How to Budget an $80,000 Salary (2024)

The answer is simple, darling: the 50/30/20 rule.

How to Budget an $80,000 Salary (1)

Here's the breakdown using an $80,000 salary in NYC (which would be around $60k after taxes)

50%Needs — $30k/year, or $2,500/month

(Rent, utilities, healthcare, groceries, internet. These are the things you cannot live without.)

30%Wants — $18k/year, or $1,500/month

(Gel manicures, subscriptions, workout classes, sushi with the girls, travel)

20%Future-You! — $12k/year, or $1,000/month

(Emergency fund contributions, debt payoff, student loans, retirement contributions etc.)

Here's the thing....

When I started my financial journey, I was FAR OFF from these ratios. You don't just hit 50/30/20 overnight... And it took a YEAR of monthly money dates to get there. Consistency is key! And now that I am within the ratios, life is so much better because I'm living within my means and putting money toward my future every damn month.

As I was working towards the 50/30/20 ratios in my own finances, I also built The Money Book which has become my best-selling budgeting template. What makes it so special is that you input your income/ spending and it shows you how close you are to the 50/30/20 ratios. No literally- it will do the math for you & makes budgeting really easy.

So if you need some extra help, I recommend using my Money Book to figure out your ratios for you or take the next step and take my ultimate budgeting course, Start Here.

How to Budget an $80,000 Salary (2024)

FAQs

How to Budget an $80,000 Salary? ›

Is $80K a good salary for a single person? $80,000 is about $5,000 higher than the U.S. median household income, so many people would consider it very good for a single person. “Good” is always a relative term when it comes to salary; whether or not the amount you earn covers your expenses is a highly personal dynamic.

Is $80,000 a good salary for a single? ›

Is $80K a good salary for a single person? $80,000 is about $5,000 higher than the U.S. median household income, so many people would consider it very good for a single person. “Good” is always a relative term when it comes to salary; whether or not the amount you earn covers your expenses is a highly personal dynamic.

What can I afford with an 80K salary? ›

With an $80,000 annual salary in today's market, you can possibly afford a home priced between $263,000 and $336,000. This estimate will vary based on a borrower's down payment amount, existing debt payments, and current interest rates.

How much should you save if you make $80000 a year? ›

To determine just how much you will need to save to generate the income that you need, one easy-to-use formula is to divide your desired annual retirement income by 4%, which is known as the 4% rule. For an income of $80,000, you would need a retirement nest egg of about $2 million ($80,000 /0.04).

Can you survive off of 80K a year? ›

Depending on the size of your family or household, an $80,000 salary may comfortably cover your living expenses. If other people in your household, such as children, depend on your income, consider how much it costs to pay for their living expenses in addition to your own.

What percentage of Americans make 80K? ›

Distribution of personal income in 2022 according to US Census data
Income rangeNumber of peopleProportion (%)
At or below
$77,500 to $79,9991,795,00078.33
$80,000 to $82,4993,899,00079.96
$82,500 to $84,9991,502,00080.59
47 more rows

Can I afford a 400k house with an 80K salary? ›

For example, at current mortgage rates, borrowers with an FHA loan and a 10% down payment would need to earn about $70,000 a year to afford a $400,000 house. Borrowers with a conventional loan and a 20% down payment would need a salary of $100,000 or more.

Is 80k a year middle class? ›

One common way to classify the upper middle class is based on income. The upper middle class is often defined as the top 15% to 20% of earners. According to the Social Security Administration's 2022 wage data, the average upper-middle-class income was roughly between $80,000 and $100,000.

How much is 80k a year hourly? ›

$80,000 a year is how much an hour? If you make $80,000 a year, your hourly salary would be $38.46.

Is 80k high income? ›

United States households have a median income of $80,000, according to the 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics report. $57,200 is the national annual salary if you work 52 weeks a year. An annual salary of $80,000 is higher than the average wage in the United States and much higher than the minimum wage.

What is the 50 20 30 rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings.

How to budget an 80,000 salary? ›

How to Budget an $80,000 Salary
  1. The answer is simple, darling: the 50/30/20 rule. ‍
  2. 50% Needs — $30k/year, or $2,500/month. (Rent, utilities, healthcare, groceries, internet. ...
  3. 30% Wants — $18k/year, or $1,500/month. (Gel manicures, subscriptions, workout classes, sushi with the girls, travel)
  4. 20% Future-You!

How much social security will I get if I make $80,000 a year? ›

Here's the starting benefit for each of those same final annual incomes, if you wait until age 70: Final pay of $80,000: benefit of $2,433 monthly, $29,196 yearly.

Is $80,000 a good salary for a single person? ›

An $80,000 annual salary might sound like a decent pile of money — and in fact it's about $10K higher than the national median household income of $70,784. However, a recent Bankrate study found that financial distress can strike even those making $80,000 per year.

What is upper class income? ›

Upper-middle class: $94,001 – $153,000. Upper class: greater than $153,000.

What is the middle class salary? ›

As of 2022 (the most recent Census data), the average median household income in the U.S. was $73,914, meaning the national range for the middle class is roughly $49,271 to $147,828. Across the nation's largest cities, the range is between $51,558 and $154,590, according to SmartAsset.

Is 80K a year middle class for a single person? ›

The upper middle class is often defined as the top 15% to 20% of earners. According to the Social Security Administration's 2022 wage data, the average upper-middle-class income was roughly between $80,000 and $100,000.

What is a decent income for a single person? ›

To live “comfortably” as a single person in 99 of the largest U.S. metro areas, you'll need a median income of $93,933, according to a recent SmartAsset analysis.

What is considered high income for a single person? ›

For a single individual, $100,000 would actually put you in the upper-income level in most places. For household sizes between two and four, $100,000 a year would put you squarely in the middle class.

Is $75000 a good salary for a single person? ›

If you make $75,000 a year, you're earning more than half of all workers in the U.S. And in fact, many people would probably consider the salary as good pay. After all, a $75,000 salary works out to around $6,250 per month, $1,442.31 per week, or $36.06 an hour.

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