Where The $200,000+ Crowd Lives

[BishopM 114]

What is also interesting is that the highest rate of food stamp usage in all of America is in DC with 21.5% of the population on stamps (more than 1 out of 5): 3rd paragraph http://money.cnn.com...dex.htm?iid=HLM

I've been nothing but super impressed with DC since moving to the region a couple years ago. I wasn't expecting much, considering what I'd seen on the news, but the spirit/power/beauty of the city is unmatched (Globally) in my opinion. (But realize, I moved here from Detroit! )

Edited December 28, 2010 by BishopM

[^_^ 5,021]

You make it seem like your average Joe makes $100,000 just by finishing his 2 year associates degree in Liberal Arts.

Is reading a lost art? I never said that.

Two midlevel professionals = 200K in the greater NYC area, more often than not. That is what I'm saying, now show me where I said anything about a 2 year degree in asian horticulture from the local community college.

In fact, if you look at the median salaries for the top professions, many of them are under $100,000.

Therefore my use of the word 'midlevel'. IT (and many other) professionals with 10+ years of experience pulling in less than 100K are the dregs just waiting for that final layoff before joining the ranks of the permanently underemployed.

An "average person" is not going to make over $100K a year, unless I'm working off of a different definition of average.

I'm not talking about the average person. Why does the conversation keep going back to him?

Edited December 28, 2010 by \

[^_^ 5,021]

AJ is partially right but partially dead wrong. True, if "you play your cards right" and there are 2 married people both with professional jobs, both making 6 figures a year, then you have your 200K per year. But I think it is a very small number.

They tend to congregate in certain areas, which is why national metrics are useless. According to the Census, my area has plenty of census tracts where 200K households are 30% of all households or more.

Do you really expect large numbers of 200K households to go live in Mississippi? Not gonna happen. Throw those national metrics out, they don't mean diddly squat.

[Jenn! 918]

I'm not talking about the average person. Why does the conversation keep going back to him?

Well, I said average person because Mark said that an average person can make over 100K if they put their mind to it. But I think we keep going back to the average because you seem to be focused on a pretty narrow segment, saying that 200K is not a stretch at all, which is true. But I guess I just don't understand how that's really relevant - of course, for households making over 200K, making over 200K is not a big deal. For the average guy, it is, since nationwide, less than 4% is doing so.

ETA: Come to think of it, I don't really understand the point of this article at all. People make more money in DC, NYC/Jersey/CT, Boston...is this supposed to be illuminating?

Edited December 28, 2010 by Jenn!

[mawilson 2,133]

Do you really expect large numbers of 200K households to go live in Mississippi? Not gonna happen. Throw those national metrics out, they don't mean diddly squat.

[BishopM 114]

I'm not talking about the average person. Why does the conversation keep going back to him?

I said 'average' which is what Jenn! is referring to. To answer her question though, IMO, average = person of normal ability with a normal degree + 10 years of experience + possibly took a couple risks (relocation/etc) in his career to achieve advancement ...something along those lines. In short, I don't think that the average person in America who works with a purpose/goal of making $100K/YR is likely to fail...they'll probably be successful. That is one of the great things about America.

[^_^ 5,021]

Well, I said average person because Mark said that an average person can make over 100K if they put their mind to it. But I think we keep going back to the average because you seem to be focused on a pretty narrow segment, saying that 200K is not a stretch at all, which is true. But I guess I just don't understand how that's really relevant - of course, for households making over 200K, making over 200K is not a big deal. For the average guy, it is, since nationwide, less than 4% is doing so.

Nationwide metrics don't mean much. There are vast parts of this country where 'rich' is 1M+, not 200K.

IMO, average = person of normal ability with a normal degree + 10 years of experience + possibly took a couple risks (relocation/etc) in his career to achieve advancement ...something along those lines. In short, I don't think that the average person in America who works with a purpose/goal of making $100K/YR is likely to fail...they'll probably be successful. That is one of the great things about America.

You are right, that person can make 100K easy. But I will disagree that the person you've described is the average American. The average person is lot more pathetic than that.

[mawilson 2,133]

Well, I said average person because Mark said that an average person can make over 100K if they put their mind to it.

I said that?

An average professional, maybe - certainly not an average "person".

[Jenn! 918]

Nationwide metrics don't mean much. There are vast parts of this country where 'rich' is 1M+, not 200K.

You are right, that person can make 100K easy. But I will disagree that the person you've described is the average American. The average person is lot more pathetic than that.

[^_^ 5,021]

I said that?

I was confused too. I had no idea Bishop is also Mark.

[Jenn! 918]

I said that?

An average professional, maybe - certainly not an average "person".

No, the other Mark.

This is getting too confusing

[^_^ 5,021]

What this thread needs is a second Jenn.

[Jenn! 918]

[BishopM 114]

I said that?

An average professional, maybe - certainly not an average "person".

The other Mark said that

But, perhaps you and /# are right and I should have said the average 'professional' not the average 'person'. Though, in my quick synopsis of the average person I didn't attribute much to him that is above the norm...just some school/some experience/some calculated risk...really that is within the realm of the average 'person' but if not, then...well, that is a bit sad without a doubt. None of this is unreachable to the average person/professional.

I was confused too. I had no idea Bishop is also Mark.

I had no idea that Mawilson is also a Mark

[^_^ 5,021]

I doubt the 'average' American even has a 4 year degree, much less a useful one.