It’s less likely that they’re doing something ‘wrong’, and more likely that factors such as household size and living location drive up the overall cost of living past what potentially their single salary can withstand. A single-earner with a spouse and kid to support living in Manhattan can struggle to keep up even with a $150k+ salary.

Rents and basic living expenses(ie. Food) in particular have spiked citywide since the pandemic, which further exacerbates the issue.