What percentile are you?...

[misanthrope]

...complete this personalized graph of American social classes to find out.

[roguevalley]

1. between 69-97%

[misanthrope]

19. After completing...

...each of the four meters, it should give you an overall placement (i.e., 55th percentile)

[SeattleGirl]

2. Between 58 and 91

Average is 67.

[wicket]

3. Average is 60th

n/t

[tk2kewl]

4. avg 88

[nickinSTL]

5. overall...55%

My lowest is my net worth...it's in the Lower Middle area

My highest was my education - at 91% for a Bachelor's degree.

[NoSheep]

6. average 54th percentile

Office manager, 35,000, worth nothing, bachelor's degree.
Losing my job Friday. ;(

[SeattleGirl]

12. Bummer!

Any prospects yet? Good luck to you!

[NoSheep]

14. None. And thanks. I'm pretty scared.

[wicket]

18. I'm right there with you man

I lost my job in March and have had to resort to temping as there just isn't much out there right now. *sigh* You are not alone :hug:

[misanthrope]

22. You say...

..."worth nothing" but that's evidently better than roughly half the people in the country.

Sorry to hear about the job.

[getmeouttahere]

27. All the best to you, NoSheep....

hang in there, friend!

[AlienGirl]

86. I'm 40th percentile

it would be lower if they had a place for negative net worth.

Tucker

[ohio_liberal]

7. Wow, I'm a loser

I average 36th percentile

[wicket]

13. you're not a loser

Not by a long shot.

[ohio_liberal]

33. Well thank you

:hug:

I already knew I'm poor and lack formal education but it was still painful to see in percentages.

[southernleftylady]

16. me too

40th

[ohio_liberal]

34. Losers unite!

:grouphug:

[southernleftylady]

41. ok group hug...

just watch the hands ;) Lol

[ohio_liberal]

43. Above the waist, I swear

:evilgrin:

[misanthrope]

35. Not hardly...

...most people from the upper castes would be completely lost in your situation. One of the conclusions of Class Matters is that folks from various social classes have different cultural mores and values.

While I would like to believe that, deep down, all people are essentially the same, my practical experience has taught me that those who exist at the top of our food chain are normally less fit for survival because they have never been forced into situations that truly test their resourcefulness on a regular basis.

In other words, if it all came crashing down tomorrow, the folks on the lower end of things wouldn't be the "losers." They're already subject to the harshness of the world, not insulated from it.

[ohio_liberal]

44. Yes, I would agree with you

Money doesn't equal street smarts.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

8. 56th

[endarkenment]

9. penis size income height weight what?

[trotsky]

10. Fascinating link.

Thanks for that.

[queeg]

11. I am part of the liberal elite---I need no graph

[indy_azcat]

15. no students or politicos need apply

pbbbbt.

and here I wanted to see where bush laid

[redqueen]

17. How sad... even the rich know they have too much power...

what are they doing about that?

[DiverDave]

20. Man, I'm middle class schlub

Occupation: 23rd percentile Truck driver
Education: 75th percentile Associate degree
Income: 56th percentile 40K
Wealth: 34th percentile 10-20K

Average of 47th percentile.

Course the wealth part is all equity in my house.
Now take away my student loans and other bills...I'm broke.
Wonder where that puts me?

[IrateCitizen]

21. 76th percentile, overall

Occupation: 76th
Education: 91st
Income: 84th
Wealth: 55th

[gaspee]

23. How pathetic...

Occupation: 18th
Education: 97th
Income: 18th
Wealth: 25th
Average: 39th

Five years ago, when I was an evil options trader, I'da been in the 90th p[ercentile, average. I like my life better now, funnily enough.

[wicket]

26. welcome to DU!

:hi:

[getmeouttahere]

30. Not surprised...may you find fulfillment...

in whatever you do...I actually admire folks who have a high education percentile but low occupation percentile...usually that means you are doing something worthwhile that doesn't pay much

[RPM]

84. they can't quanitfy happiness

congrats to you for finding a life you like better.

[hfojvt]

88. I take it you have an MA

which is how I got 97th in education. It is kinda funny that wasting 7 years of your life going to school is considered a privilege. I suppose it is compared to the other kids who went straight into the army or Kmart or the meat packing plant out of High School.

