Benchmarks of success

Aminta earns $1,400 a month as a pre-school teacher. Together, she and her husband have a combined household income of $4,400 a month. How does that compare to national and local wages and housing costs?

Average salary, Wal-Mart supercenter employee
» $20,544 per year ($10.70 per hour)

Average salary, employee in food services in California
» $23,500 per year ($12.23 per hour)

Salary, Mayor of Los Angeles James K. Hahn
» $186,000 per year

Median income, family of four in California
» $63,206 per year

Median income, family of four in Los Angeles County
» $46,452 per year

Minimum household income required to purchase a home
» in California (median price of $404,520) - $94,730 per year
» nationwide (median price of $173,200) - $40,560 per year

Minimum household income required to afford a market rate apartment
» in Los Angeles County (average rent of $1,258) - $31,632 per year / $2,636 per month