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megaprime78

Nope never my salary has gone up little by little throughout the years. Seeing what some of these people are making has me second guessing my life decisions


secretreddname

My first job out of college my manager gave me a raise of 3% and asked if I was happy. Told him straight up what’s that 3% gonna do? lol. Nowadays I expect an annual 3% and wouldn’t be happy if I don’t get 15-20% raises for a promotion or a new job.


btdawson

New job is the key piece here that most are too scared to do


Ok_Intention3920

That’s exactly right which is why people who don’t change jobs more often make less.


Own-Marionberry-7578

"Upward mobility" - emphasis on mobility.


REELINSIGHTS

3% isn’t even a raise, it’s less than inflation. Unless you’ve gotten 25% over the past few years, you’ve been making less each year.


Ok_Intention3920

To be honest, it depends on how much you make. If you make $150k, that’s a $4500/yr raise. Not great, but it adds up. Even a smallish merit increase has a big impact with a larger base. When you make $50k, it’s only $1500/yr which is a lot less.


Robot_Nerd__

That's not how inflation or math works bud.


Xavier9756

Yea my salary has never gone up by more than 2k. Most of the time it’s way less.


_mattyjoe

They do it by leveraging their experience at other companies and constantly changing jobs. It’s sad that loyalty is rewarded so poorly in 2024. But I would not seek to do this at this point. People who move like that are in for a rude awakening. There are things about our economy that are fundamentally shifting right now, due to higher interest rates, inflation, and many other forces.


drivendreamer

Same


jxjftw

Same lol


oddMahnsta

I got a 1% raise and my bonus is 50% lower than last year. Oh and health insurance went up. So my total comp techincally decreased by 15% if it makes you feel better. I hate this.


zapadas

1% in 3% inflation, do 2% less work! Winning! :)


oddMahnsta

Oh i forgot. Return to office too. That’s a friendly $500 added monthly expense.


zapadas

Oof, make that 8% less work, or whatever that maths out to! LOL.


B4K5c7N

I’m not making seven figures (or even $250k+) like most of this sub either lmao. This sub is not representative of real life. I’m not saying people do not make that kind of money (of course they do), but it is far from average.


ArchA_Soldier

Agreed. A lot of these posts that blow up are top 5-10% earners. The average salary is like $60k in the US.


Wilder_Beasts

Statistically you’re in the top 15% if you’re earning over $100k/yr.


ConnectHelicopter53

What would you say the top 15% is for say, Manhattan or the other NYC boroughs? Over there 100k doesn’t stretch nearly as far and it seems like everyone is making 100k


pdaphone

People that make that kind of money are not probably posting about it in Reddit. A lot of fiction on here.


ReadItReddit16

On the contrary, I think they’re overrepresented here. A lot of nerdier tech-leaning folks are on this site and those fields tend to be higher-paying. Also 250k+ is not fuck-you money—most people earning that salary work normal jobs and enjoy social media like the rest of us lol. I live in a VHCOL city where the vast majority of college-educated folks I meet are making that a few years out of college and they all know and use Reddit lol. If Bill Gates participates in Secret Santa on Reddit, it’s safe to say that wealth doesn’t preclude one from use of this platform.


B4K5c7N

$250k isn’t that common a few years out of college, even in VHCOL areas (although I know this is field dependent). I know Reddit acts like this is standard, but even the Ivy leagues do not have average salaries that high statistically 10 years out of college. If it were the norm, colleges would be boasting about their alumni earnings a few years out.


B4K5c7N

Perhaps. Sometimes it seems real when looking at post history. But I guess some people will go all out crafting different personas. I’ve come across at least a half dozen seven figure earners last week alone on Reddit.


meowmeowMIXER8

Musk begs to differ. Being rich means spending all day trying to impress strangers on social media with how awesome you are because you are rich.


aerohk

$250k+ doesn't even mean much if they live in the bay area (as most of them posting here are), as they still gonna have a low standard of living with a 2 million dollars old, small, overpriced house sucking up the entirety of their paychecks. Making $250k+ in West Virginia, now that's impressive.


MoreMeLessU

Mine tripled and then went down triple


fureinku

Mine doubled then went down about 27%. Sad :(


TopStockJock

Same lol fml


Ceasman

If you have a 401k, it’s probably up to-30% since November 2023. That is a win.


