Working for a Living

The daily grind is a fact of life for countless millions in the Inner Sphere and beyond. Day in and day out people go to work, pay taxes, and try to make ends meet. Although players may find themselves tempted to go out and blow thousands of C-bills on weapons, the fact of the matter is that they, too, have to pay for food and shelter. This article is for the GM who needs to curb spending sprees, define the life of the faceless masses, or is just curious. Following in this series will also be articles on taxes, military life, the life of a free trader, and how to truly live like royalty. I'll also try to make up some worksheets to simplify the record keeping.

Although there are several supplements addressing the pay that a mercenary recieves, there is almost nothing addressing how much the average worker makes in a given profession in the Inner Sphere. The salaries listed are averages. They may be higher or lower depending on experience, tenure, the employer, etc. Below is the typical Battletech conversion chart for experience and pay:

Next, we have a listing of typical jobs in the Inner Sphere and approximately what they make. Not every job can be listed, so some improvisation is necessary.

Cost of Living

The two largest expenses for most people are food and shelter. The amount that you spend on both generally determines your standard of living. All of these assume a single character living alone. Dependents increase the cost of living as noted. In the event that a character has managed to purchase his own place, food alone will cost 100, 110, 120, 140, 170, or 200 per person based on their social status.

Destitute - 0 CB / month

By expending no income on food or shelter, you rely on the charity of others. Soup kitchens and shelters are your only source for these necessities of life. The effects on your health are noticable as you take on a hungry, weathered look from your conditions. Characters living in this state suffer at least a penalty of -1 CHA and -1 BOD from malnutrition and poor hygeine. These effects will remain until a character spends a month at a higher standard of living. Another sad truth is that until you improve your station, few places will hire you except for charitable organizations and manual labor.

Note: If a character is in a wilderness survival situation, those rules from the MW:3rd Ed. apply instead.

Poverty - 160 CB / month

You can afford a sleeping tube, if one is available, or a spot in a similar communal living quarter. Your meals are sustaining, but with little variety. If sought out, charity can help offset some of your costs for meals (10 CB x MoS for Streetwise check, to a maximum of 100 CB).

Each dependant increases the cost of living by 120 CB / month and precludes the use of a sleeping tube. Quarters will be along the lines of a cramped flophouse.

Spartan - 240 CB / month

You can afford a small room of your own, maybe even with your own plumbing. Your dive affords some privacy, even if it has little space and few amenities. Your diet is simple and nutritious, but with little room to splurge.

Each dependant increases the cost of living by 180 CB / month. Quarters are still cramped, but you may be able to afford a portable home or a place in a shared building.

Comfortable - 300 to 350 CB / month

You can afford one to three simple rooms in a complex. Your diet is nutritious and allows for some "nights out" and other treats.

Each dependant increases the cost of living by 220 CB / month. This may allow you to afford a small home or a larger suite, though still of simple means.

Well off - 560 CB / month

You can afford one to three nice rooms in a complex. Your diet is nutritious with variety and allows for several "nights out" and other treats.

Each dependant increases the cost of living by 340 CB / month. This allows you to afford a modest home or a larger suite, of nice quality and construction.

Wealthy - 900 CB / month

You can afford one to three upscale rooms in a nice complex. Your diet is nutritious with variety, including the occassional exotic dish and allows for frequent "nights out" and other treats.

Each dependant increases the cost of living by 500 CB / month. This may allow you to afford a large home or a quality suite, either of excellent decor and construction.

Affluent - 1400 CB / month

You can afford a floor suite in a complex. Your diet is nutritious with variety, including several exotic dishes and allows for frequent "nights out" and off world delicacies.

Each dependant increases the cost of living by 750 CB / month. This may allow you to afford a villa or a multi-floor suite, either of excellent decor and construction.

