We’ve cracked the code on how money can buy happiness. Now we’re able to ballpark the most coveted emotion’s ideal salary.
According to a report published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour that analyzed surveys of nearly two million people in 164 countries, you (as an individual, not a household) need to make $65,000 to $95,000 a year in order to achieve optimal life satisfaction.
And get this: The researchers found that making more than $95,000 corresponded with “declines in emotional well-being and life satisfaction…perhaps because being wealthy—past the point required for daily comfort and purchasing power, at least—can lead to unhealthy social comparisons and unfulfilling material pursuits,” per Money.
So next time you meet a veterinarian, personal financial advisor or art director—all gigs that land in the salary sweet spot—expect their disposition to be sunny.