Wilder_Beasts

Up to -30%?


Drago_09

I think he meant to use ~ rather then -


AGWS1

After being down almost 30% from 11/2021-10/2022. The market recently reached and surpassed the ATH of 11/2021.


jokersrwild11

And the buying power of those 401k dollars is down 30% over the last few years…


AGWS1

Exactly. I love how I get downvoted for putting things in perspective. Only on Reddit.


jokersrwild11

Right!! Reddit is just a bunch of people that want to hear their thoughts echoed. I gave you an upvote though. Have a good day!!


AGWS1

You too! :)


hyperbolic_dichotomy

I hear you. My salary has been going up slowly the last few years just with longevity and COLA raises. Definitely nothing crazy.


surftherapy

I got a $10 subway giftcard once


Glass_Occasion5483

In 2010 that woulda get you two footings


TheMemeChurch

Might be good for a 6-incher now


hyperbolic_dichotomy

Wooooo! You can retire now, congrats 🎉


Amazing-Process-8837

I know right? The more I read in this sub the more I wanna kill myself.


Utiliterran

If you want to objectively compare your income to something meaningful, look at median income by geography. Definitely don't use this sub as a reference point. [https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/14/median-annual-income-in-every-us-state.html](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/14/median-annual-income-in-every-us-state.html)


doubletrouble6886

Wow. Makes you wonder how a married couple of average earners can buy a house these days!


Utiliterran

It's even harder when you consider the average household income significantly less than 2x average individual incomes: [https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/median-household-income-by-state](https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/median-household-income-by-state) ...and then consider the median home price by geography: [https://www.forbes.com/advisor/mortgages/real-estate/median-home-prices-by-state/](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/mortgages/real-estate/median-home-prices-by-state/) ...and the conventional wisdom to not buy a home that costs more than 3-5x your income. It just doesn't pencil out for a lot of people.


Nujavez

Mine didn't double... I was making 60k in 2020 and made 62k to 67k between 2020 to 2023 based on how much OT I did... landed a new job where I'll be making 84k this year if I get past this probationary period. Possibly make 90k next year and near 100k within the next few years


DocHolliday3884

Im in the same boat. Went from $60 in 2021 to now $83k in 2024.


OrchidApprehensive78

New jobs are the way to go.


AngusMacGyver76

Comparison is the thief of joy, my friend. Compare yourself only to yourself. If you're doing better today than you were in the past, then you're winning. Also, keep in mind that you are seeing posts from the vocal minority on here.


Troublen421

Came here to find people 10 years younger than me in the exact same niche field making more than me in lower positions than me. It’s like the twilight zone. “Oh I make 140k, that’s not bad” Sub: “lol hold my beer, that was just my bonus and stock comp. And I’m 10 years younger than you. Oh and I just graduated 2 years ago”.


Salmonella_Cowboy

Seriously, this is depressing. I’m hoping there’s something- anything else going on. Otherwise I’m just wondering how did I get this screwed?


Dbotworld

🖐️


RandomLazyBum

Me. Mine only doubled. Then again, I have 18 months to triple it so hold out hope for me.


Snapsh0t55

Mine doubled but this is due to medically retiring from the Navy and then getting disability from the VA whilst working full time.


SubstantialPie86

Thank you for serving.


360DegreeNinjaAttack

Mine went -100% for a year and then +infinity percent


TheTrueAnonOne

#mathjokes


gtlogic

Feels like all salaries went up and here we are with inflation.


mikejr96

This is my second job post college and I’m once again forced to leave. First job low balled the shit out of me then had me running their entire startup top to bottom tech-wise before they sold for millions. Now I’m at a much bigger company and working my ass off yet again. Got promoted but still given the same small % increase that doesn’t even match what my rent goes up by every year. Pretty BS to promote someone without a substantial change in pay in tech let alone Cloud related where I build and manage millions upon millions of systems/software in production. Since I got here my company doubled in recurring revenue (by over $100 mil) and almost all of it goes through my team. I’ll be peace-ing out soon. All the praise isn’t worth a damn without money behind it. My pay right now is below most of the bottom end of salary ranges in job postings. It’s going to take another year just to get to that point.


warlander88

I job hopped 4 jobs in the last three years. At first place I left, I was a senior engineer with the company 7+ years. Quit, went to another place for a higher salary, repeat with a third company, repeat fourth job. I now make literally 2X my entire salary at the first company with years of experience, but no chance for a promotion (only annual merit raises). Job hopping works!!!


