What does having it all mean in the U.S.? How do we know if we “have it all”. I am not hugely materialistic, but I certainly am not a fan of being broke, been there done that. Living in The United States, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, we have almost limitless opportunity. it got me thinking….what are the five hallmarks of material success in The United States?
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1. A Well Rounded Education
Having a great education almost always precedes material success, or continues generational success. I am not only talking about college, but rather any training that gives a person a high degree of skill that allows them to be productive. This could mean being self-taught, mentored, or a formal education. A well-rounded education gives some the social skills to succeed in their field, which is hugely important.
Top Ten U.S. Universities with Weblinks and Estimated Cost Per Year
- Harvard University Website: Harvard University Cost: Approximately $75,000 per year (2022-2023 academic year)
- Stanford University Website: Stanford University Cost: Approximately $78,000 per year (2022-2023 academic year)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Website: MIT Cost: Approximately $75,000 per year (2022-2023 academic year)
- California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Website: Caltech Cost: Approximately $78,000 per year (2022-2023 academic year)
- Princeton University Website: Princeton University Cost: Approximately $73,000 per year (2022-2023 academic year)
- Yale University Website: Yale University Cost: Approximately $76,000 per year (2022-2023 academic year)
- University of Chicago Website: University of Chicago Cost: Approximately $80,000 per year (2022-2023 academic year)
- Columbia University Website: Columbia University Cost: Approximately $80,000 per year (2022-2023 academic year)
- University of Pennsylvania Website: University of Pennsylvania Cost: Approximately $78,000 per year (2022-2023 academic year)
- Johns Hopkins University Website: Johns Hopkins University Cost: Approximately $77,000 per year (2022-2023 academic year)
2. The Whip
Your car says a lot about you in American society, like it or not. The nicer your car, the more status one is typically automatically assigned. Someone with a car that looks dirty and beat up can be indicating a lack of status in social situations, which can be detrimental to them when it comes to pursuing a mate, or influencing others. I am not saying its right, but it certainly is true.
Top 10 Luxury Cars
These luxury cars represent some of the finest offerings in the automotive world, each catering to discerning customers seeking the ultimate in comfort, performance, and prestige.
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- Rolls-Royce Phantom
- Website: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
- Estimated Starting Price: $455,000
- Bentley Mulsanne
- Website: Bentley Motors
- Estimated Starting Price: $310,000
- Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
- Website: Mercedes-Maybach
- Estimated Starting Price: $185,000
- Range Rover SVAutobiography
- Website: Land Rover USA
- Estimated Starting Price: $208,000
- Porsche Panamera
- Website: Porsche
- Estimated Starting Price: $87,200
- BMW 7 Series
- Website: BMW USA
- Estimated Starting Price: $86,800
- Audi A8
- Website: Audi USA
- Estimated Starting Price: $86,500
- Lexus LS
- Website: Lexus USA
- Estimated Starting Price: $76,000
- Jaguar XJ
- Website: Jaguar USA
- Estimated Starting Price: $76,900
- Maserati Quattroporte
- Website: Maserati USA
- Estimated Starting Price: $104,390
3. The Quintessential Suburban Home
You have to have somewhere to park the Hellcat right? What better location than a plush suburban home. The suburbs in the U.S, are generally cleaner, quieter and safer than the inner cities, not surprisingly this is where many opt to live, especially if they are raising children. Homes can be fairly simple in these areas to unabashedly lavish.
Top 10 Housing Markets in the U.S. and Average Cost of a Single Family Home
- San Francisco, California
- Average Suburban Home Cost: $1.5 million (approximately)
- Websites: Zillow San Francisco, Redfin San Francisco
- New York City, New York
- Average Suburban Home Cost: $700,000 to $1 million (approximately)
- Websites: Zillow New York City, Redfin New York City
- Los Angeles, California
- Average Suburban Home Cost: $800,000 to $1 million (approximately)
- Websites: Zillow Los Angeles, Redfin Los Angeles
- Seattle, Washington
- Average Suburban Home Cost: $600,000 to $800,000 (approximately)
- Websites: Zillow Seattle, Redfin Seattle
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Average Suburban Home Cost: $500,000 to $700,000 (approximately)
- Websites: Zillow Boston, Redfin Boston
- Denver, Colorado
- Average Suburban Home Cost: $400,000 to $600,000 (approximately)
- Websites: Zillow Denver, Redfin Denver
- Austin, Texas
- Average Suburban Home Cost: $350,000 to $500,000 (approximately)
- Websites: Zillow Austin, Redfin Austin
- Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
- Average Suburban Home Cost: $300,000 to $500,000 (approximately)
- Websites: Zillow Dallas, Redfin Dallas
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Average Suburban Home Cost: $250,000 to $400,000 (approximately)
- Websites: Zillow Atlanta, Redfin Atlanta
- Miami, Florida
- Average Suburban Home Cost: $300,000 to $500,000 (approximately)
- Websites: Zillow Miami, Redfin Miami
4. Gotta Sport That Swag
If you drive from your plush suburban home, to your job in your luxury vehicle, it would be a little anti-climatic to not have a killer wardrobe to go with it all. Americans love spending money on clothes, especially teenagers. Spending $50 on a pair of designer brand jeans is not at all uncommon. Suits, dresses, expensive shoes, personal care products, plastic surgeries are all options for the relatively well to do American.
