In the 1980s, it was possible for a McDonald’s worker to afford a house on their salary alone due to lower housing costs and higher relative purchasing power. For example, in 1980, the average home price was around $47,200, and minimum wage workers could feasibly save for a down payment with disciplined budgeting[5].
Today, this scenario is nearly impossible. Housing costs have skyrocketed while wages have stagnated. A full-time McDonald’s worker earning $8.75/hour would gross about $13,811 annually, far below the income needed to afford even modest housing without spending more than 30% of their income on rent[2][4].
Oh can not wait for the reply to this, as if we do not have examples of this in living memory.
Its silly but we are seeing more and more of this crap, where the past can not be the way it was since the way it is today is not like the way it was. Some sort of odd american static impression of the world around us.
You mean a full time wage?
Yes. Full time fast food worker wages
In the 1980s, it was possible for a McDonald’s worker to afford a house on their salary alone due to lower housing costs and higher relative purchasing power. For example, in 1980, the average home price was around $47,200, and minimum wage workers could feasibly save for a down payment with disciplined budgeting[5].
Today, this scenario is nearly impossible. Housing costs have skyrocketed while wages have stagnated. A full-time McDonald’s worker earning $8.75/hour would gross about $13,811 annually, far below the income needed to afford even modest housing without spending more than 30% of their income on rent[2][4].
Citations: [1] Is it possible to move out parents house with McDonald’s income? https://www.reddit.com/r/McDonaldsEmployees/comments/15c54ah/is_it_possible_to_move_out_parents_house_with/ [2] Paycheck for a McDonald’s worker is very small. - Upworthy https://www.upworthy.com/heres-a-paycheck-for-a-mcdonalds-worker-heres-my-jaw-dropping-to-the-floor-ex1 [3] Mcdonald’s Real Estate: How They Really Make Their Money - https://www.wallstreetsurvivor.com/mcdonalds-beyond-the-burger/ [4] [PDF] Unaccommodating: Rental Housing Wage in Canada https://www.policyalternatives.ca/wp-content/uploads/attachments/Unaccommodating - Rental Wage in Canada.pdf [5] Could You Buy a House Working at McDonald’s in the 1980s? https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/could-you-buy-house-working-mcdonalds-1980s [6] [PDF] Salaried-Employee-Handbook-Office.pdf - McDonald’s https://www.mcdonalds.com/content/dam/sites/uk/nfl/pdf/uploads/careers/Salaried-Employee-Handbook-Office.pdf [7] How to work at McDonald’s and still become a millionaire - CNBC https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/09/how-to-work-at-mcdonalds-and-still-become-a-millionaire.html
Oh can not wait for the reply to this, as if we do not have examples of this in living memory.
Its silly but we are seeing more and more of this crap, where the past can not be the way it was since the way it is today is not like the way it was. Some sort of odd american static impression of the world around us.