Happiness -- at What Salary?

I was intrigued today by an article hidden on an inside page of one of my local news sites, King5 News, which reported that money does make people happy -- but only up to about $75,000.

Say what?

According to King 5 and the Associated Press and based on a study published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, folks that make more money are happier, but only up to a point. Apparently, we're all more satisfied with our lives until we make about $75,000. After that we may feel that we have a better life, but we're not really happier.

Apparently, that $75,000 is a moving target. In my area -- greater Seattle -- it actually takes about $85,500. I assume this target is based somewhat on the cost of living, but maybe not.

I can tell you that a $75,000 a year salary won't buy much of a house in this area unless one lives more on the outskirts -- like my area of Auburn, where our income seems to traditionally be slightly less than the overall Washington state average. I'd certainly think that one's salary had better pay the mortgage in order to be happy!

Bt the way, if anyone's asking, I'm perfectly willing to be a subject model to test out the theory that making more than $85,500 still makes one happy! Twice that amount sounds about right to me ....