Every year I look forward to Parade’s annual issue of What People Earn. I first wrote about this back in April of 2012; back then, they did a then and now where income was reported for the same profession in two different time spans to see how things have changed. For example, a hotel desk clerk in Las Vegas was making $23,000 in 1993 where a Casino host was making $118,000 in 2012; a Funeral Director in Arkansas was making $45,000 in 1996 but their income increased to $101,500 in 2012; while a Tour Guide in South Carolina making $17,00 saw their income decrease to $7,200 in 2012.
I’ve written every year so here is the update this year; I don’t like to relay information on celebrities or sports figures so here are what ‘real people’ (every day ‘Joe’s) are earning (some are encouraging while others discouraging):
- Brandon, Magician – $25,000
- Matt, Chimney Sweep – $76,845
- Hilary, Professional Hockey Player – $22,000
- Karen, Field Rep for the U.S. Census Bureau – $22,000
- Lori, Esthetician and Waxing Specialist – $58,884
- Donald, Corrections Officer (FL) – $36,000
- Paul, Dairy Farmer (VT) – $10,000
- Edward, Automotive Sales (MO) – $103,000
- Michelle, YouTube Personality and Beauty – $3million
- Samantha, Romance Novelist – $34,400
- Christina, High School Cafeteria Worker (PA) – $4,636
- Brian, Attorney (Boston) $875,000
- Bryan, Parole & Probation Investigator (MD) – $61,130
I think there is some hope in salaries but in looking at some of these, there are some glaring disparities. It gives pause as to why some career paths are more valued than others; how much does gender or parts of the country affect the differences in pay: these are questions that the survey does not answer. I look at a chimney sweep who is doing a job that others don’t want to do, as well the magician and think ‘they must be promoting themselves well’ – or are they? Could they do a better job of this, as Michelle the YouTube personality has done? How could the Romance Novelist increase her income and why would the farmer or cafeteria worker stay in jobs that don’t pay a lot of money?
The bottom line is that a career is for life and it is what you make it to be. It starts with doing research on both the self an the industries, it’s about going after what ignites your passions and needs.And it’s about how you think about the work, which do have the ability to do so one way or the other.
Here is what Paul, the Farmer had to say: “I always dreamed about starting a farm. Building a successful business in the Northeast Kingdom has been a great experience.” Edward the Car Salesman says “What I enjoy most about being in auto sales is helping people (or families) realize their dream.” While Christina the Cafeteria worker said “I love the interaction with faculty and students. I treat kids like they are my own.”
These people are have a fulfilled passion, or at least have identified what it is they like about their jobs, which does not always equate to money. All of these individuals have focused on the end results of the work they do; one to help people eat better, one to put people in cars they dream of, while the last enjoys the interactions with both faculty and students. It’s always important to evaluate what is your driving force and how you feel about your work and why you do what you do. I’ll be anxious for next week as the second part of the report will be released so stay tuned!
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