So is everyone making 150k in the Bay Area? (San Francisco: loan, broker)

[scirocco]

The big takeaway from this thread seems to be some ignorance, largely form somewhat close minded professionals, of what others who work elsewhere actually make in their line of work.
I, too , worked hardcore corporate for some years in the financial services industry and worked with some senior managers and execs making $200k - $350k per year. Outside of their own close knit circle of friends, many managers were truly out of touch with reality. For instance, going so far as to tell a high school level barista at Starbucks, she should definitely submit her resume to the hr dept at JP Morgan Chase as they were looking for entry level financial analysts there. Now, as we all well know this is without exception a futile and truly fruitless effort. In some ways doing an injustice by even suggesting such a thing.
I would hazard a guess and estimate the average salary for a non manager in corporate to be approx. $45k - $85k per year. Then of course professional firms i.e. law , architecture, engineering, medicine and non-tech fields will have most non admin staff on higher income to six figures per year. How much over that figure is largely based on status within that profession.
But , at the end of the day, we have to forgive those somewhat out of touch with true level of earnings for most of the population. To achieve the six figure plus salaries, there are a lot of sacrifices and an absorption in the job as they reach for the top, many might find not for them
Ever wonder why a cheery UPS delivery person coming to the corporate office can seem like a breath of fresh air in an otherwise dreary world of office life.
Incidentally, I recall a senior exec. at Merrill Lynch, who would spend more time telling jokes and talking baseball with the security guards and receptionists than he did with his own staff. This man was a verifiable 7 figure earner. Quite possibly this quality of people skills was what got him to his top ranking role in the first place. He could never be seen as out of touch like many mid levels workers totally immersed in trying to get up the corporate ladder.

[BicoastalAnn]

I think you're underestimating what people in non-management (as in don't manage people), non-entry level corporate roles make. One doesn't even need to guess.. just check glassdoor. Search accounting manager, marketing manager, sourcing manager (random roles off the top of my head) in San Francisco... you can see down the line it is mostly 100k+. These are not executive roles.

Once again, to make it clear, I am not claiming that a majority of the population in SF makes over $100k (and definitely not $150k). I just meant it is common enough to impact the overall living costs in the area.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by scirocco

For instance, going so far as to tell a high school level barista at Starbucks, she should definitely submit her resume to the hr dept at JP Morgan Chase as they were looking for entry level financial analysts there. .

Telling someone with only a HS degree or maybe an AA at best to apply for a job requiring a BA in something relating to business and finance, or at least--math, isn't out of touch, it's just stupid. Maybe he was trying to impress her by swaggering around and showing off his status. He sure had no intent of genuinely helping her.

[McGregorShow]

Are 20 somethings expected to have money here.

Because even in well off places in LA and San Diego, 20 somethings are not expected to have a lot of money.

[04kL4nD]

They do if they work in tech or they come from rich families. Otherwise, most 20 somethings are barely scraping by. I was super poor until my late 20s and got my Master's degree here.

[Perma Bear]

Originally Posted by 04kL4nD

They do if they work in tech or they come from rich families. Otherwise, most 20 somethings are barely scraping by. I was super poor until my late 20s and got my Master's degree here.

Living at home is the great equalizer. I can save more than techies by living at home

[BicoastalAnn]

It's not just tech companies that can pay a 20something $100k... I don't know if a 20something is "supposed" to have money but some do, some don't.

[TheGreatCurve]

Forget tech! Work for the city governments:

http://transparentcalifornia.com/sal...san-francisco/

Employee Compensation 2015 · City of San Jose

[BicoastalAnn]

Originally Posted by TheGreatCurve

Forget tech! Work for the city governments:

2011

Employee Compensation 2015 · City of San Jose

WOW. Well there you go.

[Perma Bear]

Originally Posted by TheGreatCurve

Forget tech! Work for the city governments:

2011

Employee Compensation 2015 · City of San Jose

Too bad those are only a few people near the very top. Most make much less.