According to stunning new numbers just released by the federal government, that we detailed yesterday, nine of the top ten most commonly held jobs in the United States pay an average wage of less than $35,000 a year. When you break that down, that means that most of these workers are making less than $3,000 a month before taxes. And once you consider how we are being taxed into oblivion, things become even more frightening. Can you pay a mortgage and support a family on just a couple grand a month? Of course not. In the old days, a single income would enable a family to live a very comfortable middle class lifestyle in most cases. But now those days are long gone.
In 2014, both parents are expected to work, and in many cases both of them have to get multiple jobs just in order to break even at the end of the month. The decline in the quality of our jobs is a huge reason for the implosion of the middle class in this country. You can't have a middle class without middle class jobs, and we have witnessed a multi-decade decline in middle class jobs in the United States. As long as this trend continues, the middle class is going to continue to shrink.
The following is a list of the most commonly held jobs in America according to the federal government. As you can see, 9 of the top 10 most commonly held occupations pay an average wage of less than $35,000 a year...
1. Retail salespersons, 4.48 million workers earning $25,370
2. Cashiers 3.34 million workers earning $20,420
3. Food prep and serving staff, 3.02 million workers earning $18,880
4. General office clerk, 2.83 million working earning $29,990
5. Registered nurses, 2.66 million workers earning $68,910
6. Waiters and waitresses, 2.40 million workers earning $20,880
7. Customer service representatives, 2.39 million workers earning $33,370
8. Laborers, and freight and material movers, 2.28 million workers earning $26,690
9. Secretaries and admins (not legal or medical), 2.16 million workers earning $34,000
10. Janitors and cleaners (not maids), 2.10 million workers earning, $25,140
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How about politicians, police, firefighters who make some of the best salaries?
ReplyDeleteI want to be a nurse.
ReplyDeleteYears ago, late 90,s I think there was a nursing shortage. Many students entered into college and took nursing and filled the void. No with other off site companies taking over rolls that hospital nurses used to do, nurses are being laid of. No, I really dont think you want to be a nurse if you are not already one. Computer tech is where you want to be.
ReplyDeleteYou may be surprised, firefighters, EMT's and Paramedics make significantly less than nurses or police officers!
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather always said you will never make any money working for someone else. Be the boss or be the slave.
ReplyDeleteAssistant manager at McDonald's makes more then the starting salary for Salisbury police
ReplyDelete10:17 that's not even close to the truth. Most managers don't make 9dollars an hour as the group owned by The Baxter family is one of the poorest run I've ever seen. The only job on that list that is a career is nursing. The rest are not skilled jobs so they don't pay as such. If you want to make real money learn a true skill working with your hands and leave Delmarva.
ReplyDelete