# What were your gross yearly wages (2017)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 3, 2018, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121 "2018-02-03T21:31:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/41 "2018-02-04T14:16:54Z")
Our culture is so screwed up about discussing money… I don’t know why I have anything to hide though. I’ve discussed enough my life on here that anyone could come up with a good estimate after ~15 minutes googling of publicly available info. So to save you the trouble, I made $36k last year. That’s a grad student stipend for most of the year, plus a few months of postdoc salary at the NIH scale. This year I’ll make at least $48k (standard postdoc salary – that’s what a PhD is worth, kids!), but if I manage to [del]sell out[/del] get a real job in biotech/pharma it’ll be substantially higher. ---
**Author:** ![ZurBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/71e660/32.png) [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/42 "2018-02-04T14:49:14Z")
Interesting. People in the combined forums here will freely reveal deeply personal aspects concerning their sex lives, their health, their religion, their (often troubled) psyches… Yet freak and become silent when asked how much they earn. Why the OP (or any one else) gives a hoot is beyond me, but I’ll give it a shot. $94-K ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/43 "2018-02-04T14:57:04Z")
How do the wages of sin fit into this calculation? Because if they do… fuck, I’m still not getting ahead. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/44 "2018-02-04T15:02:24Z")
I’m a billionaire. I’d prove it to you by showing you my tax returns but I’m currently being audited. I’ll be sure to post it here once the IRS is done. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/45 "2018-02-04T15:16:36Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > How do the wages of sin fit into this calculation? > > Because if they do… fuck, I’m still not getting ahead. See Post 32. You’re not alone in factoring that in. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/46 "2018-02-04T15:17:07Z")
> [@ZurBob](#): > > Interesting. > > People in the combined forums here will freely reveal deeply personal aspects concerning their sex lives, their health, their religion, their (often troubled) psyches… Yet freak and become silent when asked how much they earn. Yeah, it’s crazy. Posters here also won’t give out there addresses, their employer’s name or their license plate numbers. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Enn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dave_enn/32/426_2.png) [@Dave\_Enn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Enn)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/47 "2018-02-04T15:22:53Z")
I don’t mind; I’ll disclose my wage income here. Zero. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/48 "2018-02-04T15:44:10Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > How do the wages of sin fit into this calculation? > > Because if they do… fuck, I’m still not getting ahead. The wages of sin are an expensive infection. ---
**Author:** ![ZurBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/71e660/32.png) [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/49 "2018-02-04T15:48:57Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Yeah, it’s crazy. Posters here also won’t give out there addresses, their employer’s name or their license plate numbers. Go figure. I _figure_ that’s a poor analogy. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/50 "2018-02-04T16:00:40Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > See Post 32. You’re not alone in factoring that in. He did an above the line; I itemized. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/51 "2018-02-04T16:11:55Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > How do the wages of sin fit into this calculation? > > Because if they do… fuck, I’m still not getting ahead. > [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > See Post 32. You’re not alone in factoring that in. I swear everyone has me on ignore. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/52 "2018-02-04T16:21:49Z")
I’m seeing a post #51, but there isn’t any content in it! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/53 "2018-02-04T16:52:58Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > Mine was 6 figures for the first time. You know you don’t include the figures to the right of the decimal point when calculating how many figures you earn, right?😉 ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/54 "2018-02-04T17:07:26Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Yeah, it’s crazy. Posters here also won’t give out there addresses, their employer’s name or their license plate numbers. Go figure. Yet many do talk about the city they live in, the type of work they do, and the car they drive. That information, plus an assortment of other personal details like age or education, is enough to uniquely identify a lot of people. Income isn’t nearly as personally identifying (at least in broad terms, don’t give out your exact AGI from previous tax returns). It’s really just a cultural taboo that keeps people from talking about it. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/55 "2018-02-04T17:33:00Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > The wages of sin are an expensive infection. Stuck in my head now, thanks. (no, really, thanks…it’s a good song!) ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/56 "2018-02-04T17:38:55Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > You know you don’t include the figures to the right of the decimal point when calculating how many figures you earn, right?😉 Of course, that’s why I count the zeros to the left of the greatest significant digit. I have an infinite figure income! ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/57 "2018-02-04T17:52:08Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > Yet many do talk about the city they live in, the type of work they do, and the car they drive. That information, plus an assortment of other personal details like age or education, is enough to uniquely identify a lot of people. > > Income isn’t nearly as personally identifying (at least in broad terms, don’t give out your exact AGI from previous tax returns). It’s really just a cultural taboo that keeps people from talking about it. I don’t think anyone could identify me based on my income, but I do think people here might treat me differently As you state, I have posted the county I live in, my occupation, the car I drive, the number of times I’ve been married, and a few things about my kids. Someone who knows me could easily identify me. Some who doesn’t could probably figure it out if they tried hard enough. I assume no one cares nearly enough to put any effort into it. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/58 "2018-02-04T18:08:58Z")
I am in the top 1.8467% for people who make what I make. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/59 "2018-02-04T20:47:28Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > tips, please include those. Don’t take any wooden nickels. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121/60 "2018-02-04T21:24:24Z")
I made under $1000 for 6+ months volunteer work on a Civil Grand Jury (something specific to California, I think). My other income consists of pensions, social security, and investments. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-your-gross-yearly-wages-2017/808121.md?page=4)