Is $66,000 a good salary?

As it's been said many times.......It really depends on where you live and where you are in your life.......Single...in Cali...renting...you should be fine...

Married/kids ...in Cali...mortgage(s)...you can do it...but you will be limited on what choices you can make for long term success...

With that said ...My family and I could not do it on 66K.....Hell.....It would be a stretch to do it for 150K..

if youre doing it just for the money youre going to hate doing it. You will hate getting up every morning to go look into someones mouth and clean teeth for 8 hours. It wont be worth it.

more than i make...so yeah sure

You cant go wrong if your profession is a dentist. They make a lot of money.

It's almost double what I make, so yeah, I think it's a good salary. Depends on where you live though really and your marital status.

You cant go wrong if your profession is a dentist. They make a lot of money.

Hungry_Jello

A hygienist is not a dentist. :P

[QUOTE="Hungry_Jello"]

You cant go wrong if your profession is a dentist. They make a lot of money.

GabuEx

A hygienist is not a dentist. :P

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="Hungry_Jello"]

You cant go wrong if your profession is a dentist. They make a lot of money.

xaos

A hygienist is not a dentist. :P

Your entry has just won the prize of the 2009 Weirdest Thing I've Seen All Year.

[QUOTE="xaos"][QUOTE="GabuEx"]

A hygienist is not a dentist. :P

GabuEx

You have just won the prize of the 2009 Weirdest Thing I've Seen All Year.

Thats a damn good starting salary.

First year teachers make about 30-36k,

think about that.

Sounds like a decent amount of money to me.

Considering people make like $16,000 a year in retail, I would say yes.

That's a really good salary.

I would say so.

I wish I made $66,000 a year.

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="Tauruslink"] Well yeah, I wouldn't mind working at a Dentist's office. I would enjoy meeting/working with people and stuff.xaos

Justmake sure you're friendly - there's nothing worse when going to the dentist's office than ornery people working there. :P

me too

you should never base a career on how much it pays... wage slaves aren't good at their job, and they just end up being miserable.

you should never base a career on how much it pays... wage slaves aren't good at their job, and they just end up being miserable.

jrhawk42

This man understands.

you should never base a career on how much it pays... wage slaves aren't good at their job, and they just end up being miserable.

jrhawk42

you should never solely base a career on how much it pays.

Listen, I am very happy with my job. I enjoy it. But it pays me very little, especially when you factor in the fact I have a degree from a very good school.

Money can buy happiness. Basically, it was explained to me this way:

1. You got jobs you love, but they dont pay a lot. These will require a lot of work, but thats ok...cuz you love it.

2. You got jobs you hate, but they pay a lot. It sucks, but it allows you to spend more money on things you enjoy.

3. Occasionaly, once in a while, a job comes along that pays a lot and you enjoy it. Dont count on getting many of these, and sometimes theyre too good to be true.

It's a great salary for an unmarried individual. Then again, you have to factor in mortgages, taxes, and expenses, which bring it down considerably. Even so, it's great considering the fact that you're still young. My dad (a roofer) didn't start making more than $50,000 until after he was 50 years old. I suppose I come from a more modest background, but still...

That is beyond excellent starting off. The average income is 35-50 (depending where you live) Starting off that high is excellent even if your not single. I started off cooking for many different restaurants and I was lucky enough to get 30-40k, even less most of the time, of course now its a different story but i think you get the picture.:P

[QUOTE="jrhawk42"]

you should never base a career on how much it pays... wage slaves aren't good at their job, and they just end up being miserable.

mrbojangles25

1. You got jobs you love, but they dont pay a lot. These will require a lot of work, but thats ok...cuz you love it.

I've yet to find a career that doesn't pay enough. Sure some might not pay much if you're unskilled, but of course if you love your job you're not going to be unskilled for long. Take for example food service. Most jobs in food service don't pay much, and it seems like a pretty crappy career option. Still there are some people making $100k or more waiting tables in resturants. If you love your career you'll find was to make money w/ it.

Money can buy happiness.

mrbojangles25

I would say that it is more accurate to say that money can facilitate happiness. A life without any money at all is a difficult (though not impossible) one to enjoy, but a life with tons of money is a very easy one to hate.

Thats a great salary for only 2 years of college

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

Money can buy happiness.

GabuEx

I would say that it is more accurate to say that money can facilitate happiness. A life without any money at all is a difficult (though not impossible) one to enjoy, but a life with tons of money is a very easy one to hate.

well said

anybody who makes more than 20,000... which is very comfortable to live on compared to majority of the worlds population.. should give the rest of the money to the government for social programs. SOCIALISM WINS.

You do not need to 3 car payments and a house payment. And yearly vacations to disney world.

anybody who makes more than 20,000... which is very comfortable to live on compared to majority of the worlds population.. should give the rest of the money to the government for social programs. SOCIALISM WINS.

EMOEVOLUTION

anybody who makes more than 20,000... which is very comfortable to live on compared to majority of the worlds population.. should give the rest of the money to the government for social programs. SOCIALISM WINS.

You do not need to 3 car payments and a house payment. And yearly vacations to disney world.

EMOEVOLUTION

20k is not enough.

Hell, 40k is just barely getting buy if you got a wife, two kids, and a house.

And yes, people do need a house and occasional vacations (though not to Disneyland *shudder*). Maybe not a house, but a home to call their own be it renting or other

20k is not enough.

Hell, 40k is just barely getting buy if you got a wife, two kids, and a house.

