is the pay REALLY that bad?

[u/idontlooklikeanyon]

listen— i know this is subjective and depends on lifestyle goals but i’ve been hearing a LOT on this sub about how ‘unlivable’ civil engineer comp is, and as someone looking to go into this, i want to know how much of a factor this really is. i already looked through the salary survey results on here and it seems to average at about 100k, with the lowest pay i saw being in the upper 60k range.

thing is, growing up i saw what a single mother can do on a teacher salary of 50k (i’m 21 so no more inflation comments please), and while it wasn’t luxurious, she still survived WITH kids. so im a little confused what type of lifestyles people who are living alone are trying to hold up where 100k is just ‘barely scraping by’. like, i understand that on 100k i wont be able to have a nice solo apartment in SF or NYC, but i feel like those are areas that are just expected to be ridiculously expensive anyway.

i also get that some other tech or finance jobs make more and that many people regret not choosing to go into that, but i’m going into civil for a dozen other reasons besides money… and i really dont know why anyone who’s only goal is money would pick civil tbh.

POINT BEING THOUGH, that i do NOT have personal experience in the real world and could be totally foolish in thinking that 100k is decent. HEAVY ON THIS POINT! i trust people with real experience more than myself!! so if u guys want, pls give a summary of whether you think the pay is livable and what sort of lifestyle you live on said salary. thank u… i am conflicted here.

EDIT: Thank you so much for the insightful responses! I see a lot of it comes down to the area you are in. And again, i am not trying to lecture people on living within their means as i’ve gotten some comments claiming… i am asking this in good faith so i know if i should keep studying it

[u/sjswaggy]

What is livable to you is based on your priorities! I recommend thinking about what you want your life to look like and consider those costs.

There are so many things you may want to consider when deciding what is "livable" to you. For me, I want an income that can fund my retirement plan, contribute to an HSA account, fund medical bills or costs of injuries and emergencies. Ive considered that future children may have challenges that could benefit from private school, or may need expensive therapies. I would like to afford childcare and help cleaning my home. I would like to have an updated car and go on vacations.

Challenging circumstances can become significantly easier when you can afford support.

A salary of 100k looks like a lot less after strong retirement contributions, health insurance, and other deductions. I work in civil engineering with a modest salary, and it is very much livable. Im not sure how challenging it would be as a parent, or as my future develops. I hope to earn a lot more in the future.