Minimum and average salaries in the United States by profession in 2021

The concept of a living wage in the USA

The minimum wage in North America is a fixed wage in a particular state, regulated by law. In other words, citizens cannot receive a salary lower than the established one.

Living wage in the USA

Therefore, the connection between the minimum wage and the consumer basket that is familiar to Russian residents is absent here. This is explained by low inflation and a high standard of living in the states compared to the CIS countries.

An ordinary US resident who receives an average salary can buy a good car, own real estate, and easily pay utility bills and other bills. If we talk about food, the local middle class not only makes purchases in stores, but also visits cafes and restaurants, and not only on special occasions.

Biden promised to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour

• Donald Trump
• Barack Obama
• George W. Bush
• Bill Clinton
• George Bush Senior
• Ronald Reagan
• Jimmy Carter
• Gerald Ford
• Richard Nixon

• The average salary in the USA increased to 25.09 USD/hour (4014.4 USD/month) in December 2021. The maximum average salary was 25.12 USD/hour, and the minimum was 2.5 USD/hour
• Data published Monthly by Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Data Period Date

Cost of living in the USA in 2021 by state

Working Opportunities and Cost of Living in New York

The top ten cities with the highest prices for basic necessities and a normal life include Honolulu and San Francisco. But the undisputed leader in this ranking is held by New York and, in particular, Manhattan. That is why, when understanding what salaries are in New York in 2021, it is worth paying attention to the amount of expenses that must be covered by earnings each month.

Find out the features of living in New York: costs and rules.

To prevent a migrant from having a cash gap, you can choose the area of ​​the Big Apple that is more suitable for money.

The opportunity to buy real estate in New York is available only to those who can boast above-average incomes: from $60,000 per year. After all, even a small studio in Brooklyn will cost $400,000, a house in a prestigious area of ​​Queens costs more than 1.5 million, and luxury housing in Manhattan can sell for several tens of millions.

No matter what kind of work a person does, he always wants to diversify his leisure time. There is certainly no shortage of events in New York. But prices sometimes bite:

• going to the cinema – 12-15 dollars per person;
• dinner at a restaurant - about $100 for a couple;
• theater ticket – from 40 dollars;
• – on average $25 per visit (but there are also free days);
• shopping – discounts on many world brands can reach 20-70%.

Nevertheless, New York represents one of the most powerful Russian diasporas, about whose life you can read in the article “How the Russian population of New York lives.”

You can watch it for free:

• ;
• Chelsea Galleries;
• city ​​hall building;
• Federal Reserve Bank Building;
• Sculpture Park of Socrates;
• Governor's Island;
• city ​​library;
• – by train on the free ferry to Staten Island;
• Brooklyn Botanical Garden (Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10.00 to 12.00).

You also need to understand that you will have to add 10% sales tax (it is not indicated in the price tag), as well as a tip for service (20% of the amount in the check) when calculating expenses. For example, a cup of coffee that costs $5 will end up costing $5.50, but if the waiter brought it, you will have to pay almost $7. Moreover, the culture of tipping has become so firmly established in the everyday life of New Yorkers that refusal to pay for service is considered bad manners.

Comparison of the cost of living in the USA and Russia in 2021

On January 1, 2021, the minimum wage in Russia was increased to 12,130 rubles. However, the total amount varies depending on the region. For example, in the Amur region the minimum wage is 12,130 rubles, and in the Sakhalin region - 23,442. The increase in payments is explained by the regional coefficient and the so-called “northern” ones.

minimum wage in different countries

At the beginning of 2021, the average minimum wage in the United States is $1,257, which is 96,789 rubles. If we compare the cost of living in the states and Russia, it turns out that the minimum wage in America is equal to eight minimum wages in Russian regions.

For greater clarity, we can take teachers’ salaries as an example, because knowledge, like health, is one of the most important components of human life. So, a teacher in the states can count on $55,000 per year. This amount varies depending on the state - in California, teachers' salaries are $66,000 per year. Of course, if you subtract taxes, the amount will be less. But it is unlikely that at least one Russian teacher can boast of a salary of more than 4 million rubles per year.

Minimum wage level by jurisdiction [ edit | edit code]

Each US state and territory has a list of jobs that are subject to federal minimum wage laws. If a job is not covered by the Wage and Hour Law, then state, city, or other local laws may set a minimum wage for it.[24] An exception to federal laws are companies with revenues of less than $500 thousand per year, and not conducting interstate business.

