What is a good amount to make a year to live comfortably?

Asked by: Dr. Mekhi Hane V  |  Last update: February 23, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (38 votes)

While no definitive figure universally defines a good salary, a commonly cited range is between $75,000 and $100,000 annually for individuals.

Is 100k a year enough to live comfortably?

Yes, you can live comfortably on $100,000 per year, though how comfortable you are will depend on a variety of things, including where you reside, your lifestyle, and your financial commitments.

Can you live comfortably in $60 000 a year?

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.

Is 200k a year enough to live comfortably?

If you're single and earning $200,000 a year, chances are you're able to afford a comfortable life. That level of income is more than three times what the average American worker makes each year. Of course, your cost of living, inflation, and financial obligations also factor into how far the money goes.

Is a 200k salary considered rich?

At $200,000 a year, you are considered upper middle class in expensive coastal cities and rich in lower cost areas of the country. After $23,000 in retirement contributions to your 401(k), you are left with $177,000 in gross income, leaving you with roughly $123,900 in after tax income using a 30% effective tax rate.

What Is Considered a “Good Income”?

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What percent of Americans make over 100k?

Only 18% of individual Americans make more than $100,000 a year, according to 2023 data from careers website Zippia. About 34% of U.S. households earn more than $100,000 a year, according to Zippia.

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.

Am I poor if I make 60K a year?

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 rare is a 100K salary?

A $100,000 salary is considered good in most parts of the country, and can cover typical expenses, pay down debt, build savings, and allow for entertainment and hobbies. According to the U.S. Census, only 15.3% of American households make more than $100,000 annually.

What is the new 6 figure salary?

6 figures is any salary between $100,000 and $999,999, or a dollar amount with 6 digits.

What is the best state to live in financially?

  • Arkansas. #1 in Cost of Living. #47 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Mississippi. #2 in Cost of Living. #48 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Alabama. #3 in Cost of Living. ...
  • South Dakota. #4 in Cost of Living. ...
  • Iowa. #5 in Cost of Living. ...
  • North Dakota. #6 in Cost of Living. ...
  • Oklahoma. #7 in Cost of Living. ...
  • West Virginia. #8 in Cost of Living.

Can you live in LA on $50,000 a year?

A Rocket Mortgage online tool finds that it costs $50,000 in Los Angeles to maintain the standard of living that a mere $34,674 would buy you in Phoenix.

Can I afford a 250k house on a 60k salary?

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 $40 an hour good?

As of Jan 6, 2025, the average hourly pay for a 40 Dollars An Hour in California is $23.82 an hour. While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $49.20 and as low as $10.36, the majority of 40 Dollars An Hour salaries currently range between $15.54 (25th percentile) to $29.19 (75th percentile) in California.

What is a decent salary in the USA?

The average salary in the USA in 2024 has been accounted for around USD 59,640 (INR 46.4 L), while the average weekly USA job salary stood at USD 1,070 (INR 89.2 K). The highest average salary for 2023 was recorded at USD 74,984 (INR 62.5 L) for a particular set of working-class people.

What is a reasonable salary?

Here's a general rule to follow for an S Corp reasonable salary: Reasonable pay is the amount that similar enterprises would pay for the same, or similar, services. What do workers in your role tend to get paid under an employer? Or, if you were employed in a similar role before, what was your salary as an employee?

Is 70K a respectable salary?

When it comes to defining a “good” salary, there's no one magic number. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the average salary in the U.S. is $65,470, as of May 2023. Based on this data point, $70K a year is a good salary for a single person — one that puts you above the national average.

How many people make 6 figures?

How Many People Make 6-Figure Salaries in the US? A minority of Americans make over $100,000 a year. According to Zippia, roughly 33.6% of Americans make six figures annually. And 15% of those earn between $100,000 to $150,000.

What is a good amount of money to make a month?

While this figure can vary based on factors such as location, family size, and lifestyle preferences, a common range for a good monthly salary is between $6,000 and $8,333 for individuals.