# Salaries For The Characters On "The Big Bang Theory" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 3, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587 "2010-02-03T21:56:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pasta)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/21 "2010-02-04T04:58:48Z")
I’ve always interpreted the physicists in the bunch to be either senior postdocs or staff scientists. They don’t seem to do any teaching, so they would not be assistant professors. Caltech has a lot of staff scientists, though, which is similar in career level to assistant professor. A physics postdoc at Caltech makes 45k-55k. A staff scientist is a bit higher, maybe 65k+ starting out. They do live in Pasadena, and I believe Pasadena City Hall can be seen out one of their windows. Their apartment would run about $3000/mo, so sharing is necessary if they want to live in such a nice place in such a prime location. The view out their window implies that they are about 2 miles from campus, or about a 30-minute walk. Incidentally, there is plenty of shopping within this radius (in reply to a post above about Penny driving them places.) My cite? I’m a particle physicist (postdoc) at Caltech who lives near City Hall in Pasadena. 🙂 Indeed, if Sheldon were real, I’d see him every day. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/22 "2010-02-04T05:11:48Z")
> [@Pasta](#): > > My cite? I’m a particle physicist (postdoc) at Caltech who lives near City Hall in Pasadena. 🙂 Indeed, if Sheldon were real, I’d see him every day. Holy crap! Are you Leonard, then? 🙂 Seriously, do you know anyone personally who in any way matches the characters? What’s your opinion of the show? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/23 "2010-02-04T07:43:26Z")
Sheldon once said that he lives on [an exact percentage under 50%] of his salary- something like 47.9%. He keeps most of his money in cash (literally in cash). Presumably he is the highest paid since he is the most respected and has had his Ph.D. the longest. Sheldon could not possibly live alone because he cannot drive and is too socially awkward, and Leonard is probably saving some money, plus after Penny moved in you couldn’t blast him out with dynamite. Howard has only a master’s degree, which would earn him enough to live on his own but not as well as he can staying with mom (at least not as far as disposable income goes). Raj’s job and training has never really been explained in depth. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/24 "2010-02-04T14:38:23Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > It’s not clear to me what Leonard, Sheldon and Raj’s jobs are. They don’t seem to teach. Sheldon teaches. In an episode in the second season Leonard remarks that the penalty for some infraction would be having to take one of Leonard’s courses. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/25 "2010-02-04T14:42:17Z")
Penny’s apartment is much smaller than Sheldon & Leonard’s, she works as a waitress where she could get some kind of discount on meals, and she buys groceries. She is obviously living cheaper than any of the guys. I love the realism of that. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/26 "2010-02-04T14:49:41Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Raj’s job and training has never really been explained in depth. Didn’t they deal a bit with this earlier in the season when Raj lost his job? I thought they mentioned what he was doing and why the project was canceled. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/27 "2010-02-04T15:05:16Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Which brings me to this last question, what does a waitress at the Cheesecake factory make? She works for tips, so she probably averages ~$200 day. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/28 "2010-02-04T15:19:42Z")
> [@Ronald\_C.Semone](#): > > Sheldon teaches. In an episode in the second season Leonard remarks that the penalty for some infraction would be having to take one of Leonard’s courses. The “class” they’re referring to isn’t a university course, it’s more like a private tutoring session in line with Sheldon’s attempt at teaching Penny physics, only with lectures about how not to annoy Sheldon. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/29 "2010-02-04T15:30:36Z")
In the recent episode, didn’t Sheldon say he was the “Senior Physicist” at Caltech? I imagine that would pay more than the median. Don’t they also get money from grants as well? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/30 "2010-02-04T18:37:21Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > It’s a case of TV showing people living well beyond the means of the individuals they are portraying. \*Friends \*was a huge offender in this category, IIRC. “Friends” explained the big apartment as an artifact of rent control, which in New York City is quite believable. ---
**Author:** ![Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pasta)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/31 "2010-02-04T19:07:40Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Seriously, do you know anyone personally who in any way matches the characters? What’s your opinion of the show? I think the show is excellent. (I don’t get much chance to watch it these days, though, and it isn’t streamed anywhere, last time I looked.) And, even though the characters are a bit caricatured, I definitely know people who match them fairly well. Actually, if you count everyone I’ve crossed paths with in my schooling and career, I’ve known folks that make the guys in the show seem like regular Joes. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/32 "2010-02-04T19:10:05Z")
My husband and I are geeks, with geek friends and family, and we see a lot of familiar characteristics in the guys on the show. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/33 "2010-02-04T19:37:04Z")
> [@](#): > > The “class” they’re referring to isn’t a university course, it’s more like a private tutoring session in line with Sheldon’s attempt at teaching Penny physics, only with lectures about how not to annoy Sheldon. I definitely got the impression that it was a class at the University. Which still doesn’t rule out the possibility that he’s a research professor, but I’m not sure if Sheldon would teach a class unless he were required to. > [@](#): > > In the recent episode, didn’t Sheldon say he was the “Senior Physicist” at Caltech? I imagine that would pay more than the median. Don’t they also get money from grants as well? There’s no recognized position of “Senior Physicist”. He could mean that he has more seniority than his buddies (pretty likely anyway, given how young he earned his degree), or he could have been referring to some specific project that he’s the principle investigator on. And while CalTech does pay more than most schools, that’s compensated for by the cost of living. I’ve known a few folks who have moved between equivalent positions here and at CalTech, and they’ve all reported that even though CalTech pays twice as much as we do, it’s still more affordable living and working here. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/34 "2010-02-05T00:28:36Z")
I don’t watch the show because the few times I have I’ve found everyone on it to be an idiot. That having been said my husband is a physicist (so I know what they’re like) for NASA/AMES and makes $100,000+ a year in a really boring job not worthy of a sitcom. He’s working on the Kepler mission, if anyone’s interested. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/35 "2010-02-05T00:39:35Z")
> [@voguevixen](#): > > I don’t watch the show because the few times I have I’ve found everyone on it to be an idiot. Of course they are idiots but that is why they’re fun. Everyone on TV takes a trait and exaggerates it to the extreme for comedic effect. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/36 "2010-02-05T00:41:33Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Of course they are idiots but that is why they’re fun. Everyone on TV takes a trait and exaggerates it to the extreme for comedic effect. To the point of drinking Mountian Dew? Come on. That is absurd. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/37 "2010-02-05T00:51:02Z")
> [@voguevixen](#): > > To the point of drinking Mountian Dew? Come on. That is absurd. Geeks don’t drink Mountain Dew? We must know different geeks. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/38 "2010-02-05T00:56:32Z")
But that is TV sitcoms and TV in general. No one in real life gets away with stuff like that. Jack “Three’s Company” Tripper can’t come within 20 feet of a woman without being sexually harrassed? Ted Baxter keeping his job as an anchorman? Diane Chambers being a psuedo-intellectual, not to mention Carla keeping her job with her mouth? And you can go on and on. And sometimes they do push it too far. My favourite show in the world is the old Australian soap opera, _Prisoner_ _(Prisoner: Cell Block H_). It’s a PRISON but geez, it’s the funnest place to be. I would break every law in the world to get into Wentworth prison, as Judy, Lizzie, Doreen and a whole slew of others did. If you look at _Prisoner_ as realistic, it’s annoying but if you sit back and enjoy the ride, it’s a blast ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/39 "2010-02-05T00:58:48Z")
I’m sorry. I thought this thread was asking about real things and not happy funtime wacky things. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587/40 "2010-02-05T01:00:11Z")
With the right ingredients, real things **become** happy funtime wacky things! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salaries-for-the-characters-on-the-big-bang-theory/527587.md?page=3)