What income percentile are you in?

[Anneal 2,197]

This is a poll I have considered making for the last few days, mostly to look upon what sort of political, social, and economic opinions members on here tend to have based on the yearly income they tend to get. It's not meant to be a completely reliable way of doing so, especially since most of these opinions are usually determined by far more, such as age group, race, religious affiliation or the lack of one, personal background...one simple attribute is not going to be a complete representation, but I hope it does show some level of correlation.

 

Unfortunately I couldn't do this poll towards the state level, so there may be some error here. For example, living as the 1% in Massachusetts means you get at least $530K a year, while the 1% in Alabama can make as low as $270K. Likewise average yearly income can differ from state to state; for California, that's $68K, while for Tennessee that's $42K. Net value of the average American in each state can vary very wildly, too...so you get what I mean. 

 

Here's where I got the numbers; I checked it with other sites such as the Washington Post. Forbes made a pretty bold estimate of $717K a year for the 1%. Another site said $510K. No one can completely agree on a set number for the 1%, so I tried to make an educated guess. 

 

Please, no debating! This is just meant as a poll, not to argue about beliefs or such. 

[Anneal 2,197]

Honestly, I kind of expected a response, but...if you can mention some other details (ex: do you think you're doing well? or are you in a full time job?), that can help, too.

[El Duderino 879]

I am currently unemployed, so I don't really make anything. When I did have a job until recently, I worked minimum wage. However, I am a college student and am still heavily reliant on my parents, so minimum wage is a normal thing for someone in my situation. 

[Jackie Snack 1,498]

When I was employed, I was making an average of 32k a year in the state of Washington. As of right now, I'm making nothing, because the job market out here is freaking terrible.

[Anneal 2,197]

I am currently unemployed, so I don't really make anything. When I did have a job until recently, I worked minimum wage. However, I am a college student and am still heavily reliant on my parents, so minimum wage is a normal thing for someone in my situation. 

I should have been a bit more accurate, but I meant your entire house unit's yearly income, not really independent. If you live with a boyfriend and he's the one that goes to work, for example, then technically you'll count him. If you still live with your parents, then you should count your parents' income instead. 

 

I'm surprised so many people are claiming "Bottom 10%" though. Well, it's only 5, but I expected more of a balance. 

[SparklingSquirrels 21,345]

You know, asking someone how much money they make is an awfully personal question. I for one would never want to reveal my annual household income, and I expect most others feel the same way

[Anneal 2,197]

You know, asking someone how much money they make is an awfully personal question. I for one would never want to reveal my annual household income, and I expect most others feel the same way

You don't need to reveal if you want to, I mostly wanted to do it to find out how it matches with the opinions they tend to have. Maybe growing in a poorer family would tend to lean on one side while a more affluent one would lean the other way. I can't see the votes anyway. 

[El Duderino 879]

I should have been a bit more accurate, but I meant your entire house unit's yearly income, not really independent. If you live with a boyfriend and he's the one that goes to work, for example, then technically you'll count him. If you still live with your parents, then you should count your parents' income instead. 

 

I'm surprised so many people are claiming "Bottom 10%" though. Well, it's only 5, but I expected more of a balance. 

Oh, well in that case, I don't know exactly how much my dad makes. If I did know exactly, I wouldn't disclose someone else's income. I'm sort of in the transitional phase between relying on my parents and being on my own, so I'm working towards not relying on my dads income.

 

And also, SparklingSwirls is right, asking about someones income or talking about your own is considered EXTREMELY rude in a lot of places (mostly outside the US). It's not as big of a deal on the internet, but still be careful. I don't mind too much if someone asks me, but I'm never the one to bring it up and I would never disclose someone else's income.

Edited July 10, 2016 by El Duderino

[simba86 1,541]

You know, asking someone how much money they make is an awfully personal question. I for one would never want to reveal my annual household income, and I expect most others feel the same way

Really? then you need to watch this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xH7eGFuSYI

bottom 10% here

[SparklingSquirrels 21,345]

Really? then you need to watch this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xH7eGFuSYI

bottom 10% here

Uhh that video is about telling your coworkers, not random people on the internet.

[Anneal 2,197]

Uhh that video is about telling your coworkers, not random people on the internet.

