Who knows how much you make? (1 Viewer)

[The Commish]

So, why is it so taboo to talk about salary? Genuine question.

it's one of those topics that doesn't have a right answer like with many controversial religious/political topics.

Me: I make X

You: (in the back of your head of course) "wow, i can't believe he makes that much... WTF" or "wow, he works that hard and makes that little?" it's almost never going to be: "yup, sounds about right

Those are judgments...not answers. But I keep going back to, who cares what others think?

It's not that I care about what other people think, it's the risk that others will act or think differently around you that's the problem. This kind of stuff can have a subtle effect on relationships.

I don't question this at all, other than to ask why one hangs out with people that would allow it to be an issue?

Well, you can't hang out with anyone then. It's human nature.

ummmmm....no, again. I'd agree that it's part of society for some bizarre reason, but it's my belief that the pressures come from that society, not some conspicuous part of our nature. I've only really seen this type of behavior here in the US and a little bit in Canada. I blame corporate marketing departments for trying to make salary part of our identity.

ETA: Oh, and Obama....thanks a lot OBAMA!!!!!

 

[SacramentoBob]

Only my wife, she handles all the finances.

I was filling out the credit check form yesterday at the dealership and it asked to fill-in your mortgage payments.. Had to call the wife as I had no idea.. Then had to ask "umm, the bank holds our mortgage.. right? "

I don't get how someone can be so uninvolved in their finances.

 

[tjnc09]

My BIL loves telling everyone how much he makes. Of course, everytime he says it its higher than the last time and he also likes to complain that he hasnt gotten a raise in years so not sure how thats possible. I never discuss my salary with anyone except my wife and my mom when she was alive. I just started telling my brother about some recent salary increases and bonuses I got because I was excited and wanted to share the good news with someone besides the wife. Also, I got a very large bonus this year and my wife told my in-laws who then proceeded to tell my SIL (the BIL wife). I was none too pleased.

I really don't understand why you are upset they told your SIL.

 

[tjnc09]

Bureau of Labor Statistics says $150,000 is median for dentists.

From salary.com specifically for KCMO. Check the grid below the pie chart.

what do you know... huh... i wonder how accurate that is.

I've always thought i was on the lower end of dentists even within my area with the way people talk and what they drive and where they live and what not.

I guess dentists aren't much different than other people in society living at or above their means.

on the other hand I know several dentist - dentist couples or dentist - hygienist (decent paying job) or dentist - some other decent earning job and then the combined income is pretty huge compared to my dentist - stay at home mom combo

Are you implying that anyone who drives a nice car or lives in a nice house is living about their means?

 

[snogger]

Only my wife, she handles all the finances.

I was filling out the credit check form yesterday at the dealership and it asked to fill-in your mortgage payments.. Had to call the wife as I had no idea.. Then had to ask "umm, the bank holds our mortgage.. right? "

I don't get how someone can be so uninvolved in their finances.

Believe me.. if it was left up to me our credit rating would be in the as I really sucked at making sure bills are paid..So at a point in our relationship I handed it off to her and things are paid and our credit rating is in the top 5%

I am sooooooooooo screwed if anything ever happens to her as not only don't I know what bills are due when, but I have no idea who we owe nor how she pays them (online or mail)

I should add, I do take care of putting money into a Roth IRA. The 529 plan for our daughter and my 401k so I'm not 100% out if it..

 

[hagmania]

if someone asks you your salary... what do you respond with?

value before or after taxes? value before or after 401k/HSA/health insurance deductions?

what if you get a 401k match? is that part of income or not part of income?

perks? benefits?

I mean... like I make X... but my 401k match is significant... i get a company provided cell phone,... how do you put a price on all the fringe benefits?

In addition.. isn't value relative to the amount of work you do also really important?

Like for instance:

Mr. Patent Lawyer makes X and works 70+ hours a week and is always answering/reading e-mails on his phone.... Dentist makes X minus 50K but works 38 hours a week and gets 5 work e-mails a week and has enough free time during his day to be a prolific poster on a popular fantasy football message board so who's really got it better?

I'm more impressed by dollars/hour or dollars relative to effort put out than straight salary.

