When is it ok to ask people how much they make

[Rumpltzer]

Asians (in Asia) are very forward with this question, and I don't take offense to it at all. Most Asians also seem to be aware that Americans are sensitive about the question.

When my family overseas asks what I make (and they did), I tell them.


If some dude asked me about two minutes into meeting me what an EE in my field makes, I'd be straight forward about it. Engineer with undergrad starting out with us will probably be in the $40-$55K range. Show up with a PhD, and you'll probably be in the $80-$95K range out of the gate. From there on, you can probably double your salary (maybe more) in the next 20 years, but it depends on how valuable you make yourself to the company.

I'd then tell him about the IEEE salary survey, how it works, and the info that they offer.


If it's a chick, I'd then asks to see her bewbies.

 

[SheHateMe]

how do you like the MSI 7950? I'm about 2 weeks away from pulling the trigger on lil rudeguy's new gaming rig and the video card is the only thing I'm still up in the air about.

It doesn't disappoint. You can run anything on this baby. Make sure you have some good airflow in your case. This thing is capable of cooling itself, but it sounds like a Jet about to take off at any fan speed above 20%.

I'm actually about to pick up a second one.

 

[rudeguy]

It doesn't disappoint. You can run anything on this baby. Make sure you have some good airflow in your case. This thing is capable of cooling itself, but it sounds like a Jet about to take off at any fan speed above 20%.

I'm actually about to pick up a second one.

People mock me, but I always go full ATX and throw in some extra fans. I hate trying to troubleshoot cooling issues so I make sure I don't have any. His last build has lasted him over 3 years and except for a stick of RAM going bad, he had zero issues.

 

[TwiceOver]

When is it ok to ask people how much they make

When you are in the business of handing out loans.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I've never understand why it's a sensitive topic. I've never cared what anyone makes, nor who knows what I make. *shrug*

This.

I don't care to discuss. I'll keep it quiet out of formality, but I have no problem discussing.

If anything, I think employer's love the fact that no one discusses this. Less chance for people to think competitively. Think about that for a minute.

 

[Exterous]

So precisely what is wrong with a 35 year old making 19k?

There is not necessarily something wrong with a 35 year old making 19k but it does provide evidence warranting additional investigation to determine potential loser status

 

[Veliko]

There is not necessarily something wrong with a 35 year old making 19k but it does provide evidence warranting additional investigation to determine potential loser status

So contrary to what you claim in the first part of your sentence, you do actually think that there is something wrong with a 35-year old earning 19k.

Why?

 

[TwiceOver]

So contrary to what you claim in the first part of your sentence, you do actually think that there is something wrong with a 35-year old earning 19k.

Why?

A lot of people think everyone should make more than a Burger King employee. If that were the case, there'd be no Burger King employees.

To each their own. If my family could live off $20k per year I'd quit immediately and mow lawns for a living.

 

[Jaepheth]

To answer the OP...


When you're planning the budget before the wedding or after the honeymoon.

Or when you're the agent helping them fill in a loan application.


In other words, it should be treated respectfully as need to know.

 

[madoka]

Why does it bother anyone to be asked how much they make?
Is it because income is somewhat like penis size?

I think it's important to know how much other people make, so you can evaluate your own value in the work force, and not get raped by an exploiting employer. Also, across fields, you can judge whether changing the field is interesting or viable.

I don't see a problem with anyone making more or less money than me. I don't get why it's become so taboo, but the employer is the only winner of the secrecy in which you shroud your income.

I agree. Can't believe that people get so sensitive at times over salary. Even worse is new car price. Anybody can look up what approximately you paid for your car in a matter of seconds, so why treat it like it's some sort of national secret?

Oh, and it's also important to know how much of a financial hit you take by going into public service, versus private business. Especially in academia, knowing that difference is important, and asking someone how much they make, if I'm interested in their field is only natural.

I teach for a living and when people find out what I make, they often think I'm lying. Even on these forums, many will just assuming I'm either lying or trolling. I think it's better for people to know what sort of salaries are available in different fields as that information could be useful to them.

 

[madoka]

Asians (in Asia) are very forward with this question, and I don't take offense to it at all.

I get that question too when I'm in Asia. When I tell them, their jaws drop because I don't dress well or eat fancy. Hell, I was once invited into a soup kitchen when I was walking around Oakland. But it will spark a conversation with a taxi driver or street food peddler as we compare salaries, which both of us find enlightening.

 

[rudeguy]

I get that question too when I'm in Asia. When I tell them, their jaws drop because I don't dress well or eat fancy. Hell, I was once invited into a soup kitchen when I was walking around Oakland. But it will spark a conversation with a taxi driver or street food peddler as we compare salaries, which both of us find enlightening.

