Good entry-level salary for someone living in a big city?

Title says it all. By big city I mean NY, SF, Boston, etc. So what do you think would be considered a "good" entry-level salary? $60k? $70k?

19 Comments
 

70K+ is a good realistic goal for a first year analyst. Don't expect to have much left if you don't get a good bonus.

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This, people on this site are so this site are insane sometimes. Majority of the people who live and work in Manhattan do not make $70k base. You can easily live in Manhattan on much less, nevermind Queens, Brooklyn and all the other options.

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What would be the take-home income for $70K? I used a calculator and it said $50K, minus housing that can be $1500-$2000*12 months = $18000-24000, student loans, utilities, neccessities, transportation. It doesn't seem to me we have much left for disposable income

 
Scholes

What would be the take-home income for $70K? I used a calculator and it said $50K, minus housing that can be $1500-$2000*12 months = $18000-24000, student loans, utilities, neccessities, transportation. It doesn't seem to me we have much left for disposable income

My friend lives in lower east manhattan paying just under $1000 in a 3 bdrm 1 bthrm apt with 2 other roommates. Why budget 1500-2000???
 
Loki777 Scholes:

What would be the take-home income for $70K? I used a calculator and it said $50K, minus housing that can be $1500-$2000*12 months = $18000-24000, student loans, utilities, neccessities, transportation. It doesn't seem to me we have much left for disposable income

My friend lives in lower east manhattan paying just under $1000 in a 3 bdrm 1 bthrm apt with 2 other roommates. Why budget 1500-2000???

Some people would prefer not to share 1 bathroom between 3 people.

 
CuriousAnalyst Loki777: Scholes:

What would be the take-home income for $70K? I used a calculator and it said $50K, minus housing that can be $1500-$2000*12 months = $18000-24000, student loans, utilities, neccessities, transportation. It doesn't seem to me we have much left for disposable income

My friend lives in lower east manhattan paying just under $1000 in a 3 bdrm 1 bthrm apt with 2 other roommates. Why budget 1500-2000???

Some people would prefer not to share 1 bathroom between 3 people.

Okay, but you can definitely get by for a few years doing that. People are claiming you can't even live on under what's considered a really decent salary by most Americans.
heister: Look at all these wannabe richies hating on an expensive salad. https://arthuxtable.com/
 
Best Response
GoldenCinderblock CuriousAnalyst: Loki777: Scholes:

What would be the take-home income for $70K? I used a calculator and it said $50K, minus housing that can be $1500-$2000*12 months = $18000-24000, student loans, utilities, neccessities, transportation. It doesn't seem to me we have much left for disposable income

My friend lives in lower east manhattan paying just under $1000 in a 3 bdrm 1 bthrm apt with 2 other roommates. Why budget 1500-2000???

Some people would prefer not to share 1 bathroom between 3 people.

Okay, but you can definitely get by for a few years doing that. People are claiming you can't even live on under what's considered a really decent salary by most Americans.

OP asked what a "good" salary would be, not what the minimum livable salary is.

 

I live in Chicago and only know the prices here. I know it's cheaper. But how do you guys need $70K to live? I'm just an intern and in college, but I live pretty comfortably with roommates for $600 a month. Food is like $100 a month. I probably spend more on drinks than on food, which I could obviously cut back on. Just as an intern, I make more money than I know what to do with. Are you guys buying fancy cars and shit as soon as you graduate?

heister: Look at all these wannabe richies hating on an expensive salad. https://arthuxtable.com/
 

With $60k-$70k you can afford to live relatively comfortably and not worry about money when going out and actually taking advantage of the city you are in.

I'm assuming that you're spending at least $1k all in on rent. Of course you can always get by with the bare minimum by sharing an apt with 2-3 other ppl for $700/month, cook for yourself most of the time, and not attend events often but you don't even need a "good salary" for that.

 

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