"how much do you make?"

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Why is this a taboo question (at least in America and some other Western countries)? I don't even know how much some of my best friends, sisters, or parents make exactly. What's the big deal?

Feel free to discuss other things that you wonder why they are deemed too private to talk about.

― oops (Oops), Saturday, 20 March 2004 22:55 (twenty-two years ago)

"how long is you penis?"

― RJG (RJG), Saturday, 20 March 2004 22:59 (twenty-two years ago)

"if you have one."

― RJG (RJG), Saturday, 20 March 2004 22:59 (twenty-two years ago)

6 inches
yes i do

― oops (Oops), Saturday, 20 March 2004 23:00 (twenty-two years ago)

i'd guess 12k a year. 9 1/2 inches.

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Saturday, 20 March 2004 23:00 (twenty-two years ago)

"why did you answer?"

― RJG (RJG), Saturday, 20 March 2004 23:00 (twenty-two years ago)

"make"

― Ronan (Ronan), Saturday, 20 March 2004 23:01 (twenty-two years ago)

"who did you answer?"

― cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 20 March 2004 23:39 (twenty-two years ago)

"who did you make? for how much?"

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Sunday, 21 March 2004 00:05 (twenty-two years ago)

It's taboo because we're an egalitarian society! Class doesn't exist in America, nosiree.

I 'made' $11k last year, I'm just going to claim whatever makes me break even on taxes.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Sunday, 21 March 2004 00:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Just under £12k. 6 inches. A mean eggs benedict.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 21 March 2004 00:28 (twenty-two years ago)

20k/yr or thereabouts.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Sunday, 21 March 2004 01:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Lots.

― Matt (Matt), Sunday, 21 March 2004 02:36 (twenty-two years ago)

As a full time employee with a second part time job, it kind of bothers me that what I earned last year (about 25k) wouldn't be enough to keep a criminal in the slammer for the same period of time. Penis length is about 9% of my overall height. That doesn't seem to bother me at all.

― jim wentworth (wench), Sunday, 21 March 2004 03:20 (twenty-two years ago)

"I make THOUSANDS...I make MILLLLLLIONS...of dollars!!!! In Hollywood."

― Joe (Joe), Sunday, 21 March 2004 03:28 (twenty-two years ago)

um, no ... it's more like, "why do YOU want to know THAT information?" it sounds too much like either the prelude to cheap insults (i.e., "HAW HAW I MAKE MORE MONEY THAN YOU, YOU LOSER!") or to a hustle.

the foregoing applies to both questions re sizes of paychecks and sexual organs.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Sunday, 21 March 2004 05:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I would rather tell people how big my dick is than how much I earn. I feel guilty sometimes.

― Andrew (enneff), Sunday, 21 March 2004 05:52 (twenty-two years ago)

It is kind of annoying when I'm talking to someone who is working at a company or job I'd like to apply for, and I want to ask them what they're making but can't do it without being offensive somehow.

― Jordan (Jordan), Sunday, 21 March 2004 06:43 (twenty-two years ago)

its because classism exists. maybe that didn't occur to you, asswipe.

― The Lady Ms Lurex (lucylurex), Sunday, 21 March 2004 08:12 (twenty-two years ago)

thanks for your contribution, doll.

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 21 March 2004 08:23 (twenty-two years ago)

So anyway are you saying classism doesn't exist in places such as Thailand where this is a perfectly acceptable question to ask an acquaintance?

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 21 March 2004 08:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, the refusal to discuss income *supports* classism and inequality in pay.

Plus, people try to make you buy the drinks if they think you earn more than them. ;-)

I mean, sure, partly it's the insecurity of feeling inadequate and not wanting to discuss salary, in case your colleagues are getting more than you and you feel like you have a smaller penis or something.

But really, it's perpetuated from above. If your employees have a strong taboo against discussing what they earn, they are unlikely to notice any inequalities, and the corporate infrastructure can perpetuate the gender pay gap, the classist pay gap and the middle management bloat as long as they like.

