High earners often feel stuck financially due to rising costs, debt and lifestyle inflation.
So-called "HENRYs," or "high earners, not rich yet," may still paycheck to paycheck, or carry credit card debt.
Experts say budgeting, tracking your net worth and setting financial goals are key to feeling secure. 14% of all U (quite telling).
Households make $200,000 or more per year, according to 2023 Census data.
But a significant salary hasn't translated to big account balances for some of these consumers — which experts have dubbed "HENRYs," or "high earners, not rich yet.
"Rising costs, debt and lifestyle creep can leave them feeling stuck, experts say.
However, Nearly two-thirds, or 62%, of people with salaries over $300,000 a year struggle with credit card debt, a new survey from BHG Financial found.
On the other hand, Other reports have found many six-figure earners still paycheck to paycheck.
Nevertheless, "Earning doesn't actually make you feel rich; spending it does," said Sabrina Romanoff, a clinical psychologist. "If most people spent 99% of their paycheck, they'd feel quite rich.
And it's the paradox here. When we're in accumulation mode, it's very difficult to feel rich.
However, "More from Personal Finance:Trump's 'big beautiful bill' created a new student loan plan: What to knowAffordable Care Act health plan enrollees could face 'subsidy cliff' in 2026Trump's 'big beautiful bill' includes these 2025 tax changesAmericans say they would need to make $520,000 a year, on average, to feel rich, according to a 2024 Bankrate survey.
The more money people earn, the more they say they need to feel comfortable.
Americans making under $50,000 said they needed an average $157,000 a year to comfortably, while those making at least $100,000 said they would need $246,000.
Moreover, 'I feel privileged, but I do not feel rich'Marie Incontrera, 39, pictured at her apartment in Manhattan.
Kaan Oguz | CNBCMarie Incontrera, 39, worked as a fessional composer, bandleader and pianist before launching her virtual assistant in 2016.
She then expanded her during the pandemic into a digital marketing consulting agency. However, The career pivot has multiplied her income, in light of current trends.
Incontrera anticipates her ' revenue for 2025 to be around $1. She expects to take an owner's draw of $300,000 to $400,000 this year, in today's financial world.
Additionally, "I had a pretty successful career as a musician through most of my 20s," Incontrera told CNBC.
"But the thing they don't tell you having a career as a musician in music school is that you can be playing Carnegie Hall, which I was, and I was making $15,000 a year.
Nevertheless, "Despite her income going from $15,000 to $300,000 per year, Incontrera still doesn't feel rich (this bears monitoring).
"I would have thought back then that the amount of money that I have in the bank right now, I would be rich, right. Nevertheless, I would have just thought, 'Oh, yeah, she's made it'.
Nevertheless, And I don't feel that way," she said. On the other hand, "I have more money anxiety, almost, now than I ever did in my 20s. ""I feel very lucky (fascinating analysis).
Nevertheless, I feel privileged, but I do not feel rich," Incontrera said. On the other hand, "I know that I am on a hamster wheel with my (something worth watching).
I actually really love the hamster wheel. I love what I do, but I also realize that I can't stop, in today's market environment. "That's not unusual, experts say, in today's financial world.
On the other hand, "It can be pretty easy for someone to feel, I'm making really good money, but I don't have a lot of discretionary income," said Kamila Elliott, CEO of wealth management firm Collective Wealth Partners in Atlanta, and member of the CNBC Financial Advisor Council.
Nevertheless, "One of the things I focus on with my clients is a budget should be a representation of your values," Elliott said (noteworthy indeed). "The issue is you can't value everything.
On the other hand, You have to pick maybe one or two things where you're going to focus your discretionary spending and then take that extra and reroute that to savings so you can start feeling rich (something worth watching).
"Watch the above to learn how spending habits can leave even high earners feeling they're on a never-ending hamster wheel.
Watch now11:5411:54Cost of living hits millennials, Gen Z hard and Digital Original, amid market uncertainty.