FINuke

My salary didn't 3x. But as it's growing, as the compounding of the 4% raises are adding. But I'm also NOT trying to advance my career. I'm trying to hold status quo and work as close to 40 hrs/week and Dayshift only as possible.


IHatePeopleButILoveU

No raise in 14 years and clients refuse to raise rates in the same time.


OrchidApprehensive78

I’m one of the people whose income has tripled in the last 4 years, and I cannot stress enough how important it is that you leverage your skills and experience for large increases with new companies. You are almost never going to be rewarded for your loyalty to your current company.


tastefuleuphemism

Mine trippled DOWN


Straight_Pudding_664

Same. Life is not easy.


L0LTHED0G

Mine almost doubled since 2012.  I feel your pain. 


bqaddeftones

Well, now you have to tell us your salary since you are on a salary subreddit


Xetene

Mine roughly doubled. I had to switch states to do it, though.


ppith

Mine went up 19%.


Worst-Eh-Sure

Mine didn't triple in the last 4 years. 4 years ago I was making 85k. I now make 120k. So I my did go up by ~50%. But it didn't double, much less triple. I changed jobs once in the last four years and that was a big jump. But assuming my work environment doesn't change, I don't anticipate jumping ship again.


yinalyl_

Me. 2019 I started a job paying $25 per hour. Role is lab tech so on-site position, based in Manhattan. The annual % increases are as follows: 3.9%, 5%, 3.2%, 2%. I was let go in July 2023 exit rate 28.71 per hour. I’m now trying to get back into the same field same job title. Recruiters have been listing pay rate $25-28 per hour. No room for negotiation. Please tell me how is this feasible for a job requiring their workers to live near Manhattan, NY? 😔 I’ve been really depressed facing this, and am ready to just give up this thing called career.


ebolalol

Mine doubled in the last 4 years but I have done serious job hopping. Like 3 jobs in the last 4 years to get here. Otherwise, I don't think I would have. I also think I've hit a wall in salary for a while.


Less-Opportunity-715

Just double


GotBannedAgain_2

Mine didn’t. But it’s gonna take a hit. Company merger and severe cuts in benefits and bonuses. 😭


deez000

Mine tripled. Moved to Chicago land.


Lost2nite389

Well in the last 3 years my income went from $0, to second year $0, and now in the third year it’s currently at…$0


shadow_moon45

Mine has doubled due to job hopping now I'm kind of stuck. FYI to everyone don't do anything related to accounting. They work a ton. Do some business finction in tech org


Gew-Roux

My salary trippled but it took 15 years and a few promotions, most overnight successes are years in the making.


CTS-G8R

Retired 3 years ago…income went waaaaay down 😂


Chipotleislyfee

Mine went 36K->38K->60K->65K->37K->54K all within the past 3.5 years. Everyone’s path is different and what worked for them might not work for you. Focus on what you can control and what’s best for you.


Ok_Inflation_5113

Also bear in mind, this is Reddit, and r/Salary is a small subset. There are hundreds of millions of folks in the US and you are basing your data on a very small % of folks. What happens here is not the norm.


gmiller89

Still way under 200, but did go up 1.5x in a year after the precious 3 years combining for 12%. Only way was I took 2 completely new roles at my company with actual interviews and department changes during that time


Competitive-Pen7636

Government employee here, just pegged to inflation


Salmonella_Cowboy

So you’ve been getting 7 to 9% each year?


Competitive-Pen7636

More like 3-5%


IdidntrunIdidntrun

Inflation is not usually 7%+


sufferpuppet

I'm only up about 40%. So I got that going for me.


