September 21, 2023

When most individuals hear the phrase “six figures,” they instantly consider an enormous wage. In any case, six-figure incomes are sometimes related to high-powered jobs within the enterprise world or top-tier professionals like docs and legal professionals. 

And have you learnt 18% of American people are six-figure earners, according to Zippia? That’s some huge cash an individual might earn in a 12 months!

So, what precisely does it imply to make six figures? Is it as profitable as everybody thinks?

On this article, we’ll discover what precisely goes into making a six-figure earnings and the sorts of jobs that may present an annual wage on this vary.

We’ll additionally discover different methods to extend your earnings if you have already got a job that pays nicely however shouldn’t be fairly sufficient for the approach to life you need.

How A lot Is a Six-figure Wage?

Incomes a six-figure wage means you make an annual earnings between $100,000 and $999,999, which is much above the typical wage of $53,490, in line with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That’s an enormous distinction, irrespective of the way you take a look at it!

This quantity is predicated on gross earnings, which is earlier than taxes and different deductions are taken out.

In case your gross wage is $110,000 per 12 months, however your take-home pay is $80,000, you’ll be able to nonetheless say you earn a six-figure wage. Nonetheless, it’s necessary to notice {that a} six-figure wage can cowl a variety of incomes and existence starting from middle-class to millionaire standing. 

To be extra particular, some folks could point out whether or not their six-figure earnings is low, mid, or excessive as follows:

Low six-figure wage: $100,000 to $350,000
Mid-six-figure wage: $350,000 to $700,000
Excessive six-figure wage: $700,000 to $999,999.
A number of six figures wage: $200,000 to $999,999

FACT:

People incomes greater than $900,000 are among the many prime 1% of earnings earners in the USA.

How A lot Can I Make a Month, Week, Day, or Hour in 6 Figures?

How A lot Is 6 Figures Month-to-month?

To find out the month-to-month earnings of a six-figure annual wage, divide the yearly quantity by 12. Notice that it will give a variety of values. Nonetheless, the smallest month-to-month earnings to earn a six-figure wage can be $8,333.33.

$100,000 per 12 months / 12 months = $8,333.33 per 30 days

Understand that after taxes, the quantity you obtain will probably be lowered to a five-figure sum.

This query might have a unique angle should you earn 6 figures per 30 days. Then your annual earnings will probably be a minimal of $1,200,000 or extra.

How A lot Is 6 Figures a Week?

If we had been to divide the six-figure annual wage by 52 weeks, then the minimal weekly earnings can be $1,923.08.

$100,000 per 12 months / 52 weeks = $1,923.08 per week

On the similar time, should you earn 6 figures per week, your annual earnings will probably be a minimal of $5,200,000 or extra.

How A lot Is 6 Figures a Day?

Take a look at the calculations:

  • $100,000 per 12 months / twelve months = $273.97 per day

Assuming you are taking weekends and U.S. holidays off, let’s calculate how a lot you would wish to earn per day to make $100,000 per 12 months. The quantity comes out to be:

  • $100,000 per 12 months / 262 days = $381.68 per day

This may be thought of at least quantity to intention for should you desire incomes a six-figure wage with out overworking your self.

How A lot Is 6 Figures an Hour?

To earn a six-figure annual earnings whereas engaged on all common US workdays, it is advisable make not less than $381.68 per day or $47.71 per hour (assuming you’re employed eight hours per day). Even should you work extra time or part-time, you continue to want to keep up a mean hourly wage of $47.71 to attain this purpose.

How A lot Is 6 Figures After Taxes?

Your gross earnings determines the variety of figures you earn. As an illustration, an earnings of $110,000 per 12 months will possible be lowered to a five-figure internet earnings after taxes.

Elements that may considerably have an effect on the tax payments of six-figure earners embrace:

  • Marital standing (married or single)
  • Dependents (whether or not or not you will have them)
  • Tax deductions (normal deduction or itemized deductions)
  • Tax credit (whether or not or not you will have any)
  • Funding earnings (dividend earnings or long-term capital features)

Though every state has its personal tax legal guidelines, a six-figure wage might be whittled right down to anyplace between $76,096 and $68,308 after taxes a. This determine will rely on the place you reside and your tax scenario.

