I made like $30k in 2014. I wasn't poor by any stretch, but suggesting I hire cleaners was a clear indicator of how out of touch she was with the lower half of the middle class.

[–] CluckN@lemmy.world 13 points 9 months ago (2 children)

That’s what $14 an hour? That’s minimum wage in most U.S states.

[–] brianorca@lemmy.world 17 points 9 months ago

It is now but the comment mentioned 2014.

[–] spicytuna62@lemmy.world 9 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I graduated college in '14 and got my first professional job that August. I made $17.09 an hour and I was an 85% FTE. I was still in grad school at the time (never finished, whoops). That inflates to right about $22 today, if the BLS' inflation numbers are to be trusted. Or about $39k at 85% FTE

My rent was $800 in uptown Oklahoma City.

Again, I was doing alright for a single guy with a bachelor's degree at 22 with little work experience. I kept my bills and rent paid. I got to buy a PC component every once in a while. Sure, I wasn't going on vacation every year, but I wasn't starving.

But I was a long way away from hiring cleaners. I couldn't really afford a therapist back then. Which I desperately needed more than I realized.

Oklahoma's minimum wage still follows federal, but most places do start at $9 or $10 anymore. Still not nearly enough. And that's really in the city. Out in the sticks, you're making $7.25.