For reference, I'm 18, I live in Colorado, I just graduated 🥳 and I've been working since I was 15.

This may vary by state but I've found money to hardly be an issue when I actually get a job. My family is lower middle class right now, but our household income is doubling as my mother becomes a teacher.

I got my first job at 15 making $17.50 an hour at King Soopers. The work wasn't great and I didn't enjoy it but I walked home with about 300 or so a week from there. Usually around 250. I also had full health and dental insurance.

I also worked with my stepfather at a restaurant called Otra Vez, I'd work there Saturdays. The shift was pretty long but I'd come home with about 300 dollars from one night. So in take home I'd walk away with about $550 a week, so 2200 or so a month and 26400 a year. At 15 years old.

It's 3 years later and I work at UPS. Just started so my wage is lower, but they're paying for my training to become a notary public. A role that pays...

25 to 32 dollars an hour on average.

And because when you work for the state, benefits are all but guaranteed.

Usually when people in the US say "there's no way to make money" there are better options nearby they are often overlooked.

There are a lot of bad employers. But you can find a lot of good entry level stuff, entry level banking for example is about 20 an hour and all you need to know is basic computer handling and how to count money. Usually that's all the experience they want. Especially at smaller banks.

Further a lot of places in the USA have advancement programs. Like my notary training. A lot of places will just... Bankroll you through college. I'm not kidding. Lots of companies will pay for you to do online college or will put you through the college you're going to if you're in college.

Now I'm not saying it's easy for everyone. There are definitely factors that make it harder. But the average Joe can definitely get up and go.

And if you think absolute poverty is the barrier, we have a lot of programs for that specifically. Especially national entrepreneurship programs that have risen kids from poverty, to the absolute upper crust of society.

Further for any high school age kids who wanna make money. Don't worry about getting a job at this moment. Find out what programs your school offers in terms of certification. I may have a 2.5 gpa, but am an Adobe certified professional in illustrator, have my OSHA 10 certification which allows me to work in construction and my HBI pact core certification. Through the NASA HUNCH program I can say I won a national engineering competition and...

That I'm a former NASA contractor.

I'm not saying it's easy for everyone, but if you think that it's impossible to raise your status in the USA, you're wrong. Social mobility is incredible here.

u/Colorado-Guy-69

Just crated a new world

I love when people say it's hard to make money in the USA.

25 to 32 dollars an hour on average.

That I'm a former NASA contractor.

Charging cord length?