Whats a Good Job/Salary?

Trying2SaveABuck on 14/03/2017 - 14:49
Last edited 14/03/2017 - 15:40 by 1 other user

In recent years housing affordability questions have been met by politicians saying the first thing people need to do is "get a good job" implying that people of the next generation need to be making a 'good wage' to be able to buy houses where they want.

The average income in Australia for a full-time employee is around $79,000 or 82,000 if you include bonuses.
https://www.livingin-australia.com/salaries-australia/

I want to know what people think is good wage?

I always thought around 95-120k was solid but maybe im wrong?

As housing and cost of living our wages have not increase in proportion with is and i want to know what people think a good wage for a full-time 38-40 hours a week worker should be?

And if you are game

what do you do and what do you earn? and is it enough for all you expenses? do you think your salary is fair?

Poll Options

  • 16
    0-18,000
  • 3
    18,001 - 32,000
  • 24
    32,001 - 60,000
  • 88
    60,001 - 80000
  • 66
    80,001- 100,000
  • 89
    100,001 - 120,000
  • 58
    120,001 - 180,000
  • 262
    180,000+
Education & Work

Comments

  • bobbified on 14/03/2017 - 18:16

    I want to know what people think is good wage?

    Obviously, the higher the better. Who's going to complain that their pay is too high? haha
    There is no such thing as "enough". No matter how much you're earning now, you'll want more. That's just human nature.

    …politicians saying the first thing people need to do is "get a good job"…

    And when everyone has good jobs, they'll jack up the taxes.

  • AlienC on 14/03/2017 - 18:31
    +42

    I am young and ambitious and am looking for a non executive board position.. am on 180k.

    • theHMASfriendship on 14/03/2017 - 21:33
      +16

      Can you disrupt industries and coach start ups?

      • Scrooge McDuck on 15/03/2017 - 00:51
        +1

        Do you want to do big changes in the department so execs notice?

      • chriise on 15/03/2017 - 22:49

        No, but I can coach industries and disrupt start ups!

    • Suspect420 on 15/03/2017 - 00:08
      +1

      By ambitious do you mean horny and willing to get on your knees?

  • imurgod on 14/03/2017 - 18:44
    +4

    I'm posting on this forum and I am on $180K+

  • MeToo on 14/03/2017 - 21:09

    I've heard being a Surveyor is good job and pays well. You get to play with expensive equipment, can work indoor and outdoors, get to drive and walk etc.

    • Unknown1 on 15/03/2017 - 01:32
      +3

      Regarding cadastral surveying, those who are earning huge sums (180k+) are usually either registered surveyors or they own a surveying firm.

      Becoming a registered cadastral surveyor is a long and tedious process.

      First, you have to complete a four year engineering degree at university.

      Second, you have to complete your pillars of surveying which include working on five major projects (Rural, Urban, Strata, Town Planning and Engineering).

      Expect five years to complete this task, assuming you are not rejected during the interview phase.

      So in the end, it takes at least a total of nine years to become a registered cadastral surveyor and earn 180k+.

      Please know those who are registered are hardly ever sent into the field, but instead sign off on plans and do boaring caluations such as testing for cyclic errors.

      For reference surveyors in the field are earning roughly $80k to $90k. That's after completing a 4 year engineering degree.

      So in sort other engineering fields are better.

    • Cheap as chips on 16/03/2017 - 21:25

      As an engineering surveyor I can tell you it's not that good of a job. Long hours, stressful, working in all weather conditions and everything is always the surveyors fault.

      Setting up on your own isn't great either because you have to buy the expensive equipment :(

  • freakatronic on 14/03/2017 - 21:38
    +3

    Is 180k the name of this season's hottest new designer drug? Cause everyone seems to be on it…

    • [Deactivated] on 14/03/2017 - 23:11
      +2

      I'm over it, already!

