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I've seen on numerous threads people talking about the economy in certain areas is bad because most of the jobs are low paying. What do you people consider low paying? Stop for a moment and think. Retail, food service and hospitality jobs should never be counted in these figures. Every city and area has these and most pay around minimum wage. The majority of residents do not hold these jobs. The vast majority of residents are instead only serviced by these people. It has been my experience that most non-retail/hospitality/food service jobs pay an average of $13 an hour or more. That is not low paying. That is a medium wage and believe it or not a family can survive on that if they live within their means and stop trying to live like kings.
On one hand, anything in the bottom third (or whatever) could be called low-paying. (Median household income for metros must range from two to four times the $27,000 you're talking about.)
For an individual, low-paying is subjective, but it might mean a job where it's hard to scratch by give local rents etc. Or in an expensive city, a job where it's hard to scratch by even with a roommate, no car, no kids, and no debt. Retail and service jobs are often in this category.
It sounds like you're talking about local economies though. Some cities rely way more on service jobs than others -- tourism, clerical back offices, warehousing of the non-union variety, etc. Local economic development councils obsess about getting above this stuff -- headquarters, higher-paid tech, anything concerning innovation that could grow with time, eds and meds (to the extent they pull dollars from elsewhere while cutting the outflow from your area), etc.
On one hand, anything in the bottom third (or whatever) could be called low-paying. (Median household income for metros must range from two to four times the $27,000 you're talking about.)
For an individual, low-paying is subjective, but it might mean a job where it's hard to scratch by give local rents etc. Or in an expensive city, a job where it's hard to scratch by even with a roommate, no car, no kids, and no debt. Retail and service jobs are often in this category.
It sounds like you're talking about local economies though. Some cities rely way more on service jobs than others -- tourism, clerical back offices, warehousing of the non-union variety, etc. Local economic development councils obsess about getting above this stuff -- headquarters, higher-paid tech, anything concerning innovation that could grow with time, eds and meds (to the extent they pull dollars from elsewhere while cutting the outflow from your area), etc.
Median means an equal number above and below. I don't know anywhere that has median income of near $100,000
I stand corrected. I thought San Francisco was at that level but its median household income was $88,500 in 2015.
And Median Household Income refers to at least two or more individuals in most instances. Per Capita Income is the proper measuring stick, and for SF that number is 46K (2015 number).
Housing is a big component, but it matters what you make relative to the other 2/3 you spend also.
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