Gen Z and Millennials Feel They Have To Make This Amount To “Make It”
For many, reaching a salary that’s six figures long was the sign of making it. But things have changed, and that number’s gone up, a new study has found. According…

For many, reaching a salary that’s six figures long was the sign of making it. But things have changed, and that number’s gone up, a new study has found. According to Fortune, Skynova, an invoicing software firm, surveyed 1,000 young adults between the ages of 22 to 35 and found out what average salary they want to reach to feel like they’ve finally “made it.”
The survey found:
- $121,553 was the average salary all respondents said they’d need to make to feel like they’ve “made it”
- Gen Z respondents answered a bit higher, saying the salary should be $124,494
- Millennials were a bit lower, marking $120,902 as their “made it” salary
- 58% said they’re unsatisfied with what they’re currently making
All of these salaries are way above what the average American earns. In 2021, the median income was $69,717. Millennials and Gen Z are pushing this, saying that their desired pay package right now is between $71,000 and $80,000. Researchers are advising these unsatisfied younger employees to “keep in mind that they’re near the beginning of their careers, and salaries can increase with experience.”

North Carolina Ranks As One Of The Worst States For Millennials
Millennials we take a lot of heat. I know you've heard the stereotypes-entitled, parentally dependent, emotionally fragile. But it also hasn't been easy, so you can't place all the blame on us. And if you're reading this in one of the Carolina's then it really hasn't been easy. In fact, North Carolina and South Carolina both rank in the bottom half of states for millennials. This is according to a new study by Wallethub.
Millennials are currently the largest generation, with a population of around 80 million. This means that millennials have a huge influence on American culture and consumption. But statistically, most are economically worse off than their parents.
The millennial experience is not the same everywhere. WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine where this generation has thrived and struggled. They examined each state and DC across 34 key metrics to determine the best and worst states for millennials. Both Carolinas ranked in the bottom half making them two of the worst states.
Keep reading to see where North Carolina millennials ranked.
1. Washington

Total Score: 67.45
Affordability: 6
Education & Health: 17
Quality of Life: 2
Economic Health: 3
Civic Engagement: 6
2. District of Columbia
Total Score: 65.34
Affordability: 27
Education & Health: 2
Quality of Life: 1
Economic Health: 26
Civic Engagement: 15
3. Massachusetts
Total Score: 63.72
Affordability: 25
Education & Health: 3
Quality of Life: 4
Economic Health: 17
Civic Engagement: 22
4. Utah
Total Score: 62.90
Affordability: 20
Education & Health: 7
Quality of Life: 9
Economic Health: 1
Civic Engagement: 30
5. Illinois

Total Score: 60.28
Affordability: 2
Education & Health: 4
Quality of Life: 8
Economic Health: 46
Civic Engagement: 18
6. Minnesota
Total Score: 60.22
Affordability: 12
Education & Health: 16
Quality of Life: 6
Economic Health: 18
Civic Engagement: 27
7. Oregon
Total Score: 58.90
Affordability: 34
Education & Health: 14
Quality of Life: 16
Economic Health: 14
Civic Engagement: 2
8. Wisconsin
Total Score: 58.68
Affordability: 21
Education & Health: 24
Quality of Life: 12
Economic Health: 31
Civic Engagement: 1
9. Virginia
Total Score: 57.82
Affordability: 39
Education & Health: 15
Quality of Life: 10
Economic Health: 20
Civic Engagement: 3
10. Colorado

Total Score: 57.55
Affordability: 49
Education & Health: 23
Quality of Life: 5
Economic Health: 10
Civic Engagement: 9
11. Nebraska
Total Score: 57.09
Affordability: 32
Education & Health: 27
Quality of Life: 13
Economic Health: 12
Civic Engagement: 10
12. Iowa
Total Score: 56.59
Affordability: 5
Education & Health: 25
Quality of Life: 23
Economic Health: 29
Civic Engagement: 5
13. Pennsylvania
Total Score: 56.41
Affordability: 19
Education & Health: 21
Quality of Life: 17
Economic Health: 32
Civic Engagement: 7
14. California
Total Score: 56.19
Affordability: 40
Education & Health: 19
Quality of Life: 7
Economic Health: 22
Civic Engagement: 21
15. Vermont

Total Score: 55.80
Affordability: 48
Education & Health: 10
Quality of Life: 18
Economic Health: 11
Civic Engagement: 14
16. South Dakota
Total Score: 55.50
Affordability: 7
Education & Health: 18
Quality of Life: 25
Economic Health: 6
Civic Engagement: 41
17. Maine
Total Score: 55.33
Affordability: 46
Education & Health: 11
Quality of Life: 30
Economic Health: 8
Civic Engagement: 4
18. New York
Total Score: 55.03
Affordability: 8
Education & Health: 12
Quality of Life: 3
Economic Health: 49
Civic Engagement: 47
19. New Hampshire
Total Score: 54.33
Affordability: 42
Education & Health: 13
Quality of Life: 22
Economic Health: 5
Civic Engagement: 37
20. Connecticut

