What You Make

HOW MUCH DO YOU MAKE?

It may be the most taboo question left in our society. And in New York City, where we discuss rents and religion with aplomb, the subject of money still freaks people out. While I’ve often been at a dinner party amongst friends and strangers and unraveled intricate sex stories, the thought of revealing my salary seems too illicit for public discourse.

In our current economic climate (don’t you love how it sounds like a balmy vacation instead of a depressing reality?) honesty may be the only weapon we have to fight for fair and decent compensation for a hard day’s work. That’s why we decided to do the impossible: Ask young people working in New York to disclose what they earned last year. We didn’t want to exploit unsuspecting people, rather, with all the fear surrounding pay cuts, layoffs, furloughs and salary manipulation, we figured the only way we could possibly understand the situation was to stop talking in vague abstractions and arm ourselves with concrete facts.

You see, in America, choice (in jobs, housing, lover, etc.) is directly proportional to the amount of money one makes. That’s why youth remains subservient to the older, dominant class. Since we’re not talking about the poor— unfortunately they have been excluded from this conversation—we must find a way to empower the younger members of our work force.

They are the ones who have less choice and are therefore exposed to exploitation. We chose 22 as the starting age since that’s when most people begin looking for their first job after college. We decided to cut it off at the ripe younger-than-Jesus age of 32, since it’s 10 years from when one hypothetically entered the job market and it’s usually when one reaches his or her thirties that certain job opportunities (and increased compensation) begin to materialize. Those 10 years can be difficult, as I know from experience.

I was just out of college and landed my first job: an admissions counselor for my alma mater. I made $26,000 a year. I told myself that as long as those numerals before the zeroes were greater than my age, I’d be OK. I also freelanced as a writer to earn extra income and to gain more experience as I tried to pay college loans, a mountain of credit card debit, rent and other expenses. Unlike many of my friends, my parents didn’t have the resources to help, so I supported myself on my own. When I spent too much time focusing on my debt, a black cloud descended, so instead I just kept working my ass off. That was 10 years ago. I’ve had a fair share of luck along the way, and I am currently the editor of a weekly newspaper in the most amazing American city. And I now make close to $56,000 a year. There, I wrote it. I know it will incite criticism, jokes—maybe even jealousy—but I feel I must out of fairness to those who participated in this survey.

In any event, I also continue to freelance and work hard to make ends meet. I live with my partner, a graduate student, and somehow manage to support us both. But it’s not easy.

Although I keep an open mind about such things, it’s been even harder learning what others my age and younger earn. One blogger told me that he earned $75,000 last year, and it felt like a punch to gut. But even more disheartening is the fact that young talented people are forced to live below the poverty line and scrape by with multiple, thankless, mindnumbing jobs.

I also hope our efforts add some perspective to those entering the job market or doubt their own self-worth. Since starting this project, I’ve had people openly mock me. I’ve had people look at me like I was an idiot. I’ve had people apologize and give emphatic explanations for why they couldn’t possibly let anyone know their money situation. Mostly people ignored me. But a few brave, intrepid individuals did decide to open up and reveal what is considered so sacrosanct. Some let us print photos, while others wanted a level of anonymity.

What we hope we have provided is a starting point, a template from which others can compare and contrast. We don’t intend to criticize or sneer. We just hope people get paid what they deserve. —Jerry Portwood

Andy M., 25, Service Industry, unemployed Roughly $30,000

“I was a concierge at a Midtown hotel. I made $18 an hour, roughly $30k a year (working 40 hours a week). I quit to be an intern at an art gallery, but they didn’t hire me. I have a little bit of money left from concierging, but otherwise I charge everything [on my credit cards] and am running up debt.”

Erik H., 25, Post-Production Supervisor $34,600

“I freelance as a video editor as well as a videographer to help make ends meet. My father pays for a good chunk of my health insurance, and I have a small sum of money in a CD leftover from my parents saving for my college education.”

Brittany M., 23, Bottle Host, Blogger $13,000

“So basically my 18-year-old sister makes more than I do, and she's in retail. My yearly salary covers my rent and nothing else. I do a lot of freelance work as well. I have to—or I’d starve to death.

“I'm going to law school in the fall, and I don’t really know how I’m going to pay for that. Maybe I’ll browse the ‘adult gigs’ section on Craigslist. I’m kidding! My mom would kill me.”

Melanie G., 29, Project Manager $52,000

“I made $38,000 as an assistant, and when I took this job the salary was $52,000 with a possible bonus, which I got last month. After taxes it’s like $27,000, plus I pay $500 each month in student loans, and I have insane credit card debt. “I took a second job at a restaurant down the street from my apartment in January, but I only make about $100 a night. I was working three nights a week for two months but I got really tired, so I’ve moved down to two.”

