For a long time, the idea of a full-time salary came with a sense of stability. It paid the bills, covered a few goals, maybe even left room for savings.
But according to new data from Resume Genius, that old image no longer matches reality.
Today’s workers are living in what experts are calling the “Scrape-by Economy,” where a single paycheck rarely stretches far enough, and most people are mixing and matching income streams just to keep up.
The survey tapped 1,000 full-time employees across the U.S., and the findings paint a clear picture: half of workers spend more than 30% of their income on housing, two-thirds save less than 20% of their paycheck, and one in three believe it takes a six-figure income just to live comfortably.
In short: the math isn’t mathing.
The New Normal: One Job Isn’t Enough
Talk to almost any worker right now and you’ll likely hear the same thing: the paycheck that used to feel sustainable now comes up short. For many, the fix isn’t cutting back. It’s hustling harder.
More than half of workers (53%) now earn money outside their primary job.
Some invest, some freelance, some drive for gig platforms, and others have turned content creation into a second (or third) income stream. What used to be “extra money” has turned into “essential money.”
Career experts say this shift isn’t about ambition. It’s about survival.
Younger workers lead the way in diversifying how they earn. Only a third of Gen Z and less than half of Millennials rely on a single full-time paycheck. Most have stitched together income from several sources, a part-time gig here, a freelance project there, maybe a small investment portfolio they hope will grow into something meaningful. They are cobbling together different forms of income just to scrape by.
Gen X and Boomers, who came up in a different economy, are far more likely to depend solely on one job. But even there, cracks are forming.
The Weight of Financial Stress
Even with full-time jobs, workers say they constantly worry about money. The survey found:
- 68% don’t believe they earn enough to save for retirement
- 58% live paycheck to paycheck
- 55% feel loan payments prevent them from saving
- 52% don’t feel financially secure about the future
Millennials report the most strain of all. Many came of age during the Great Recession, only to enter adulthood facing rising rent, student loan debt, and now a cost-of-living surge. More than 60% still live paycheck to paycheck, and nearly half admit they don’t know how to prepare for retirement at all.
The emotional toll is clear. Many workers say they feel behind, even when they’re doing everything right on paper.
Housing Costs Are Eating Paychecks Alive
If one expense is driving the squeeze more than any other, it’s housing.
Half of full-time workers now spend 30% or more of their salary just to keep a roof over their heads. For 12%, housing eats more than half their paycheck. Saving for a home — once a milestone — now feels out of reach for a large share of renters.
Millennials, again, are hit hardest: 80% spend at least 20% of their income on housing, leaving less room for savings, debt repayment, or emergencies.
Even those who managed to buy homes aren’t feeling secure. High mortgage payments have replaced rising rents, swapping one stressor for another.
Savings Have Become a Luxury
Two-thirds of workers struggle to save meaningfully, and for many, saving anything at all feels like a challenge.
Here’s what the survey found:
- 65% save less than 20% of their paycheck
- 15% can’t save at all
- Only 5% save half or more of their income
Interestingly, Gen Z is leading the way in savings habits. Nearly half save more than 20% of their income — a cautious approach likely shaped by growing up during an era of economic uncertainty. They’re earning less, but they’re saving earlier and spending more intentionally.
What “Comfortable” Means in 2025
One of the most striking insights from the report is how workers now define financial comfort.
A third of full-time employees say it takes at least $100,000 a year to feel stable. Not wealthy, not extravagant, just comfortable. Nearly 20% say the ideal range is between $100,000 and $149,000, and 6% say they’d need $200,000 or more.
Salary expectations haven’t risen because people suddenly want more. They’ve risen because essentials now cost more than many incomes can reasonably support.
Paychecks No Longer Match Real Life
What this report makes clear is that the modern paycheck hasn’t kept pace with the economy people are actually living in. Housing costs continue to rise, debt follows workers well into adulthood, and full-time wages often feel stuck in place.
For many Americans, the goal isn’t sudden wealth. It’s the simple desire to feel steady again: to save, to breathe, and to live a life that isn’t ruled by rising costs.
Read More:
- 15 Simple Ways to Cut Expenses Without Feeling Deprived
- 11 Things Frugal People Never Spend Money on (But Never Feel Deprived)
- 7 Tiny Money Habits That Quietly Save You Hundreds Every Month