I tried to get my salary per hour but the calculator says there's an error for dividing by zero.

 

[jamny]

Only my wife, she handles all the finances.

I was filling out the credit check form yesterday at the dealership and it asked to fill-in your mortgage payments.. Had to call the wife as I had no idea.. Then had to ask "umm, the bank holds our mortgage.. right? "

I don't get how someone can be so uninvolved in their finances.

Believe me.. if it was left up to me our credit rating would be in the as I really sucked at making sure bills are paid..So at a point in our relationship I handed it off to her and things are paid and our credit rating is in the top 5%

I am sooooooooooo screwed if anything ever happens to her as not only don't I know what bills are due when, but I have no idea who we owe nor how she pays them (online or mail)

I should add, I do take care if putting money into a Roth IRA. The 529 plan for our daughter and my 401k so I'm not 100% out if it..

I'm similar in that I let her take care of the bills and am so much better for it. No way we'd be in the shape we are if I was handling things. She's the CFO of her company and knows what she's doing. But I keep up with it and know where things are. She keeps meticulous records and I know where all the passwords are for all the online bills. Pretty much everything is online payments. If she died tomorrow, it wouldn't take long to figure things out. I track our investments with the firm we use and keep her up on how that's going. Monthly bills? No idea what we spend. House is paid off.

 

[Dentist]

Bureau of Labor Statistics says $150,000 is median for dentists.

From salary.com specifically for KCMO. Check the grid below the pie chart.

what do you know... huh... i wonder how accurate that is.

I've always thought i was on the lower end of dentists even within my area with the way people talk and what they drive and where they live and what not.

I guess dentists aren't much different than other people in society living at or above their means.

on the other hand I know several dentist - dentist couples or dentist - hygienist (decent paying job) or dentist - some other decent earning job and then the combined income is pretty huge compared to my dentist - stay at home mom combo

Are you implying that anyone who drives a nice car or lives in a nice house is living about their means?

Bureau of Labor Statistics says $150,000 is median for dentists.

From salary.com specifically for KCMO. Check the grid below the pie chart.

what do you know... huh... i wonder how accurate that is.

I've always thought i was on the lower end of dentists even within my area with the way people talk and what they drive and where they live and what not.

I guess dentists aren't much different than other people in society living at or above their means.

on the other hand I know several dentist - dentist couples or dentist - hygienist (decent paying job) or dentist - some other decent earning job and then the combined income is pretty huge compared to my dentist - stay at home mom combo

Are you implying that anyone who drives a nice car or lives in a nice house is living about their means?

absolutely not. just the vast majority of people with that behavior.

And this isn't just me thinking this is the way it is... read the millionaire next door and you'll find out it's largely true.

 

[sublimeone]

Friends and family have no idea what I make ( it's a #### - load)

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

I've only told my wife and CPA although there are peers of mine that are on the same comp plan as me so they can figure out roughly what in making since we all know where we are in relation to our number. So that is it, well then there is anyone my wife might have told but my guess is outside of her parents she wouldn't discuss but who knows.

 

[shadyridr]

My BIL loves telling everyone how much he makes. Of course, everytime he says it its higher than the last time and he also likes to complain that he hasnt gotten a raise in years so not sure how thats possible. I never discuss my salary with anyone except my wife and my mom when she was alive. I just started telling my brother about some recent salary increases and bonuses I got because I was excited and wanted to share the good news with someone besides the wife. Also, I got a very large bonus this year and my wife told my in-laws who then proceeded to tell my SIL (the BIL wife). I was none too pleased.

I really don't understand why you are upset they told your SIL.

i just dont like talking about my salary and bonus.

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

My dad, who is my employer. Nobody else.

My wife knows a general figure which is not quite accurate. That's it.

I imagine my friends and outside family think I

earn less than I do, but we don't ever discuss it. I have one friend who asks from time to time but I never answer.

This explains a LOT to me.

Bingo

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Wife.

Partner

AdminSec

Accountant

IRS

About it

 

[xulf]

Wife.

Boss.

Coworkers in same position on similar payment plans have a good idea.

