[prottog]

> the average forklift driver salary

Of course, one may choose to work harder than average to make more than the average.

> I seriously do not think that is possible

Rents can be very low in these kinds of places, especially if you're young and willing to share a house with others. I personally knew a couple who spent less than $20k a year on all household expenses; granted it was a few years ago, but they weren't even in a very low CoL area.

[mrguyorama]

More work hasn't given more pay for decades. Worker productivity in real terms has gone up 50%, yet take home pay has not.

[notch656a]

Productivity is output per unit of time worked. More productivity is getting more out of the same amount of work. AFAIK median hourly wages have been flat or better per unit time worked, thus working more would indeed mean more pay.

[factsarelolz]

> one may choose to work harder than average to make more than the average.

Work 60 hours a week for 15 years so you can buy a 150k house?

I'm sure there are plenty of 18 years old willing to do that. /s

[prottog]

If more 18-year-olds were willing to do that, we would be in a better place.

[factsarelolz]

Too bad there aren't really any "decent" homes for 150k to raise a family without giving up something huge.

[notch656a]

What is a midwestern forklift driver giving up when they buy the 150k house? Just a few years ago I was raising a family in HALF of a duplex that was worth 80k. My kid had their own room, a nice big yard to play in, close proximity to parks and outdoors, water electricity and internet for kids shows or whatever. Are you saying I was depriving my family of something huge that I otherwise could have provided them?