28 Employees earning over $200k talk about how they landed their jobs: 'I have no idea what I'm doing half the time, but I'm told no one does'

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Isabella Penn
Jun 8, 2024 8:00 PM EDT

There's no doubt that inflation is getting the best of most of the workforce. Employees' goal used to be to reach six figures or make $100k, but now, with the prices skyrocketing, $200k seems to be the new goal. And according to this thread, there are a lot of employees making over that threshold. But how did they do it? There are so many jobs out there that it's impossible to know about all of them. Well, with the help of these 28 employees below, they break down how they got to where they are and if they actually enjoy their jobs. 

There are some workers who love their jobs and are eager to share about them, other workers who are indifferent but aren't going to quit because of the salary, and other employees who make loads of money but absolutely despise their job (spoiler alert: there's a lot of lawyers in the conversation). Whether you're in one of the industries listed below or not, perhaps it's time for a career change. Take a look at the responses below and see if any of them grab your attention.

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  • 01
    r/AskReddit ⚫ 17 hr. ago H-U-1-3 For those that make over $200k a year, what do you do?
    via u/H-U-I-3
  • 02
    SirSwole • 15h ago Lawyer at a big law firm. Wouldn't recommend it.
    via u/SirSw0le
  • 03
    Princess_Snuggles • 17h ago Woodworker. I have relationships with high end interior designers in NYC but don't live there. My work appears regularly in magazines and galleries.
    via u/Princess_Snuggles
  • 04
    TheAppleCriesAtMidni • 17h ago Software Engineer at a FAANG company. Dont really feel qualified but I don't plan on leaving until they fire me
    via u/TheAppleCriesAtMidni
  • 05
    . shirikenz 14h ago I work on old mcdonalds farm I'm their CIEIO
    via u/shirikenz
  • 06
    Aeronaut_condor • 13h ago Airline pilot. Been flying professionally since 1997. Was an aircraft mechanic before that. I grew up at an airport. Was flying before I could legally drive. Unlike some people I know, I love the job. I can't believe I get paid to do it. I own an antique plane and I fly warbirds for a couple museums doing rides and airshows. I've also been an electrician and electrical contractor. Flying is the best way to make a living I can imagine.
    via u/Aeronaut_condor
  • 07
    EnzolovestoLatch • 13h ago $240k plus discretionary annual bonus. Michelin Starred private Chef. Left the industry for this one family. They are no one important. No NDA's. They just have a cyber security company in the Bay Area. 25-40 hours a week.
    via u/EnzolovestoLatch
  • 08
    Affectionate-Memory4 13h ago • Edited 7h ago Photolithography researcher at Intel. Nearly 300k this year. All it took was over a decade of higher education* and being in the right place in contact with the right people. I have no idea what I'm doing half the time lol, but I'm told nobody actually does. *BSc Electrical engineering (5 years), MSc Computer engineering(3 years), PhD semiconductor physics(4 years). All that, and I had to look up Ohm's law yesterday.
    via u/Affectionate-Memory4
  • 09
    Aromatic_Length_5450 16h ago Salmon sperm dealer. Business is bustin' don't ask how we get it.
    via u/Aromatic_Length_5450
  • 10
    KampferMann . 15h ago I made my money the old fashioned way, I got run over by a Lexus.
    via u/KampferMann
  • 11
    Few-Budget-3223 • 17h ago Cyber Security and Compliance for 2500 employee company
    via u/Few-Budget-3223
  • 12
    limitbreakse • 15h ago I play with excel and make nice PowerPoints and am good at presenting
    via u/limitbreakse
  • 13
    • zeroentanglements 17h ago I might clear 200 this year depending on my bonus... I'm a senior level construction manager
    via u/zeroentanglements
  • 14
    Sugar_Cane_320 • 17h ago Airline pilot
    via u/Sugar_Cane_320
  • 15
    ☑ the-keen-one 17h ago Edited 14h ago • Being over 30/40 is one of the important factors, often overlooked. Most people don't make good money when they're young. They don't have knowledge or experience. Gaining knowledge and experience delivers more money. If you're good at what you do.
    via u/the-keen-one
  • 16
    Losaj • 14h ago Inflation is really taking it's toll. I remember when this question would be posted at $100,000.
    via u/Losaj
  • 17
    • -Kaldore- 15h ago Not consistent but I make between 180-220 depending on the year as a crane operator.
    via u/-Kaldore-
  • 18
    • Yummy_cutieX 16h ago. Registered nurse in a LCOL state. I work at a hospital with unlimited OT. Will gross $225K+ this year.
    via u/Yummy_cutieX
  • 19
    gandolffood • 16h ago Printing press operation at the mint.
    via u/gandolffood
  • 20
    ILLEGAL_TRAIN_PARTS • 14h ago Electrical Engineer. To you young people... YOU NEED TO CHANGE COMPANIES. Whenever you feel like you are 1) taking on new roles without your pay increasing significantly or 2) if you feel ready to take on new roles. You will never keep pace with inflation or get ahead at one employer.
    via u/ILLEGAL_TRAIN_PARTS
  • 21
    NaturallyTiny • 16h ago Law. $185k total comp. But my best financial move was marrying a doctor.
    via u/NaturallyTiny
  • 22
    Cheesy Discharge . 14h ago I make around $170K, but my wife's target compensation is around $1.8 million ($700K base plus stock and bonus which varies). She's a C-Level executive at a Fortune 500 company. I'm a Software Engineer.
    via u/Cheesy_Discharge
  • 23
    ThisIsGettinWeird Now • 17h ago I visit Zimbabwe and exchange my local currency
    via u/ThisIsGettinWeirdNow
  • 24
    SweetCosmicPope • 16h ago I do not (far from it), but last year when our company posted the job opening for our IT Infrastructure Manager the salary was posted as $350k. I found myself wishing I'd started my career about 10 years earlier.
    via u/SweetCosmicPope
  • 25
    JHarbinger ⚫14h ago • Edited 9h ago Podcast, but I was very early to market and got lucky (as well as sticking with it for a long time). Edit: it's The Jordan Harbinger Show for those that have asked (and wow it's been a lot of you). LMK what you think of the show if you're new. Unless you hate it. Then maybe keep that to yourself ;) Edit2: when I left the law to do the show, everyone said I was an idiot. Don't let other peoples idea of what constitutes a safe career stop you from taking a shot
    via u/JHarbinger
  • 26
    what_the_hezz • 14h ago It'd be nice if we also knew where people were from. 200k in a place like Mississippi is not the same as 200k in California or New York
    via u/what_the_hezz
  • 27
    Jaxonian • 17h ago Pretend that I make over 200k so that I can sell people coaching advice on how to live. their life to make over 200k themselves therefore achieving my original goal of making over 200k... (satire)
    via u/Jaxonian
  • 28
    . Lifting_Breh 14h ago Corporate lawyer. (I make substantially more than $200k but it is a miserable, miserable gig.)
    via u/Lifting_Breh
  • 29
    . landmanpgh • 15h ago Landman in the oil and gas industry. I make around $300k/year. I do mostly title work, which is basically researching the history of a piece of property and creating a report that shows everything that ever happened with it. It's a lot of fun, just crazy high pressure at times because the companies are pretty demanding. Worth it, though.
    via u/landmanpgh
  • 30
    Cheezburger Image 10358369280
    via Kelly

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management ask reddit boss jobs employee job lawyer work coworkers demanding 200k busy Reddit company business employment
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