How much money is six figures in the United States? This may seem simple, but the answer is more complex.
Six figures can mean very different things depending on what year it is and what state you live in. In some cases, it is enough to get by comfortably. In others, it could be an astronomical sum of money that would take years to accrue.
In this blog post, we will take a closer look at what six figures mean when it comes to dollars and cents.
What Are Figures In Money?
In the U.S., there are 100 cents in a dollar. This means that there are 1,000 milliecenti-dollars in a cent. Six figures, therefore, would be 100,000 dollars.
However, this is not to say that six figures are always exactly 100,000 dollars. Sometimes, it could be more or less, depending on the context.
For example, if someone says they make “six figures a year,” this usually means that their annual salary is between 100,000 and 999,999 dollars. So, while six figures technically refer to any amount of money between 100,000 and 999,999 dollars, it is often used to describe salaries on the higher end of this range.
Before or After Taxes?
When people talk about six-figure salaries, they usually refer to the amount of money earned before taxes are deducted. This is the gross income, as opposed to the net income, which someone takes home after taxes have been taken out.
In the U.S., the federal government imposes a progressive tax system, which means that the more money someone earns, the higher percentage of their income they will have to pay in taxes.
For example, someone who earns 150,000 dollars a year will have to pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes than someone who only makes 50,000 dollars a year.
The amount someone will have to pay in taxes depends on their tax bracket, which is determined by their income level.
The higher someone’s income, the higher their tax bracket and the more money they will have to pay in taxes.
Revenue vs. Profits
It’s important to note that six figures can refer to either revenue or profits.
Revenue is the total amount of money a company brings in, while profit is the amount that a company makes after all expenses have been paid.
For example, let’s say a company has a revenue of 1 million dollars. This means they have brought in 1 million dollars through sales, investments, or other means.
However, this does not mean the company has 1 million dollars to spend. This is because they still have to pay rent, salaries, and other expenses.
Let’s say their total annual expenses come to 800,000 dollars. Their yearly profit would be 200,000 dollars (1 million – 800,000).
So, when someone says that a company has a six-figure revenue or profit, their revenue or profit is between 100,000 and 999,999 dollars.
How Much Is 6 Figures?
Now that we’ve looked at what six figures refer to let’s look at how much money this is in actual dollars.
As we mentioned, the answer to this question depends on several factors, including the year, the state you live in, and whether you are talking about gross income or net income.
In general, though, six figures is a significant amount of money. In some cases, it might be enough to live comfortably, while in others, it might be an exorbitant sum of money that would take years to save up.
Below are the tiers of six-figure salaries:
- Low six figures: $100,000 – 109,999
- Mid-six figures: $110,000 – 119,999
- High six figures: $120,000 – 129,999
- Very high six figures: $130,000 – 139,999
- Ultra-high six figures: $140,000 and up
How Common is a Six-Figure Salary?
While six figures may seem like a lot of money, it’s not as rare as you think. In fact, according to the Social Security Administration, about 12% of workers in the United States make six figures or more.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that everyone who makes six figures is a millionaire. This is because, as we mentioned before, six figures can refer to either gross income or net income.
How to Make Six Figures
If you’re looking to make six figures, there are a few things you can do.
The most apparent option is finding a job with a six-figure salary. While this might seem impossible, a number of jobs pay six figures or more.
Some examples of jobs that pay six figures include:
– Doctors
– Lawyers
– CEOs
– Investment bankers
– Computer programmers
– Engineers
Of course, these are just a few examples, and many other jobs pay six figures.
Another option is to start your own business. This is an excellent option if you’re creative and entrepreneurial.
While it might take some time and effort to get your business off the ground, it can be gratifying financially and personally.
Finally, you could invest in stocks, real estate, or other assets. This is a more passive way to make six figures, but it can be just as effective.
Investing is a great way to grow your wealth over time, and it can be a lot of fun if you’re interested in the stock market or real estate.
Break It Down
You would need to earn at least $100,000 per year to make a six-figure salary. This breaks down to $8,333 per month or $208 per hour.
Remember that this is just a general guideline, and your salary may be higher or lower depending on your qualifications and experience.
Factors to Consider
Now that we’ve looked at how much six figures are in money let’s look at some factors that can affect your salary.
One of the most important factors to consider is your state of residence. This is because taxes can vary significantly from one state to another.
For example, if you live in a state with no income tax, you will likely take home a larger salary than someone who lives in a state with high-income taxes.
Another essential factor to consider is inflation. This is because the purchasing power of your money can change over time depending on the rate of inflation.
For example, if the inflation rate is 3%, prices have increased by 3% over the past year. Therefore, your money is worth 3% less than a year ago.
Inflation can significantly impact your purchasing power, so keeping an eye on the inflation rate when you’re trying to save money is essential.
Jobs without a College Degree
Making a six-figure salary without a college degree is possible, but it takes a lot of hard work and dedication.
Some examples of jobs that pay six figures without a college degree include:
– Sales representatives
– Business owners
– Personal trainers
– Real estate agents
Remember that many other jobs pay six figures; this is just a small list. If you’re creative and motivated, you can find a well-paying job.
Do You Need to Earn Six Figures?
You can earn six figures to be happy and prosperous. Many people are very happy and successful without making a lot of money.
What matters most is how you spend your time and treat others. If you’re kind and generous, you will likely be happy and prosperous regardless of how much money you make.
Of course, making money can help you achieve your goals and live a comfortable life. But it’s essential to keep things in perspective and not let money control your life.
Six figures is a lot of money, but it’s not everything. There are many other important factors to consider regarding happiness and success.
Lifestyle
When you make a six-figure salary, it’s easy to get caught up in the lifestyle creep. But, unfortunately, this is when you start spending more money and enjoying a higher standard of living.
This can be a problem because it can be easy to go from making a six-figure salary to a seven-figure salary. And once you’re making seven figures, it’s easy to keep going and become a multimillionaire.
The problem with this is that it can take a lot of work to maintain this high level of spending once your income drops. For example, if you lose your job or experience a decrease in revenue, you could quickly go into debt.
This is why it’s essential to be mindful of your spending and ensure that your lifestyle is within your income.
So don’t let money control your life, and make sure you enjoy other aspects of life.
Building Wealth
Making a six-figure salary helps when it comes to building wealth, but it’s not necessary. Many people have built significant wealth without making a lot of money.
The key is to invest your money wisely and ensure you’re spending only what you’re earning.
Of course, it’s also important to be patient and let your money grow over time. It may take a while to see significant results, but it’s worth it in the end.
Remember that building wealth is a marathon, not a sprint. So keep going even if you are still waiting to see results.
There are many ways to build wealth, so find one that works best for you and stick with it.
Key Takeaway
Making a six-figure salary has its benefits, but it’s not everything. There are many other important factors to consider regarding happiness and success.
So don’t let money control your life, and make sure you enjoy other aspects of life.