Estimated Household Income
Estimated Household Income for 325 occupation combos
Share
Published April 2024
Personal Interest

Upon leaving grad school, my husband and I ran smack dab into the two body problem. We were mathematicians graduating in 2012 in a world still recovering from 2008. Mathematics faced skepticism about its relevance. Common sentiments included: the world only needs soo many mathematicians. Buffet didn't mince words.

It was an interesting time. The expectations were we would be lucky to get one job offer each across the whole of the US. So where could we live - together? Long distance relationships were fairly common at the time. But, we're romantics. We made a list of all big cities we thought there was even a chance of both of us getting jobs {Chicago, NYC, San Francisco, and two others I can't recall} and then pounded pavement. We made competitions out of how many resumes we could hand out and how many free pens we could get at career fairs. To this date, my husband still accuses me of tanking my NYC options ... to make sure we ended up in San Francisco.

Warren Buffet

I'm glad to see the world turning. The math we dedicated ourselves to learning was instrumental to social networks existing and the waves of advances from AI. One of my favorite anchor points for how much AI has progressed was the success benchmark in 2012 was counting coffee mugs in the grad students' kitchen. I've grown since then. It's nice to see math has grown since then and continues to lead the way on what is possible. One branch of mathematics I want to see more of the potential realized in is Operations Research. So far, we've been using it behind the scenes for industrial processes ... but what if we could use it more openly to help people optimize their lives? In fact, the math behind Lat Long Labs is based on math from Prof Williamson's Operations Research Classes.

In many ways, this heatmap is my love letter to all the power couples, dual-income households, navigating the two body problem. I hope this illuminates where you can go to be together and excel in your careers.

-June
Select Maps for Combinations of Occupations
Estimated Household Income for 25 occupation options.
Sign up for the waitlist to customize for an additional 800 occupations.
Chat-GPT Hot Take

Solving the "two-body problem" for two people trying to find jobs in the same location involves a mix of career flexibility, strategic job searching, negotiation, and sometimes, compromise. This issue is common among couples or partners in professional fields, where both individuals are seeking to advance their careers without having to live apart. Here are several strategies that can be helpful:

  1. Open Communication: Discuss each other's career goals, priorities, and flexibility openly. Understanding what is most important to each person can help in making informed decisions that benefit both.
  2. Geographic Flexibility: Consider broadening the search area to include nearby cities or regions where commuting might be feasible. This could increase the chances of finding suitable positions for both.
  3. Sector Flexibility: Look into the possibility of working in different but related sectors or industries that may be available in the same location. Being open to a wider range of job types can open up more opportunities.
  4. Remote Work: With the increasing availability of remote work, one or both individuals might find opportunities that allow them to work from anywhere. This can significantly reduce the geographic constraints.
  5. Sequential Moves: In some cases, it might be practical for one person to move first and establish their career in a certain location, while the other follows later. This requires a clear understanding and agreement that the separation is temporary and for the benefit of both careers.
  6. Educational or Professional Development: Sometimes, pursuing further education or professional development opportunities (like a master's degree, PhD, or certifications) in a shared location can be a way to bridge the gap. This can also enhance employability in the long term.
  7. Utilize Networks: Leverage professional networks for job leads and advice. Networking can sometimes open up opportunities that are not publicly listed.
  8. Engage with Employers: During the job negotiation phase, discuss the two-body problem openly with potential employers. Some institutions, especially academic ones, may offer spousal hire programs or be able to assist in finding opportunities for partners.
  9. Consider Compromise: There may be scenarios where one person's career opportunity significantly outweighs the other's in terms of advancement, salary, or other factors. In such cases, a temporary compromise might be necessary, with a plan to reassess the situation after a set period.
  10. Professional Help: Career coaches or relocation specialists can offer personalized advice and strategies for navigating the two-body problem effectively.

Finding a solution that works well for both parties often requires creativity, flexibility, and patience. It's important to regularly revisit the discussion as careers evolve and new opportunities arise.

-ChatGPT4

Data Notes

 Estimated income is based off of US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from 2023. There is some very manual massaging for finding zip codes associated with each metro area (msa) in the BLS data. I look forward to the BLS and Census Bureau sync'ing at some point.