Total Score: 53.79
Affordability: 35
Education & Health: 6
Quality of Life: 21
Economic Health: 45
Civic Engagement: 12
21. Ohio
Total Score: 53.68
Affordability: 4
Education & Health: 28
Quality of Life: 24
Economic Health: 40
Civic Engagement: 11
22. Texas
Total Score: 52.92
Affordability: 9
Education & Health: 51
Quality of Life: 11
Economic Health: 16
Civic Engagement: 26
23. North Dakota
Total Score: 52.69
Affordability: 13
Education & Health: 36
Quality of Life: 15
Economic Health: 13
Civic Engagement: 39
24. Michigan
Total Score: 52.38
Affordability: 3
Education & Health: 20
Quality of Life: 35
Economic Health: 42
Civic Engagement: 13
25. Arizona

Total Score: 52.35
Affordability: 26
Education & Health: 37
Quality of Life: 32
Economic Health: 4
Civic Engagement: 19
26. Rhode Island
Total Score: 52.34
Affordability: 47
Education & Health: 5
Quality of Life: 19
Economic Health: 9
Civic Engagement: 46
27. Idaho
Total Score: 52.15
Affordability: 31
Education & Health: 22
Quality of Life: 42
Economic Health: 2
Civic Engagement: 35
28. North Carolina
Total Score: 51.63
Affordability: 17
Education & Health: 29
Quality of Life: 33
Economic Health: 23
Civic Engagement: 20
29. New Jersey
Total Score: 51.33
Affordability: 36
Education & Health: 8
Quality of Life: 14
Economic Health: 39
Civic Engagement: 42
30. Tennessee

Total Score: 50.68
Affordability: 11
Education & Health: 33
Quality of Life: 39
Economic Health: 19
Civic Engagement: 23
31. Maryland
Total Score: 50.67
Affordability: 44
Education & Health: 9
Quality of Life: 20
Economic Health: 34
Civic Engagement: 38
32. Kansas
Total Score: 50.41
Affordability: 29
Education & Health: 30
Quality of Life: 36
Economic Health: 25
Civic Engagement: 8
33. Hawaii
Total Score: 49.78
Affordability: 51
Education & Health: 1
Quality of Life: 31
Economic Health: 27
Civic Engagement: 29
34. Montana
Total Score: 49.55
Affordability: 38
Education & Health: 32
Quality of Life: 29
Economic Health: 7
Civic Engagement: 36
35. Missouri

Total Score: 49.14
Affordability: 1
Education & Health: 44
Quality of Life: 26
Economic Health: 21
Civic Engagement: 43
36. Indiana
Total Score: 48.25
Affordability: 16
Education & Health: 35
Quality of Life: 38
Economic Health: 33
Civic Engagement: 24
37. Florida
Total Score: 47.70
Affordability: 37
Education & Health: 41
Quality of Life: 28
Economic Health: 15
Civic Engagement: 33
38. Georgia
Total Score: 46.42
Affordability: 15
Education & Health: 43
Quality of Life: 40
Economic Health: 37
Civic Engagement: 28
39. Delaware
Total Score: 45.46
Affordability: 28
Education & Health: 26
Quality of Life: 41
Economic Health: 24
Civic Engagement: 45
40. Wyoming

Total Score: 43.44
Affordability: 41
Education & Health: 34
Quality of Life: 37
Economic Health: 35
Civic Engagement: 40
41. Alabama
Total Score: 42.02
Affordability: 14
Education & Health: 48
Quality of Life: 49
Economic Health: 38
Civic Engagement: 25
42. Kentucky
Total Score: 41.94
Affordability: 10
Education & Health: 39
Quality of Life: 45
Economic Health: 36
Civic Engagement: 44
43. Oklahoma
Total Score: 41.63
Affordability: 23
Education & Health: 50
Quality of Life: 44
Economic Health: 41
Civic Engagement: 31
44. Alaska
Total Score: 41.57
Affordability: 50
Education & Health: 40
Quality of Life: 27
Economic Health: 48
Civic Engagement: 16
45. South Carolina

Total Score: 40.76
Affordability: 18
Education & Health: 31
Quality of Life: 48
Economic Health: 28
Civic Engagement: 51
46. Nevada
Total Score: 39.86
Affordability: 45
Education & Health: 46
Quality of Life: 34
Economic Health: 30
Civic Engagement: 49
47. Louisiana
Total Score: 45
Affordability: 22
Education & Health: 45
Quality of Life: 43
Economic Health: 50
Civic Engagement: 32
48. Arkansas
Total Score: 37.40
Affordability: 32
Education & Health: 49
Quality of Life: 47
Economic Health: 47
Civic Engagement: 34
49. New Mexico
Total Score: 36.28
Affordability: 43
Education & Health: 42
Quality of Life: 46
Economic Health: 44
Civic Engagement: 48
50. West Virginia

Total Score: 35.53
Affordability: 24
Education & Health: 38
Quality of Life: 51
Economic Health: 43
Civic Engagement: 49
51. Mississippi
Total Score: 34.94
Affordability: 30
Education & Health: 47
Quality of Life: 50
Economic Health: 51
Civic Engagement: 17