I'd never ask a complete stranger. I think that's just rude. But I do discuss it with friends, and I do try to discuss it with colleagues, because we all have a mutual interest in it. I'd never ask someone I'd only just met, but if I'd been talking to someone for a while, and found out they were also a programmer or whatever, I'd ask what their daily rate was. You know, so I can feel underpaid.

Anyway, if you ask people, they just flat out lie. I ran into someone recently who remarked on what a third party mutual friend was making. I flat out laughed, and replied that I had done their accounts, and sat down with the spreadsheets, and that was *not* what they made.

― The River Kate (kate), Sunday, 21 March 2004 09:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd never ask someone I'd only just met

thats what i'm saying. its not like "ain't the weather fine"

― The Lady Ms Lurex (lucylurex), Sunday, 21 March 2004 10:22 (twenty-two years ago)

its a curious cultural phenomenon i think, and i dont think its particularly beneficial. at many jobs, people on different pay structures doing the same thing, but the salary levels arent discussed. this can only benefit the employer, as far as i can see. transparency of pay structures means people are aware of what other people are earning, i think that is beneficial. the secrecy about wages is ingrained i think, but not to the common good necessarily

also, i notice that in america, the salary never seems to be mentioned in the job advert?

― Wrought Iron God (gareth), Sunday, 21 March 2004 10:46 (twenty-two years ago)

So anyway are you saying classism doesn't exist in places such as Thailand where this is a perfectly acceptable question to ask an acquaintance?

how you come to the inverse of what i said is beyond me.

Actually, the refusal to discuss income *supports* classism and inequality in pay.

your argument is firm (for within an occupation or a company) but you fail to take into account the reality that some people are very ashamed of what they earn because it isn't very much. i don't blame them for not wanting to talk about it.

― The Lady Ms Lurex (lucylurex), Sunday, 21 March 2004 10:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I never ask, coz I don't really care, all I know is that most people I know are priced out of the housing market.

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 21 March 2004 11:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Di, I think I kinda did:

I'm really quite interested in the whole "lying about how much you earn" culture that seems to permeate the arts/music/etc. professions. I mean, yeah, it's a form of bragging and the whole "my dick is bigger than yours" bling thing. But in a way, it really perpetuates the culture of exploitation. And it glamourises an intensely unfair system - how many people would actually continue to want to be "famous" if they knew what most musicians, artists, writers, etc. actually scraped by on. Yeah, sure, the perks make up for it, but when you find out what, say, managers, record company executives, agents, galleries actually make off the same transaction, it does make you a bit sick.

Anyway, I'm getting off topic, sorry.

― The River Kate (kate), Sunday, 21 March 2004 12:54 (twenty-two years ago)

yes but you make it sound like a personal neurosis. some people really *DO* judge you by how much/little you earn. but you imply that if one refuses to discuss it, one is supporting classism, its kind of blaming the victim. i dunno, its fucking late, am i making ANY sense?

― The Lady Ms Lurex (lucylurex), Sunday, 21 March 2004 13:02 (twenty-two years ago)

How much I make depends on the month

Whomever's dick is biggest? Mine is bigger.

― ModJ (ModJ), Sunday, 21 March 2004 17:25 (twenty-two years ago)

how you come to the inverse of what i said is beyond me.

well maybe because all you said was "because classism exists". Not a very thorough explanation. In any case, for this to be about classism, classism would either have to not exist or have to not be based on money in either America or Thailand.

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 21 March 2004 22:54 (twenty-two years ago)

That is such a cogent and insightful thought. Please keep it up.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Monday, 22 March 2004 01:12 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, it's a thorny subject. i make $30K a year.

― mandee, Monday, 22 March 2004 02:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Classism exists everywhere.

