‘Money Dysmorphia Is Real’—The Internet Makes Six Figures Feel Normal. The Actual Income Numbers Tell A Very Different Story
- Personal Finance
ThePostMaster- 0
- 5 minutes read
If you spend even a few minutes on Reddit, TikTok or X, you might come away thinking that everyone is making $150,000 a year and complaining it isn’t enough. But in reality, only a small slice of Americans are actually bringing in that kind of money. According to 2024 data from YouGov, just 18% of U.S. adults earn more than $100,000.
Most People Make Less Than You Think
This disconnect is often described as money dysmorphia, a distorted sense of financial reality where people earning solid or even top-tier incomes still feel like they are falling behind because constant exposure to wealthier lifestyles resets what feels normal.
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The numbers back that up. YouGov found that high earners tend to be older, male and highly educated. For example, only 7% of adults aged 18-24 earn over $100,000, while the number jumps to 25% for those aged 35-44. And while 25% of men are in the six-figure club, just 12% of women are.
Many of those who do earn six figures say it doesn’t feel like a lot. In fact, nearly three in 10 high earners told YouGov that they are just “coping” financially. Almost one in 10 say they find it difficult to manage on their income. A Reddit commenter summed it up this way: “100k is the new 50k.”
Cost of living plays a big role. “$100,000 salary in [New York City] has the same purchasing power as $40-50k in Ohio,” one commenter pointed out. Another wrote, “I make 100k and live simple. I should be able to be ballin.”
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Higher Pay, Higher Satisfaction
Job satisfaction does seem to trend higher among top earners, with 68% of those making more than $100,000 telling YouGov they love their jobs as opposed to 51% of Americans who feel the same way. But that doesn’t mean they’re financially confident. Nearly one in five still worry about whether they’ll be able to afford retirement.
When you’re constantly scrolling through salary flexes and luxury lifestyles, it’s easy to feel like you’re failing even when you’re in the top 20% of earners in the country. As one Redditor put it, “Reddit has me thinking I’m super behind, while statistics all tell me otherwise.”
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