My occupation is 12th, income is 38th, but that does not seem fair. I make $23,000 a year which puts me closer to under 20 than it does to under 30. Under 20 puts me at 18th. So, if you straight line it, my income would be 24th instead of 38th. My wealth is 43rd (except I forgot the value of my acreage which is something like $10,000 so I should be about 55th, but again, I would be on the low end of 50-100). So my total is 47th, pretty close to the median, but I still think they give too much value to education. It certainly has not been my ticket to a good job, since I jumped off the good-job train in 1986.

[getmeouttahere]

24. Between 43 & 56, average 50....

I think education should be adjusted...high school graduate with only some college should be at lower middle, IMO...think about all the jobs that are going overseas, and tell me that a lot of those were held by people with "some college" and in some cases even college graduates.

[UdoKier]

25. 47th percentile.

But for some reason my lousy bachelor's degree ups the score a LOT.

[rfranklin]

28. 76th percentile average...my wife married below her station...

She is 84th percentile. Of course, I have a very poorly esteemed profession--photographer.

[getmeouttahere]

31. But do you enjoy it, rfranklin?

in this scary world, the least you can do is something you enjoy, something fulfilling

[Beaverhausen]

29. 58th

[Selteri]

32. With a 48% job and 75% education (Actually higher)

And my invome and savings at the bottom because I'm on comission I'm still at the 38th percentile.

That's sick.

[drdtroit]

36. 75th Percentile n/t

[meatloaf]

37. 83rd, but we're not happy where we are and both believe will

probably have to move down scale to be truly happy. Ahhh the game of life.

[sinkingfeeling]

38. Between 69 and 91, with overall average of 81.

[kittenpants]

90. my avg. is 81 one too. let's be friends!

education was my highest score & salary was my lowest. funny how that works!

[triguy46]

39. 87

[CoffeeCat]

40. What strikes me about these numbers...

...is that it seems to take SO MUCH (money, education, great job, etc) to get the bare minimum these days.

People have to work so hard--and be in "certain jobs" to live comfortably.

In my childhood neighborhood--during the 1970's--everyone who worked hard had a car, a house, food on the table, healthcare and adequate clothing and other necessities. Many on our block worked in factories, at shoe stores, or at manufacturing plants. They worked hard! Everyone did. Today--people with those jobs are lower income.

The true middle class is going the way of the dinosaurs. Really sad for our country.

It's almost as if someone is engineering two classes: Those who have everything and those who have nothing.

[misanthrope]

45. Well, the majority...

...of human history has been like that, with a small amount of power holders and then "the great unwashed" beneath them. The rise and growth of the middle class in America has been a facet of the last 100 years. There's a great book on our mythology about historic American life entitled The Way We Never Were by Stephanie Coontz. I highly recommend it.

[gordianot]

42. Subtract your share of the national debt to personal wealth.

Mine read 87%ile overall when I subtracted average debt at $40,000 it lowered into 73%ile.

[sdfernando]

46. Avg 65th percentile

Occupation: 80th - Computer Operations Analyst
Education: 69th - Some College - I agree w/earlier posting, this should be middle or lower middle.
Income: 78th - Living is San Diego that doens't say much!
Wealth: 34th - Who can afford frickin housing here!! My inheritance will shoot this way up, but I DON'T want it because I'd rather have my folks around!

[Debs]

47. 69%

Oddly, my lowest was occupation at 39% and highest was income at 91%. Not sure if that makes sense

[Hardrada]

48. In top fifth in two categories, UMC in the others.

But we are hardly vacationing in the Bahamas and are obliged to scramble for $$$. I would wish a more Zen existence and used to be happy hanging around a college town and living on hot dogs and beer and radical politics. But I realize it is not 1967-70 anymore.

[Enraged_Ape]

49. According to this, I'm living high off the hog

80+% was my average. So why am I so broke all the time? Why do I lose sleep at night EVERY night trying to figure out how to make the ends meet?

BTW, we drive only used economy cars and have a modest home. We don't even have any expensive hobbies to speak of. I just don't get it.

[gordianot]

50. I think this must work like a bell curve. The difference is with upper 1%

The upper 1% are so stinking rich no one can touch them.

[northzax]

65. uh, the heroin?

and hookers? think that might account for some of it? :)

I came in at 69th, although I had to approximate my job since it didn't make the list. and the net worth really drags me down, two years of unemployment'll do that to you.

[Horse with no Name]

51. 64.

