Study: US mothers deserve $134,121 in salary

[kpete]

Study: US mothers deserve $134,121 in salary

Reuters

May 3, 2006 — By Ellen Wulfhorst

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A full-time stay-at-home mother would earn $134,121 a year if paid for all her work, an amount similar to a top U.S. ad executive, a marketing director or a judge, according to a study released on Wednesday.

A mother who works outside the home would earn an extra $85,876 annually on top of her actual wages for the work she does at home, according to the study by Waltham, Massachusetts-based compensation experts Salary.com.

To reach the projected pay figures, the survey calculated the earning power of the 10 jobs respondents said most closely comprise a mother's role — housekeeper, day-care teacher, cook, computer operator, laundry machine operator, janitor, facilities manager, van driver, chief executive and psychologist.

"You can't put a dollar value on it. It's worth a lot more," said Kristen Krauss, 35, as she hurriedly packed her four children, all aged under 8, into a minivan in New York while searching frantically for her keys. "Just look at me."

more at:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1916891

[SoCalDem]

1. Not a surprise, but since the "job" is done voluntarily

it's still a non-paid position with few bennies :P except for the fact that your day's structure is totally up to you and your kids :) I enjoyed that part :)

[FormerDittoHead]

2. I'll pass this along to my wife - as *I* am the one at home...

And a handful THEY are:

[Fuzz]

3. Hi. Another stay at home Dad here.

Gotta go pick up the youngest from Kindergarten now.

;)

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

4. I Always Laugh So Hard At These Studies LOL

I always found them to be ridiculously unrealistic. I'm actually amazed they never included a line item for sexual activities and put in a typical escort rate. And just imagine if they did a study for men, such as fixing things, technical work, building, electrical etc.. how overblown a figure that could be too. In the end though if we mapped out costs per hour into yearly salary for everything each one of us do every day regardless of gender, the figure could easily be done to be over six figures. I just always found this study to be silly.

I think most decent people understand and appreciate how hard it is to be a stay at home parent, and how much goes into that. I know it is incredibly frustrating and tiring work. My comments above don't deflect from that. My critique is only with the study itself and the way it goes about the conclusions. Just on its face alone it seems absurd a bit. I mean, without a degree and just doing laborous, tedious and tiring work, even with working two jobs, what two jobs would they get that would total 134,000 a year? If you know, please tell me. I want to apply asap. :)

[ComerPerro]

5. No kidding. It works out to $22 an hour

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

6. Well It's Quite Padded

Firstly, the hours seem most definitely exaggerated. But even more than that, is the classification. For example, getting paid almost 200 dollars an hour for CEO is a bit of a stretch. They can say things like certain things are like what a CEO does, but that's a stretch and a half to say they should get the same 200 bucks an hour. Also day care teachers get paid to watch like 6-8 kids at a time. To use that same salary for one or two kids is extremely inaccurate. I also don't care how much "awww, you got a boo boo? It'll be ok" a stay at home parent does, unless they have an actual degree in psychology they don't get paid the hourly rate of a psychologist. Definitely a stretch there too. I also think the facilities manager designation is pushin it as well. I just calculated out what I considered to be a bit more honest of a scenario, and with overtime was between 50 and 55,000. That seems a bit more realistic.

[ComerPerro]

8. That's what I'm saying, too

[Nikia]

9. But some people do pay people to watch 1-2 children at home

At the same rate that day care workers make.
I think that most hired out work though is usually paid at a rate that is more than most people consider it's worth. If that were not true, even more people would hire help.

[Marnieworld]

7. excellent post

there's a dupe somewhere of this article and I wasn't as diplomatic as you but I had the same point. Unless you're a psychologist then you aren't a psychologist. I work with computers for a living. Should someone without the same level of training and expertise get my salary because they use a computer during the day? I hate articles like this because they are illogical. Have kids knowing what a struggle it can be but take ownership of the choice you made in your life. Isn't the life with your children supposed to be reward enough for your efforts?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

10. I am a Research Associate in the field of ............

Childhood Development and Human Relationships...MOM

and that salary is underestimated imho