What differs from place to place (say America v. Thailand) is how we treat class. Americans are brought up to, and our society is directed toward, avoiding issues of class.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Monday, 22 March 2004 02:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Kate's absolutely right. Some places even make it a sacking offence to discuss (your own and your colleagues') salaries, even though this is illegal, just because they know they'll never be taken to tribunal by a sacked media person who has been demoralised by their employers to the point of worthlessness, or is freelance, or is part-time. Because we used to be more honest about these things at work, I know one colleague of mine is on a salary of £500 LESS than the current editor got when beginning in the same job. In 1992. There just isn't a protocol for raising this issue ('so, what on Earth makes you think that this is a fair wage for your old job?') but it is making me see some people at work in a deeply unflattering middle-management light when I never had cause to do so before.

― suzy (suzy), Monday, 22 March 2004 08:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Is class a personal neurosis or a societal neurosis?

Wait, let me rephrase that... is being completely obsessed with class and earning potential a personal neurosis or a societal neurosis? If someone is going to dismiss me out of hand because I don't earn enough, I think that's their personal problem, not mine.

It's a class issue that a person doesn't earn as much as another. It is to me, however, complete sick and yes, neurotic to treat that as an indication of personal worth or status to the exclusion of any other considerations. That's not blaming the victim, that's blaming assholes who can see no other worth to a person than their pocketbook. Sorry if that was not misunderstood.

― The River Kate (kate), Monday, 22 March 2004 09:06 (twenty-two years ago)

But besides co-workers, don't you feel like you shouldn't ask friends and family members this question? Issues of class and equal pay aren't a factor with them. I just find it odd that I know about some people's bowel movements but not how much money they earn.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 22 March 2004 09:35 (twenty-two years ago)

i work in accounts so I know who earns what & I have to say all it does is breed contempt. Not only does it give me the message that I am worthless & not important it makes me have the attitude that 'I'm not paid enough to do that' which is not me at all. It's really difficult to be sympathetic to others when they are moaning to me about their salary & what a small increase they had recently, i'm like 'yeah 5% of £40k really isn't that bad you know!' grrrr!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 22 March 2004 09:42 (twenty-two years ago)

40k? freaks!

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 22 March 2004 10:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I had more money, when I earned 1/3 of what I do now...

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 22 March 2004 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Well i do work for a software company Steve! freaxors!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 22 March 2004 12:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I earn well under half what my little brother earns, which is depressing but I do get good birthday gifts from him.

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 22 March 2004 12:56 (twenty-two years ago)

These progammers who make 40k a year? Who are these freaks (and how can I become one?) sigh.

― The River Kate (kate), Monday, 22 March 2004 13:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Come work for my company we all earn loads! (NOT)

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 22 March 2004 13:09 (twenty-two years ago)

The strange thing about dicks is how similar in length most of them are. yet, it's impossible not to feel inadequate when you see these black guys or porn stars with carrot-rope jobs. Women don't seem to get so hung up about their tits, perhaps because they can't hide them, I dunno.

― Bunged Out (Jake Proudlock), Monday, 22 March 2004 13:13 (twenty-two years ago)

7440 uk pounds per year. This is after the raise I just gave myself. For those who care ( no-body, prob) my dick = slighttly smaller than average. What a "catch" I am haha. (cries)

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 22 March 2004 13:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, in a funny way I *allow* myself to earn less than my supposed on-paper earning potential, because I value things like flexibility and Real Life (extra-office) achievements and job satisfaction more highly than the sort of career track that would get me the 40k salary. But that's just me.

― The River Kate (kate), Monday, 22 March 2004 13:25 (twenty-two years ago)

So come join us!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 22 March 2004 13:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Kate, er, me?

― Ricardo (RickyT), Monday, 22 March 2004 13:55 (twenty-two years ago)

currently, 37K although this is greatly reduced by medical insurance costs and the training I must pay the district back for.

I don't count my money from the bar since mr. IRS doesn't know about it.

Predicted income come end of May: $0

(oh and my tits are quite nice, thank you)

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Monday, 22 March 2004 14:44 (twenty-two years ago)

hmmm. See how what started as a debate about how people express their intrinsic value has become a "confess your salary" platform...

(is that cause the US is awake?)