Moreover, except for earnings tax, FICA taxes for Social Safety and Medicare additionally deducts 7.65%. This means that your closing take-home wage could go down by 32-38% in comparison with your gross pay.

Due to this fact, to make sure that you obtain a six-figure earnings after taxes and deductions, you could intention for six-figure jobs that pay a gross wage of not less than $150,000 a 12 months. It will offer you an after-tax earnings of a minimum of $100,000 per 12 months.

TIP: You’ll be able to scale back your tax funds by selecting to allocate a few of your wage into tax-advantaged accounts like a 401(ok) or a Well being Financial savings Account.

How Can I Earn 6 Figures?

The actual reply to this query depends upon your perspective of a six-figure job.

Some folks may have the ability to make the identical sum of money by working part-time or freelancing, whereas some could require a full-time job.

Many individuals obtain their six-figure salaries by a mixture of onerous work, talent growth, networking, and different methods.

Listed here are some suggestions and solutions that may enable you to obtain a six-figure earnings:

Create A number of Streams of Earnings

You might wish to put money into completely different earnings sources, comparable to shares, rental properties, and facet companies, to diversify your earnings. This will help you generate a passive earnings that will increase steadily.

Listed here are some examples of extra earnings sources other than conventional jobs:

  • Begin an internet service-based enterprise
  • Freelance your abilities
  • Promote services or products on the facet
  • Purchase digital property

Negotiate Wage Will increase

When you’re employed, use your successes at work to barter the next wage along with your present employer or swap jobs for higher pay and advantages.

In relation to wage negotiations, preparation is vital. Listed here are some suggestions that can assist you get essentially the most out of your dialog along with your employer

  • Analysis wage ranges: Discover out what different professionals in your area usually earn. Figuring out the market charge will enable you to make an knowledgeable choice and offer you leverage within the negotiation course of.
  • Be ready: Provide you with concrete proof of your contributions to the corporate, comparable to elevated effectivity or price financial savings, that show your worth.
  • Use efficient communication strategies: Converse confidently however respectfully and be sure you hear rigorously in the course of the negotiation course of. Concentrate on phrases comparable to “I’d like to debate my wage” moderately than “I want a elevate,” which may put strain on the opposite get together.
  • Time it proper: It’s greatest to provoke a wage negotiation whenever you’re making an attempt to maneuver into a brand new position or after efficiently finishing an necessary challenge or purpose for the corporate. Keep away from negotiating at instances when there could also be destructive sentiment in the direction of you (for instance, should you simply acquired criticism from administration).

Be Sensible About Your Funds

As an alternative of splurging on materials objects, allocate your funds in the direction of investments that may generate a number of earnings streams and supply long-term monetary safety.

Develop Specialised Skillsets

Studying new applied sciences or changing into an professional in particular fields (comparable to programming, advertising, and gross sales) can open up many alternatives for high-paying jobs.

Take Calculated Dangers

Make sensible investments comparable to beginning a enterprise (or an extra one if you have already got one). Investing in your self is at all times a good way to earn cash whereas growing precious talent units that you should use later.

Jobs that Pay 6 Figures

Listed here are a few of the most in-demand jobs with salaries of $100,000 or extra a 12 months.

  • Finance Supervisor
  • Police Officer
  • Petroleum Engineer
  • Govt Chef
  • Nuclear Energy Reactor Operator
  • Software program Developer
  • Actual Property Dealer
  • Info Expertise Supervisor
  • Actuary
  • Laptop Community Architect
  • Salesperson
  • Air Site visitors Controller
  • Dental Hygienist
  • Doctor
  • Radiation Therapist
  • Dentist
  • Pharmacist
  • Lawyer
  • Physicist

How To Maximize 6 Figures?

