$500 a month after 10 years of work is not a bad salary

According to 2022 statistics, Binh Duong Province has the highest average per capita income in the country at VND8.076 million a month, followed by Hanoi at VND6.423 million and Ho Chi Minh City at VND6.392 million.

Assuming you graduated at 22 and have been in the workforce since, a salary of VND10-15 million in your 30s is considered normal for domestic and state-owned enterprises, not low. Those earning above that level are usually department heads or managers.

For the private sector, income levels vary widely and there is no standard benchmark. Meanwhile, foreign enterprises tend to offer salaries that are double or even triple those of state-owned firms.

However, everyone possesses unique strengths that can be leveraged to boost their earnings. For instance, if climbing the corporate ladder is not for you, you can start an online business, which is not difficult these days thanks to e-commerce platforms.

Then there are also people who earn VND40-50 million a month in their 30s and still get fired or decide to quit their jobs anyway.

Nothing is certain nowadays, but there are always many job opportunities if you are sharp and diligent.

If you cannot improve your income, you must tighten your budget and cut expenses wherever possible. This might mean opting for one child instead of two, renting a room instead of buying a house, or preparing meals at home rather than dining out.

To be frank, prices are always going to be rising at a pace faster than wages, so the key to making ends meet is to be flexible and resourceful with your finances, rather than ambitious.

Would you be satisfied with $500 a month in your 30s?

Reader Hong Nhung

*This opinion was translated into English by AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.