hour is how much a year? If you make $22 an hour, your yearly salary would be $45,760.

How much is $16 an hour annually? ›

Frequently Asked Questions. $16 an hour is how much a year? If you make $16 an hour, your yearly salary would be $33,280.

Can one person live off of $1000 a month? ›

Bottom Line. Living on $1,000 per month is a challenge. From the high costs of housing, transportation and food, plus trying to keep your bills to a minimum, it would be difficult for anyone living alone to make this work. But with some creativity, roommates and strategy, you might be able to pull it off.

Is it cheaper to live single? ›

Overall, the cost of living as a single person is higher than living with a spouse. Married couples share many basic expenses, including housing, while a single individual must cover those costs alone.

Can I retire on $4,000 a month? ›

First, let's look at some statistics to establish a baseline for what a solid retirement looks like: Average monthly retirement income in 2021 for retirees 65 and older was about $4,000 a month, or $48,000 a year; this is a slight decrease from 2020, when it was about $49,000.

How much does the average person make in a lifetime? ›

How much does the average American make in a lifetime? The answer varies by industry, education level, gender and location. The typical lifetime gross income range for American males is $1.13 million to $3.05 million, and $510,000 to $1.86 million for women, according to Social Security Administration data.

How much does the average American woman make? ›

Men earned a median salary of $50,391 in 2021 while women earned $36,726, or 73% of men's salaries. The gender wage gap exists throughout the economy.

How much should I be making at 30? ›

What is the median salary by age in the United States?
AgeMedian Salary
30$50,000.00
31$50,000.00
32$50,000.00
33$55,000.00
51 more rows

Do you live longer if you work? ›

The experiment confirms that working longer causes better health – specifically longer life expectancy. Men ages 62-65 who worked longer due to the policy change saw a two-month increase in life expectancy during their late 60s.

How to live without a 9 5 job? ›

Freelancing. With freelancing, you make the most of your skills without adhering to the standard 9-to-5 format. You can make money in nearly every niche, from writing and proofreading to videography, computer programming, and even accounting.

Can you live off part time job? ›

Yes, you can make a living off a part-time job.

Before you quit your job to jump into a part-time gig, it's important to note that it typically takes at least a year or two to gain experience and build credibility to begin making good money from many of these jobs.

Can you retire with $1 million at age 55? ›

But retiring with $1 million is still possible, even as early as age 55, if you're smart about it. It will require some careful planning since you'll have to wait 10 years for Medicare, but it can be done. If you're not sure how to get started, consider working with a financial advisor.

Can I retire on $5 million at age 60? ›

Based on the median costs of living in most parts of America, $5 million is more than enough for a very comfortable retirement. Based on average market returns, $5 million can support many households indefinitely.

At what age should you have $1 million in retirement? ›

A recent analysis determined that a $1 million retirement nest egg may only last about 20 years depending on what state you live in. Based on this, if you retire at age 65 and live until you turn 84, $1 million will probably be enough retirement savings for you.

What salary is middle class? ›

According to a Pew study released last fall, the median income of middle-class American households is $70,784, based on Census data from 2021, the latest available. (Pew defines middle class as two-thirds to twice the U.S. median household income, adjusted for household size.)

What is a good salary in Pennsylvania? ›

Average Salary in Pennsylvania
Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
Top Earners$78,860$6,571
75th Percentile$63,756$5,313
Average$50,691$4,224
25th Percentile$37,626$3,135

Is $45,000 a year enough to live? ›

A single person will spend much less than if you need to provide for someone else. Your living expenses and ideal budget are much less. Thus, you can live extremely comfortably on $45000 per year.

What is considered lower class income? ›

Very-Low, Low and Moderate-Income Limits
Household SizeVery-Low IncomeModerate-Income
1$11,550 or less$19,301 - $30,850
2$13,200 or less$22,051 - $35,250
3$14,900 or less$24,801 - $39,650
4$16,550 or less$27,551 - $44,100
4 more rows

What's considered low class? ›

Based on Pew's analysis, a three-person household would be considered low-income if they're bringing in less than $52,200 a year. This group makes up a significant chunk of the U.S. population, with about 38% of households making less than $50,000 in 2021.

What is the average salary in the US? ›

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national average salary in 2021 was $58,260.

Is $20 an hour good for a single person? ›

In the abstract, as a single person you could probably live alone off of $20 as a full time hourly wage with an modest studio apartment, using public transportation or having a modest and paid for car, and avoiding much entertainment or dining out, as long as your employer subsidized your health insurance costs.

Is $16 an hour a livable wage? ›

Yes, you can do it, and as you can see that it is possible with the sample budget of $16 per hour. Living in a higher cost of living area would be more difficult. So, you may have to get a little creative. For example, you might have to have a roommate.

What is the average PA paycheck? ›

Geographic profile for Physician Assistants:
StateEmployment (1)Annual mean wage (2)
California15,540$ 144,520
New York14,790$ 135,620
Texas8,930$ 132,980
Florida8,480$ 110,930
1 more row

At what age should you make the most money? ›

From career achievements to family milestones, these are the years in which you'll see the hard work you put in during your 20s and 30s really start to pay off. These decades are known as your peak earning years, as full-time workers with bachelor's degrees tend to make the most money in their 40s and 50s.

What is upper class salary? ›

What Is Middle-Class Income?
Income groupIncome
Low incomeLess than $52,200
Middle income$52,200 - $156,600
Upper incomeMore than $156,600
Feb 27, 2023

How much should I have in my 401k at 30? ›

By age 30, Fidelity recommends having the equivalent of one year's salary stashed in your workplace retirement plan. So, if you make $50,000, your 401(k) balance should be $50,000 by the time you hit 30.

How much is $22 an hour annually? ›

Frequently Asked Questions. $22 an hour is how much a year? If you make $22 an hour, your yearly salary would be $45,760.

How much is 20 dollars an hour annually? ›

How much does a $20 An Hour make? As of May 30, 2023, the average annual pay for a $20 An Hour in the United States is $40,760 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $19.60 an hour. This is the equivalent of $783/week or $3,396/month.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Last Updated:

Views: 6256

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (59 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Birthday: 1993-07-01

Address: Suite 763 6272 Lang Bypass, New Xochitlport, VT 72704-3308

Phone: +22014484519944

Job: Banking Officer

Hobby: Sailing, Gaming, Basketball, Calligraphy, Mycology, Astronomy, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.