How many people make more money than their parents?

Don't know what made me think of this. Perhaps looking for a new job has made me more aware of what jobs pay.

How many of you make more than your parents? Does it make anyone feel awkward?

When I was working, I always made less than my parents. I am in publishing, though, so that is expected.

DH and his brother, on the other hand, make more than their parents.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

We do. I don't feel awkward about it - #1 DH & I both have college educations whereas our parents didn't and #2 the job pay scale now a days is so different than when our parents started.

DH's mother & I make the same amount and she's been at her job 11+ years. She's an executive assistant to a managing director at a major real estate firm. I'm a business systems admin in the job for 4 years at a media company.

We just started making more right off the bat I guess is what I am trying to say.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

My brother is a coporate lawyer in the city and makes more than either of my parents, but not both together. But my father gets a free house and car with his job. Both of my parents have graduate degrees though (and my dad has a doctorate). I think it would be much different if they had not gone to college and my brother and I both have graduate degrees.

ETA: I don't think it is ackward at all--I think it makes parents proud! My mother is now retired and when I go out to eat with her I always want to pay (at least for myself!) and she always says no matter how much I make, she will always be my mom and will pay when we go out. My mom and dad always wanted us to make more than them, but I work in the same field as they both do (education), so I know I'll probably be as well off as they were but not filthy rich.

Message edited 5/16/2005 10:32:18 AM.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

We do. But that was a goal for my parents- for their children to be educated and able to be more comfortable financially than they were.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

together, we make less than MIL & FIL make together, but I Think DH makes more than his mother & I may make around the same or maybe slightly more.(she is a Catholic School teacher)

My mom doesn't work, but I think DH & I combined still make less than my dad alone.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

I make more than my mom and dad, but I'm also the first one in both of our families to go to college and receive my BA too. I remember when I first started my job, my dad was so blown away at my salary - I think his exact words were "Do you know how long it took me to make that?!" He loves it though, it's great bragging conversation for him when he's at work, he talks about his "corporate daughter" all the time My dad is a sweety. My mom is really bad with it though, and she makes me feel horrible about my salary. Unlike my dad, she's treally sensitive about the fact that she never went to college and always makes me and my sisters feel bad bc we all make more than she does.... But aren't you supposed to want your kids to surpass you? My mom, God love her, is a nutjob! Craig makes more than his mom, but his dad is an accountant, so he makes more than all of us put together!

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

I don't and I never will. My father was a self-made man who owned his own cash-only business for over 50 years. He was a high school graduate and I have two degrees. He was able to pay for 7 college degrees between his 4 kids and I will be lucky if I can afford a city college for mine. He is the exception, not the rule. Mom was a housewife who never worked. I am grateful for everything the two of them were able to give to me. I will just have to work a little longer and find other ways to supplement my income to provide for my family. Either that or play Mega Millions.

My two sisters make less than my parents (one a lawyer and one a teacher like me) but my brother makes more than his three sisters combined times 4 EASY! That is corporate America for you.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

When I get a job, I'll make more than my Mom, but Kev and I combined probably won't make more than her and my step-father (he's a pharmacist).

We may eventually surpass my dad and step-mother, but not for some time I wouldn't think.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

We don't. Like Goldi, my dad has his own succesful cash business (which DH now manages). Eventually it will be ours, but for now, we will never make more than them.
But if we did, I don't think it would be awkward, they would be happy for us.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

I make more than my mother ont father...

Dad makes $$$

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

My mom is a SAHM and I am only orking part time right now, but FH makes more than my dad does, and FH is right out of college, but FH has a college degree, my dad doens't

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

I do, but that doesn't mean its a lot of $$$.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

I think I make around the same range as my parents.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

FH makes more than our parents, and I make the same as my dad- but more than the others

I dont feel awkward because I feel that is what my parents and his want for us...they want us to have better than they had..

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

I don't think I will ever make close to what my parents make, but then again, I'll never work as hard as them, either

JT's family, on the other hand....he could sneeze and make more money than his parents. But that is because of his dad's stubborn nature.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

We make more than each set of our parents. If there is any underlying awkward feelings, all of our parents do a great job of hiding it! From what we see they are all super proud that we have what we do and are in the careers we are.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

A good parent would be proud of their children no matter how much money they make as long as they are happy and successful in what they do.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

We do. DH makes more than his, and I make only slightly less than my mom does.

ETA: I never feel uncomfortable about it b/c it is on scale with their incomes at our age during the economy of that time. We have a bigger monthly house payment, car payment...etc

Message edited 5/16/2005 4:31:42 PM.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

I definitely do not make more than my parents...

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

Everyone knows that Catholic School teachers don't make any money...so I definately don't. Combined me and my DH STILL don't make more than both my parents put together.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

I make more than both of them combined. Its no big deal. They are very proud of what I have accomplished.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

Combined DH and I make about the same as my parents. Neither of us have finished school yet.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

We make more than both of our parents.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

I make about the same as my mom does, DH probably makes roughly the same amount as my dad. If we moved back to NY, we would probably make a lot more though and it would be more than them. I don't think I make as much as DH's mom, but she's been a school teacher for about 20 years....

I've never felt bad about making more than my mother - if anything they push me to get more money, ask for a raise, etc.

Re: How many people make more money than their parents?

we probably make the same at this point-maybe a little more.

however, they "have" more money though- they have alot more equity and savings.