General Discussion

ProfessorGAC

(76,613 posts)

55. Believable Though

Thu Feb 13, 2025, 07:19 PM

Feb 2025

I changed jobs in '79 for an almost 40% increase, and a supervisor position in R&D.
I still made barely over $20k and I had my MS in chemistry for nearly a year.
No complaints with that company. When I retired from them after 39 years, I made >8x that.
But, I wasn't surprised to see the 20k value.

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In 1980, I made $23,409 working at a grocery store [View all] maxrandb Feb 2025 OP

When I bought my house in 1985, my neighbor was a retired grocery clerk Nittersing Feb 2025 #1

How about this DENVERPOPS Feb 2025 #23

What?? I made $100/shift as a registered nurse LeftInTX Feb 2025 #28

Of course you didn't DENVERPOPS Feb 2025 #60

Good point on unions. Shows how much they're needed for workers' rights. brush Feb 2025 #76

Registered Nurse here too MuseRider Feb 2025 #70

a cashier in 1979 making 22 an hour? Kali Feb 2025 #56

This 1975 report, just 4 years earlier, tells a very different story. So I'm skeptical about the $22. pnwmom Feb 2025 #65

There is no way she made $22/hour in 1979. Grins Feb 2025 #84

In 1970 I had a routine clerical job that paid $4 per hour. Ocelot II Feb 2025 #2

Damn! I should snowybirdie Feb 2025 #3

Yes, but you were smokin' hot.. .🫠 rubbersole Feb 2025 #11

Tax rates were higher for the rich in 1980 Wicked Blue Feb 2025 #4

Not quite accurate - 70% was the top *marginal* tax rate. Ocelot II Feb 2025 #6

Thanks for enlightening Wicked Blue Feb 2025 #8

Until Reagan started True Blue American Feb 2025 #34

They are finishing the job ;) n/t Cheezoholic Feb 2025 #51

JFK dropped the top tax rate of 91% down to 70% which I actually agree with Bengus81 Feb 2025 #69

Actually Musk doesn't have much in the way of traditional income Old Crank Feb 2025 #13

Yes. It's all tied up in his corporations, and they avoid taxation Ocelot II Feb 2025 #14

They get compensated in shares Yavin4 Feb 2025 #16

Yeah and are they taxed at all or only at capital gains rates 15% This was a Bush Jr thing if I remember right Bengus81 Feb 2025 #72

Not taxed at all. Yavin4 Feb 2025 #75

Unfortunately, that buy, borrow, and die slightlv Feb 2025 #41

When my mother died, I "inherited" her credit card debt of 6k or so... malthaussen Feb 2025 #47

You don't owe her debt, never did. If they want it paid off, they need to go thru the probate process, and file SWBTATTReg Feb 2025 #53

Yeah, I'm hip. malthaussen Feb 2025 #57

They do that hoping to avoid the legal fees. Mr. Evil Feb 2025 #64

Biggest tax difference is stock buy backs required the corp to do it w post tax money IbogaProject Feb 2025 #26

yes the top rate was that high but the amount of deductions allowed was crazy thatdemguy Feb 2025 #78

I remember the days when you could deduct all interest payments Ocelot II Feb 2025 #81

$108,300 isn't rich though Polybius Feb 2025 #10

But in 1980 that was pretty affluent. Ocelot II Feb 2025 #27

Oh absolutely! Polybius Feb 2025 #37

It's *taxable income*, not net wealth. malthaussen Feb 2025 #45

Those days will never return, unfortunately. It was a time of abundant land, building materials, etc. If it were just Silent Type Feb 2025 #5

True -- at the same time, the inequities economically today are at an astronomical level. I don't know to what extent KPN Feb 2025 #12

Great post... WarGamer Feb 2025 #7

Excellent post. Passages Feb 2025 #9

In 1987 Sweet Freedom Feb 2025 #15

In 1980 I was 20, and two years out of High School. I was working in a warehouse Itchinjim Feb 2025 #17