Workers who receive part of their income from tips, such as waiters or bartenders, can legally be paid below the minimum wage, provided that their income, including tips, does not fall below the minimum wage [25]. 7 states (Montana, Minnesota, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon) and Guam do not allow tips to be taken into account and pay below the federal minimum wage [26]. Additional exceptions to federal laws may include many seasonal workers, students, and certain categories of disabled workers under the Wage and Hour Act.

In addition, some counties and cities may have local minimum wage levels that are higher than the state minimum wage levels in which they are located. Sometimes these higher minimum wages apply only to enterprises that have contracts with local authorities, and sometimes to all without exception.

In the case of overtime work, the minimum wage bonus for overtime is paid at one and a half times the amount, and each state has its own conditions. Some states also have a special daily overtime limit, meaning that workers not exempt from overtime laws are required to receive overtime for every more than 8 hours they work in a day. That is, for example; if there is a worker who is subject to overtime laws (that is, can receive overtime in theory), works 12 hours a day on Mondays and 6 on Tuesdays (and has no overtime hours in a week), then he, in the absence of special laws regarding daily overtime limit, is not required to receive overtime at the weekly standard because he did not work more than 40 hours in a week, although he worked more than 8 hours on Friday. If the state law has a separate daily overtime limit, then he will receive overtime for the additional 2 hours worked on Monday, although the weekly limit of 40 working hours has not been exceeded.

Some states have exceptions for certain jobs and businesses (different tipped/non-tipped minimum wage rates, statutory exceptions, etc.). In 10 states (Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont, Washington) there are laws according to which automatic annual indexation of the minimum wage is carried out at the level of inflation in accordance with the ICP, in other minimum wages are indexed manually (in some it is planned to introduce automatic indexing in the future).

Salary in the USA in 2021

According to statistics, a little more than 330 million people live in the states. 120 million receive average wages, the rest receive more or less.

Average wages of American workers

Minimum wages for in-demand professions

Depending on the specific enterprise and state, these figures may vary by 10% down or up. It is also worth considering that in the states, public sector employees receive less than employees of private companies. In addition, the final figure is influenced by the characteristics of the professions:

• A doctor is one of the safest and highest paid professions. All specialists are considered in demand, but anesthesiologists and surgeons are most valued. It is doctors in these specialties who have the highest salaries.
• Police officers are also a respected and valuable position. States allow the carrying of weapons, so law enforcement officers have a risk allowance. As a result, a police officer's salary is more than twice the average.
• American IT specialists are not as spoiled as their “brothers” from Russia. Here, wages are greatly influenced by professional skills and qualification level. A senior-level professional can count on a monthly salary of $17,000.
• Scientists, professors, and various narrow specialists in the scientific field receive the maximum salary. The average salary of a university teacher reaches $150,000 per year. If an employee participates in projects or grants, this amount increases.
• Truckers' wages are directly related to miles driven. That is, it depends on how much time a person is willing to spend behind the wheel. A hardworking truck driver's pay can reach $7,000.

In the states, it is customary to train personnel at the expense of the organization. The time an employee spends sitting at a desk will be paid at double rate.

Is the cost of living sufficient for monthly expenses in the USA?

The cost of basic food items can vary greatly. The price is influenced by the tax policy of a particular state, the location of the outlet, whether the goods belong to a certain group, and the quality of the product.

However, even so, it is possible to calculate the average cost of all goods and services that applies to all states. For example, the cost of shrimp, crabs, and fish is lower on the coast. Fruits and vegetables are cheaper in agricultural states, milk and meat in livestock-raising regions.

On average, the price tag for most products is lower compared to Russian stores. This is explained by low inflation, thanks to which citizens feel more confident.

Cost of products in the USA

Average cost of basic products

• chicken egg (dozen) – $1.5;
• rice – 1.8/kg$;
• milk – 1$/l;
• sugar – $1/kg;
• fresh potatoes – $1.7/kg;
• washed carrots – $1/kg;
• white cabbage – $1.5/kg;
• sweet pepper – $2.3/kg;
• salt – $1;
• Sunflower oil – $1.3;
• pasta – $1.6/kg;
• tea bags – $2.3;
• natural coffee – $14;
• chicken fillet – $4.8/kg;
• salmon fillet – $18.78/kg;
• pork tenderloin – $7/kg;
• beef tenderloin – $4.7/kg;
• oranges – $1.4/kg;
• apples – $2/kg;
• bananas – $1/kg;
• lemon – $1.3/kg;
• beer (0.35 l) – $5.58;
• wine – from $2.75;
• whiskey – from $19.

