The average American has more money to spend — find out if you’re average (you’re not)

We have more money!

Well, that’s what the government says, but it”s not entirely true. Not for all of us, anyway. (Please see chart.)

Sure, thanks to us working more as prices dropped more, the “real” income  of the average American has grown from last month. Real income —  that’s the increase in the wages we earn after we consider the increases in the prices we pay –  rose by 0.6 percent, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They calculate it because, you know, if your paycheck doubles but your expenses triple, well, you’re actually worse off.

So, yes, we here at The Home Economist saw the government’s report and we say that one number simply cannot speak for us all. That’s why we demanded from thos economists a few more details – and got them. Take a look at real earnings across different industries – this year compared to to last year.

You’ll discover it’s a terrific time to be working in interior design – “real” wages there rose a whopping 18 percent – and a terrible time to be in the child care business. Workers there saw their “real” earnings decline. Here are is the “real” change – up or down – in earnings across a few randomly pulled industries from last year.

One thing to remember when reading these numbers: they’re the amounts earned by all the employees in each category, all lumped together. So doctors’ offices would include the physicians, nurses and support staff while the advertising agencies would include the creative directors, the graphic designer and the IT guy, and everyone else.

Don’t see your job? Make requests on Twitter to @HomeEcWithBrett and we’ll be sure to focus on you next time.

source: Bureau of Labor Statistics