 

[Judge Smails]

My wife and my best friend, and the latter only because I greatly respect his opinion and I needed to analyze whether to take a new opportunity. Other than that, nobody needs to know. Not relevant anyway. What may seem like a big # to some people is nothing to others. I live 10 minutes from the Gretzky/Dykstra 20M house at Sherwood CC. Might as well be 1,000 miles. Those folks spend more on gardeners in a month than I make in a year. Maybe not - but you get the picture.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

I know roughly what I make. My wife knows what my take home is. My boss and the HR people know exactly what I make. My bosses boss may know - but he wouldn't care as long as the department is under salary budget. Uncle Sam knows. My accountant knows. That is about it.

None of the in-laws or my family knows - none of their business. I am not even sure they know what I do other than "work on computers".

 

[tjnc09]

My BIL loves telling everyone how much he makes. Of course, everytime he says it its higher than the last time and he also likes to complain that he hasnt gotten a raise in years so not sure how thats possible. I never discuss my salary with anyone except my wife and my mom when she was alive. I just started telling my brother about some recent salary increases and bonuses I got because I was excited and wanted to share the good news with someone besides the wife. Also, I got a very large bonus this year and my wife told my in-laws who then proceeded to tell my SIL (the BIL wife). I was none too pleased.

I really don't understand why you are upset they told your SIL.

i just dont like talking about my salary and bonus.

I think if that were truly the case, you would have wrote:

My BIL loves telling everyone how much he makes. Of course, everytime he says it its higher than the last time and he also likes to complain that he hasnt gotten a raise in years so not sure how thats possible. I never discuss my salary with anyone except my wife and my mom when she was alive. I just started telling my brother about my salary. My wife told my in-laws who then proceeded to tell my SIL (the BIL wife). I was none too pleased.

and left out these parts:

recent salary increases and bonuses I got because I was excited . Also, I got a very large bonus this year

If you want to brag to people on here about your bonus, by all mean, just own up to it.

 

[tjnc09]

Bureau of Labor Statistics says $150,000 is median for dentists.

From salary.com specifically for KCMO. Check the grid below the pie chart.

what do you know... huh... i wonder how accurate that is.

I've always thought i was on the lower end of dentists even within my area with the way people talk and what they drive and where they live and what not.

I guess dentists aren't much different than other people in society living at or above their means.

on the other hand I know several dentist - dentist couples or dentist - hygienist (decent paying job) or dentist - some other decent earning job and then the combined income is pretty huge compared to my dentist - stay at home mom combo

Are you implying that anyone who drives a nice car or lives in a nice house is living about their means?

Bureau of Labor Statistics says $150,000 is median for dentists.

From salary.com specifically for KCMO. Check the grid below the pie chart.

what do you know... huh... i wonder how accurate that is.

I've always thought i was on the lower end of dentists even within my area with the way people talk and what they drive and where they live and what not.

I guess dentists aren't much different than other people in society living at or above their means.

on the other hand I know several dentist - dentist couples or dentist - hygienist (decent paying job) or dentist - some other decent earning job and then the combined income is pretty huge compared to my dentist - stay at home mom combo

Are you implying that anyone who drives a nice car or lives in a nice house is living about their means?

absolutely not. just the vast majority of people with that behavior.

And this isn't just me thinking this is the way it is... read the millionaire next door and you'll find out it's largely true.

I think your distaste for nice things has more to do with your distaste for your career. It seems almost like an unhealthy case of resentment. There's nothing wrong with that, but it comes off that way. I hope your clients see a different light than you shed on here.

 

[shadyridr]

My BIL loves telling everyone how much he makes. Of course, everytime he says it its higher than the last time and he also likes to complain that he hasnt gotten a raise in years so not sure how thats possible. I never discuss my salary with anyone except my wife and my mom when she was alive. I just started telling my brother about some recent salary increases and bonuses I got because I was excited and wanted to share the good news with someone besides the wife. Also, I got a very large bonus this year and my wife told my in-laws who then proceeded to tell my SIL (the BIL wife). I was none too pleased.

I really don't understand why you are upset they told your SIL.

i just dont like talking about my salary and bonus.

