Wages in Australia and US

[JamesR]

i have mixed feeling about unions.
they do cause a lot of unnecessary ****, but i still pay my dues [even though i dont have to be in the union]because they're the reason i get paid $46 an hour, fortnightly RDOs and all the other unseen benefits.
to those that say 'stand up to your employer' how do you do that when you're employed as a casual, and are at times one of 400 people working on site?
being casual i only work a few months at a time, but last year worked 6months and earned $96k as a Fitter.
my last job as a machinist [same trade] full time i was earning $48k p.a. and that was more than enough for me. we had no union there, and fought for weeks to get a $1 an hr pay rise. even though we wanted more.

both of my parents are on a pension, own their home/cars, and they can still live happily, even with 3 of us at home.

$150k average income is a bit optimistic.
but those saying that anything less is unlivable, you have just set your standards too high.
also telling people to change careers? seriously?
if only it was so easy.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Do something about it then, change career.

when i started in the industry, it was a very well paying industry. i now have a wife and 2 kids, so its a bit difficult to just change careers.

for me, it is what it is, and you live within those means. i know many people that try to live well beyond their means and constantly chase that elusive perfect job to support their lifestyle.

[glavas]

Originally Posted by JamesR

i have mixed feeling about unions.
they do cause a lot of unnecessary ****, but i still pay my dues [even though i dont have to be in the union]because they're the reason i get paid $46 an hour, fortnightly RDOs and all the other unseen benefits.
to those that say 'stand up to your employer' how do you do that when you're employed as a casual, and are at times one of 400 people working on site?
being casual i only work a few months at a time, but last year worked 6months and earned $96k as a Fitter.
my last job as a machinist [same trade] full time i was earning $48k p.a. and that was more than enough for me. we had no union there, and fought for weeks to get a $1 an hr pay rise. even though we wanted more.

both of my parents are on a pension, own their home/cars, and they can still live happily, even with 3 of us at home.

$150k average income is a bit optimistic.
but those saying that anything less is unlivable, you have just set your standards too high.
also telling people to change careers? seriously?
if only it was so easy.

in life you can never set you standards to high. set your sights high and work hard and you will get there. if you just plod along going with the bair basics no goals you wont get much in life. i live well now because i had nothing as a kid and i wanted to be rich when i was older. i wouldent call my self rich but i have alot of money to spend wich inturn helps this country.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by prydey

when i started in the industry, it was a very well paying industry. i now have a wife and 2 kids, so its a bit difficult to just change careers.

for me, it is what it is, and you live within those means. i know many people that try to live well beyond their means and constantly chase that elusive perfect job to support their lifestyle.

As long as you are happy I suppose, it just come across you where angry about someone else on higher wage.

[ebxr8240]

In your spare time do some training at TAFE etc so your not surplus to requirement..
Where qualifications are more than most people off the street...
Learn fabricating, welding, electrical if your math's is half good...
Truck, fork lift licence etc...
First aid course looks good too...

[Green X]

Originally Posted by gtfpv

absolutely DAMO . and others .
over 100k usually requires shift work and weekends on a 24/7 basis including public holidays , and usually skilled, like a trade, etc . its very easy for people to say they're on 100 to 200 k . but will those people be able to stay fit and stay up till retirement age ???
on top of that , there is no govt handouts , which really really brings the income down in comparison .
not to mention those jobs are normally city based , or out in whoop whoop , meaning travel time , and expensive living arrangements . think $100, per week in petrol . and all the unpaid hours in the car , spouses and kids often have to miss out on family weekends too as often the whole family aren't home on the weekends or public holidays .
it's not wealth , and it ain't a bed of roses .
someone on 50k who rides a pushy to work 2kms away, and works 9 to 5 and is happy , gets a lot more in other ways then higher income earners .
money does not come cheap .
i bag no one on earnings except executives on 7 figure salaries , simply no one is worth that much . if a doctor or brain surgeon earns 7 figures think of the hours they do for it . in that case good on em .
but in that perspective , imagine the weekends and nights they miss out on that the people on 50k get to live .
just wanted to ease people minds who dream of wanting to earn in the 100- 200k bracket, be careful what you wish for , many people lose their spouses and their kids don't get to know them for that .

Spot on!!

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

In your spare time do some training at TAFE etc so your not surplus to requirement..
Where qualifications are more than most people off the street...
Learn fabricating, welding, electrical if your math's is half good...
Truck, fork lift licence etc...
First aid course looks good too...

I'm going to go for my truck license next month hopefully, I have Year 12 VCE pass and I'm doing an apprenticeship in auto electrical at the moment.

I want to go for my cert II in Airconditioning but the business I work for has to be registered to work on Aircon, but I don't think they are. I've already done 11 out of the 13 moduals you need for the bloody certificate.