Ah…in case you are already incomes 6 figures or near it, congratulations, you might be within the higher echelons of earners. Nonetheless, it is very important preserve good cash habits and be intentional along with your funds, even should you earn a six-figure earnings. Neglecting this side could make your earnings seem smaller than it really is.

To maximise your earnings at this stage, give attention to monetary planning and budgeting, in addition to on bettering your abilities and data.

Listed here are some useful monetary habits that may mean you can effectively handle your earnings of six figures and take advantage of out of each greenback you earn.

Observe a Finances

Making a finances is an important step in setting your self up for fulfillment in the case of attaining your monetary targets. A finances will enable you to achieve readability in your earnings and bills, prioritize the place your cash ought to go, and enable you to create a plan of motion.

When making a finances, step one is to find out your internet take-home pay. Let’s assume that this quantity is $65,000 per 12 months or $5,416 per 30 days. From there, you should use Dave Ramsey’s recommended percentages as a information to planning out how you’ll break down your month-to-month earnings:

Class Proportion
Housing-related bills 25%
Transportation prices 10%
Meals and eating bills 10%
Utilities and different needed providers 10%
Financial savings and investments 10%
Miscellaneous expenditures 10%
Well being and insurance coverage 15%
Debt reimbursement 10%
Whole 100%

Notice: It’s necessary to keep in mind that everybody’s monetary scenario is completely different, so be at liberty to regulate the chances relying on what works greatest for you – so long as the entire classes add as much as 100%, each greenback spent will probably be accounted for.

Construct Financial savings

The time period “get monetary savings” is considerably cliché, nevertheless it’s necessary to place apart cash for financial savings and investments. Even in case you are bringing in a six-figure wage, it’s nonetheless necessary to reside inside your means and get monetary savings. Listed here are some tricks to get you began:

  • Make financial savings a precedence by allocating 10% of your earnings as quickly as doable. Arrange an computerized switch out of your checking to financial savings account each payday.
  • As soon as money owed are cleared, intention for 15-20% of your earnings, which is the really helpful charge for retirement funds.
  • Preserve your financial savings in an internet account for optimum return on rates of interest.

Pay Off Debt ASAP

Irrespective of how a lot cash you make, extreme debt might be detrimental to your monetary, psychological, and emotional well being. In case your purpose is to maximise 6 figures in earnings, then it’s necessary that you simply make paying off your money owed a prime precedence.

Begin by specializing in high-interest bank card balances and automotive loans as a result of each greenback of curiosity you pay is simply cash down the drain. After these are taken care of, it is best to work on paying off pupil loans, private loans, and mortgages.

When you’ve eradicated all of your debt funds, then you can begin placing extra into financial savings and investments for retirement functions and in the end start rising your wealth even additional.

Keep away from Luxurious Way of life and Lower Bills

Some of the frequent pitfalls is way of life creep—the concept that elevated earnings results in elevated spending. You have to resist the urge to purchase greater than needed.

Listed here are just some concepts for avoiding way of life creep and chopping bills:

  • Store round for decrease insurance coverage premiums and refinance mortgages when doable. Mortgage refinancing can usually yield considerably decrease rates of interest, releasing up extra money every month.
  • Cancel any month-to-month subscriptions you don’t use ceaselessly (health club, newspaper, cable, and many others.). This will help scale back your month-to-month payments considerably over time.
  • When shopping for one thing, comparability store for the very best offers and preserve vitality the place doable in an effort to scale back your utility invoice.
  • Contemplate getting a inexpensive mobile phone plan or an older automotive that’s paid off. And eventually, create meal plans for residence dinners as a substitute of consuming out – it will assist save a big sum of money each month.

Make investments Your Cash To Develop It

One efficient method to extend your earnings is to take a position your cash for long-term advantages. Nonetheless, this requires planning forward and sacrificing current spending for future earnings.

Investing neatly is essential should you intention to retire comfortably and have ample assist for 30 years throughout your outdated age, so it’s necessary to take the time and assess your funding choices.

What Would a 6-Determine Way of life Look Like?