I think if that were truly the case, you would have wrote:My BIL loves telling everyone how much he makes. Of course, everytime he says it its higher than the last time and he also likes to complain that he hasnt gotten a raise in years so not sure how thats possible. I never discuss my salary with anyone except my wife and my mom when she was alive. I just started telling my brother about my salary. My wife told my in-laws who then proceeded to tell my SIL (the BIL wife). I was none too pleased.

and left out these parts:

recent salary increases and bonuses I got because I was excited . Also, I got a very large bonus this year

If you want to brag to people on here about your bonus, by all mean, just own up to it.

i dont like talking about it in real life to people i actually know. Heck ive asked salary questions on this board before. You dont see the difference?

 

[Judge Smails]

The FBG collective:

"I don't know how to put this, but I'm kind of a big deal. People know me. I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany."

 

[belljr]

Wife and dad

 

[bentley]

The FBG collective:

"I don't know how to put this, but I'm kind of a big deal. People know me. I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany."

I just wanted to drop in and say that while I make a lot of money, I'm also very important in the community.

 

[Otis]

Wife and all my partners. Parents have a vague idea. It's not something I think is appropriate to share unless people ask. Although when you think about it, that's pretty stupid. Why is the fact of your salary such a sensitive and important measuring stick of worth that we all have to speak about it with hushed voices and discomfort. It's sort of a who cares, not all that different from what did your car cost or how much is your dentist charging you for a cleaning. Silly society.

 

[tjnc09]

My BIL loves telling everyone how much he makes. Of course, everytime he says it its higher than the last time and he also likes to complain that he hasnt gotten a raise in years so not sure how thats possible. I never discuss my salary with anyone except my wife and my mom when she was alive. I just started telling my brother about some recent salary increases and bonuses I got because I was excited and wanted to share the good news with someone besides the wife. Also, I got a very large bonus this year and my wife told my in-laws who then proceeded to tell my SIL (the BIL wife). I was none too pleased.

I really don't understand why you are upset they told your SIL.

i just dont like talking about my salary and bonus.

I think if that were truly the case, you would have wrote:My BIL loves telling everyone how much he makes. Of course, everytime he says it its higher than the last time and he also likes to complain that he hasnt gotten a raise in years so not sure how thats possible. I never discuss my salary with anyone except my wife and my mom when she was alive. I just started telling my brother about my salary. My wife told my in-laws who then proceeded to tell my SIL (the BIL wife). I was none too pleased.

and left out these parts:

recent salary increases and bonuses I got because I was excited . Also, I got a very large bonus this year

If you want to brag to people on here about your bonus, by all mean, just own up to it.

i dont like talking about it in real life to people i actually know. Heck ive asked salary questions on this board before. You dont see the difference?

I honestly don't see a difference. If you make enough to comfortably support your family, even if it is less than your BIL, that's the most important thing. There will always be people who make more than you and always be people who make less than you. If I had my best year financially, I wouldn't care less who was told.

 

[tjnc09]

My wife and my best friend, and the latter only because I greatly respect his opinion and I needed to analyze whether to take a new opportunity. Other than that, nobody needs to know. Not relevant anyway. What may seem like a big # to some people is nothing to others. I live 10 minutes from the Gretzky/Dykstra 20M house at Sherwood CC. Might as well be 1,000 miles. Those folks spend more on gardeners in a month than I make in a year. Maybe not - but you get the picture.

HumblebragTM

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Anyone who wants to know, its public record

 

[The Z Machine]

My wife and I make approximately the same amount, but we get our yearly raises at different times, so we leapfrog each other.

 

[AAABatteries]

Exactly? Just our HR. I know within +/- 3,000. Yearly bonus varies so much that I can't even tell you what I made the last few years

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Not seeing a lot of numbers in here.

 

[SacramentoBob]

My old boss knows what I make too.

 

[SacramentoBob]

Not seeing a lot of numbers in here.

Won't be able to calculate it until quantum computers become more mainstream.

 

[the moops]

Not seeing a lot of numbers in here.

About 1/3 of a median dentist salary

 

[Wingnut]

3 friends know how much I make. Anyone else who asks, I make em feel like a heel. No one else needs to know.

