Is 60000 a good salary?

Asked by: Kolby Gutmann  |  Last update: August 21, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (34 votes)

A single person can usually live well on a $60,000 annual salary. However, if you have expensive tastes, are carrying a lot of debt, live in an area with a high cost of living, or are supporting multiple people, you may find it more challenging to get by on $60,000 a year.

Can you live comfortably on $60,000 a year?

The standard advice is that you should set aside about 30% of your gross income for rent. So if you make $60,000 a year, your rent should not exceed $1,500. While this might be plenty for an individual living in a low-cost area, it doesn't work for a family in a pricey neighborhood.

Is 60K a year considered poor?

A $60K salary is around $14,000 less than the median household income in the country — $74,580, per the most recent Census data — which falls in the bottom half of earners.

How common is a 60K salary?

$60000 Salary. $50,500 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $60,000 is the 75th percentile.

How much is $60,000 a year hourly?

A $60,000 annual salary is equivalent to earning a $28.85 hourly wage, or $230.80 each day. This is based on the employee working for eight hours a day, 52 weeks a year. To calculate your specific per hour rate, divide $60,000 by the number of hours that you work.

What Is Considered a “Good Income”?

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Is 60k after taxes good?

In many cases, yes. While the wage falls short of the median salary and the average pay in the United States, it's generally considered enough for an individual to live on. Of course, just how far a dollar can go depends largely on the cost of living in your area.

Can I afford a house on 60k a year?

With a $60,000 annual salary, you could potentially afford a house priced between $180,000 and $250,000, depending on your financial situation, credit score, and current market conditions. However, this range can vary significantly based on several factors we'll discuss.

Is 60k salary middle class?

Middle-income households – those with an income that is two-thirds to double the U.S. median household income – had incomes ranging from about $56,600 to $169,800 in 2022. Lower-income households had incomes less than $56,600, and upper-income households had incomes greater than $169,800.

How much rent can I afford on 60k?

The 30% rule: If you're pulling in $60,000 a year, this rule says you shouldn't spend more than $1,500 a month on rent. (Just take $5,000 and multiply it by 0.3.) The 40x rent rule: With a $60,000 yearly income, you're looking at a max rent of $1,500 a month. (Just divide $60,000 by 40.)

Can I afford a house on 70K a year?

The Bottom Line. On a $70,000 salary using a 50% DTI, you could potentially afford a house worth between $200,000 to $250,000, depending on your specific financial situation.

What can I afford with a 60k salary?

The 28/36 rule holds that if you earn $60k and don't pay too much to cover your debt each month, you can afford housing expenses of $1,400 a month. Another rule of thumb suggests you could afford a home worth $180,000, or three times your salary.

What is the 50 30 20 rule?

Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

Is 60k a good entry level salary?

We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for an Entry Level $60000 job is above the national average. Topping the list is Green River, WY, with San Mateo, CA and San Francisco, CA close behind in the second and third positions.

How much is 60k a year hourly?

If you make $60,000 a year, your hourly salary would be $28.85.

What are the five income classes?

For the purposes of this article, those with an income in the bottom 20 percentile will be identified as lower class, followed by lower-middle class (up to 40th percentile), middle class (up to 60th percentile), upper-middle class (up to 80th percentile) with the remainder considered upper class.

What is considered a good salary?

What Is Considered a Good Salary? Well, what makes a good salary depends on you, your needs, and your values. But for most folks, a good salary is one you can live on comfortably, meaning your basic needs, like food, utilities, housing, transportation and clothes, are taken care of each month without going into debt.

Is $60,000 a good salary for a single person?

In many places, it's a comfortable income that can support a decent standard of living. This salary is well above the federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour on which many people live.

How much should I spend on a car if I make $60,000?

A person making $60,000 per year can afford about a $40,000 car based on calculating 15% of their monthly take-home pay and a 20% down payment on the car of $7,900. However, every person's finances are different and you might find that a car payment of approximately $600 per month is not affordable for you.

What is the 28/36 rule?

According to the 28/36 rule, you should spend no more than 28% of your gross monthly income on housing and no more than 36% on all debts. Housing costs can include: Your monthly mortgage payment. Homeowners Insurance. Private mortgage insurance.

What is the average US salary?

The average annual average salary in the U.S. is $63,795. The median annual salary, which is often less skewed by outlying numbers, is $59,384. It's worth noting that average and median salaries vary quite a bit by state.

How many rich people live paycheck to paycheck?

When considering who is living paycheck to paycheck, households with an income of six-figures or more likely aren't the first to come to mind. But, as it turns out, about a fifth of US households that earn more than $150,000 a year are in that situation.

What is a good monthly income for a single person?

A good monthly income in California is $5,002, based on what the Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that Californians pay for their cost of living. A good monthly income for you will depend on what your expenses are and how much you typically spend per month.