How much does the average American earn - and what does their salary go towards? A Minsk woman living in the USA tells

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.

Migrant salary level

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.

§ Average gross salaries of drivers in Germany

Information based on data from the Federal Office of Statistics for 2010. Shown are gross salaries before taxes and fees (Taxes and deductions in salaries in Germany)

Table 1. Average salary of drivers, truckers, couriers by profession

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. Thus, the minimum wage in California is $10, in Connecticut – $10.10, in Massachusetts – $11, and the District of Columbia authorities set the minimum at $11.50. In a number of states, the rate is not established and is calculated according to the federal rate.

Taxes and their rates in the USA

In addition, each state has the right to introduce its own regional taxes (if they do not contradict constitutional principles of taxation) and fiscal benefits for low-income citizens. However, by CIS standards, American salaries still remain very respectable. As of 2021, the average monthly salary in the United States after all taxes is $2,900, which in rubles equals approximately 184,200.

Salaries are usually paid once a week or every two weeks. Payments are made by check, which can be cashed at your nearest bank.

Accrual principle

In the US, you don't have to work a 40-hour weekly schedule. Temporary employment is common here. Many people sign part-time or flexible contracts. People often work with several employers at once. Thus, wages in America are calculated at a rate per hour, and the statistics include annual income received from all sources.

An important nuance is that the amounts taken into account by sociological and economic studies are “dirty”, that is, without tax deductions. Therefore, with a nominal average income of $40 thousand per year, a citizen actually receives about a third less.

§ Salary information from job offers

The data in the table is taken from job advertisements posted in an online newspaper in Russian Germany. You can find all current job offers for drivers in the Work in Germany the Internet newspaper of Russian Germany.

Table 2. Information on salaries from job offers for drivers, truckers, couriers

Footnotes:

The euro exchange rate in the tables is taken as of May 26, 2021 and is 90.06 rubles at the rate of the European Central Bank. Exchange rates in Germany

• Pages:
• 4

• Average and minimum salaries in Germany
• Average salaries in EU countries
• Taxes and duties on salaries in Germany
• Average salaries by profession in Germany
• Average salary in Germany in 2021 per month in rubles and euros
• Related topics:
• Minimum pension in Germany
• Labor legislation in Germany
• Permit to stay and work in Germany
• How to find a job in Germany
• Help with finding a job in Germany
• Free German courses in Germany

Income by profession

As elsewhere, American salaries are proportional to the complexity of the job and the qualification requirements of the employee. Let's look at the most popular and highest-paid professions and rates.

Salaries may vary by 10-30% depending on the state and conditions at a particular enterprise. As in Russia, a pattern is relevant for the United States: private companies pay employees slightly more than public companies.

By area

Americans' income levels can be tracked by occupational category. Working in different fields may involve certain nuances.

1. Those wishing to work in medicine should expect salaries above the average in the United States. Anesthesiologists and surgeons live richer, since the outcome of a person’s treatment most depends on their qualifications. General practitioners receive an average salary of 30-40 thousand per year.
2. Working as a police officer is very dangerous. In America you can freely carry weapons, so they shoot there quite often. Due to increased professional risks, law enforcement officers receive 1.5-2 times the average salary.
3. Significant amounts of money circulate in the IT sector. However, remuneration will greatly depend on the skills and qualifications of specialists. Many do not receive a fixed salary, but sign contracts for projects. Profitability in this area averages from 100 to 130 thousand per year.
4. Those who devote themselves to teaching in the USA receive not only honor and respect, as in Russia, but also excellent earnings. Already a young specialist who gets a job in a high school can count on an acceptable income in the region of $40-50 thousand annually.
5. In the realm of science, the stakes are even higher. A qualified university teacher receives $150,000. Moreover, those leading promising developments are provided with contracts, grants and broad sponsorship support. Thus, American scientists may consider themselves wealthier than members of the middle class.

In each area of ​​employment, preferential conditions have been adopted to encourage employees to improve their skills and theoretical knowledge. Most current programs provide after-hours training and pay at overtime rates. Those who complete courses within the company are provided with material bonuses, and their chances for promotion and other preferences are significantly increased.

What professions are more valued in America?

There are high paying jobs and low paying jobs in America. Highly paid jobs require trained specialists with higher education. The most prestigious and expensive field is medicine. Senior and mid-level medical personnel receive salaries several times higher than the average.

Highly paid jobs require high qualifications. Photo: pixabay.com

The most prestigious medical professions are anesthesiologists and surgeons . Junior medical staff - cleaners, nurses - receive an average salary, by American standards.

High salaries exist in senior positions in companies where directors earn several times more than their subordinates. Of course, such responsible or risky professions as an airplane pilot or a rescuer are paid above average.

There are also low-paying jobs: cashiers, loaders. These jobs do not require education and therefore the average salary for a loader or cashier will be average. Cleaners receive less and their wages are almost minimal.

Salaries by state

In America, it is customary to divide regions by income level. States differ from each other in climate, operation of important infrastructure and population density. Therefore, the difference in salaries between the poorest and the richest of them is approximately 70-80%. It is most profitable to live in the megacities of developed states.

1. San Jose – $75,800. The region’s victory was “secured” by Silicon Valley, a recognized international IT development center employing highly qualified specialists from all over the world. However, the city itself is not considered a large metropolis by American standards. Its population is just over a million people.
2. San Francisco – $65,000. The state capital makes good money from tourism. The head offices of large international corporations are also located here and important research in the field of medicine is carried out.
3. Washington - $65,000. The centers of printing houses and US postal services are concentrated in the capital. However, the level of salaries in the region is primarily provided by the civil service sector.
4. Boston – $60,500. The city is a business center. It is also here that Harvard University is located, one of the best universities in the United States.
5. New York - $59,060. One of the world's capitals of the financial market provides high incomes to those involved in the economic sector. The largest stock exchange, offices of banks and trading corporations are located here. New York is rightly considered not only the most populous city in America, but also the leader in terms of wealth.

The standard of living in the USA is one of the highest in the world. However, local tax laws are also quite strict. All kinds of fees and direct taxation can reduce household incomes by 25-45%.

Taxes

Residents are persons living in the country for more than 180 days a year. They are subject to various fees, including US income tax. Citizens and foreigners receive bills based on completed declarations, which record their annual income. For hidden earnings, fines and criminal prosecution are provided. American taxes are divided into federal, state and local, levied by the administration of counties or other territorial units. There is a separate fee for medical needs and an amount paid by the employer to the social insurance fund.

Cost to income ratio

Living in America is more expensive than in Russia. However, this does not mean that people overseas cannot afford to save. In general, if average Russian salaries are 5-10 times lower than those in the States, then living expenses in the USA will be 200-300% higher than in the Russian Federation. The largest items in America are medicine, payment of insurance and loans, which are used by almost all residents, and education. Maintaining personal transport costs approximately 10% of income.

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