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I'm 26 years old. 2015 I made comparable to about 155k, 2014 was about the same, and 2013 I made about 100k. 2012 was around 65k and 2011 was around 55k.
I haven't been out of work for a day over the last 5 years. The highest earning contract job I had I was taking home $2900/wk working 5 days.
I have worked incredibly hard to get where I'm at. MANY months with only two days off in the month, (every other sunday) and all 10 hour shifts. I would say I've average around 55-60 hours over the past 5 years. The last 10 months I've moved into management, thus working better hours. Typically 5 days with the rare Saturday.
That being said, I still do my best to enjoy my life. Work out a lot, dated and went out a ton when I was single, traveled a decent amount, and am really starting to get ahead financially (being young and dumb I made some not-smart purchases looking back, mostly vehicles) I've turned everything around the last year and am really moving ahead.
At age 30, I was making 3x what I earned at age 21 when I graduated college.
At my top payout in 2005 I was in NYC earning 7x my first post-college job salary.
But then we moved, then I got laid off and the economy tanked. I took a job earning 2x my first post-college job, and am now at age 45, once again, earning 3x what I earned with my first post-college job.
However, I live in an area with a much lower COL and I have much less debt than I had when I graduated college (I have long since paid off my college loans and don't have a high credit card bill like I did then). So I'm doing okay and don't worry about my salary like I did when I was young. I'd rather be happy in my job (which I am) than always seeking more money.
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