  • pinchies on 15/03/2017 - 00:37

    I'm a financial adviser, am on 18k.
    Mostly because my hummus industry investment didn't work out.

  • altomic on 15/03/2017 - 03:06
    +12

    I'm a Nigerian Prince and I am on $180k…..which a relative left you. To claim this money please respond immediately. Yours favourably, Prince Al Tomic.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 15/03/2017 - 11:04
      +2

      Yours favourably, Prince Al Tomic.

      I'll give you $18 to kick Bernard in the crown jewels!

  • kewlaz on 15/03/2017 - 07:48

    I typed this and got 180k

  • gasman70 on 15/03/2017 - 07:48
    +5

    I wouldn't get out of bed for less than $180K+

  • samcro on 15/03/2017 - 08:12

    I work in retail and I'm on 180k (and that's a damn lie!)

  • sendoor on 15/03/2017 - 08:31

    I would say it depends where you live (state and suburb)
    For couple in Melbourne for average life 80k would be good With 400K mortgage

    But if you are with 2 kids then it will increase depending their needs and your requirements like schools intake area, tuitions etc
    For that it would range from 100k to 180k plus.

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 15/03/2017 - 08:51

      God help you if you have a 1 million dollar mortgage though

    • ozbjunkie on 15/03/2017 - 16:40

      OK convinced me I don't want kids.

  • AlanHB on 15/03/2017 - 08:44
    +13

    As someone without kids or a mortgage:

    $40k - just managing to pay bills and rent
    $60k - can pay bills and rent, just be careful with spending money on fun stuff
    $80k - getting comfy, pay bills immediately when they come in, can have fun and save a little at the second time
    $100k - where I am now, it seems like loads of cash. Can do whatever I like and still pay bills immediately.

    Obviously it differs depending on your tastes, but on my experience above I'd say that $80k was when I started not worrying about bills, and that's good.

    • AlienC on 15/03/2017 - 10:27
      +6

      Party at AlanHB's place this Christmas.

    • Hundo on 15/03/2017 - 10:51

      I agree, i'm now on 150k but stopped worrying after 80k. Depending on your financial situation e.g. mortgages/kids

    • RocketSwitch on 15/03/2017 - 11:55
      +1

      So $180K is about right then?

      • JetBombat on 15/03/2017 - 19:51
        +1

        still gonna worry about property prices

    • wongzy on 15/03/2017 - 22:18

      All those numbers are before tax right.. because 70k after tax feels like nothing

      • AlanHB on 16/03/2017 - 08:11

        Depends on your non-essential expenses. 70k a year should leave you with about $1k a week after tax. This might be enough for you - it's enough for me.

    • AlanHB on 16/03/2017 - 08:14

      I'll also mention that I don't live in Melbourne or Sydney, and I take care to ensure my rent doesn't exceed 1/4 of my after tax income.

  • SuperMid on 15/03/2017 - 09:00
    +11

    single parent + centerlink unemployment benefits + 11 children and im on $180K +

    • [Deactivated] on 16/03/2017 - 00:22
      +1

      I still prefer my job. Edit: you couldn't pay me enough for me swap with you.

  • Brianqpr on 15/03/2017 - 09:09
    +4

    Depends what you want out of life. In most cases, if you want to target $180k plus, you will have to sell your soul and give away any work/life balance. Unless you can be your own boss and earn that much. Even then the work/life balance paert will probbaly still apply. Some think it is worth it, personally I don't.

    A lot depends on where you live too. $100k doesn't seem like a lot in Sydney due to the cost of living but in other parts of the country would see you very comfortable

    Whether you have kids is another major factor. You can pretty much double your living costs once they come along. You will need a bigger home, food and clothes, school fees (even public schools aren't completely free), activities, birthday parties, holidays cost more etc, etc, etc.