 

[SlimShady]

I know people that make over 350k per year that are one paycheck from being broke. Annual income is a weird thing to measure/ compare. More relevant is how much cash do you have, how much are all of your assets worth and then subtract all your debts. Beyond that, if you can get your savings working for you creating revenue, then you have multiple streams of income and can make much more than your salary

 

[Wingnut]

I know people that make over 350k per year that are one paycheck from being broke. Annual income is a weird thing to measure/ compare. More relevant is how much cash do you have, how much are all of your assets worth and then subtract all your debts. Beyond that, if you can get your savings working for you creating revenue, then you have multiple streams of income and can make much more than your salary

I have a buddy that makes $100k+/year (no wives/kids) and he told me most of the time he lives paycheck to paycheck. That's crazy to me. Granted, he owns 2 houses (one in DC and one in San Diego that he lives in), but man...I can't imagine.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Me, my 2 kid's mothers, a few lawyers, financial advisor, CEO, and the Controller who submits payroll.

Siblings/friends sometimes hint they want to know; folks are curious what it takes to live comfortably in Manhattan. I tell them my tax bracket and leave it at that. Personally I could not fathom asking that Q directly. It's private and none of my business.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Anyone who wants to know, its public record

Yeah, me too.

 

[bentley]

I make somewhere between 23,000 and 25,000 Altuves per year.

 

[flapgreen]

My dad, who is my employer. Nobody else. My wife knows a general figure which is not quite accurate. That's it.

I imagine my friends and outside family think I earn less than I do, but we don't ever discuss it. I have one friend who asks from time to time but I never answer.

 

[Zegras11]

To be honest, I don't even know how much it is until I do my taxes. I have a ballpark though. I think just my wife knows that. And this message board.

\this for me too.

 

[Wooderson]

Yesterday, I just looked at my work's intranet site to see what my salary was. I decided when you need to look up your salary you make too much money. When I was broke, I knew what I had to the penny.

Ain't that the truth.

 

[flapgreen]

It's not usually something that comes up in conversation but I'd have no problem telling family or friends if asked. Doesn't matter to me

 

[flapgreen]

Yesterday, I just looked at my work's intranet site to see what my salary was. I decided when you need to look up your salary you make too much money. When I was broke, I knew what I had to the penny.

Ain't that the truth.

But you're Wooderson...

 

[Doctor Detroit]

My dad, who is my employer. Nobody else. My wife knows a general figure which is not quite accurate. That's it.

I imagine my friends and outside family think I earn less than I do, but we don't ever discuss it. I have one friend who asks from time to time but I never answer.

That's actually a lot to digest.

 

[Wooderson]

Yesterday, I just looked at my work's intranet site to see what my salary was. I decided when you need to look up your salary you make too much money. When I was broke, I knew what I had to the penny.

Ain't that the truth.

But you're Wooderson...

Love them yearly city raises.

 

[Brony]

Not seeing a lot of numbers in here.

waiting for the penis length thread

 

[Dentist]

I think your distaste for nice things has more to do with your distaste for your career. It seems almost like an unhealthy case of resentment. There's nothing wrong with that, but it comes off that way. I hope your clients see a different light than you shed on here.

I think that you are in part correct. The procedures I do are mentally draining.. as is the process of running a business, managing people, and worst of all dealing with some of the worst types of patients.

So when I equate: X nice thing to X number of procedures I have to do to afford it vs. retiring that much sooner... I can't stomach the purchase a lot of the time.. the exception for me is vacation. Vacation takes my mind off what I do... stuff doesn't.

I go in every day and try my best to be the most positive, upbeat dentist I can be and always do the best job I can do with the circumstances presented and really try to make appointments positive. The practice is a success, we are very well liked on social media outlets. I have a lot of people that have been with me 8-10+ years of my 13 year career.

But you are correct.. I often times wish i was in finance or insurance or real estate or IT or something.,. but then again that's probably a grass is greener thing.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Public record. Most people have no idea, however, that the record exists. I rarely speak of my salary, and then only in general figures.

 

[FUBAR]

Anyone who wants to know, its public record

Same. We also can know how much everyone we work with makes.Although i never mention it to family and my wife doesn't know or care other than it's "enough".

 

[bigbottom]

About 350 of my partners. Otherwise, just my wife.