Utility and insurance costs

Utility and insurance costs

The main part of monthly payments is taken up by the costs of utilities, taxes, gasoline and health insurance. On average, in 2021, a family consisting of a mother, father and one child will have:

• food (if you purchase goods in malls and cook at home) – $600;
• payment of real estate (rent or payment of mortgage and taxes) – $750;
• utility bills – $220;
• personal hygiene products (shampoo, toilet paper, etc.) – $400;
• entertainment (visiting a park, cinema, cafe, etc.) – $180;
• medical insurance (together with dentistry and treatment) – $400;
• Internet, television, telephone – $200;
• transportation costs (rent, gasoline, car loan payment) – $300;
• clothes – $300;
• kindergarten (if there is a child of preschool age) – $600.

Total: $4000 or $1333 per person. This is quite a reasonable amount for a family in which adults receive wages equal to the minimum wage.

Economic effects[ edit | edit code]

The economic effects of a possible increase in the minimum wage are controversial and could affect employment levels, prices of goods and services, economic growth, levels of income inequality and poverty levels.

Unemployment [edit | edit code]

A 1994 study by economists Alan Krueger and David Card, which examined the effect of raising the minimum wage in New Jersey from $4.25 to $5.05 in April 2012, using an example of 410 local restaurants, found no decrease in employment levels from increasing the minimum wage [4]. In February 2014, the US Congressional Budget Office assessed the effects of a possible increase in the minimum wage under two possible scenarios: raising the minimum wage to $10.10 with subsequent indexation to the inflation rate and to $9 without subsequent indexation in the other. The effects were assessed as follows:

• The minimum wage increase would affect 16.5 million workers under the first option and 7.5 million under the second.
• Job loss will affect 500 thousand people under the first option and 100 thousand under the second.

At the same time, many economists criticized the report, pointing out questionable study methods and controversial assessments of the consequences [5] [6]. In a 2013 review by the analytical center Center for Economic and Policy Research of similar studies done since 2000, the effect of increasing the minimum wage was minimal or not manifested at all, the explanation for which was given 11 reasons, the main of which were a decrease in staff turnover, a slight increase in prices , increasing organizational effectiveness [7] . Another study from 2014 found that increasing the minimum wage accelerates the creation of new jobs [8]. The Economist wrote in December 2013 that raising the minimum wage, if the bar is not raised too high, would boost income levels without negative effects and that most studies have found no increase in unemployment from the federal or state minimum wage or have found a small increase in unemployment, but nowhere wasn't serious [9]

Prices [edit | edit code]

In principle, increasing the minimum wage increases labor costs. Employers may accept reduced profits and/or increase prices. When prices rise, demand for the product decreases and buyers may switch to a replacement product or to imported analogues. Low-margin producers may be forced out of business if they do not raise prices enough to offset rising labor costs. Whether the increase in workers' incomes resulting from an increase in the minimum wage can compensate for these effects is a controversial issue [10]. Some studies have found an increase in prices in restaurants after increasing the minimum wage [11].

Economic growth[edit | edit code]

Whether GDP rises or falls depends to a large extent on whether the income redistributed to the worker goes to increase the level of overall spending. This tendency is called the marginal propensity to consume. The redistribution of income from a more economical worker with a lower marginal propensity to consume to a less economical worker with a higher marginal propensity to consume can lead to an increase in the level of consumption and demand, which gives an increase in employment [2] .

Income inequality [edit | edit code]

Poverty rate[edit | edit code]

The US Congressional Budget Office in February 2014 estimated the level of reduction in the level of people living below the poverty line by 300 thousand with the option of increasing the minimum wage to $9 and by 900 thousand with the option of increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 [2]

Feedback from Russians on the cost of living in the USA

A high standard of living, an abundance of diverse vacancies, good working conditions, and opportunities for career growth make the United States attractive among Russians.

Russia and USA

With proper language skills and a good specialty, finding a job will not be a problem. Usually people with simple professions, no education and zero knowledge of English face difficulties.

In the first case, the employee can count on a full salary, bonuses, health insurance, and vacation. If we talk about people with low qualifications, they usually get jobs as waiters in cafes, work as mechanics, electricians, truck drivers, and serve in factories.

They cannot count on bonuses or health insurance, and the working day usually lasts 10-12 hours. The average salary of immigrants depends on the number of hours worked, and averages $3,500-$4,000 per month. By local standards, this is quite good income.

