18 votes

Tildes User Income Survey

27 comments

  1. [14]
    tildez
    Link
    I feel like an absolute twerp saying this, but $100k/yr is a very low ceiling, especially since I would assume there is a large percentage of users here that work in high-paid tech jobs, and also...

    I feel like an absolute twerp saying this, but $100k/yr is a very low ceiling, especially since I would assume there is a large percentage of users here that work in high-paid tech jobs, and also live in high cost of living areas.

    19 votes
    1. [5]
      Gaywallet
      Link Parent
      I think it accurately reflects America, but you're right. $100k/yr in SF is very different than $100k/yr in say, Idaho.

      I think it accurately reflects America, but you're right. $100k/yr in SF is very different than $100k/yr in say, Idaho.

      7 votes
      1. [4]
        tildez
        Link Parent
        Seems like you can't gather much useful info when a household of 2 high school teachers break $100k, putting them into the top bracket.

        Seems like you can't gather much useful info when a household of 2 high school teachers break $100k, putting them into the top bracket.

        7 votes
        1. [3]
          The_Fad
          Link Parent
          Phew! Those are some well paid teachers where I'm from!

          Phew! Those are some well paid teachers where I'm from!

          2 votes
          1. [2]
            stu2b50
            Link Parent
            I mean, according to Niche the median nation-wide salary for a teacher is 58k, so two working adults in a family with that occupation would make over 100k household-wise. Of course, in the country...

            I mean, according to Niche the median nation-wide salary for a teacher is 58k, so two working adults in a family with that occupation would make over 100k household-wise. Of course, in the country there are many households with one bread earner, which is why median household income isn't near 100k.

            6 votes
            1. The_Fad
              Link Parent
              I just meant that most of the teachers I know (was familiar with basically the entire drama and education departments during my collegiate stint, due to befriending a particularly ambitious...

              I just meant that most of the teachers I know (was familiar with basically the entire drama and education departments during my collegiate stint, due to befriending a particularly ambitious Theatre Ed pursuant) are pulling down between 35k and 40k per year. And those are the lucky ones.

              But yeah, people definitely make different amounts all over the place.

              2 votes
    2. teaearlgraycold
      Link Parent
      If the data shows a huge spike on $100,000+ then the survey should be re-ran. I see no reason not to allow a free-form number input.

      If the data shows a huge spike on $100,000+ then the survey should be re-ran. I see no reason not to allow a free-form number input.

      4 votes
    3. [5]
      The_Fad
      Link Parent
      I see what you're saying, but I'm confident in it. The median household us income is $61k. At least for my purposes it works well enough.

      I see what you're saying, but I'm confident in it. The median household us income is $61k. At least for my purposes it works well enough.

      1 vote
      1. [4]
        2c13b71452
        Link Parent
        I think if you don't collect the country people live in your data aren't going to tell you much about social class. $20k/year would probably put you in the 90th percentile in some countries.

        I think if you don't collect the country people live in your data aren't going to tell you much about social class. $20k/year would probably put you in the 90th percentile in some countries.

        5 votes
        1. [3]
          The_Fad
          Link Parent
          I appreciate the concern and advice! Like I said elsewhere, this is a very informal survey and I'm not in need of very specific data. Rough approximations are fine for my purposes.

          I appreciate the concern and advice! Like I said elsewhere, this is a very informal survey and I'm not in need of very specific data. Rough approximations are fine for my purposes.

          2 votes
          1. [2]
            vakieh
            Link Parent
            What purposes are those? Purchasing power and quality of life are far greater indicators of anything at all - not to mention currency conversions. You might assume you mean USD and everyone will...

            What purposes are those? Purchasing power and quality of life are far greater indicators of anything at all - not to mention currency conversions. You might assume you mean USD and everyone will just understand that (they won't), but there are a lot of dollars out there and your data will be pretty much useless as is.

            Ninja edit: having read your purpose is a research paper... please don't write that paper without first consulting someone with a background in basic social science and stats. Because as someone who is an active researcher, this is really bad.

            3 votes
            1. The_Fad
              Link Parent
              It's not a formal research paper. I lost a bet. Ya'll all so concerned, lol.

              It's not a formal research paper. I lost a bet.

              Ya'll all so concerned, lol.

              1 vote
    4. krg
      Link Parent
      Chiming in as someone who makes less than half that!

      Chiming in as someone who makes less than half that!

      1 vote
    5. zaarn
      Link Parent
      Or people in different countries where 0-10k might not be enough differentiation to be valuable statistics.

      Or people in different countries where 0-10k might not be enough differentiation to be valuable statistics.

      1 vote
  2. [3]
    asoftbird
    Link
    I'm probably an edge case, as l don't really have an income (less than $8k/year) but originate from a decently wealthy family with plenty of savings. l don't earn a lot but l can afford things...