And yes, people do need a house and occasional vacations (though not to Disneyland *shudder*). Maybe not a house, but a home to call their own be it renting or other

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

20k is not enough.

Hell, 40k is just barely getting buy if you got a wife, two kids, and a house.

And yes, people do need a house and occasional vacations (though not to Disneyland *shudder*). Maybe not a house, but a home to call their own be it renting or other

Engrish_Major

yea. My rent at the moment is 600 bucks (I got very lucky, I live in a nice downtown place) and I generally take home 1100-1300 bucks per month.

So on a good month 1300-600 = 700

700 - 90 (bills) = 610

610 - 150 (food budget) = 460

460 - 250 (loan payment) = 210

210 - 70 (what I pay my folks for car insurance, cell phone, and a couple other thingsper month) = 140

So every month I have 140 bucks to my name. That does not leave a lot for fun stuff. I usually buy some beers a few times a month. Plus I like to save 50 bucks per paycheck to my savings.

I think the average in the US is something like $25,000. That's an amazing salary.

foxhound_fox

My rent alone is over $17,000 per year (for a one-bedroom apartment)...Engrish_Major

Dude... that sucks! :lol:

The nearly $1400+/month you pay for rent alone is nearly equal to my total expenses for any given month, including mortgage, car, taxes, food, utilities... everything! Hope that place is worth it....

Entirely depends on where you want to live and what your standards are, really.

GabuEx

[QUOTE="Engrish_Major"]My rent alone is over $17,000 per year (for a one-bedroom apartment)...pianist

Dude... that sucks! :lol:

The nearly $1400+/month you pay for rent alone is nearly equal to my total expenses for any given month, including mortgage, car, taxes, food, utilities... everything! Hope that place is worth it....

I think the average in the US is something like $25,000. That's an amazing salary.

I think the average in the US is something like $25,000. That's an amazing salary.

[QUOTE="foxhound_fox"]

I think the average in the US is something like $25,000. That's an amazing salary.

Im_single

[QUOTE="EmpCom"][QUOTE="Im_single"] Completely agreed, I don't think many people on this forum know the value of money, for those who want 6 figure jobs, good effin' luck, seriously your going to need it.Tauruslink

Yea "dude"....I am serious....

I am not going to rely on social security taking care of my wife and I when we retire... I am not going to rely on anything or anyone to put my 3 kids though college....I work for my future..not my current rate of expense..I choose to live in Southern California were all of my family is.. So my kids have grandparents that they will remember who they are and what they look like..

Because of these primary reasons is why I say 140K a year...

I own a primary residence and 4 retail properties....That alone is 8761.35 per month...Heath insurance for a family of 5 is 1142.00 per month. That is 120K without blinking an eye....I don't think I need to show the rest of my expenses.... I can assure you it's more than 20K a year....

If I choose to not live in my area.....cut back on my retirement portfolio... chimp on heath care coverage...and not plan for my children's education......Sure....we can get it done for less...But I simply refuse to...

My family and I are blessed to have the opportunities that were given to us..We love our jobs and are paid a premium for our dedication.. hard work... and commitment to our careers...

I don't expect you to share the same long term goals as my family and I.....but.....maybe a tad of respect of simply asking the question ... "That's seems like a lot..Why do you feel 140K a year is necessary?" Vs.." I'm thinking, dude wtf, are you serious?"

[QUOTE="Tauruslink"][QUOTE="EmpCom"] Well the average is between $55000 and $75000 but yes alot of people on this forum are in for a shock since most seem to live in a dreamworldmasiisam

Yea "dude"....I am serious....

I am not going to rely on social security taking care of my wife and I when we retire... I am not going to rely on anything or anyone to put my 3 kids though college....I work for my future..not my current rate of expense..I choose to live in Southern California were all of my family is.. So my kids have grandparents that they will remember who they are and what they look like..

Because of these primary reasons is why I say 140K a year...

I own a primary residence and 4 retail properties....That alone is 8761.35 per month...Heath insurance for a family of 5 is 1142.00 per month. That is 120K without blinking an eye....I don't think I need to show the rest of my expenses.... I can assure you it's more than 20K a year....

If I choose to not live in my area.....cut back on my retirement portfolio... chimp on heath care coverage...and not plan for my children's education......Sure....we can get it done for less...But I simply refuse to...

My family and I are blessed to have the opportunities that were given to us..We love our jobs and are paid a premium for our dedication.. hard work... and commitment to our careers...

I don't expect you to share the same long term goals as my family and I.....but.....maybe a tad of respect of simply asking the question ... "That's seems like a lot..Why do you feel 140K a year is necessary?" Vs.." I'm thinking, dude wtf, are you serious?"

Oh youre back....wow this is awkward......:oops:

I don't think theres anything wrong with making a lot of money, or any of the things you said (hey I plan to be rich one day), its just that when you said that 150K a year is stretching it, it sounds like you meant that theres no possible way for you to live with any less. It kinda sounded like you were one of those rich spoiled brats who is like "OMG I need 150K to survive, there is like no way I would be able to survive with any less! Like OMG!!!!" (Paris Hilton comes to mind), when the reality is that there are lots of families who live with much, much less. Again I don't think theres anything wrong with having that much money, and I find it admirable that you care so much for your family. You are right when you say that you are blessed. And with your explanation, I can see that you are not a spoiled Paris Hilton-type person. I apologize for the misunderstanding.