A Redditor recently asked a simple question in the r/MiddleClassFinance subreddit: “Why do so many Redditors believe that an income of $75K/year (70th percentile in USA) is considered a low salary?” It sparked a massive discussion, and while some replies were over the top, many of them actually made sense.
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Where You Live Changes Everything
One of the biggest themes in the thread was how wildly the cost of living varies. In some places, $75,000 is plenty. In others, it’s barely enough to stay afloat.
“$75K is more than most couples make combined in my area,” one user wrote. Another added, “I make less than $75K a year and I travel out of the country for vacation twice a year for 4 weeks at a time. Don't have kids though.”
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But that experience isn't universal. A commenter in Los Angeles said, “In LA, it would get you a nice closet to live in.” Another person in San Francisco put it bluntly: “85K is poverty wages in San Francisco.”
High rents, childcare costs, and transportation expenses can eat through that income quickly. “My rent is $2,500/month,” one user said. After taxes, retirement and health insurance, the $75,000 salary is about $4,000 take-home, they explained.
Family Size and Debt Matter
Living alone on $75,000 in a low-cost area? You might be doing alright. But trying to support a family? That's a different story.
“Try buying a house, car, and raising a family on that,” one user said. Another clarified that daycare and healthcare premiums alone cost them $45,000 a year after taxes. “That's like $60K in salary just to pay for those two things.”
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Several people noted that $75,000 used to go a lot further. “75K was a lot of money in 2020. Things changed. It’s officially low income now.”
“75K before COVID was solidly middle-middle class,” another said. “Now even in the middle of the country it would be an uncomfortable lower-middle-class salary.”
The Reddit Bubble
Some users pointed out that Reddit isn't exactly a cross-section of America, as “many Redditors live in high-cost-of-living” cities where that salary is low. Another added, “Reddit skews toward upper-class users.”
“Because all Redditors are in IT, engineering, or computer science and expect to get paid $150K out of college,” someone joked.
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But jokes aside, that bias affects perception. “In my current bubble, a single person making $75K is able to cover the basics, but doesn't have much disposable income. They are the ‘broke’ friend.”
On average, a single person must make about $96,500 a year to live comfortably in a major U.S. city. By the end of 2023, the average single-person salary in the U.S. was about $59,384, and the median household income stood at $74,580, according to the Census Bureau. When you compare those numbers to what it takes to live comfortably today, it’s clear why so many people feel squeezed—even those earning above-average wages.
In the end, $75,000 is a decent salary on paper. But when you consider taxes, geography, lifestyle, and inflation, it becomes apparent why so many people see it as less than comfortable.
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