  • TaekKucing on 15/03/2017 - 10:22
    +5

    I'm a forex trader and earn -$180k

  • OzzyOzbourne on 15/03/2017 - 11:18
    +12

    I collect city pigeons and sell them to high class restaurants. I make about $200k

    • starburstyellow on 15/03/2017 - 15:42
      +3

      I steal from you $20k to make you earn $180K.

  • RocketSwitch on 15/03/2017 - 11:56
    +4

    On the net, no one makes less than $150K from reading forums.

  • nushydude on 15/03/2017 - 12:27
    +3

    I think if you are not getting Centrelink payments, then you are earning well enough.

    That cut off point for me is around $120k.

    Sadly I am nowhere near that. I'm slightly over half of that and can't borrow enough to build a house!!!

    Funny thing is, if my salary before tax got doubled, my actually earnings will only go up by 40%, because of no centrelink payments and higher tax. So demotivating!!!

    • bottletop on 15/03/2017 - 14:41

      My partner and I each earn less than 120k and no Centrelink cos we don't have kids.

      • nushydude on 15/03/2017 - 17:43

        There are two reasons for that.

        First, of course if you don't have kids, that cut-off mark is way less.

        Second, when two people earn 120k combined, you pay less tax than when one person is earning 120k, because the 18k no-tax part applies to both people separately so you pay tax on a total of 120k - 36k, whereas if one person was earning 120k, you pay taxes on 120k-18k. Additionally, the you get taxed on a higher tax bracket when the single person is earning.

        I was only talking about my particular case.

  • Unknown1 on 15/03/2017 - 12:37
    -5

    This is a pointless thread. People can and will lie as to what they earn and do for a living example:

    I'm either:

    A: Registered Surveyor, 5 years experience and earning $220k.

    Or

    B: Computer Systems engineer, 10 years experience and earning $150k.

    Or

    C: Broke student, 4 Years experience and earning $500 per fortnight.

    The truth, I'm neither of these options. So please take what people post on forums with a grain of salt.

    Furthermore, don't focus on wages. Because being qualified in a field where the wage is excellent, means jack all if you are unemployed.

    Instead focus on rate of employment in which engineering and medicine are excellent choices.

  • OG Puppy Banana on 15/03/2017 - 12:41
    +1

    25M | Melbourne | Some fluffy job in IT | ~120K+ | Have a missus

    The idea of property is a far away dream. Not all hope is lost though. At least the smashed avo in Brunswick and excessive latte consumption offsets the misery when I open up the property guide.

    Soon to start my part-time MBA at Melbourne Business School, which will be a nice 80k of debt to sit on top of my existing student debt of $20K.

    Huzzah for 100k in debt and only a projected $150k job on the other side of it.

    If my story tells you anything, $150,000 will still be crap and only the $180,000 option can afford the lifestyle our parents took for granted within the bounds of the financial security they had.

    • chriise on 15/03/2017 - 22:53

      Good luck with the MBA

    • Kill Joy on 06/05/2017 - 10:48

      Whats your job Title mate? And what job position do you suspect the MBA will net you? Team Lead/Dev Manager?

  • drillvoice on 15/03/2017 - 12:46

    There's also a lot of people who don't work full-time. I don't see why it makes sense to leave them out.

  • ggkfc on 15/03/2017 - 12:59

    That is depressing when the average person only earns $79,000 or 82,000. Whereas a fresh grad junior IOS coder, which you could probably be self taught, earns 100k+ easily https://www.seek.com.au/jobs?keywords=ios

    • redfox1200 on 15/03/2017 - 13:30
      +7

      the average is skewed towards the higher end due to all the high income earners. the median income is more like 50-60k

      • Brianqpr on 15/03/2017 - 15:09

        Absolutely spot on. Average number is very misleading and peddled by governments to give the impression they are doing a better job than they actually are.

  • OzBestDeal on 15/03/2017 - 13:33

    Everyone seems saying earning 180k… but they didn't say how long it took to earn it…
    Some earn it in 1 year… some in 6 months… some in 3-5 years

    • Ughhh on 15/03/2017 - 13:37

      Did you read the comments (pg 1) on what the job was for "$180k" earners?

