Do You Know How Much You've Earned in Your Lifetime?
By LooeyVille
@LooeyVille (69)
United States
January 3, 2026 6:48am CST
I was studying my Social Security statement this morning. You might have something similar if you're outside the United States.
It lists how much you earned or reported earnings over your lifetime.
I won't say how much mine was because some of you already think I'm a rich snob (I'm neither rich nor a snob) but let's just say that I was pleased with the figure.
I worked from 1981-2017 which is 36 years. You've got to keep in mind that in 1981 I was only 16 years old, so I worked very few hours at a very low minimum wage (I seem to recall it was $3.15/hr).
Now they also say that you should save at least 10% of your overall earnings. I am happy to say that I've managed to save (with help from investments and 401(k)) about 27% of what I earned over the years.
That allows me to live comfortably and as @porwest always says, it's gives me FREEDOM and CHOICES.
Do you have any idea how much you've earned in your lifetime? Have you been diligent about saving money for your retirement?
6 people like this
6 responses
@just4him (320669)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
3 Jan
I've seen the amount on my statement. As I don't have it in front of me, I don't know the amount. My first job was $1.88 an hour. My first monthly check in the military was $388 per month. Pay increases have made a huge difference in what people earn over their working career. Mine started in 1972 and continued until 2011 I think.
2 people like this
@porwest (111884)
• United States
3 Jan
What is interesting is that if you look at the ratios of income say, in the 70s vs. income today, the value of each dollar was dramatically different. In the 70s $1 was worth quite a lot more than it is today and people earned well above their cost of living. That's not true today.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (81620)
• United States
3 Jan
How much have I earned? Short answer is DKDC (don't know, don't care).
I do know that I've earned enough to never be homeless, to never be without transportation, to never be without clothes, and to never be without food. As Psalm 23 says, my cup overflows.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (210006)
• United States
4 Jan
I have no idea; but hubby and I were quite comfortable. We always thought about retirement which, unfortunately, a lot of people do not. I started working at 14 at $.70 per hour. During the summer I would revel in my $28.00 checks because I worked 40 hours some weeks.
1 person likes this
@porwest (111884)
• United States
3 Jan
I always find the "statements" rather interesting. As for the actual amount I have earned over my lifetime it's so hard to actually determine. I mean, I've owned real estate, held private equity, invested in the stock market, earned from online activities and other ventures. Not all of that "shows up" on a balance sheet...
Especially when some of it is sent to the Caymans. 
1 person likes this
@porwest (111884)
• United States
3 Jan
@LooeyVille Yeah, it skews things. Lots of things were written off or creatively dealt with over the years.
1 person likes this
@LooeyVille (69)
• United States
3 Jan
I was only counting money reported to government. I too had rental property , etc
1 person likes this