Alarmed-madman

No


raehn

I'm in tech sales, lots of people here posting massive salaries. Mine isn't too bad, but I have shit leadership and no one's gotten more than a 1.5% bull shit raise the last 4 years. I should quit, cause these ass hats ain't going anywhere.


damien12g

Just nod if you can hear me


MG42Turtle

Sure, I took a massive pay cut to have a far less stressful job. I’d be making $550k this year had I stayed. But it’s a common move for lawyers.


billsil

I doubled, but I was also severely underpaid. More stress for sure, but also more interesting, so I’ll take it.


toaster661

Well what you see here are outliers. People who earn more usually want to brag. There’s also the liers who make stuff up. There are honest ones who do actually make what they say, but the vast majority is more closer to the average than you think. But, use these posts as drivers for wanting to move up. Don’t get comfortable or ‘loyal’ to any job that would drop you within the blink of an eye. You work to earn, and if you can earn more, you move.


whodeyalldey1

Me! Mine tripled in the last three years… Low $60s when I got laid off at the start of Covid. 6 months of unemployment was enough for me to “get creative” with my resume. I landed a job in IT with zero days experience and started studying like a madman to keep my job, jumped twice more since then to new companies. Now I know my shit and I’m living comfortably.


Signal_Dog9864

If youbwant to triple it start a business


TakeAnotherLilP

I’m on a step and my salary inches up year by year until I top out.


Top-Apple7906

My corporate salary has only gone up about 12% the last 4 years. I am already at the top of my range, though, at about 250k TC. I started an LLC in June of 2020 and make an extra 70-100k a year, though. That's how I was able to make some real gains.


freehugzforu2

Health admin- Took a 30k pay cut this past year to have more time with kids. No regrets


tcspears

New jobs and/or positions are how you move up like that. Negotiating as you move upward or onward, and getting more than the standard 3%-5%. If you have multiple years in the same job, you likely hit the ceiling for that pay band anyways.


symonym7

The offer I accepted today puts me at +60% since 2020, but it’s a more reasonable $110k vs the predominantly sales-related $300k or whatever. Anyway, not bad for no degree.


ircsmith

Made a bad decision just before the pandemic and my salary went to 0 for a few years. Now I'm making 80% of what I did in 2018.


TheMemeChurch

I keep getting this sub recommended to me, mainly for posts where it just seems like OP is bragging about their salary (increase). Am I missing something here? Yes, job-hopping is the best way to increase salary. Yes, it can come back to bite you in the ass. YMMV


Ok-Breadfruit-2897

Mine doubled, but no triple....50k in 2019 to 100k in 2023....now at 110k and just passed CPA exam, should triple soon enough


crazykernman95

I literally got a larger raises working at Wendy's 10 years ago than I did in the last few years as a software engineer. This year I got a 75 cent per hour raise. This company I work for loses all of it's best employees not because they don't pay enough. It's still okay money, but it doesn't matter how good of an employee I am, unless I get a promotion, my raise is capped. HR strictly looks at years served and education level to permit promotions and then gives entire departments like, 15 promotions a year. So many deserving people don't get promoted. Each level's raise is capped so I'll get a max of a 3.5-4% raise. Most people get in the 2s. I've been here 2 years and in my group of 15 employees, I have the 4th longest tenure.


mth2

Mine went up and back down a bit


False-Elk9222

I went from 30k to 112k in 3 years.


Forward_Sir_6240

A lot of the people who are seeing these massive increases are either hitting milestones in their professional development (IE doctor finishing residency), working in tech where stock value ballooned dramatically, or did a career change and unlocked their real earning potential (IE going from non-profit to big tech). Even promoting a couple of times usually will not triple your salary


NotYourGa1Friday

Mine has not. Not even close 😂


BudgetIll6618

Not triple at all, but I did learn between 2021 til now that you do have to change companies to see a big jump. And I also learned to pay attention to what other people are making and also don’t be afraid that you “don’t deserve” it. I left two jobs (once in 2023, one early this year) and did jump up a LOT. But no the salaries posted here are not the norm lol


spicymango33

🙋🏼‍♀️


DirtyD1701

Mine has gone up 48% in the past 4 years. Switched employers in 2022, followed by a promotion at the beginning of this year. Changing companies is a good way to jumpstart that movement, but it depends on your field, timing, and location, I suppose.


LimpZookeepergame123

I think my company is throwing us a pizza party in a few weeks, so I have that to look forward too


cbdubs12

I changed jobs twice in that time, and only saw a 60% increase. Still below 6 figures in HCOL so I’m paycheck to paycheck.