  • sunilkchopra on 15/03/2017 - 13:52
    +3

    Is everyone here at 180k except me…I am at 280K. Poor people

    • redfox1200 on 15/03/2017 - 16:44

      180k part time ;)

    • Malarkey on 16/03/2017 - 09:48

      Ha only 280k? I'm on 281k, peasant.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/03/2017 - 14:05

    Is my salary fair? Maybe…

    The tax system is not very encouraging to work hard though, I'm earning 80-120k, each 10k I get extra I pay $4000 to tax, means that extra work I do only earns me $500 a month.

    • Miss B on 15/03/2017 - 14:18
      +1

      Everyone who earns over $37k, for every $10k extra they earn they're paying an extra $3250 in tax, it's $3700 for 80k to the next bracket. I think it's probably fine in comparison.

      • [Deactivated] on 15/03/2017 - 14:22

        You forgot about 1.5% medicare levy.

        But point taken, I think I'm just being fuzzy.

        Still compare to other countries, it is a bit steep.

        • Miss B on 15/03/2017 - 14:30

          Ahh, yes. It's 2% now, so $3450/$3900.

        • [Deactivated] on 15/03/2017 - 14:30

          @Miss B: What????!!!

        • Miss B on 15/03/2017 - 14:39

          @fm:
          The Medicare levy going up? It's been 2% since the 2014/15 financial year, to help fund the disability insurance scheme.

    • redfox1200 on 15/03/2017 - 14:51
      +1

      just negative gear and pay no tax if you are so worried about giving the government an extra 4k. OR take a 10k pay cut and pay 4k less tax!

      • [Deactivated] on 15/03/2017 - 15:46

        good luck with that

    • Brianqpr on 15/03/2017 - 15:10
      +1

      Tp put it another way, we are working 2 days a week for the government.

      • [Deactivated] on 15/03/2017 - 15:46
        +2

        lol. sad but funny.

      • Miss B on 15/03/2017 - 16:31
        +1

        Only if you don't use any of the resources the government provides in return and haven't ever in your life, including before you started earning income.

        • Miss B on 15/03/2017 - 17:05
          +1

          Oops, not a fan of reality, negger? Your first $18k is also only taxed at 2% (assuming you earn enough to pay the Medicare levy), the following $19k at 21%, the next $43k at 34.5%. If you're averaging 40% tax on your income, you're on a pretty decent income, definitely over $180k.

  • grabngo on 15/03/2017 - 15:22

    its not about how much u are earning.
    It is more about how u spend what u have and how much u are saving !

  • narcoleptic-haze on 15/03/2017 - 15:23
    +4

    work 44 hours a week, make $38,000. 95% goes to bills, tax and rent. in other words it's all a big waste of time.

    • ozbjunkie on 15/03/2017 - 16:47
      +1

      My heart goes out to you buddy. Hopefully your job causes less stress and mental illness than many higher income jobs…

      Disillusionment - the lack of illusions.

      Oh innocent, hopeful ignorance come back and comfort me.

      • [Deactivated] on 16/03/2017 - 00:29
        +2

        Hardest jobs are usually the lowest paid, it's a world of haves and have nots, people aren't great at sharing either.

  • The Wololo Wombat on 15/03/2017 - 15:33
    +1

    Clearly people are trolling in the comments, but are the trolling in the survey to the same extent?

    I'm a 26yo teacher on 80k + 7k (radio gig on the side). Can someone plz confirm that the majority of the $180k+ is a joke, or am I living in a very different social class to the rest of OzBargain?

    • [Deactivated] on 15/03/2017 - 15:48
      +1

      Wow, that's pretty good earning, I would love to be a teacher then. What's the career prospect?

      To answer your question, OP's question and title is what is a good job/wage?
      And I suppose, those that answer anything less than $10M for doing nothing, is trolling.

