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Earning a Living
Wages in the USA
Ever wonder why your paycheck seems to disappear faster than you can earn it? Let’s talk about why…
Instead of just stating the topic, I’m starting with a relatable question that immediately grabs the reader’s attention. I’m also using “you” to make it more direct and personal.
We’re going to talk about what your boss (or your client, if you’re self-employed) puts in that check. We call it a wage or a salary.
Basically, it’s what you get paid for your time and effort. Think of it as the price of labor. You’re selling your skills and time, and your employer is buying them.
Now, are a wage and a salary the same thing? Not quite.
A wage usually means you’re getting paid by the hour, or maybe by how much you produce. If you work at a fast-food joint, or maybe in construction, you’re probably getting an hourly wage.
A salary usually means you get a fixed amount of money, no matter how many hours you work. If you’re a teacher or a software engineer, you’re probably on salary.
For this post, though, we’ll use “wages” to talk about all the money people earn from working.
So, how much do folks in the good old U.S. of A. actually make? Well, it’s a big range. You’ve got some folks raking in…