Heather E., 29, Pharmaceutical Sales Rep $80,000

“Salary plus bonus comes to 80K. I also receive a company car.”

Jim J., 30, Software Sales Engineer $160,000

“Less this year: We all received 5 percent pay cuts.”

David H., 23, Public Relations $50,000

“I was laid off from public relations a week before Christmas. I was making just under $50,000 a year at the time. I picked up some freelance clients, and recently started freelance writing for several magazines and publications.

I represent a variety of clients for PR purposes, and I also do website copy. “I’m making ends meet at the moment: PR makes my rent, giving me $1,000 to $2,000 a month—sometimes $4,000 to $5,000. Freelance writing makes me anywhere from $200-$500 a pop and this month I have three assignments.”

John S., 32, Book Publishing Project Manager $28,000

“When I was working full time, I was Also working at a bar under the table. I was fired a few months ago, and now I collect unemployment and make an average of $120 a night but sometimes less than $80. Right now I’m only working two nights a week and looking for work.”

Ryan J., 25, office administration, unemployed $28,000

“I was working in an architecture office, but after being laid off, I am on the dole. Now I make $363 a week. A freelance web project may get me an additional $1,000. Freelance PR may get me another $150 a day. I live with my boyfriend and we manage somehow.”

Joshua X., 25, Freelance Camera Operator $47,000

“The breakdown is that I made $35,000 from a production company I shoot with regularly. I also PA’ed a bit, making $5,000. I also take still photos and taught an after-school program: video and photo to kids one day a week at a school in Tribeca.”

George G., 25, Freelance Writer $100,000

“I freelance for a travel magazine and several NYC-based newspapers and magazines. I make approximately $100,000 a year, however, from a real estate trust that I inherited. I know, a trustfund kid. It gives me the freedom to pursue a career in writing and journalism.

Abigail C., 26, Publicity Manager $59,000 “I lived off peanut butter and jelly before this job.”

Isobella J., 26, Parts Model Less than $36,000

“I can make $1,000 a day for shooting an ad campaign and $250-$350 for editorial work. On the job I get a lot of free shoes and beauty products, so I don’t have to spend much on those items. I eat pasta, which is like $1 a box. I make ends meet because I am also a freelance writer and a public speaker. I just signed a book deal for a graphic novel, which helps.”

Mike L., 23, Sixth Grade English Teacher $42,000

“I sometimes supplement my income by working as a stagehand for a theater company. I get paid $20 an hour and $30 for overtime (anything after 10 hours, which I almost always get).”

Danielle D., 25, Advertising Media Buyer $47,000

I receive some money from my parents: $31,200 untaxed. This is to help with rent and living because living in the city on my salary would have me living under the George Washington Bridge.”

Linnea C., 27, Bartender, Freelancer $12,000

“I’ve been living on measly student loans, and I supplemented my income by working off-the books as a bartender. On a good day I would make around $300, but usually it’s closer to $200. I freelance as a writer but still am not making more then $400 on any given week, but I do manage to squeak by on the bar funds, solo gigs, a 10-hour-a-week data-entry job I do while catching up on Battlestar Galactica and some random babysitting. “How do I do it? I live in Bed- Stuy, so rent is cheap. I drink at my bar, and I like to have and go to dinner parties rather then spending all my dough at the hippest restaurants. Sometimes, when things are tough, I auction off old CDs, DVDs, clothes and such on eBay.”

Thomas W., 28, Advertising Account Director $65,000

“I pack my lunch everyday. I highly recommend using the CoinStar at PathMark to cash in change. If you fill a 20-ounce water bottle with dimes it equals exactly $100, which can be a crucial shot in the arm at the end of the month. I attend every meeting in the office that has free food, no matter how busy I am, and I take the leftovers and pack some in the fridge at work. I also take some home for dinner later in the week.”

Shawn M., 23, Manager of Midtown Restaurant $45,000 “I also bartend on the weekends in the East Village.”

Adam W., 24, Part-Time Library Information Asst. $14,706 “When I started working part time, I lost my benefits. To help pay for my own health insurance every month, I scalp concert tickets online (it’s legal thanks to Ticketmaster). So far, I have been able to cover my $150 emergency health insurance every month by selling tickets on eBay. I also make money with freelance writing, though I just started so it’s not a steady income.”

Peter S., 23, High School Math Teacher $48,000 “I have four roommates. A few of us trade off cooking duties to cut the cost of food. I also took a travel camp job over the summer for a bit of extra cash. Mostly it was the free vacation with free meals that made it a great idea.”

