As a child, it was easy to fantasize about different things that symbolized success.
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Maybe it was being able to buy whatever clothes you wanted without looking at the price tag, or if you really wanted it, a collection of vintage sports cars, or (perhaps more realistically) being able to buy as much candy as possible. Take it home.
But now that young people are older and more aware of how much money they need to survive, they are starting to realize how much money they need to earn to feel successful. It now calculates accurately.
Billing software company Skynova gathered state-level data from the IPUMS Current Population Survey (CPS) for 22-35 year olds and surveyed 1,000 young people about their career goals.
The average salary for young people to feel like they've finally made it is $121,553 a year, while Gen Z is aiming a little higher at $124,494 and millennials are aiming for $120,902.
If either number makes you feel depressed about your self-esteem or accomplishments, don't panic. Both numbers are significantly higher than what the average American earns, with a median income of $69,717 in 2021.
So when aiming higher than average, it's no surprise that 58% of workers in the youngest two generations are dissatisfied with their current income.
Even when considering the desired salary for their current efforts and expertise, Millennials and Gen Z earn well above average, with desired salary packages ranging between $71,000 and $80,000.
The researchers advise dissatisfied young professionals to “keep in mind that they are near the start of their career and their pay may increase with experience.” .
Becoming a lawyer, financial services sales agent, or web developer are good options for people who want to “make it big” quickly. According to research, in these fields, a worker from the age of 22 to her 35 years is paid a salary of $ 120,000 to $ 150,000. .
THigh-paying jobs for young people
–Attorney ($149,646)
–Securities, products and financial services distributor ($134,029)
–Web Developer ($120,595)
–Architecture and Engineering Manager ($115,875)
– Software developer ($113,066)
Despite high wages, 88% of Gen Z respondents said they did not want to become a lawyer.
In fact, the main career paths chosen by young up-and-coming professionals were nursing, teaching, retail management, customer service, and motor vehicle driving.
The discrepancy between well-paid jobs and the work young workers actually do means that most professionals will need to change careers in the future if they want to feel successful. To do.
Alternatively, the researchers suggest offering a raise, but with more than half of respondents not receiving a raise in the past year, it's unlikely that employers will hand out six-figure salaries overnight. .
This article originally appeared on Fortune.com
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