My yearly income after tax is approximately $150,000. I have been fairly lucky in my monetary life. As a nerdy teenager I put two thirds of my savings into bonds. I used the short-term bonds to pay for college, and I graduated with no debt. I got my PhD very early and along the way amassed an unusual but useful assortment of skills. I now work several freelance professions. The include research geneticist (this is the bulk of my income at about five jobs per year. They each pay around $25,000), museum curator (1-2 days a week on average. About $20/hr), substitute chef (occasionally, a few hundred dollars a night, + large tips). I also sell flies to the local stores at an average cost of $5 per, and design custom flies or give lessons for $30 and $150 respectively. I speak nine languages and am registered with a translation service, so I can make some really easy money that way. Also the fish and animal trade brings in circa $10,000 per year. other odd jobs. it all seems to add up, and I have a fairly ascetic lifestyle towards food and housing, which saves some money. whoof. I wrote a lot more than I intended to.