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 22 March 2004 14:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 65 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I once got e-mailed a list of everyone in the company's salary - by mistake. I was supervising a couple of people and I needed to fill in some stuff about their salary on an HR spreadsheet. Normally they would make everyone else's salary invisible or cut and paste just the ones you want to see, but for some reason I got the whole lot.

As soon as I realized what I had I closed it in horror, thought about whether I wanted to know and........deleted it. I thought nothing good could come of knowing, yet knew that if I kept it, I would be tempted to look one day.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Monday, 22 March 2004 22:06 (twenty-two years ago)

A haunting greek myth for our times.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 22 March 2004 22:09 (twenty-two years ago)

low for my field, high for this board. that's all i'm sayin'.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Monday, 22 March 2004 22:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah but temps don't get benefits! Of course they should get more salary.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 22 March 2004 22:21 (twenty-two years ago)

It seems that salaries in England are lower than in America, or does it balance out through less taxes, or a lower cost of living, or the value of of living in a social democracy?? Or maybe this sample isn't representative or I'm not doing the math right?

Right now, in NYC, a lower-end entry-level salary for a college grad type person would be around $30,000. What would the equivalent be in London?

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 04:44 (twenty-two years ago)

they get free health care!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 04:45 (twenty-two years ago)

And that's not hay.

― jim wentworth (wench), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 04:48 (twenty-two years ago)

This sample definitely isn't very representative, but still, yes - Americans earn more on average (though I think your standard deviation is somewhat higher).

We get longer paid holidays too.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 04:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I make nothing now. Last year I made $70k. I have a 9 inch dick.

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 23 March 2004 04:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Last year I made $70k.

oh really, ms kearney?

― Columbia Financial Aid Officebär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 04:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Mary you do know they get paid in pounds, no?

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 05:00 (twenty-two years ago)

They know all about it. They also know all about the fact that I am unwilling to contact social workers and officials in Arizona in order to get myself declared independent so I'm just all fucked for fin aid. I think that's why they're just not charging me for my apt or something, pity.

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 23 March 2004 05:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I forgot about all those extra vacation days!

What would an average salary for a doctor/lawyer/financial type in London be (in U.S. currency please)?

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 05:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Right now, in NYC, a lower-end entry-level salary for a college grad type person would be around $30,000. What would the equivalent be in London?

At the current rate of exchange, about 2k less than that maybe even 3k less.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 05:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I earn around $30k, but that's working my two beloved jobs. I also earn commute and sandwich money from Ebay sales and other scams.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 05:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I sold my penis on Ebay.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 05:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I say "penis", I actually mean "Dischord boxed set". The penis I threw in for free.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 05:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I make an embarrassing amount of money, considering how fucking far in debt I am. somehow I was in less debt when I made no money at all five years ago.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 05:51 (twenty-two years ago)

give me some

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 06:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm caught between feeling like I'm woefully underpaid (like, $28K for a job I've been at for over three years -- but it's in educational publishing) and then wondering whether I really deserve much more, given how much I slack off. And then I also feel like Nickalicious in that I'm not really interested in "moving up" in the company, because oh no, more responsibility, so it's not like I'm doing anything to change my situation.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 06:57 (twenty-two years ago)

What would an average salary for a doctor/lawyer/financial type in London be (in U.S. currency please)?

I could offer very rough ballpark figures but maybe someone else would be in a better position to answer curious Mary. The latter two in paricular seem a bit 'how long is a piece of string?' though.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 13:22 (twenty-two years ago)

i earn what i deserve/deserve what i earn, but i should really work harder and earn more (probably somewhere else than where i am now, but i sort of like it here for now). put it this way i won't be buying an apartment or house for at least another 3-5 years if that, and that would mean me continuing to freelance on the side and things improving significantly in that area too - which is definitely the plan. luckily my debts are minor and my job is fairly free of stress. but i still don't have a pension. shit.

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I started at $18K six years ago and am now at $28K. I'm a total bargain because I'm so neurotic and control-freaky, I do the jobs normally handled by a team of three to five people. The eternal woe of creatives--I'm totally in charge of a company that grosses over a million dollars a year (thanks to the ratings doubling since I came on board) but sales gets all the $$$. Wouldn't do their job for anything though, of course.

