What is Your Goal Salary (srs)?

[imbeingcereal]

Pretty simple question - what's the salary you're targeting from your career and why? Since region matters, we should probably include geography since $100K isn't the same in NYC as it is in Dallas, much less Montana. I'll start:

Profession: CPA/Finance
Location: SE, but actively trying to move to either a non-NYC east coast metro or SoCal
Salary goal: $160K SE, $200K for NE/SoCal

Reasoning is I think $200K is the new $100K where you're solidly upper class, albeit at the low end. If I decide to be a degenerate single playboy for the rest of my life, it's more than enough money to have a baller pad without spending too much time grinding out hours at work like my friends who stayed in M&A or Consulting are. If I don't want to be single forever, it's also more than enough money to provide for a 4 person household anywhere outside of NYC/SF, assuming my wife makes at least $60K a year while again not requiring so many hours that I can't spend time with my family.

[guest89]

With my career I have to stay at the same place (because salary increases with seniority). Won't hit 100K per year until I'm about 20-22 years in. With that said, with 30 years in the retirement system I'm eligible to retire and receive my salary for the rest of my life. I'm banking on retiring at 54 with a pension of anywhere from 100k-130k per year. Also investing heavily into the market with a goal of a passive income from investments of around 50K per year. Ideally my goal is to hit 55 years old with a completely passive income of 150-200K per year from at least 2, preferably 3 different income sources. Maybe a couple of rent houses thrown in there. Live in Louisiana.



When I retire I plan on spending a portion of my year in the mountains, hunting, snow-skiing, hiking, mountain biking, etc. And a portion of my time fishing, scuba diving, dive fishing, boating, etc. (Florida). Managing your money well is over-all more important then just earning a lot of money. Spend less then you earn. Invest for the long haul. In 25+ years 200K will be todays 100k.

[Gizzyhardcore]

Its around $160 - $200k.

I have kinda resigned myself to the fact I won't make the big bucks now from a salary as i just don't like company politics etc. Happy just to do number crunching for $ - forecasting, modelling, analytics etc.

Its ok cause I make the same again off rentals, my airbnb, shares, equity in startups and PE funds, I own part of an orchard etc. I guess I am CEO status but rather than being an actual CEO it has manifested itself in the form of a decent salaried income then investing consistently over the last 20 years to build multiple income streams.

So i wanna work a few more years, get passive income to around $250k and then just do my thing - do my investments, maybe some consulting, but a lot of just doing my own stuff (like what the above poster said), just before I turn 50.

[SouthDakotaBrah]

Its around $160 - $200k.

I have kinda resigned myself to the fact I won't make the big bucks now from a salary as i just don't like company politics etc. Happy just to do number crunching for $ - forecasting, modelling, analytics etc.

Its ok cause I make the same again off rentals, my airbnb, shares, equity in startups and PE funds, I own part of an orchard etc. I guess I am CEO status but rather than being an actual CEO it has manifested itself in the form of a decent salaried income then investing consistently over the last 20 years to build multiple income streams.

So i wanna work a few more years, get passive income to around $250k and then just do my thing - do my investments, maybe some consulting, but a lot of just doing my own stuff (like what the above poster said), just before I turn 50.

Agreed with this, I have the same end goal.

I think the most realistic option to financial freedom for most people is to acquire a good education and land a high-paying job ($100k+) and invest heavily (401k, IRA, house, stocks, and possibly orchards) so that eventually your passive income provides everything you need.

$100-200k while working 40-45 hours a week and low-moderate stress is a realistic option (engineering degree will work for most people) to get there

[ajctennis]

Long term goal I'd like to make 300,000 in LA or SD. If I were to move to Dallas or Miami then 200,000 +. I'm not a huge spender at all. I would ideally like to own property in LA, SD, Austin, and Miami as well. Those are the areas I think will benefit the most from the growing trend of working from home.

Short term goal is Roth IRA to 500,000 by next 2-3 years and to buy a condo/home in one of the places I mentioned above.

[Omnivium]

My goal is to not NEED a salary. I don't need to be rich, I just need to be free

[paulinkansas]

Not a salary. I'm self employed. When things are really really good I can gross 15k a week in furnished rental houses. They are all paid for. I'd be happy to gross half of that a week. That would come out to about $350k a year. No South Park joke intended.

[ShonSmith]

My goal salary is 200 k per year or even 300

[W1LLW]

Its around $160 - $200k.

I have kinda resigned myself to the fact I won't make the big bucks now from a salary as i just don't like company politics etc. Happy just to do number crunching for $ - forecasting, modelling, analytics etc.

Its ok cause I make the same again off rentals, my airbnb, shares, equity in startups and PE funds, I own part of an orchard etc. .

Agreed with this, I have the same end goal.

I think the most realistic option to financial freedom for most people is to acquire a good education and land a high-paying job ($100k+) and invest heavily (401k, IRA, house, stocks, and possibly orchards)

I did a double take like "did this nibba just says he has part ownership in an apple orchard?" lmfao. Johnny Appleseed lookinass.


But in all seriousness I was dogchit with leveraging my 401k in my 20s since i job hopped so much, and had zero financial literacy. Ironically, now i do make 200k a year but my retirement saving is pretty pathetic for my age. That said, I've realized that and have an awesome taxguy/lawyer helping me setup my 401k, backdoor roth, etc so I get on the right track. I'd like to eventually be making 500k a year though. That would be my personal comfort zone.

[wave_length]

Never had a salary goal in mind, just wanted financial freedom.

[Harry362]

Goal is 250k. I am doing about 150 right now and not happy with it. Once I finish my psych Np cert I should go to 220 or so and if I open my own place I think I can hit 300

[Destor]

300-400 within the next five years

[SazabiBrah]

Currently I'm a med student but I won't start residency until 2023/2024. Depending on the specialty I hope to be making $300,000+

[QisGQ]

As an architect it can't be realistically that high as salaries in industry aren't great unless you are that owner and I'll doubt I'll ever own. Perhaps $150ish and that will be a reach. I still don't know any architects amongst my peers who has broken 6 figures. And then with covid many of us took pay cuts so yea, journey just got longer.

[Harry362]

Currently I'm a med student but I won't start residency until 2023/2024. Depending on the specialty I hope to be making $300,000+

What specialty are you looking at? Its crazy how much it varies

I know a derm girl who just started over 500k and an optho at 800k but then I know Family Docs who make the same as me as an NP

If I was in my early 20s I would do med school and go for ER but I didnt realize I liked medicine until later in life

[Beararms]

In my area I would be happy with a bit over 100k after taxes.

[_zman]

75-80k in a low cost of living area.

[MaxOl1]

1000k per month

[Mook1e]

Profession: Merc/Fed
Current Location: Germany
Desired Location: Singapore/Japan
Salary Goal: $30K/Month (I turned down this job 2 years ago due to location (D.C.)
I don't even know if I care anymore. I can retire right now making $100K/year passive, but I want the second retirement in 3 years.