I sah now, but when I was working it was 23% of our hhi. If I worked full time, it would have been 30%.
I plan to go back to work, but paying for 3 in HCOL childcare was astronomical. My field is non profit, so I wasn't exactly making a ton of money anyway.
According to our 2015 W2s, I made about $1,500 more than H last year. H got a raise in the fall and will outearn me this year, but I have a higher longterm earning potential if we stay in our current positions/career trajectories.
Eta: This sort of makes me sad, because even though I don't want to, I'd never have the option to SAH if I did want to. We need my income too much.
We're a co-breadwinner family (gross salary I'm at 44% of his).
While we could live on my salary alone, it would require major lifestyle modifications. We could more comfortably live on DH's salary alone, so technically despite being a co-breadwinner, my salary is "optional."
We are in a much better position when we are both working. 3 kids requiring $$$ childcare (even after starting public school, we're looking at $140/week for before/after school care for our oldest) is going to hurt in the sense that I will be signing over 70% of my net pay to childcare. After paying for childcare and commuting costs, I'll be working full time for $800ish a month in our checking account. But I like working, I do not like SAH, and if you look at my entire compensation package, the numbers are less bleak. I save moderately for retirement (13%), get a matched contribution from my employer (5%), and carry our awesome health insurance. There are a lot of benefits to being a dual income family and my job does not feel optional to either of us.
Post by awkwardpenguin on Feb 12, 2016 15:33:00 GMT -5
I am the non-gestational parent for the time being, but obviously women are the economic backbone of our family. DW is about to take a new job where she will make about 2/3rds of our HHI, and I will make about 1/3rd and carry our benefits.
I made $100 more then H in 2015. And I was on maternity leave (not paid) the first month. I was actually surprised since he gets OT at his job. But I switched jobs in the fall and make more then him.
I am not working currently, but we are a household of two women. When I was working previously I earned about 40% of our HHI. She has been promoted since so I'd probably be down to 1/3 of HHI, unless she changes jobs. Long term I suspect we'll be 60/40, but there are so many variables it's hard to say for sure.
Post by mandapanda18 on Feb 12, 2016 15:38:02 GMT -5
I am the breadwinner, H is now self-employed again as a general contractor, but he is still building his business back up (did this in the early 2000's before the housing crisis/crash). I am in management, make 6 figures and have the best benefits possible (State University). My W-2 said the cost of my medical/dental/eap/life insurance, etcs was $28k and change.
I cover the mortgage (which is our only debt after selling our last house at a profit) and all benefits, H's income is going straight to savings.
I make about 60% of our HHI. I will always make more than him, although by the time he reaches his max I will only make about 55% (unless I eventually become a Superintendent).
Post by charlotteandwilbur on Feb 12, 2016 15:39:35 GMT -5
We were very close to 50-50 for a very long time, but recently H's income has taken a jump. Still close though. I bring home about 45% and he does 55%.
Post by badtzmaru22 on Feb 12, 2016 15:42:28 GMT -5
Co-breadwinners! Woop woop!! I also carry all our benefits, so while DH makes more $$ than me, I feel like the value of my benefits makes us more equal.
I make around 2/3rds of our HHI. If you include my fringe benefits (car, allowances, etc) it's probably close to 2x DH's income. I would still consider us co-breadwinners because his salary is significant to our budget. I think a primary breadwinner would be more like >75% of income, co is 25-75%. It enrages me when people are surprised that I'm going back to work.
Post by penguingrrl on Feb 12, 2016 16:03:35 GMT -5
I SAH. At the time I left the workforce I made roughly half of what H made. If I were making now what I did then I would be bringing in about 15% of our HHI.
Primary Breadwinner, I make about 60% of our income.
We pretty much throw all your gender stereotypes out the window in our house as I am an engineer and my husband is a teacher. Our kiddo isn't here yet, but I expect MH to end up doing more of the child care than I do because he will already be home on snow days and summer breaks. We already plan for him to take 12 weeks of paternity leave and to drop down to part-time daycare over the summer.
We made about the same before I started SAH. I've been home almost six years and DH's income has nearly doubled, so we're right around the same total now.
Post by leonard131 on Feb 12, 2016 16:29:40 GMT -5
I am sort of a special snow flake. For the most part we make close to the same when you count my bonus but when his business is doing well he can some times out earn my base by 30-40% . There were years where I out earned him by quite a bit and we are realistic to know that could happen again anytime so not to get too comfortable with things.
My DH makes about 7x what I make. I work PT and carry the health insurance. I am pretty underpaid but have a flexible job. Dh makes a good wage especially for our COL. Once I pay benefits and max my retirement I make under 5k a year- we pay like 12-15k a year in daycare.
Post by estrellita on Feb 12, 2016 16:37:26 GMT -5
We're about even I think. I get paid a decent amount more than his base pay, but his commission bumps his total income up to around the same as mine. Of course all the benefits come out of mine so my paycheck is way smaller.
I used to be right around 20-25%, but I got two raises this year and my H's income is very stable year-over-year.
I am up to about 33%. I have the potential to increase my income considerably in the next few years, whereas my H will likely continue to earn about what he does now or less depending on the payor system in healthcare going forward.
I imagine, however, unless I leave academia that I will always make less.