So what does this mean?:)

[goclark]

52. May mean nothing but cool interactive :)

[DinahMoeHum]

53. 74th percentile overall. . .

Occupation: 51st
Education: 91st
Income: 69th
Wealth: 85th


The wealth is mainly due to my IRA and 401-K, plus other investments.


:shrug:

[Orangepeel]

54. If you are interested in social class, check out this PBS site

http://www.pbs.org/peoplelikeus/games/index.html

There are some games where it assigns your social class by the furniture you pick. Fun!

[supernova]

57. Hah! That's a fun game

Although it told me I confused it somewhat b/c I chose things all over the map, like pairing the frayed Persian rug (Old Money) with a plasma TV (nouveau riche).

:D

[Orangepeel]

67. I'm solidly middle middle

with some concerns I'm getting lah-di-dah! :-)

[Blue Belle]

55. 42nd percentile...

:eyes: sigh...

[supernova]

56. 72% percentile This says Average

My job title is not that high prestige, but I have an education, my salary is good (for now), and I have some savings.

[valis]

58. 77,99,84,85,86

So so...

[Arugula Latte]

59. 84th percentile

[proud2BlibKansan]

60. 97% in Education

Occupation 71%
Income 88%
Wealth 85%

Average 85%

I don't feel wealthy.

[CitrusLib]

61. 61 overall

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

62. 58th percentile overall

Occu: 60th
Ed: 91st
Income: 56th
Wealth: 25th

[Lex]

63. 88th overall

[patcox2]

69. lawyers start out with two score in the 90s, thats why this is ridiculous.

I know so many lawyers who are so prole.

In the end a lawyer is a wage slave, just a highly paid one. When the truly rich want their lawn cut, they pay a landscaper. When the law causes them problems, they pay a lawyer to deal with that inconvenience. We are just another servant to the upper classes.

[HullBoss]

64. 63rd overall

High in education, low in money. Blue_In_AK

[UncleSepp]

66. The net worth is BROKEN - you can't choose a negative

What if your debts are greater than your assets? There's no way to select that option. Also, it is not possible to select a value which will place a person into the lowest income tier. This thing's busted.

[AlienGirl]

87. I think I hate the phrase "net worth"

when applied to the assets minus debts that someone has. "A person's net worth" seems to attach their financial situation to their intrinsic value as a person in a way that is...well...depressing. Particularly since my "net worth" is unlikely ever to be positive (which makes my messed-up brain do weird things with anxiety and depression).

We need to come up with a better word to describe a person's asset-to-debt ratio.

Tucker

[UncleSepp]

89. It should be "net worth of x's portfolio"

The term's more appropriately applied to businesses than to persons, and it definitely measures a person's portfolio. "Net assets" would work as well, as long as it was understood that the number could be negative.

[patcox2]

68. 92nd average, but this thing is ridiculous.

Talk about class inflation. I am not upper class by a mile. I would be blackballed from their preppie midst in a second.

They place way too much emphasis on education, I think, and on income.

Its not dissimilar to Paul Fussel's class system, however, in which he notes that its not all about money, thus college professors, clergy, and military officers are upper middle, as respected as doctors and lawyers, despite uch lower incomes.

But in the end, Fussel notes, its all about, well, "class." Upper class people don't draw attention to themselves, don't act out in public, don't wear "legible" clothes (clothes with visible brand names or idiotic slogans or statements), don't wear "prole caps," (gimme caps), they tend to drive old station wagons and drink cheap liquor out of big plastic bottles.

Sailing is higher class than motorboating. Horses are all class.

[fishnfla]

72. I totally agree, the methodology is flawed

1. It differentiates by occupation, but not by the degree which it takes for an occupation (all DR's lumped same by education)

2. Net wealth-is this singly or jointly by marriage?


Its a crap survey, IMO

[snooper2]

70. thanks, very interesting..

occupation 77th
education 75th
income 88th
wealth 25th

average 66th


I guess I need to manage money better? :eyes:

[AngryAmish]

71. 91%

Pretty lucky

[greymattermom]

73. 84-99

Got lotsa edification.