      • The Wololo Wombat on 15/03/2017 - 15:58
        +1

        Ah… so we are answering what is a good wage, not what we earn! I see.

        I think over 100k is good :)

        100k is the max for a classroom teacher. Some private school principles can get 200k+.

        For me, the holidays are worth 20k more. But what people don't realise about teaching is the level of stress (we need the holidays!). When you teach, you have to be hyper aware, it's like 'flight of flight' mode is on. That REALLY wears you down, day in, day out. Adrenaline is high, cortisol is high. Most people drop out of the profession within the first few years. Those that can deal with high levels of stress, stay on. OR those that are so good at communicating and organising students that they can teach in such a way where they can relax, stay on (in those cases, teaching is really easy and rewarding… as long as you are efficient with the constant admin/marking!)

        The average person would get eaten alive in a high-school classroom! There are only a few personality types that work well in the profession!

        • [Deactivated] on 15/03/2017 - 16:15
          +3

          Teaching I think is the most delay gratifying job ever. By that I mean, I sometimes remember my school teacher and wish that I could find them and thank them for what they taught me. Sometimes I met one or two. I remember those days I used to hate them, but now realise they were right all along.
          Not on the school stuff, but about life's moral values.

        • The Wololo Wombat on 15/03/2017 - 16:28

          @fm: That is really encouraging to hear! I've been teaching for 5.25 years now, and some of my early students have shown their appreciation as adults, even invited me to lunch to catch up. It meant a lot :)

        • [Deactivated] on 15/03/2017 - 17:23

          @The Wololo Wombat: :) Don't forget these kids that you teach, they are our future leaders. Leader of the country, organisation or someone that makes a big difference.

          Teachers that taught Barrack Obama would never have thought that he will be a President of USA.
          A multiracial kid with divorced parents, and who moves from country to country, and who almost never met his own father.

          He was one of the youngest USA President ever.

        • lunartemis on 16/03/2017 - 07:31

          Totally agree.This is my 14th year teaching and I'm on $100k while I know people in other industries with 13 year experiences are on much higher salaries. It is both thankless and rewarding job

    • hashtagbargain on 15/03/2017 - 16:13

      Mate quit fooling around and go get yourself one of those fancy $180k+ jobs. This entitlement needs to stop! \s

      • The Wololo Wombat on 15/03/2017 - 16:15
        +5

        Oh, like the people who write the Australian Curriculum? The same people who quit the profession because they couldn't survive the classroom, and now tell us how our teaching practices are wrong?

        Or maybe like the professional development 'specialists' who get paid hefty sums of tax payers' dollars to tell us that the solution to effective teaching is swapping classroom chairs with gym balls? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6Pk_7kx07g

        Sorry, clearly, I'm a little salty haha.

    • redfox1200 on 15/03/2017 - 16:57
      +2

      isnt oz bargain just full of FIFO people searching for bargains so they have packages/toys to look forward to when they get home??

  • ozbjunkie on 15/03/2017 - 16:51
    +26

    At the risk of sounding naive…

    A good job is one where you come home with enough energy to enjoy time with friends, exercise, or cook a nice meal.

    A bad job is one where you come home and want to get pissed, and slowly develop a wish to kill yourself, or at least the meek hope that someone else will do it.

    I have a mediocre job, by these standards.

    Money is somewhat less important…

    • The Wololo Wombat on 15/03/2017 - 17:06
      +3

      ^ Legend

      How easily we can 'worship' money and forget what gives our lives meaning and purpose.

    • JetBombat on 15/03/2017 - 21:01

      Wanting to get pissed is outdated now, just spending time on OZB instead

  • gimli on 15/03/2017 - 19:18

    Miner 180k+ equivalent in mithrel and gold

  • lainey13 on 15/03/2017 - 19:42
    +13

    I make $180k by not eating smashed avo.