So....

How much do you make?

 

[madoka]

So....

How much do you make?

I get paid per hour and I decide how much I want to work. So if I work a half day, I make about a $1000 that day and a full day means $2000. What's great is that I decide where, when, with who, duration, and if I want to work at all. However, I typically work seven days a week as the greed kicks in.

 

[rudeguy]

I get paid per hour and I decide how much I want to work. So if I work a half day, I make about a $1000 that day and a full day means $2000. What's great is that I decide where, when, with who, duration, and if I want to work at all. However, I typically work seven days a week as the greed kicks in.

never would have thought fluffing paid that well.

 

[madoka]

never would have thought fluffing paid that well.

Well now you know better.

 

[Exterous]

So contrary to what you claim in the first part of your sentence, you do actually think that there is something wrong with a 35-year old earning 19k.

Why?

No I don't think there is something wrong with a 35-year old earning 19k - I think there could be something wrong with a 35-year old earning 19k.

potential =/ definative

 

[Schfifty Five]

Of course there is. Don't be so silly. Hell, ask that guy making $19k how he likes it.

Sandeagle, how do you like it? :biggrin:

 

[z1ggy]

I get paid per hour and I decide how much I want to work. So if I work a half day, I make about a $1000 that day and a full day means $2000. What's great is that I decide where, when, with who, duration, and if I want to work at all. However, I typically work seven days a week as the greed kicks in.

Holy crap D:

What do you do? Stock broker?? I make like...$250 a day net income

 

[madoka]

Holy crap D:

What do you do? Stock broker?? I make like...$250 a day net income

As I mentioned, I teach. The cherry on top is that 60-80% of the time I'm getting paid to surf the internet as I wait for students to finish problems.

 

[Chapbass]

As I mentioned, I teach. The cherry on top is that 60-80% of the time I'm getting paid to surf the internet as I wait for students to finish problems.

Any chance you'd be up for elaborating just a little on what you do? I would absolutely love to do teaching for a career but it seems so many people make so little, I'm finding it hard to justify it to myself.

Not trying to derail the thread, so maybe if you want to PM if you have some time and don't mind chatting just briefly?

 

[ultimatebob]

To answer the OP...


When you're planning the budget before the wedding or after the honeymoon.

Or when you're the agent helping them fill in a loan application.

In other words, it should be treated respectfully as need to know.

Even then, you don't always want to answer honestly You're better off rounding your income up a bit when filling a loan application (to make sure you get the best interest date), and round down a bit when talking to your spouse (So she doesn't spend it all!).

I'm not saying to LIE, just embellish a bit depending on the audience.

 

[Doppel]

So precisely what is wrong with a 35 year old making 19k?

Precisely? Everything. There is nothing that isn't wrong with it. It may be relatively common, but so is obesity and alcoholism, also things that are terrible.

 

[z1ggy]

As I mentioned, I teach. The cherry on top is that 60-80% of the time I'm getting paid to surf the internet as I wait for students to finish problems.

I have to assume you are a PhD with tenure teaching some college kids? You can't be a high school teacher making that kind of money.

 

[madoka]

I have to assume you are a PhD with tenure teaching some college kids? You can't be a high school teacher making that kind of money.

You're right. I have a professional degree and I teach mostly college students.

However, I've thought about whether a high school teacher can do it too. If you applied the same principles that I used, I think an intelligent, driven college grad can replicate what I've done by teaching high school students. One of my former students did just that and started his own company teaching high school kids.

I used to explain to random strangers on the internet how I did it just to prove I wasn't BSing because few could believe I made so much as a teacher. I would go step-by-step and explain the importance of location, how to market yourself, finding potential clients, etc. I even went as far as to call internationally to strangers in foreign countries because they asked. But I was trolled way too often, became bitter, and realized I was just wasting my time.

 

[z1ggy]

You're right. I have a professional degree and I teach mostly college students.

However, I've thought about whether a high school teacher can do it too. If you applied the same principles that I used, I think an intelligent, driven college grad can replicate what I've done by teaching high school students. One of my former students did just that and started his own company teaching high school kids.

I used to explain to random strangers on the internet how I did it just to prove I wasn't BSing because few could believe I made so much as a teacher. I would go step-by-step and explain the importance of location, how to market yourself, finding potential clients, etc. I even went as far as to call internationally to strangers in foreign countries because they asked. But I was trolled way too often, became bitter, and realized I was just wasting my time.

Huh.. well that's pretty cool & good for you. I won't make that kind of money until I'm old and ready to retire. I just don't have the risk appetite to be starting any kind of business in this economy. I've had a few decent ideas but no way I would be able to recover if it failed.