Kari S., 22, Waitress $36,000 “I also bartend on the side.”

Trevor R., 23, Living Statue, Freelance Stage Manager $5 to $200 a day “I am very interested in transformation. Transforming myself from human to statue but also transforming the space in which I’m performing. I love that what I do causes people to question reality; they often don't know whether to classify me as a ‘fake statue’ or a ‘real person.’ No matter who a passerby is, they always have some sort of reaction, and it is those reactions—forcing people to ask questions—or even just do a quick double take, that keep me exploring the art of human statue performance and mime.”

Tod S., 30, Photographer,
Photo Assistant
$18,000
“I also sell eBay stuff, bartend, work parties and openings. There’s also the occasional manual labor gigs. Oh, and I barter/trade with people.”



Laura, 27,
Media/Television Manager of Administration & Operations
$60,000
“One thing that I do to make sure I make the most of my meager salary is to participate in all of the tax savings that are offered through medical flex spending accounts, my 401k and transit check, etc. I find that those things do really help! I also take advantage of my
contacts at other media companies to attend as many screenings and get as many free DVDs as I can to occupy myself outside of work!”

Eric M., 31,
Actor, Dancer,
Choreographer
$58,000
“I’m a struggling Broadway actor, so my boyfriend pays my rent because my last show ended March 15.”

Anisha B., 23,
Hostess at a Downtown Restaurant
$28,000
“I date a lot, which means that I get to have nice meals now and then.”

Yves A., 28,
Pharmaceutical Systems Analyst
$75,000
“Just moved from New Jersey, so had time to save money.”

Marin R., 32,
Editor
$28,000
“When I was an oh-so-overpaid twenty-something working as a slothly insurance broker, I made $70,000 per year, plus a $10,000 bonus and received $20,000 toward my masters in business administration. But I grew tired of my boss placing his pitch-fork up my butt and quit my job to become a writer in hopes of fulfilling a lifelong prophesy of spiritual joy. I finally reached $28K as a cub reporter, but we were all just told we had to take a two-week, unpaid furlough, resulting in a salary decrease of $1,600. This is after our boss bought himself a new Saab. After watching him fire a sports reporter— who had worked for the company for more than 15 years—for no good reason, I’m not sure if I’ll be making anything by the time this prints. Sometimes principle is more important than money, even in a bad economy.”

Shana S., 27, Theater Production $26,000 “I run the paint department for a scenery shop and make about $15,000. On the side I also do window displays for boutiques and freelance scenic painting. Altogether I make about $26,000 a year.”

Mary P., 32,
Museum Administration
$81,000

Roger C., 25,
President of a Modeling Agency
$85,000
“I also date runway models. And have a trust fund.”

Sheila M., 28, Freelance Writer $55,000 “Last year was the first year that I ever made over $25,000. I got laid off and don’t expect to make anything near that amount anytime soon. Right now my liquid capital consists of fifty one-dollar bills rubber-banded together that I made working coat check.”

Jean-Paul T., 31,
Assistant, Economic Consulting Firm
$58,000
“I don’t own a credit card, so it can be tough sometimes living on my own in a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan when there’s a sample sale or a brunch date. Sometimes I charge lunch at work, which is then deducted from my biweekly check. Still living paycheck to paycheck, so I have been known to cash in some used books at the Strand or do the Amazon marketplace thing when things are tight.But we still received our bonuses, so I’m looking forward to a little splurge when that finally arrives.”

Dhinya R., 27,
Graphic designer
$76,000

Anthony J., 28, International Affairs Program Asst. $45,000 “I live alone in the East Village but have begun searching for a better deal. I supplement my salary with freelance writing gigs. I recently switched gyms so I could get a better deal. I’m also a pretty good cook, so I don’t mind eating in.”

Leonora E., 23,
Perma-lance Magazine Assistant
$38,000
“I also did about $3,000 worth of extra freelance writing in 2008, most of which went toward frivolities. Moved back in with my parents (who wants to date me now?) on the UWS in February to save money to travel/move to Paris for a year. I’ve become pretty good at saving by not drinking anymore. When you drink, it doesn’t just end up being a martini you pay for—if you're out you get hungry, so it’s dinner in a restaurant, plus the inevitable cab home."

Prince S., 26,
Photographer
$30,000
“I freelance for a newspaper, advertising company and a nonprofit organization’s newsletters. I’m also a nude model for a drawing class.”

Julliane H., 28,
Yoga instructor
$20,000
“I’m trying to find a husband, but in the meantime, I have very generous parents. I feel it’s not about the money, it’s about a state of mind.”