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$100k salary has been known to be the "dream salary" to live comfy, while this may not be the case for many cities. I am curious on how long it has taken you to reach this milestone? I am currently 25 making $60k a year, wondering am I too ambitious by wanting to hit this milestone before 30 years old?
Started working on July, 1997 with a whopping salary of $29k. When I left in January 2001, I was making $32k.
January 2001 was making $40k. Left in July 2002 Making $42k.
July 2002 through October 2002 was making $55k. I did not survive my three month employment there for a number of reasons.
June 2003 (yup, was unemployed for awhile...) was making $53k. That salary would be stagnant until March 2006.
March 2006 was making $64k. Left in April 2015 making $96k.
April 2015...$110k. Still at the same job currently.
In short, it took me sometime before I broke six figures. I didn't have a college degree when I started my career. Now I have a BS and a graduate certificate. Hoping I can break into management.
Keep in mind too that there are others who had better contacts than I did that made a lot more in less time.
I am a product development manager for a consumer electronics company employed with this job for 2 years. My past experience is irrelevant as I went for a career change. I am almost done with my MBA in marketing.
Find a company that is owned by a private equity company. They pay REALLY well. However, the job security is not there. Especially in marketing. Try the BIG corporations for marketing, P&G, J&J, Nissan, Ford, Dick's Sporting Goods, etc. You will find it easier to stay long term (until you see fit to make a job change) and work in several positions while there.
I think that's a false dichotomy. What you're saying is that you make that kind of salary, you're going to be chained to the oars. It hints at a kind of a reverse snobbery, where one gets to feel sorry for those who make more because they've obviously sold their soul to corporate America.
Hate to burst your bubble, it's entirely possible to make that kind of salary without being a corporate slave. Do you work a couple of extra hours here and there? No question. But the 70/80 work week is a serious stretch. If you work for a company that values your skills, you figured out how to be productive, and you are helping the company profit, you will be rewarded. In fact, I say it all the time to my clients -- If you or your employees are routinely pulling 45-50 hours week after week, then something is seriously wrong in your company.
Personally, I am well-compensated. After paying my dues my first five years out of school, I always have been. Because I have delivered at work, always improving my skills and figuring out ways to make my employers more money. So, in truth, what you get paid is exactly how much your employer values what you do. If you think you should be making more, find a place that will pay it.
Totally agree. I know a lot of people that make 100k or more more, and they put in about 45 hours a week at the most. It's all about how you move up, how efficient you are and good you are at your job.
One job I had started out at $40k, the following year WITHOUT promotion they gave me a merit raise just based on my work of $10k, so I was at $50k. Then six months later they were still so happy with me that they gave me a promotion and bumped my pay to $55k. This was all within two years.
$100k salary has been known to be the "dream salary" to live comfy, while this may not be the case for many cities. I am curious on how long it has taken you to reach this milestone? I am currently 25 making $60k a year, wondering am I too ambitious by wanting to hit this milestone before 30 years old?
For tech jobs it's basically a matter of staying at one company for about 2-3 years, and then just job hopping for a higher salary. Traveling also helps, I would have never hit 100k if I stuck in one market. Basically you have to go to companies for the right skills, and then use those skills to sell yourself for the right position. Currently no one even offers me anything under 100k, so far I'm not pricing myself out of the market either.
I will say that 100k salaries aren't all they're cut out to be. When you make over 100k you're taxed a whole lot more. Also companies generally should be offering something like stock options or a bonus with that 100k. Few companies offer salaries that exceed $150k base. Generally anything beyond that manifest itself in a different bonus structure, stock options or equity.
P.S: I started out at $11 an hour, now I make over 100k. I finally hit 100k in 2013, so it took me quite a few years. The first 5 years of my career however were extremely stagnant because I was unwilling to travel or take many risk.
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