Is It Rude To Ask Others How Much They Earn?
Whether you are happy to brag about how much you earn or you are someone who prefers to keep their earnings private, you will know that it’s often considered rude to ask others about their income. This means that though you may be interested in how much your peers earn, you are likely to be left wondering whether your salary matches.
There are pros and cons to asking others how much they earn; some people are comfortable discussing their earnings in depth, whereas others want to avoid the subject completely.
The Pros and Cons of Asking Others How Much They Earn
It’s Helpful to Know Whether You’re Earning As Much As You Should Be
It’s not always easy to know whether or not you are earning as much as you should be. Regardless of the industry that you work in, you will want to know that you are earning a similar wage to your peers. Unless you ask, this is very difficult to know.
Though you can gauge a rough estimate of the average wage for your role by looking online and speaking to your employer, there’s no guarantee that you are being paid what you deserve. Asking others how much they earn can give you a rough idea of whether you should be asking for a raise.
You Shouldn’t Compare Yourself to Others
There’s no denying that comparing yourself to others can be detrimental to self esteem and happiness, and asking others how much they earn is a huge comparison. A huge downside of asking others what they earn is the likelihood of you comparing yourself to them. You may find that you earn a lot less than someone else and this can make you feel behind, unmotivated and dissatisfied with a career.
People May Judge Others on Income
Though you may be happy with how much you earn, others may feel that it’s too much or too little. This can lead to judgement from others. Avoiding the topic of earning and income avoids any potential judgement.
There’s a common thought that those who earn a lot stick with others who earn a lot, which can make you feel left out if you fall beneath this. This isn’t something to worry about when the topic of income is avoided.
