# What is your job and how much money do you make per year? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 13, 2020, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710 "2020-05-13T13:40:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/21 "2020-05-13T16:04:57Z")
This is the most American question I have ever heard! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/22 "2020-05-13T16:10:17Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > This is the most American question I have ever heard! In what respect? It’s normally considered a major faux pas to ask that question in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/23 "2020-05-13T16:10:38Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Freelance writer, ~15k per year. > > Before anyone freaks out about the abject poverty in which I live, keep in mind that I live in a DINK (double income no kids) household, Mrs. Homie makes about the same, and we live in an area with an extremely low cost of living. Our car is paid off and we don’t have a commute (and with gas going for a song these days anyway…). > > I live on the upper range of the lower middle class lifestyle. **HeyHomie**! You’re not kidding, cost of living/housing down there is ridiculously low. Heck, I even have friends in Springfield and was shocked at what they were selling their 10 year old house for…about the same as I paid for my 70 year old house where I live. In my previous job I used to say that my last transfer would be to Willow Springs for exactly those reasons. But I’m not at that job anymore. I work for state government, doing regulatory stuff. I make jack shit. The Feds who do the exact same job I do make about twice as much. I may go do that when I retire from the state, may not. And as referred to above, you can look up the salary of any state employee online. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/24 "2020-05-13T16:25:59Z")
I’m a gigolo. I find well off, ugly women and provide them with emotional comfort and sexual release. I’m paid in high end desserts and luxury vacation trips. the real answer is I’m ashamed of how badly my career failed. I need to find something else to do. There is a demand for scientists, my ass. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/25 "2020-05-13T16:36:22Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Freelance writer, ~15k per year. > > Before anyone freaks out about the abject poverty in which I live, keep in mind that I live in a DINK (double income no kids) household, Mrs. Homie makes about the same, and we live in an area with an extremely low cost of living. Our car is paid off and we don’t have a commute (and with gas going for a song these days anyway…). > > I live on the upper range of the lower middle class lifestyle. Yup, you can live fairly frugally in a lot of parts of the country. Especially if you own your own home and car, have no dependents and are debt free otherwise. I’m guessing 2 adults could get by on ~$1500/month or so in that situation assuming they had simple tastes. The big issue is health care. As long as you have insurance through work or a subsidized public plan then you should be fine. But health care is like the wrecking ball that can crush years of frugality and savings in an instant. It seems like it doesn’t matter if you make 20k a year or 100k a year. Health care is what truly separates a middle class lifestyle from an insecure working class lifestyle. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/26 "2020-05-13T16:36:25Z")
Why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/27 "2020-05-13T16:48:29Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > According to my mother, it’s vulgar to talk about how much you make. I think there’s value in co-workers discussing how much they make, even if only for purposes of individual comparison between similarly suited/employed workers. That’s my very limited response to this topic. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/28 "2020-05-13T16:52:30Z")
> [@cornflakes2](#): > > I find it very ironic that everyone wants more transparency but then get all upset when someone wants to know how much money you have or make. Taxpayers want transparency in government _because they’re the ones paying the salaries._ And here in the US, they have that transparency. Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, databases exist for the salaries of federal and state (and probably also local) government employees. Know someone who works for the federal government? [Look 'em up.](https://www.google.com/search?q=federal%20employee%20salary%20database&cad=h) I haven’t heard of anyone claiming they have any kind of right to know how much their non-government-employed neighbor earns. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/29 "2020-05-13T17:25:19Z")
None of your goddamn business. And it’s very rude of you to ask. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/30 "2020-05-13T17:26:39Z")
Mural Artist. $0 ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/31 "2020-05-13T17:40:12Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > I think there’s value in co-workers discussing how much they make, even if only for purposes of individual comparison between similarly suited/employed workers. That’s my very limited response to this topic. Discussing your income in public may not be a good idea but it is a very good idea to understand what people who do the same job (especially in the same company) are making. Companies like to keep employees in the dark so they don’t ask for raises. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/32 "2020-05-13T17:45:56Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > The big issue is health care. Yeah, this, a thousand times, this. I’ve been fortunate in that I managed to snag an [del]Obamacare[/del] Affordable Care Act policy for a song. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/33 "2020-05-13T17:52:41Z")
I’m a ditsy bimbo married to a Big Man. He went to college and make 40 quatloos an hour. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/34 "2020-05-13T18:00:45Z")
I am a baby sitter of young adults. My wife watches machines wrap toilet paper. We almost made too much to qualify for the recent stimulus payment. ---
**Author:** ![ASGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@ASGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/35 "2020-05-13T18:52:56Z")
My largest annual salary was $36,000 as a Systems Admin for two years, about ten years before I retired. At the time I thought I was paid pretty well, but I’m sure glad I made maximum contributions to my three 401(k) plans. Not having any children probably helped too. Now get off my lawn! ---
**Author:** ![Carnacki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carnacki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnacki)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/36 "2020-05-13T19:06:03Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Discussing your income in public may not be a good idea but it is a very good idea to understand what people who do the same job (especially in the same company) are making. > > Companies like to keep employees in the dark so they don’t ask for raises. I agree with the “rude question” sentiment, HOWEVER I also agree with this post. American employees need to get past the idea that there is something wrong with talking openly about income. Employers benefit from that mindset, and income inequality based on race, gender, etc is easier to perpetuate if people don’t talk about income. I grew up thinking that talking about money was forbidden, and I would never walk into a food court and ask strangers what their income was. But I’ll talk about it openly at work if it’s important, and hope that everyone would do the same. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/37 "2020-05-13T19:48:09Z")
I’m a vice president at a manufacturing firm, previously I was president of a consulting firm. In theory I make almost more money than I can imagine in reality I haven’t been paid in 18 months. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/38 "2020-05-13T19:53:59Z")
> [@cornflakes2](#): > > … most people don’t want to divulge this kind of information which was going to be my other question attached to this…in a world where everyone is pushing for “transparency” because technology is allowing it more and more easily…then why don’t people share how much money they make … > [@Shodan](#): > > Who says I want more transparency? I get enough people trying to get at my money already. Ha! I had a close friend who was offered an important technical government job – one that required financial disclosure & then also legislative confirmation. He didn’t like the financial disclosure filing, but not because of the transparency to the general public – it was specific public he was concerned about: his brother-in-law, who was always trying to borrow money; a nephew who always wanted him to ‘invest’ in his latest money-making scheme; etc. If his income was public, he would no longer be able to claim he didn’t have the money to ‘loan’ to them. As he said _“I don’t care if reporters know how much I make, 'cause they won’t be hitting me up – but my relatives …”_. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/39 "2020-05-13T19:56:42Z")
I’m a database administrator. If google is to be believed, I’m overpaid. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710/40 "2020-05-13T20:04:16Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > > [@cornflakes2](#): > > > > […]all the corporations and companies should tell us how much each of them are making. > > First of all, for many corporations and companies we know exactly how much money they’re making. They report it quarterly and annually, and you can look it up. There is even information and estimates for privately held corporations. I think he meant that the companies should publish the individual salaries of their employees, not their corporate revenue/profit. > [@cornflakes2](#): > > btw Chronos, how much do you make for being a moderator? Or is it a voluntary job? I looked into this once and it is a voluntary job. That is true for virtually every online community moderator. I am a volunteer moderator on an Excel forum. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-job-and-how-much-money-do-you-make-per-year/853710.md?page=3)