  • forgotten reader on 15/03/2017 - 20:10
    +2

    Australian mean salary $80,0000
    Australian median salary $55,0000

    Source of 80,000 budget speech 2016
    Source of 55,000 newspaper articles 1 week later

    • JetBombat on 15/03/2017 - 21:00

      Always wonder how much of that includes cash businesses?

  • jenkemjunkie on 15/03/2017 - 21:20
    +1

    Independent rap artist. Got paid like $200 last month.

    Fark a freestyle I don't bust for free.

  • Yamai on 15/03/2017 - 21:36
    -1

    My parents are respectable asian persuasion folk and we con tyre shops into giving us new tyres for old ones.

  • FisSort on 15/03/2017 - 22:50
    +4

    Whirlpool user here. 280k +

  • Hardlyworkin on 15/03/2017 - 22:55
    +1

    180K per year on my 457 visa for 80 hours per week, only have to cash back 160k of that!

  • [Deactivated] on 15/03/2017 - 23:45
    +22

    Just want to share my experience.
    12 years ago, I was on 45k pa. gross. At that time, my goal was to get to $70-80k as quickly as possible, because I reckon that would support the lifestyle I desire, ie, living easily, not luxurious, but happier than I would be when I was on 45k.
    so, long story short, 12 years later, I am on 180k+ (no bragging intended), but I work hard to move up the ranks. What I learnt is, I ain't happier. Yes, I can afford more things I desire, take that hÖliday, stay in a nicer hotel (my definition of nice is $150-$200AUD/night and still love to stay at hostels/backpackers, people are cooler there).
    But, it came with a huge cost >> Time, energy, space. Imagine someone paying you $180k+ to do "a job". I am sure there are lucky buggers out there earning $180k+ or $450k+ doing just 9-5, you beauty, good on them. But in my case (and many of my peer's case), these are blood money. We work dog years, it's on 24/7. Do I really want to answer that email while on holiday with my family? No I dont, but I am on 180k+, there's someone expecting me to do that. Time is one thing. Politics is where it hurt mentally. It drains. There's always politics in every office, every industry. But the brutality of the politics also goes up along with your pay, IMHO. When I was an 80k analyst. I have got my boss's boss to cover my boss's ass. When I am a 120k manager, I need to help my boss to cover his ass. when I am an 180k+ exec. It's free-of-all-deathmatch-domination-hardpoint-search-and-destroy-allfarkingout-groundwar politics in the boardroom.
    My blood pressure had gone through the roof in the last 3 years. Enough said.

    So, to answer your question. You define your own "Good Job" definition. IF you are happy in your job, you are motivated to be in that job and you can still enjoy life outside your job, I reckon you have got a good job mate.
    Thanks for reading.

    NB Out

    • Save Medicare on 16/03/2017 - 00:17

      Thank you for sharing your perspective.

    • redfox1200 on 16/03/2017 - 10:47

      this sums up fifo nicely

      https://www.facebook.com/fatupaito/videos/1592482734112237/

    • OG Puppy Banana on 16/03/2017 - 11:16

      I think you forgot King of the Hill in your amazingly apt playlist. Do you even play Halo fam?

    • banzini on 16/03/2017 - 11:21

      gov lyfe?

    • AceIsMe on 16/03/2017 - 14:56

      As they say, "find the job that you like and you'll never have to work another day in your life". Looks like you haven't found yours yet….

      • jenkemjunkie on 18/03/2017 - 09:26

        As they say, jobs are for suckas…

    • congo on 05/05/2017 - 18:08

      "free-of-all-deathmatch-domination-hardpoint-search-and-destroy-allfarkingout-groundwar" :-)

      They say the wealthy have more family issues/break ups.

      I think to make $200K+ you would have a lot of responsibility. Either you are a director, a business owner or a specialised contractor.
      Great responsibilities comes with A LOT of work. Quite often you would have to work 60-80 hours every weeks, for years/decades.

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