Survey finds recent high school grads expect to earn $90k/year by age 30.

[csnarpy]

Well, I'm past 30 but after 3 years working as an alarm installer I'll be past the 90k/yr mark.

You don't have to in the O&G to earn high wages

Frick, I know some Shaw installers make 120k+

[Red Slinger]

I passed 90k when I was about 32, about 6 years ago. I do work in O&G but I'm not an Engineer and I have a degree in philosophy.

Regarding the study, I'm wondering if the question was posed in terms of 90k at today's rate or 90k factoring in inflation 10 years from now. If it's the latter it isn't necessarily that unrealistic, especially in Alberta.

If you would have asked me or my friends the same question when we were 18 I don't think we could have imagined making that amount of money. 90k was a big number. I think this study demonstrates not only how much the Alberta economy has changed in the last 20 years but also demonstrates the (possibly unrealistic) optimism and feeling of entitlement of the Y-Generation. I know this may sound like I'm telling the kids to get off my lawn, however, I'm not surprised by the results of this survey whatsoever. Every study about Y-Gens comes up with similar results. They have a lot of positives going for them but the sense of entitlement ain't one of them.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by fotze

Oh, you're a T.I.T.

No real surprise there amirite?

it is actually T.T. For some reason we don't get the 'in' in our abbreviations like the engineers do. Must be an iron ring thing...

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by black rubber disc bunny

Maybe they all plan on marrying teachers and running their own businesses - they'll easily be pulling in $300K

Champion should have my user name. Maybe he'd like to buy it from me.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

Some of those that make $90k don't necessarily deserve to make that much. Sometimes it's all about timing. When I was working in O&G there were a number clients in their late 20s to early 30s I met up frequently that made that salary, but they did so due to the boom. Many of them didn't lose their jobs during the bust, and they continue to make that money or more to this day.

Well if they werent cast aside during the bust someone must see the value in their work.

[Violator]

Originally Posted by csnarpy

Well, I'm past 30 but after 3 years working as an alarm installer I'll be past the 90k/yr mark.

You don't have to in the O&G to earn high wages

Frick, I know some Shaw installers make 120k+

Ive met Refrigeration mechanics that make north of 160,000

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Well if they werent cast aside during the bust someone must see the value in their work.

Possibly, or some just got real lucky. It might be true someone sees value in their work, but does the "value" translate to the income they should be making? I would say during the boom days, probably not.

[chemgear]

http://business.financialpost.com/20...the-occupiers/

But there were also a lot of polite, intelligent young people, who would sheepishly tell you (but only when asked) that they were there because they’d tried to do everything right and still weren’t getting ahead. For someone who had high expectations for their life, and finds themselves falling behind while others surge ahead, jealousy and resentment is natural. As much as anything else, their presence at Occupy Toronto is cathartic. It’s a place where they can share their bewilderment about their lack of success with others in a similar boat.

But a new survey of Canada’s youth offers another possible explanation: Young Canadians are financially illiterate, and have no idea how the real world works.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Young Canadians are financially illiterate, and have no idea how the real world works.
[/I]

The more you are given, the less is expected from you. Look at the spelling bee contestants, a good portion of them are non-white immigrants from 3rd world countries for this reason. It's hard to get motivated to achieve anything when you have been pampered throughout your childhood.

[V]

Originally Posted by Tyler

You guys want to make good money?

Work for the City. The pay, benefits and work-life-balance is great.

Or a City owned utility. After 8 years of experience as an engineer I was working 40 hour weeks, got 7 weeks worth of time off and made just into 6 figures.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by chemgear

But a new survey of Canada’s youth offers another possible explanation: Young Canadians are financially illiterate, and have no idea how the real world works.

Given the debt of everyone, I'd say that is almost all across the board for all Canadians younger than 75 years old. There are people on this board double my age, that when I see them talk about their spending habits and how much they spend on electronics/cars/etc, I just shake my head - how can you be so stupid? (FTR I have no debt - no car debt, no mortgage, no loans, etc)

[V]

Originally Posted by fotze

Oh, you're a T.I.T.

I worked with a guy who was a Fire Alarm Technician and a Technologist in Training. Best business card ever.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by V

I worked with a guy who was a Fire Alarm Technician and a Technologist in Training. Best business card ever.

Too bad he wasn't a Fire Alarm Technician Assistant

[return to the red]

This thread makes me depressed

[GP_Matt]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Given the debt of everyone, I'd say that is almost all across the board for all Canadians younger than 75 years old. There are people on this board double my age, that when I see them talk about their spending habits and how much they spend on electronics/cars/etc, I just shake my head - how can you be so stupid? (FTR I have no debt - no car debt, no mortgage, no loans, etc)

I don't think it is fair to claim that wasting money means you are financially illiterate or that having debt is bad. Debt is just a tool not good or bad. Some people use it to help themselves while others misuse it and cause harm. Right now the banks are giving away money at slightly less than inflation. (2.25% is the lowest I have seen) Taking that loan to invest in yourself or your company might be a wise decision. As for wasting money, everyone has something that they are passionate about where they might spend unreasonable amounts of money, they may spend significantly less on other areas though. As for myself, I spend way too much money on vacations but I live below my means the rest of the year and it makes me happy. I will go to restaurants on vacation that I wouldn't dream of paying for throughout the year. If you look at just a post about my vacation you would consider me financially illiterate. I of course do not see myself as such.

[GP_Matt]

For anyone looking for a career path I would recommend considering getting their CRSP designation. http://www.bcrsp.ca/
This designation is starting to become a requirement for most companies that have a safety program and certainly most O & G or service companies. Safety is a growth industry right now and a lot of the skills are marketable worldwide.
The downside is that safety is not a glamorous job.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Red Slinger

If you would have asked me or my friends the same question when we were 18 I don't think we could have imagined making that amount of money. 90k was a big number. I think this study demonstrates not only how much the Alberta economy has changed in the last 20 years but also demonstrates the (possibly unrealistic) optimism and feeling of entitlement of the Y-Generation. I know this may sound like I'm telling the kids to get off my lawn, however, I'm not surprised by the results of this survey whatsoever. Every study about Y-Gens comes up with similar results. They have a lot of positives going for them but the sense of entitlement ain't one of them.

Pretty sure it the old farts who have a sense of entitlement (see: racking up debt).

There's gonna be a labour crunch when the boomers retire. Wonder how much that factors in.

[V]

None of them are retiring, they can't afford to anymore.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by V

None of them are retiring, they can't afford to anymore.

Touche.

It's because their kids are still living at home because they're unemployed because the older generation won't retire to make room.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by SebC

Touche.

It's because their kids are still living at home because they're unemployed because the older generation won't retire to make room.

Or because the young workers think they have enough experience to run things, but won't realise for years to come that they in fact did not.