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 13:47 (twenty-two years ago)

this is a depressing thread, I earn ok, but not great, and certainly less than most of my peers. I've been waiting for that move upwards for a while, but then that earn/deserve thing hoves into view and I feel bad again.

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 13:50 (twenty-two years ago)

This thread was designed to make people feel bad, so don't worry about it.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm glad i don't have one of those jobs where you get paid a stupid amount of money to try and convince the general public that your shoddy product is essential to their happiness in life

although technically my job involves persuading sad old codgers to spend their pension money on the gee-gees, ah well...

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I work for a company where I had to ask for an assuarnce that my pay wouldn't go down when I got promoted and where my supervisor earns less than me. We discuss pay almost continuosly and I'm thinking of leaving.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 14:01 (twenty-two years ago)

why don't you try and go for demotion?

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 14:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I make nothing now, like Ally. I, like Ally, (I like Ally, but that's different) get my bank statement back and there's one column that's full and long, like at least nine inches, probably, you know, like eleven or twelve inches at least of impressive numbers. Unfortunately these numbers are locked into inexorable decline, a slow droop. The other column is as clean as the driven snow. The funny thing is that because my balance is still relatively large for a normally-active checking account (because it has to last me all year), the computers at my bank have deduced that I am a high roller. I've been sent large folders containing descriptions of impressive-sounding financial tools. Have they noticed that I earn no money?

Ed on Thursday I swear I'll change my address at the bank.

If you demote Ed he will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 14:13 (twenty-two years ago)

The average graduate salary in the UK is something like £21k (about $38k?) and I have only earned over that for a brief period 2-3 years ago). However, if my plan works out (being a film and TV agent for writers), I could end up being on a fairly hefty salary, with a decent wage plus sufficient commission potential to actually make me work hard. I'll never have a corporate perk lifestyle, and I kind of envy people who do, like my best mate who's a brand manager at P&G, who's constantly being whisked off to away days and foreign meetings with leggy assistants and company cars a-gogo.

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

One of the very very few boosts-to-my-pride I ever get is coming across old high school unfriendly acquaintances/nemeses and finding out that I with no college degree make in some cases twice as much as they who got a degree in some supposedly lucrative field do. And also that they're fat and ugly and their kids are out-of-control assholes.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 14:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Assuming you're talking about new graduates, 'average graduate salaries' are usually spurious figures based on jobs actually earmarked as 'graduate jobs', which only covers a small proportion of actual graduate employment market. I think they're just designed to make people feel bad.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 14:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I doubled my income last year my getting out of the USAF, where I was probably pulling about $35k, and joining a giant government contractor. Unfortunately I counted some of my chickens before they hatched and am STILL working on debts I ran up in the last quarter of 2003. Also my cost of living has increased more than I expected it to.

My career arc is kind of odd, though. I don't expect most people here are willing or able to go through the process of getting a TS clearance with the US federal government. I basically dropped out of college, tripped, fell over and wound up in this career field. I'm just a lucky bastard, I think.

― TOMBOT, Tuesday, 23 March 2004 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll make a base of $50k american plus bonuses (hopefully) as a beginning attorney in August, along with a fairly lean portfolio of bennies (health, no retirement).

I'll also be just about $100k in debt for undergrad and grad school.

― webcrack (music=crack), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not going to discuss my benefits options here because I think people are probably sick enough of me already.

― TOMBOT, Tuesday, 23 March 2004 16:30 (twenty-two years ago)

This thread actually made me feel better about my income. Though I do seem to have stalled in the upper/mid-twenties - due to a reluctance to move into management, I guess. My plan is to expand my freelance work. (My company, very keen on work/life balance have agreed in principle to me only coming in to the office 3 days a week... with no paycut, hooray!)

However, I now pay ridiculous rent.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I hope you don't work for halliburton, TOMBOT--otherwise, you might want to refrain from counting those chickens for a while yet.