Top 10 Fashion Trends in The U.S. 2024
- Casual Wear/Streetwear:
- Websites: Urban Outfitters, ASOS, H&M
- Average Cost: $20 to $100 for a t-shirt, $50 to $150 for jeans
- Athleisure:
- Classic/Preppy:
- Websites: J.Crew, Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers
- Average Cost: $50 to $150 for a button-down shirt, $80 to $200 for a sweater
- Bohemian/Free-spirited:
- Websites: Free People, Anthropologie, Spell & The Gypsy Collective
- Average Cost: $50 to $150 for a flowy blouse, $80 to $200 for a maxi dress
- Minimalist:
- Vintage/Retro:
- Edgy/Alternative:
- Business Casual:
- Websites: Banana Republic, Express, Zara
- Average Cost: $40 to $100 for a blouse, $60 to $150 for dress pants
- Glamorous/Red Carpet:
- Websites: Revolve, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue
- Average Cost: $100 to $300 for a cocktail dress, $200 to $500 for evening gowns
- Eclectic/Statement:
- Websites: ASOS Design, Zara TRF, Forever 21
- Average Cost: $20 to $60 for a statement top, $30 to $80 for bold print bottoms
5. The Great Job
Having a job that is both financially rewarding and personally rewarding is a big part of success in The United States. It is certainly not easy typically to find these jobs, but it can be well worth the blood, sweat, and tears to get one. A great job in the U.S. will fairly easily enable its holder to afford the aforementioned hallmarks of material success in America. Some folks have these jobs magically fall out of the sky for them from well established families, but most Americans must forge their own path to this success.
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Top 10 Jobs In the United States By Overall Job Satisfaction
- Software Developer/Engineer
- Median Salary: $110,140 per year (2020)
- Websites: Bureau of Labor Statistics – Software Developers, Glassdoor, LinkedIn
- Dentist
- Median Salary: $164,010 per year (2020)
- Websites: Bureau of Labor Statistics – Dentists, American Dental Association, Healthcare.gov
- Physician
- Median Salary: Varies significantly by specialty
- Websites: Bureau of Labor Statistics – Physicians and Surgeons, American Medical Association, Medscape
- Physical Therapist
- Median Salary: $91,010 per year (2020)
- Websites: Bureau of Labor Statistics – Physical Therapists, American Physical Therapy Association, Physical Therapy.com
- Registered Nurse
- Median Salary: $75,330 per year (2020)
- Websites: Bureau of Labor Statistics – Registered Nurses, American Nurses Association, Nurse.org
- Human Resources Manager
- Median Salary: $121,220 per year (2020)
- Websites: Bureau of Labor Statistics – Human Resources Managers, Society for Human Resource Management, HR.com
- Psychologist/Clinical Psychologist
- Median Salary: $82,180 per year (2020)
- Websites: Bureau of Labor Statistics – Psychologists, American Psychological Association, Psychology Today
- Environmental Engineer
- Median Salary: $92,120 per year (2020)
- Websites: Bureau of Labor Statistics – Environmental Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists
- Education Administrator
- Median Salary: $98,750 per year (2020)
- Websites: Bureau of Labor Statistics – Education Administrators, American Association of School Administrators, National Association of Secondary School Principals
- Sales Manager
- Median Salary: $132,290 per year (2020)
- Websites: Bureau of Labor Statistics – Sales Managers, Salesforce, HubSpot
Five Marks Of Material Success Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed reading my list of five marks of material success in The United States on The Lifelong Education Blog. What does success look like where you are from? If you live in the U.S. do you agree/disagree with my list? Why? I am always curious to hear how others perceive things. Have a blessed day and check out some of my other posts if you have a moment! Til’ next time, nos vemos!
- Work a Low Wage Job for a Day….Day
- Is 3I Atlas an Alien Probe or a Comet?
- Embracing Your Inner Child: The Joy of Being Kid at Heart
- Panda’s Three Wishes
- Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Learning
What are your thoughts on this?