I should stay in bed with my 3,5k a month it seems
It's a good income for 24 year olds in Belgium, though. Most everyone I graduated with has 2k/month. I wouldn't know what to do with 2k a day like JM.
It's a good income for 24 year olds in Belgium, though. Most everyone I graduated with has 2k/month. I wouldn't know what to do with 2k a day like JM.
It is all relative.
40000 is the median in the U.S. and that includes people at the peak of their careers. Cops, teachers, and social workers don't necessarily make much above that after a lifetime of hard work. Anyone over 40000 should feel proud and/or fortunate.
Indeed cops, teachers, and social workers make much less, but salary is usually a function of how much profit you can produce + a function of supply and demand.
The demand right now for capable software engineers is pretty high, even with this economic recession. And the supply is very low - so if you live in the U.S. and are making 20000 USD per year, you're doing something wrong ;-) Heck, that's not enough to pay the rent in San Francisco.
Even junior developers coming fresh out of college are making more than 20k.
In that light, yes 55k is much lower than I could earn if I were located at the heart of the software industry, but I'm pretty happy and feel fortunate about it anyway; although my target is 120k.
So again, if you live in the U.S. 20000 is way low without having extra benefits - like being a co-founder in a startup that will make you rich one day. Even if the projects you're working on are fun, don't sell yourself for pennies. In the long run you'll suffer; not to mention, have you noticed the ageism going on in this industry?
Hint: if you want to do this, try working for companies with money. Energy and energy related companies are like this. Also be prepared for lots of politics and soul-grinding nonsense.