Of course, many migrants note the difficulties they encountered after moving: difficulties with employment, housing, renting vehicles, health insurance, and so on.
At the same time, they say that they do not regret the move at all - just get used to the environment, local customs, and life will sparkle with new colors. Living wage in the USA

Employment in New York

The US continues to have a relatively low unemployment rate, dropping to 3.8% nationally in February 2021.

New York State (excluding New York City) shows even lower results, with an average unemployment rate of 3.7%. The statistics are slightly worse in New York City, as 4.2% of working-age residents are unemployed.

According to the New York State Department of Labor, professionals in the following specialties will be in demand in the city of the same name in 2021:

• accountants and auditors;
• IT developers and engineers;
• landscape designers and gardeners;
• housekeeping and care assistants for the disabled;
• auto mechanics;
• carpenters and builders;
• drivers;
• sales representatives, sales managers and supervisors;
• secretaries and office staff;
• leisure organizers;
• cleaners and loaders.

The demand for a profession, unfortunately, does not mean that the salary will please the hired specialist.

Migrants can find a positive aspect of employment in the United States, since work in New York (a good half of the vacancies) is available to people without a confirmed education.

Issues related to job search, working conditions and employment of migrants are discussed in the article “Working in the USA for foreigners.”

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average salary

The incomes of Americans who occupy not even the highest positions make them quite wealthy people. The bulk of the US population belongs to the middle class. Their wages allow them to maintain a house (most often with a mortgage), a car for each family member, not to deny themselves food and regular services, save a little and go on vacation in the summer.

The average position pays $30,000-40,000 per year. However, high earnings in the United States are offset by significant taxes and higher prices than in Russia. Overseas, it is customary to calculate salary according to the scheme $x per hour of work. The average rate is $20-25, and the average monthly profitability varies between $2500-3500.

The lack of citizenship of employees does not allow employers to violate labor laws regarding foreigners. However, many immigrants find employment illegally and lose not only the opportunity to receive a higher salary at the established minimum rate, but also social guarantees:

• double pay for overtime work;
• health insurance;
• injury benefits;
• pensions.

Moreover, illegal immigration is a crime that is punishable by deportation from the United States without the right to enter the country (up to 10 years). There is also too much crime in the area of ​​illegal labor relations. Therefore, it is not recommended to respond to dubious offers, especially for young girls.

Indicators by profession

Well, what is the minimum wage in the USA - it’s clear. Now I would like to draw attention to what kind of money in America representatives of certain professions receive on average. For example, you can take workers from different fields. The data has been rounded; for convenience, salaries are indicated in monthly amounts:

• Cleaning service employees – $2,060/RUR 122,300.
• Gardeners – $2,255/RUR 134,000
• Governess – $2,435/RUB 145,000.
• Stylists, cosmetologists, makeup artists - $3,035/180,000 rub.
• Secretaries and administrators – $3,105/RUB 185,000.
• Teachers – $3,560/210,500 rub.
• Workers in the tourism and food industry – $3,565/211,000 rub.
• Driver – $3,570/212,000 rub.
• Real estate worker – $4,175/248,000 rub.
• Repairers and mechanics – $4,195/250,000 rub.
• Retail workers – $4,345/258,000 rub.
• Advertising and PR specialists – $4,700/280,000 rub.
• Banking service employees – $4,985/RUB 296,000.
• Factory and factory workers – $5,250/RUR 312,000.
• Specialists in the economics sector – $5,720/RUR 340,000.
• Insurers – $5,860/RUB 348,000.
• Lawyers – $6,375/RUB 379,000.
• Information technology specialists – $6,770/RUB 402,000.
• Employees of airlines and the aviation sector – $7,245/430,000 rubles.
• Mineral miners – $8,840/RUB 525,000.
• Heads of enterprises – $9,980/593,000 rub.

This, of course, is not the minimum wage in the United States, but the most common average, but in comparison with Russian salaries it is impressive. Especially when translated into rubles.

The highest and lowest paid professions

In America, the work of medical workers is highly valued. Studying at a university for such a prestigious specialty as a doctor is very expensive and lasts up to 8 years. Therefore, many simply cannot afford to obtain a highly qualified specialty. How much do doctors earn? The salary of a doctor in the USA is one of the highest. In the ranking of the most paid professions, doctors are in first place. Among medical workers, anesthesiologists (about $235 thousand) and surgeons (about $233 thousand) earn the most. Specialists with a broader profile, such as therapists and family doctors, are also in great demand, and their work is well paid (approximately $150 thousand).