Even without that, the video does make a point; we're more willing to talk about our sex lives and personal relationships than how much money we get. It's a societal constraint and it's usually getting in the way of people trying to get information to find out about real issues. Granted though, I am not one of these people, I'm just curious about whether it correlates with certain opinions or not.

[Aura 120]

I am in the bottom 25% with two separate, but not overlapping, part-time jobs.  I am 26 years old and still living with my parents.  Late last month I obtained a loan for a used car and hope to be driving it soon.  I completed a 2-year degree and was originally hoping to study for a separate 4-year degree in addition, but I hit burnout in Fall 2014 and had to drop out.  Can't afford the so-called "necessity" of Obamacare.

[Rawzy 1,302]

You know, asking someone how much money they make is an awfully personal question. I for one would never want to reveal my annual household income, and I expect most others feel the same way

I don't see how asking someone how much money they have is a personal thing, I can think of much more personal things.

 

Anyway, I'm not entirely sure what my parent's yearly income is, but I'm estimating around about the top 25%

[Jeric 46,852]

Weirdness. 

 

This is based on pure income and not wealth? Is this only earned income? I find myself in a weird situation then. Technically my wife and I have an annual earning potential that is not insignificant. However she is ill at the moment, and I am taking a hiatus from employment myself to care for her.

 

I have no issue with answering the question, but part of me feels that answering as $0.00 could be disingenuous depending on your intent here. 

[Anneal 2,197]

Weirdness. 

 

This is based on pure income and not wealth? Is this only earned income? I find myself in a weird situation then. Technically my wife and I have an annual earning potential that is not insignificant. However she is ill at the moment, and I am taking a hiatus from employment myself to care for her.

 

I have no issue with answering the question, but part of me feels that answering as $0.00 could be disingenuous depending on your intent here. 

 

Regular annual income, without including expenses. Also this poll was targeted more at Americans, annual wage doesn't necessarily transfer the same way to other countries, especially since in some countries you can live with less. 

[Vulcan 3,254]

I like to consider my family as somewhat higher middle class. We started out in the bottom 25% but my parents worked really hard to get to where we are today. I come from a devout christian household with most of my family being what the US would call "Conservatives". I'm 22 with a bachelor's degree in Biology and am currently studying Civil law in a fairly reputable university.

 

I think that's kind of all I'm willing to share regarding my personal life

Edited July 15, 2016 by Vulcan

[Phanact 333]

I wouldn't consider the 40k I make "around 51k"

 

So I'm somewhere in the middle of that I guess? I only work 30 hrs a week. 

[ARagY 1,152]

Below $10k. I get paid a tiny amount of money every few months and I do some things like babysit but no actual job atm.

 

But if I regionalised my standards..I'm about lower middle class. My parents together made...what, $8k? I'm kinda unsure doing these conversions when Idk if its even up-to-date or not

[Anneal 2,197]

Below $10k. I get paid a tiny amount of money every few months and I do some things like babysit but no actual job atm.

 

But if I regionalised my standards..I'm about lower middle class. My parents together made...what, $8k? I'm kinda unsure doing these conversions when Idk if its even up-to-date or not

 

Well, that's because you live in Russia or somewhere around that region, not the U.S. We actually have minimum wage which makes it a bit difficult to get bottom 10%, but most people of that category are either people who are paid minimum wage but have little working hours or illegal immigrants. 

 

Which is why I'm surprised 45% of people here voted for that. The regular person on here, if they have Internet in the first place, should get at least $15K. 

[ARagY 1,152]

Well, that's because you live in Russia or somewhere around that region, not the U.S. We actually have minimum wage which makes it a bit difficult to get bottom 10%, but most people of that category are either people who are paid minimum wage but have little working hours or illegal immigrants. 

 

Which is why I'm surprised 45% of people here voted for that. The regular person on here, if they have Internet in the first place, should get at least $15K. 

 

How interesting.. We have pay regulations here, but we got so many illegal workers (including legal citizens) and greedy companies the law doesn't always apply. But I suppose our costs of living are also a lot lot lower than the US as well, so it makes me feel a little less bad. Internet is also provided free in many places here (not at home of course), so you can have an old man who lives in a shack outside the city posting on vK and making duckfaces. With all the public services, I wonder if we'd get more money if we did away with them..hm