When you make six figures, you can have a a lot better way of life in comparison with the national average salary of a bit over $52,000 a 12 months within the U.S. Doubling your present earnings can be needed to achieve a six-figure wage.

Your take-home pay can present a snug way of life even after taxes, however this depends upon varied elements comparable to:

  • The place you reside: Housing prices in sure cities comparable to San Francisco, Washington D.C., New York Metropolis, and Honolulu practically demand a six-figure wage simply to get by. When you select a location with a decrease price of residing, this may make affording a pleasant home simpler.
  • Your healthcare prices: Many people battle with the ever-increasing medical insurance prices and medical bills related to severe diseases or continual situations.
  • How a lot debt you will have: If in case you have important debt, it could possibly be troublesome to remain beneath your finances even should you make six figures.
  • The dimensions of your loved ones: Having kids or offering for an ageing mother or father can imply having much less disposable earnings every month attributable to extra bills like childcare or assisted residing care.
  • Your tax bracket: Investing in the best retirement plans and different tax-advantaged accounts will help scale back your taxes and depart extra money in your pocket every month.
  • Your spending habits: Residing inside your means is vital to having fun with the approach to life that comes with making six figures with out being consumed by way of life creep.

Conclusion – Making 6-7 Figures

Incomes a six-figure wage might be an unbelievable alternative to reside comfortably and supply monetary safety for your self and your loved ones.

Nonetheless, it’s necessary to keep in mind that budgeting, investing neatly, lowering way of life inflation, avoiding overspending, and planning for the long run are important if you wish to be sure you stay inside your means with a six-figure earnings.

With correct administration of funds, those that have achieved this milestone will discover themselves on their means towards attaining monetary freedom.


FAQs – How A lot is Six Figures

What do “figures” imply in cash?

In relation to cash, “figures” refers back to the variety of digits in a quantity. Often, figures check with an annual wage until in any other case said. For instance, a one-figure quantity is one digit lengthy — like 7. A two-figure quantity has two digits — like 45. A 3-figure quantity has three digits — like 365. And a six-figure quantity has six digits — like 123,456. For seven figures and up, the phrases “hundreds of thousands” or “billions” are often used.

What’s a six-figure job?

A six-figure job is a job that pays an annual wage of not less than $100,000. Such jobs usually require specialised abilities and infrequently embrace managerial positions in numerous industries. Many tech jobs can simply pay a six-figure wage, and a few executives could even get an excellent or eight-figure wage.

What’s the distinction between a 6-figure wage and a 6-figure earnings?

A six-figure wage refers to a full-time job that pays an annual wage of not less than $100,000. Alternatively, a 6-figure earnings contains all sources of earnings, together with wage, investments, enterprise earnings, facet hustles, and extra. Your whole 6-figure earnings could possibly be a mixture of your wage and different sources of cash.

What share of the U.S. makes 6 figures?

Zippia reviews that round 18% of People earn a six-figure earnings, with 15% of these making between $100,000 and $150,000.

What’s the distinction between 6 figures and seven figures?

The distinction between 6 and seven figures is the variety of digits within the quantity. A six-figure quantity has six digits — like 123,456. A seven-figure quantity has seven digits — like 1,234,567.

Can you reside comfortably on a 6-figure wage?

Sure, relying in your spending habits and placement. With a six-figure wage, you’ll be able to often afford a snug way of life should you reside inside your means, make investments intelligently, and plan on your future. Nonetheless, the price of residing in sure cities could require an excellent increased earnings to remain snug.

Is 6 figures some huge cash?

It actually might be! The latest BLS statistics reveal that the median weekly earnings of full-time American employees is $1,003, which provides as much as an annual wage of $52,156. Relying on the place you reside, incomes a wage of $100,000 per 12 months might present a really snug way of life as it will be a 92% enhance from the median wage.

A concerning survey reveals that 60% of millennials who earn a six-figure earnings battle to make ends meet and haven’t any financial savings or plans to repay their money owed. This is likely to be attributable to way of life inflation and overspending.