I remember those days..... joanbarnes Feb 2025 #18

Wow! That's more than I made in 2024 working as a cleaner/housekeeper/janitor. nt Comrade Citizen Feb 2025 #19

I made $45k a year in 1987 at a grocery store MissB Feb 2025 #20

Great post highlighting how much we have lost. I have preached this exact thing for years, using my own, very..... RussellCattle Feb 2025 #21

On further consideration of what I just wrote above, your $23,000 in 1980, when compared with my $8,000 in 1970..... RussellCattle Feb 2025 #22

I thought I would post this before the the fascists go into complete censorship mode............ turbinetree Feb 2025 #24

Auto plant 1968 Cirsium Feb 2025 #25

Quite the revelation, especially considering unskilled labor is a myth ck4829 Jun 2025 #89

This message was self-deleted by its author CountAllVotes Feb 2025 #29

Just to verify what you said, just a few years later senseandsensibility Feb 2025 #30

A job requiring a Masters degree for $18,000/yr. That is insane. Diamond_Dog Feb 2025 #33

Agreed! senseandsensibility Feb 2025 #39

I wrote above about applying for my slightlv Feb 2025 #44

Believable Though ProfessorGAC Feb 2025 #55

Fresh out of college, Mr. Diamond started teaching in a public school in 1970. Diamond_Dog Feb 2025 #31

My husband only earned $8,000 in 1984! LeftInTX Feb 2025 #36

I always knew that "trickle down" meant pissing on the workers. Dems should keep this front & center in ads... Hekate Feb 2025 #32

tinkle down. all quid. no quo. we still have zombie reagan + need to kill him. pansypoo53219 Feb 2025 #62

I had this discussion with a Conservative friend just a few months ago Johnny2X2X Feb 2025 #35

As 9/11 happened, a coworker and I were looking out our big slightlv Feb 2025 #48

Was playing pool with the same guy this past weekend Johnny2X2X Feb 2025 #50

I loved the "he kind of nodded." slightlv Feb 2025 #52

I earned a pension from my 7 yrs working in the grocery business. Devilsun Feb 2025 #38

In 1980, I made $23,000 Mr.Bee Feb 2025 #40

Federal minimum wage is $7 an hour Farmer-Rick Feb 2025 #42

Frozen. Mr.Bee Feb 2025 #74

Thanks for breaking down the numbers Farmer-Rick Feb 2025 #87

We worked at Big Bear, too! Town & Country and Alliepoo Feb 2025 #43

I started at the Lane Ave store maxrandb Feb 2025 #68

I-O!!! Go Bucks! Alliepoo Feb 2025 #86

"Inflamed Sceptic Big Balls" Clouds Passing Feb 2025 #46

Great topic I'm bookmarking and archiving it. live love laugh Feb 2025 #49

My youngest , 29, is a HS dropout who runs his own business ... Kaleva Feb 2025 #54

Why on earth did you quit? MichMan Feb 2025 #58

Wanted more from life, so I quit and joined the US Navy maxrandb Feb 2025 #59

I remember going to an anti-Walmart on-line board in the 1990s wolfie001 Feb 2025 #61

When we lived in Arizona in the 70's Horse with no Name Feb 2025 #63

The wealthier they get these days Dark n Stormy Knight Feb 2025 #66

A great OP malaise Feb 2025 #67

It was about that time frame when I began to say greed would destroy America. sinkingfeeling Feb 2025 #71

It was also about the time 2,000 radio stations and Faux News maxrandb Feb 2025 #79

Wages are a side-effect of a wall street economy with no societal control mdbl Feb 2025 #73

This message was self-deleted by its author CrispyQ Feb 2025 #77

$4.44 an hour bottomofthehill Feb 2025 #80

I once pumped gas for $0.39 per gallon plus stamps! GreenWave Feb 2025 #82

Yup. Republicans have been steadily destroying this country since Nixon was elected. Martin68 Feb 2025 #83

Interesting analysis SpankMe Feb 2025 #85

Started part-time as a cashier at age 16 maxrandb Feb 2025 #88