[Fled74]

Originally Posted by gtfpv

absolutely DAMO . and others .
over 100k usually requires shift work and weekends on a 24/7 basis including public holidays , and usually skilled, like a trade, etc . its very easy for people to say they're on 100 to 200 k . but will those people be able to stay fit and stay up till retirement age ???
on top of that , there is no govt handouts , which really really brings the income down in comparison .
not to mention those jobs are normally city based , or out in whoop whoop , meaning travel time , and expensive living arrangements . think $100, per week in petrol . and all the unpaid hours in the car , spouses and kids often have to miss out on family weekends too as often the whole family aren't home on the weekends or public holidays .
it's not wealth , and it ain't a bed of roses .
someone on 50k who rides a pushy to work 2kms away, and works 9 to 5 and is happy , gets a lot more in other ways then higher income earners .
money does not come cheap .
i bag no one on earnings except executives on 7 figure salaries , simply no one is worth that much . if a doctor or brain surgeon earns 7 figures think of the hours they do for it . in that case good on em .
but in that perspective , imagine the weekends and nights they miss out on that the people on 50k get to live .
just wanted to ease people minds who dream of wanting to earn in the 100- 200k bracket, be careful what you wish for , many people lose their spouses and their kids don't get to know them for that .

I agree 100%, which is why I'm not holding my breath.
Money makes things easier, but it won't bring you happiness.

[Ohio XB]

Originally Posted by FCleader

Im rather curious to find out more about American wages, particularly government/defence jobs over there, as I am hoping to get a Government job once uni is over.

So if any Americans on this site could give a little insight it would be appreciated?

I don't know much about them but since they are paid by my TAXES I would believe they pay well.


Ok, off to see where else I can stir up trouble, lol!


Steve

[ebxr8240]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I'm going to go for my truck license next month hopefully, I have Year 12 VCE pass and I'm doing an apprenticeship in auto electrical at the moment.

I want to go for my cert II in Air Conditioning but the business I work for has to be registered to work on Air-con, but I don't think they are. I've already done 11 out of the 13 modules you need for the bloody certificate.

Hang in there.. With that attitude you'll get there...
Then look back on above and have a GOOD laugh...

So many young people lack confidence these days !!!!
Have a go.. I originally come from the country where when growing up you did everything and never thought anything about it...
It was all there in front of you.. Trucks,heavy vehicles, tool shop etc...

[MAD]

Originally Posted by glavas

i earn 120k a year and my houses are all paid off so that money just sits in the bank.

Hang on, I thought you've never earned over 90k?

Originally Posted by glavas

oh please work hard save money dont buy stupid things you dont need and you can get a house anywere. i own 3 houses and am paying off a 4th and ive never earned more then 90k a year. use your money wisely. its all about working hard and saving. do you really need a holiday or a new car? a big tv or a ipad? all we need is air, water and a bit of food. everything else we can do without. i went on my first holiday when i was 40. bacause thats when i finealy cold afford it.

Originally Posted by glavas

fled 74 how can you surport a wife and kids with 47k a year??? that is just insane. what do you do? no offence but i would rather die then get handouts from a socialist government. get some pride man you dont need the handouts. what you need is a new job.

Did you happen to ever negative gear any of these houses you own?
FTB is a tax offset... much like when you negative gear a house.


I applaud anyone that can live and be happy with children and a roof over their head when earning less than 50k. I don't know how I would cope.
We have a collective income of about 100k p.a. and have just bought our first home. Unlike a lot of people we are not mortgaged to the eyeballs, we are very comfortable actually. My wife is studying for a career change and will be dropping to 16hrs/wk work for a few months later this year and we will still be able to make payments easily, we will be at something more like 80-85k during this period, but if we were to add children in to that mix, we would be stuffed.

[Scott]

You know, I'm pretty well disgusted at some of the commentary in this thread. I hold the firm belief that people do what they can with what they have and every household has different ways of valuing and spending a dollar.

I cannot fathom the approach by some here with veiled comments knocking people for what they earn or measuring up their lives based on a pay cheque.

There are plenty, and I mean PLENTY of people working in skilled jobs earning less than $50,000 a year. For many, $50k is the stuff of fairy tales and they would wonder how you could possibly struggle on that sort of money.

On the other side of the coin, there are plenty on huge amounts of money that can't sleep at night because they're wondering how to pay the next power bill... let alone a wages bill I'm sure.

If the "average wage" really was average, it wouldn't be enough. The majority of people in this country will never attain the average wage point as it is not moved by the masses, but by the few. The few may well be counted in tens of thousands and be amped up by thousands or hundreds - it is a poor indicator or "average".

So how about we get down from our ivory towers or leave the tall poppies alone and appreciate that we are all lucky to be here, lucky to be employed and lucky to worry not about having a fridge, but how much beer to put in it.

If it's honest, I don't care what you earn or how you earn it - if you have a roof over your head, food in the pantry and a healthy family I think we're on the right track - regardless of how hard the Govt try and screw it all up.

[XESP351]

Well said Scott!