Airplane pilots earn approximately the same amount as doctors. Lawyers occupy only 17th place in the ranking, with an average salary in the United States of about $120 thousand. In addition, the profession of a pedagogical worker is a highly paid one. A teacher's salary per year is $100 thousand.

In-demand professions in the United States also include those of IT specialists, mining employees, and insurance companies. Average annual income is about $100 thousand.

Police officers and drivers, with the same employment as the above specialists, earn less. The salary in the USA in 2019 for these workers was about $50 thousand per year. The work of hairdressers, manicurists, and fitness trainers is well paid. Their income is about $40 thousand.

Low-paid professions include workers in the so-called “physical labor” - loaders, gardeners, janitors, as well as fire fighters and maintenance personnel. Their average annual salary in the USA is about $20 thousand.

According to statistics, the average salary in the United States in 2019 for male workers across the country is higher than for women (per month, on average, $900 versus $750).

A specialist with a high level of education and professional retraining can count on decent wages. Income level is also influenced by knowledge of English, length of service and work experience. Accordingly, the income of a dentist is higher than that of mid-level doctors. In addition, the salary level depends on the place of work. Thus, the average salary in New York for a programmer is higher than for a similar specialist from some outback. Therefore, many Americans tend to change jobs and travel long distances in search of better work.

Minimum wage

The Russian minimum wage is calculated based on the monthly salary, which should not be less than a certain amount. In the Russian Federation, the federal minimum has been set at 9,489 (they promise to raise it to 11,163 in the spring) rubles, but regions have the right to increase it at their discretion.

The US minimum wage is calculated differently. The hourly rate is used as a basis. According to current legislation, its amount is at least $7.25. Therefore, full-time wages on a 40-hour schedule should not be less than $15,000 per year. Each state also has the right to raise the salary level.

In America, there are three options for paying citizens:

• time-based (hourly) payment of employees;
• annual payment;
• one-time remuneration for administrative managers.

To reduce production costs, entrepreneurs are looking for new ways to motivate employees. To motivate staff with a fixed salary, bonuses are provided for participation in the life of the enterprise. For example, for success in sales, an entrepreneur pays an employee a percentage of the profit, monthly and quarterly bonuses when the sales plan is achieved.

General information

Wages in the United States are not just income received from one activity or another. An American’s lifestyle and social status depend on its level. But in any case, the main thing is the presence of the work itself, whatever it may be. And a career is a matter of time. The main thing you need to start is to have official employment and pay taxes.

Even a not very high level of qualification allows you to receive a decent salary in America and support your family. And also purchase, albeit small, but your own housing on credit. What can we say about highly qualified specialists!

Losing a job and, accordingly, a salary threatens many troubles. There is nothing to pay off the loans that almost every American uses. You have to live on social benefits, giving up your usual way of life.

Due to the protracted economic crisis that began in 2014, large companies have to cut budgets and lay off employees. Although wages do not decrease and are even comparable to their maximum level observed in 2008.

Good education and highly qualified employees are valued in the USA

The size of the salary in the USA depends on many factors. First of all, this is the territorial location of the work. Thus, the same specialist in a large city will receive an income approximately 50% more than in the province. According to Forbes, at the beginning of 2021, the top ten cities with the highest wages include Charlotte, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Louisville, Rochester, Riverside, Nashville, San Jose. A lot also depends on the state. The highest salaries are in California, Washington, Illinois, Virginia, and New York. The lowest wages are in the states of Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, and South Dakota.

A definite plus is the level of education and work experience. The better these indicators, the higher the salary an applicant for a particular position can expect. It does not matter whether he is an American citizen or emigrated from another country. Specialists of a narrow profile, whose training takes more than one year, are of particular value.

According to statistics, the average level of salaries received by men is higher than that of women. Older workers, due to their experience, can usually count on higher payments than younger workers.

Large companies, including state-owned ones, usually pay their employees higher salaries than small and medium-sized businesses. Although the risk of being laid off in the first case is higher.

I have been in the States for almost 2 years, currently living in a small town by the ocean - Portland, Maine. I work as a waitress at Zen's Chinese Bistro. The working day is usually 4–5 hours, 5–6 days a week. Salaries vary: sometimes it’s 250, sometimes it’s 900 a week. It's good to be a waitress, but it's more of a temporary profession. In America, you can get a good job without education as a programmer, computer designer, cook, and, in general, the main thing is that you have the desire.

Julia

https://zagranitsa.com/emigraciya/article/2731/zarplaty-v-ssha-skolko-zarabatyvaiut-v-amerike