― webcrack (music=crack), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 16:37 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm not sick of anyone or envious of everyone. We all make choices and it sounds like most people are happy with theirs or at least know how they want to change their situation.

ally, can't you be declared independant after living on yr own for so many years?

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

$30 k at the current rate of exchange is less than a starting UK salary, and although salaries do hit a glass ceiling here there's at least free health care.

However I am in the middle of investigating a good new opportunity to earn a salary for a three-day week ;-).

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

**What would an average salary for a doctor/lawyer/financial type in London be (in U.S. currency please)? **

Depends on experience. Don't know about doctors starting salaries, but a med.reg should be on £40-£50K and a consultant maybe £70-80K.

Lawyers - I only know one. She's a partner in a city firm with maybe 10 yrs experience. She says she earns 'a six figure salary starting with a 3'. And she's not bullshitting.

Financial Types - varies obv. MEGA-salaries are still possible I believe, but fewer to go round. Someone with 10 years in the city doing say, bond trading, merchant banking, commodities would be unlucky not to be making £100K basic + at least that in bonuses.

For US dollars just X2 the above.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 16:47 (twenty-two years ago)

but doesn't the US/UK salary thing kind of break even with the high cost of living in the UK? I mean, unless you live in NYC. But even NYC seemed cheaper than London.

― mandee, Tuesday, 23 March 2004 16:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm on £19.5k at the moment which is obscenely overpaid considering what I actually DO, but I'm able to live perfectly comfortably on that (my rent is probably considerably lower than average in London, which helps). But then I have a job interview tomorrow and I forgot to ask them about salary, which was stupid of me.

Not as stupid as putting an incorrect mobile number on my CV mind. Idiot Matt DC! Still, they went to the trouble of emailing me to invite me for interview despite this so it can't have put them off that much.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 16:49 (twenty-two years ago)

but doesn't the US/UK salary thing kind of break even with the high cost of living in the UK? I mean, unless you live in NYC. But even NYC seemed cheaper than London.

Other locations are available. Check atlas for details.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 16:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Goat-herder required. Must like goats. Crampons a plus. Located in trendy Atlas Mountains. Dental plan included (for goats).

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 17:56 (twenty-two years ago)

But even NYC seemed cheaper than London.

London is much much more expensive than other areas in the uk. Ridiculously so, actually.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 18:00 (twenty-two years ago)

$30 k at the current rate of exchange is less than a starting UK salary, and although salaries do hit a glass ceiling here there's at least free health care.

I think an "average" (whatever that it) starting salary in the UK is about 15k.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 18:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Since this is anonymous and no risk of violating policy, or whatever, I don't see a problem. My last job was managing a retail gaming store, maybe 45 hours a week and I made 38k. I now work for a largely franchised restaurant chain, but on the corporate end- not in a store. I make about 53k total with salary, bonus and all the extras. I wish more people did know what others make because at my last job I was only able to negotiate high because I knew what the last manager made. I made more than the others in my area, but of course I could not discuss that. I also only happened to know all this info because of some paperwork I saw not intended for my eyes. I would have been real pissed had I been the one on the lower end.

― Miranda H, Sunday, 4 April 2004 00:43 (twenty-one years ago)

And did you share with the person on the lower end?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Sunday, 4 April 2004 00:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Of course not....thats taboo and I would have been fired. May share some data now that I dont work there

― Miranda H, Sunday, 4 April 2004 01:16 (twenty-one years ago)

I earn £40k as a suit in media which makes me feel bad cos the writers and editors get a lot less. My job is fairly creative but according to Bill Hicks I should kill myself now. I like my job even though it is very high pressure but I am prone to angst over whether I should have jumped the fence and become a writer instead. But I am addicted to getting paid a decent salary and I like living in Highbury and eating out and going to the pub and stuff. I am still in debt because when I started out in the industry I earned £10 k a year. That was eight years ago. I am about to get a 100% mortgage so will be stuck sucking Satan's cock for a few years yet and will go to hell when I die. aargh.

― badger Kitten (badger Kitten), Sunday, 4 April 2004 10:45 (twenty-one years ago)

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