Clothes Make the Man

Although it may sound shallow to say, people often are judged by the clothing they wear. Your job and station are intwined with your apparel. While a fast food clerk has a uniform provided for him, an engineer is expected to dress in a semi-casual manner, and a lawyer must wear a suit. The following describes the cost of "keeping up with fashion" for your chosen status. Each dependant increases this cost by half of the listed value. If a character chooses to buy specific clothing items, that counts against this monthly "minimum."

Destitute - 0 CB / month

You wear what you can find or recieve from charity. The clothing is often out of style, threadbare, and not well cleaned.

Poverty - 8 CB / month

Your clothing is either donated (reduce the cost by 5 CB for a successful Streetwise check) or is from bargin racks and discount stores. The quality and styles are generally of inferior quality.

Spartan - 14 CB / month

Your clothing is plain and functional. You have no room to spend on designer clothing, but you are able to afford new clothing once your old clothing becomes worn out. You can also afford one "nice" outfit for special occassions.

Comfortable - 20 to 26 CB / month

Your clothing is both comfortable and somewhat in keeping with the styles. You can afford a couple special outfits and you have no problem buying new clothes when the old set is worn out.

Well off - 40 CB / month

Your clothing is well made and stylish. You tend to have a good selection of clothing for all occassions. Sometimes you buy clothing just to stay in style, even when the old sets are still functional.

Wealthy - 80 CB / month

Your clothing is tailored and stylish. Most of your clothing is in the high end of both price and fashion. You can afford to keep up to date in style, frequently supplementing your wardrobe.

Affluent - 120 CB / month

Your clothing is custom tailored and in keeping with the latest styles of the courts of the Great Houses. You could easily mingle with the nobility. The cost of an article of clothing is never an issue.

Death and Taxes

If you didn't care for the previous sections, read no further. For the rest of you, let's talk about two other major slices from the budget pie. In reality, insurance and taxes (especially taxes) take a big chunk out of a paycheck. While this level of realism may be going too far, it does provide for additional roleplaying opportunities (How can I get around those taxes, legit and non-legit? What happens if a raid destroys my house / speeder / family?). Feel free to modify these rates based on skill checks, creative roleplaying, etc.

Life Insurance

For simplicity, let's use term life insurance (you're covered as long as you pay, they pay if you die, you get nothing if you stop paying). It gets more expensive as you age and most agencies will not pay out if you commit suicide or die within three to six months of changing your policy. Dependants cost half of the normal amount (providing the character is also covered). There should also be a reasonable limit on overall coverage as determined by the Gamemaster. Lastly, anyone with a job is assumed to have enough basic insurance to be properly buried.

Monthly Cost x 400,000 / Age = Coverage

Health Insurance

Again, let's keep this simple. As long as you pay the premium, your medical expenses only cost a minor co-payment (5 C-bills for doctor's visits, drugs, etc. and a percentage of any major treatment). Expenses have to be justified (ie: no free myomer prosthetics).Dependants cost half of the normal amount (providing the character is also covered).

Monthly Cost = Age / 2

Vehicle Insurance

A little more complex and not as accurate. As long as you pay the premium, if something happens to your vehicle you will be reimbursed. There will usually be an investigation and appraisal in the event of an incident. Additionally, almost noone will insure military hardware.

Monthly Cost = Value of Vehicle ^ (1/2) / 3

Property Insurance

Also a little more complex and not as accurate. As long as you pay the premium, if something happens to your property you will be reimbursed. There will usually be an investigation and appraisal in the event of an incident. If you are on a border world or near a warzone, expect significantly higher rates.

Monthly Cost = Value of Property ^ (1/3) / 2

Taxes

Taxes are near inescapable. In the interest of simplicity, I've only grouped two kinds of taxes: House and Planet. House taxes represent the taxes levied by the Great Houses that every planet must pay, while Planet taxes represent the additional taxes to support the local governments. Generally, the more controlling the ruling House is, the higher that tax will be, and the more power local governments are allowed, the higher the Planet taxes will be.

There you have it folks. The true cost of living in the Inner Sphere in a nutshell. As always, questions, comments and suggestions are welcome.