[Stinky The Clown]

74. Class, huh? What does class mean? Is 91 **really better** than 70?

Occupation 80% (me) 55% (my wife)
Education 97% (me) 97% (my wife)
Income 95% (me) 38% (my wife)
Wealth 94% (for both of us ... its all 'joint')
Average 91% (me) 70% (my wife)

While I'm a self-employed professional (actually, one of three partners in a small design firm) I hardly feel like what I do is nearly as important as, say, a teacher. Yet I score higher. I **don't** make a difference. Teachers do. So do artists, and they're waaaaaay down the scale. Why are doctors so high? I know this sounds disrespectful, but, at the end of the day, they're very skilled mechanics. They do exactly what an auto tech does, just on a higher level for bigger stakes.

My wife is a dancer and choreographer, a pianist and a teacher, and an author. I put her in as a dancer/choreographer because that is about the middle of the ratings for all of the jobs she has. For any of you who are artists, you know what I mean ..... you don't have just one job .... even with a master's degree (as my wife has).

Education ..... okay, I'll buy what they say.

Income ..... a fair amount over 100K, but we sure don't *feel* rich. We have a bit of savings, but really live pretty close to paycheck to paycheck. We also don't skimp on stuff like food or eating out when we want to, but we're hardly living high on the old hog. The interesting thing here is I see what my wife does as being far more meaningful than what I do, but it seems there's no 'class' in it. Too bad .... *all* she does is teach people about beauty, entertain people with beautiful music and dance, and teach teachers how to do the same .... but that seems not to *matter*. :grr: :mad: :grr: That seems not have 'class'.

Wealth ..... our 'wealth' is all tied up in our house and my business and my wife's business. We have a 96 Accord (85K miles), a 96 Blazer (130K miles), and a 98 Buick Regal (95K miles). What we *don't* have is debt (apart from a <relatively very small> mortgage).

We would never ever be mistaken for 'high class'. No self-respecting country club would have us. We have to think about taking a vacation (unless one of us can travel on someone else's dime for business purposes). We don't play bridge or golf or tennis. We both grew up in decidedly ordinary circumstances. I was lower middle class and the son of a housewife and factory worker. My wife was the daughter of a college professor/pianist father and pianist mother. **Collectively**, our parents never made (the equivalent of ) $100K in a single year. Yet, **collectively** they raised six children with love and nurture. **THAT** is class!

[fishnfla]

80. I feel your pain, and share your boat

but think of those who cant

The survey is flawed

[autorank]

75. RankLand is a classless society without any status. We are

egalitarian and treat everybody as a unique person with gifts to offer.

Come join us and be 99.99% (the top rank, 100% is left for me)

NEW LEADERS FOR A NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY!

Contact the DNC and Give 'em Hell About NOT Acting on Election Fraud

[Lady Effingbroke]

76. Average: 25th percentile.

Occupation: 5th percentile
Education: 69th percentile
Income: 3rd percentile
Wealth: 25th percentile
AVERAGE: 25th percentile

On edit: looks like I'm the in the lowest average percentile so far. It probably has nothing to do with my being laid off and having to go back to school while working for minimum wage as a sacker in a grocery store. :eyes:

[Straight Shooter]

77. 60th percentile.

Hard to believe that a couple lousy years of college with no degree bumps me up.

And my net worth wouldn't be squat if I hadn't held on to this house for 15 years.

This graph doesn't reflect real value. It didn't even ask me if I'm a progressive or a reactionary :7

[NMMNG]

78. Average 58th percentile

Occupation 50th percentile
Education 91st percentile
Income 38th percentile
Wealth 55th percentile

[Sabriel]

79. 74th percentile

High on prestige, low on wealth and income. Oh, well.

[Deja Q]

81. I of all people am upper-middle class?

What a joke.

(I make quite under $50k/yr and living wage is $35k/yr for a person).

[GregW]

82. Average 86th

Range 65th - 95th

[RPM]

83. Overall - 86th

84, 99, 78, 85.

Not bad for 29 - now lets see what we can do with the next 29 years.

[Iowa]

85. Overall 79th percentile...

Occupation: 58th % (Counselor - retired)

Education: 91st % (BA)

Income: 69th % (when I was working)

Wealth: 98th % (My wife and I were big savers. By living frugally, and in a relatively low cost rural area, we accumulated a fair amount on a middle class income.)

A couple of comments about this graph: I think it's biased against the younger posters here. My average score would have been much, much lower when I was younger. And I don't buy the occupational prestige section; some of the trades people (and many others on the list) carry considerable prestige in my area.