[giantg2]

Most SWEs are not top 5%. The median is about $135/yr, and a significant portion of us make under that.

The point was that a 1% increase in inflation due to food and fuel wasnt the end of the world. Does a 1% cost of living increase hurt? Sure, for many people on the margin of making ends meet it can be bad. For most people, $1 more out of $100 is survivable.

[WarmWash]

Usually from what I have seen, most SWE's partners are also in tech or "white collar adjacent" making similar money. Which makes a household income of $270k, putting them in somewhere around the top ~7.5%.

[giantg2]

I have seen some of that, but there is still plenty of non-tech partners, especially if the tech half is at a non-tech company. In my experience, the managers are the ones most likely to have a high earning spouse. It seems like most of the managers I know have a spouse making $100k+. I don't make as much as others, but I can't even imagine how good my life could be if my wife made the same amount as me so we had a combined income close to $200k.

It's also kind of wild to think that 1 out of 6 households in the US is making $200k+. I get that many of them are in higher cost of living areas where wages are higher, but still WTF. On the other hand, it's something like 1 out of 4 households are making under $50k. Makes me wonder how many of those are retirees vs working age, and what the median household income would be for 25-55yo vs the entire population.

[lotsofpulp]

> Makes me wonder how many of those are retirees vs working age, and what the median household income would be for 25-55yo vs the entire population.

https://dqydj.com/average-median-top-income-by-age-percentil...

> but I can't even imagine how good my life could be if my wife made the same amount as me so we had a combined income close to $200k.

Outside of a VHCOL, $200k mostly buys you peace of mind, if you live modestly. You get to build savings to be able to say F you to your employer and maybe take time off and spend a few thousand without worry if a family member needs medical attention.

Inside of a VHCOL, $200k merely helps you get a downpayment for a half decent home.

[mint5]

You do realize food and fuel didn’t just rise 1% on an annual basis? Right?