    I'm probably an edge case, as l don't really have an income (less than $8k/year) but originate from a decently wealthy family with plenty of savings. l don't earn a lot but l can afford things easily.

    l'm not sure if only using "annual salary" is a good enough method to account for such edge cases.

    6 votes
    1. [2]
      The_Fad
      Link Parent
      Good point. My lack of formal statistics education is showing, lol. I would put whatever you feel is appropriate in this case, be that $8k/year or (for example) $80k/year. Whatever you feel most...

      Good point. My lack of formal statistics education is showing, lol. I would put whatever you feel is appropriate in this case, be that $8k/year or (for example) $80k/year. Whatever you feel most accurately represents yourself.

      1. [2]
        Comment deleted by author
        Link Parent
        1. The_Fad
          Link Parent
          Not for my purposes, but I appreciate the idea!

          Not for my purposes, but I appreciate the idea!

  3. [7]
    The_Fad
    (edited )
    Link
    Hi friends! I'm working on a project and I'm hoping you all would be willing to provide me with some information. All I'm requesting is your total annual household income in USD (currency...

    Hi friends! I'm working on a project and I'm hoping you all would be willing to provide me with some information. All I'm requesting is your total annual household income in USD (currency converter located here). I won't be collecting any other data about you, just your answer to that question.

    Because I understand a lot of people probably think this is super weird, let me briefly explain: I'm working on a research paper involving social class and internet usage, specifically image and text forums. My (fairly obvious and uninspired) hypothesis is that, just like in real life, people congregate online based on their social class as an extension of their "wealth".

    It's highly informal and without a large enough pool of data I may not even be able to use it, but hey, you never know unless you ask! Thanks in advance everyone.

    4 votes
    1. unknown user
      Link Parent
      I feel kind of dumb asking it, but what about non-US countries? I don't mean the currency, I mean the purchasing power parity. Making $30,000 in the US and making ~₴800,000 in Ukraine, while...

      I feel kind of dumb asking it, but what about non-US countries? I don't mean the currency, I mean the purchasing power parity. Making $30,000 in the US and making ~800,000 in Ukraine, while technically the same amount of money, puts one into significantly different social layers in those countries.

      3 votes
    2. [2]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. The_Fad
        Link Parent
        Thanks for asking! Use the amount sans doubled income, assuming those contracts are outliers that come around only once every few years. If they're more frequent than that, use the doubled income...

        Thanks for asking! Use the amount sans doubled income, assuming those contracts are outliers that come around only once every few years. If they're more frequent than that, use the doubled income amount.

    3. [2]
      UniquelyGeneric
      Link Parent
      As a resident in NYC I think you should have increased your available ranges (or included location), since 100K certainly can afford a comfortable life as a single person, but as others have said,...

      As a resident in NYC I think you should have increased your available ranges (or included location), since 100K certainly can afford a comfortable life as a single person, but as others have said, the same amount in other parts of the world is more than enough to raise an entire family on.

      1 vote
      1. The_Fad
        Link Parent
        I appreciate the input!

        I appreciate the input!

        1 vote
    4. [3]
      Comment removed by site admin
      Link Parent
      1. [2]
        The_Fad
        Link Parent
        Effectively, yes. I'm trying to avoid large forum communities because I feel they'll naturally be more evened out demographically, not to mention the nightmare it would be to obtain that info from...

        Effectively, yes. I'm trying to avoid large forum communities because I feel they'll naturally be more evened out demographically, not to mention the nightmare it would be to obtain that info from places like Reddit or Twitch or Stack Overflow.

        Hey thanks! That's super helpful!

        1 vote
        1. [2]
          Comment deleted by author
          Link Parent
          1. The_Fad
            Link Parent
            The hypothesis is specifically in reference to smaller communities with an upper limit based on user activity per day.

            The hypothesis is specifically in reference to smaller communities with an upper limit based on user activity per day.

            2 votes
  4. Soptik
    Link
    Maybe a better format would be something like which percentage of your country median income do you make, so it wouldn’t be biased based on location living costs.

    Maybe a better format would be something like which percentage of your country median income do you make, so it wouldn’t be biased based on location living costs.

    4 votes
  5. Octofox
    Link
    Household income counts everyone in the house right? That seems a bit useless to know without knowing how many people are in the house. I live with my parents so all up we would be over double...

    Household income counts everyone in the house right? That seems a bit useless to know without knowing how many people are in the house. I live with my parents so all up we would be over double what the maximum on the survey is but only a much smaller % is mine to use.

    3 votes
  6. parenthesis
    Link
    Welp I messed up and put my income in CAD instead of USD. It would have been nice to have that warning in the text of the survey! That said, I'm doubtful that converting would give an accurate...

    Welp I messed up and put my income in CAD instead of USD. It would have been nice to have that warning in the text of the survey! That said, I'm doubtful that converting would give an accurate representation of my purchasing power/income percentile. I suspect the conversion would make me look a little worse off than I actually am.

    2 votes