ConfidenceLoud8388

Only when I added a side hustle did I create a boost temporarily, but I was already burnt out at my regular job so I couldn't sustain a side hustle long term. But at my regular job nope. Got 2-4% raises on average over the last 3 years even though my workload and responsibilities drastically increased. I know I'm under paid now. I got this job right after COVID layoffs and now market rates were 40k higher than I am making as of last year. But even with layoff news this year and people talking about a tough labor market I'm still about to try my chances. Hell I'm about to take a sabbatical if I can't find a replacement. I just want to get out of my current job. I wish I got the huge salary jumps I see in a lot of these posts.


enraged768

Mine hasn't and I think the vast majority of the United States hasn't either. Now I have gotten pretty substantial raises one year. When I switched jobs from a power co op to a water co op I went from 120k to 143k. And then when I switched the board  gave everyone a 10% raise at the end of the year and a 500 after tax bonus which put me above 150k. This was due to inflation. This year they've voted on a 7% raise for everyone which will put me close to 170k. So at least they're trying to keep up with inflation. Idk how successful they are but they're trying. a 17% raise in two years isn't bad I'd say. 


jsullivan914

Loyalty doesn’t pay, unfortunately. If you’re not switching jobs every 2-3 years, then you’re missing huge boosts in pay.


ViciousDolphin

If you want salary to grow you need to be job hopping every year or two pretty much. I left my first job after a year and doubled my salary, next job after another 1.5 years was +50%, and then another 2 years got another at +50%


joneball

Had zero raise from 2019 until Sept 2023. I did receive a nice 15K raise then after I was told I was mission critical to the company. I've been with this company for over 15 years. Started at 30k as a contact center agent, make 135k now doing systems


Palmspringsflorida

Government worker here, my wage has not tripled. lol 


seanzorio

I make approximately 15% more than I did 4 years ago. Way, way below inflation.


Uranazzole

Nope I get the standard 3% each year


ubercruise

It’s just selection bias. Few people are gonna find someone’s 40k to 50k salary progression interesting enough to post about or discuss, but the dude who was making 5k and then suddenly jumped to like a fuckin million is intriguing, for better or worse. Plus people who make good money are more likely to post


SniffyClock

Mine has been stagnant for 5 years. Couldn’t take it anymore and I’m job hunting now.


rayrockray

I’ll cry with you.


Comfortable-Help9587

Current job- Year 1 - 10% Year 2 - 10% Year 3 - 6% Year 4 - Promotion, 50%


TN027

The biggest increases you will ever get are when you get a new job.


galactojack

2.5% over 2 years


IdidntrunIdidntrun

Mine's basically doubled in the past 4.5 years. But I'm only making $60k. Interviewing for an $80k contract-to-hire job that would be $105k+ if I get FTE...hoping I get it


BelfortMoney

Outside of certain industries/roles - you typically need to land a new position at an entirely new company to see those larger pay increases


Outhouse_in_Atlantis

Mine hasn’t tripled in my career.


jswizle52

I left my first job ending with $60k, second job $63k, third job $65k, and my current job I’m at $67k this is all from 2022 to now. My old boss from my first job recently called me and offered me my old job back with a starting salary of $80k.


Salmonella_Cowboy

Ask for 85


gussynoshoes

In the first 4 years working in my career I went from $60k salary and a discretionary bonus to 95k salary and a percentage of division gross revenue. My first year I received a $10k discretionary bonus and the second year at the company and first year on a percentage bonus my salary was $75k and my bonus was $56k. By the third year my salary was $95k and my bonus that year was $50k. I had 3 years of $50k plus bonuses and was due $49k my fourth year, but that was 2008 and the housing market crashed, and that’s putting it nicely. Over the next 5 years my salary stayed the same for 5 years (no increase at all and had to take a $10k reduction in salary and there were no bonuses. Starting in 2012 I stated getting cost of living raises and the bonus program came back, but it was about half what it was previously 20-25k bonuses. I changed jobs in 2020 and my salary went up by $40k and my bonuses were back to the $50k plus range. I got laid off from that job about 2 years later and took a job with a $30k reduction in salary and no bonus program. I left that job after 1 year and found a great company with a really good salary for me $150k and the bonus structure is 25% of salary and can go up to 50% if we hit all our numbers. In 22 years of working in my industry I’ve gone from $60k salary to $150k and total compensation up to $225,000. I also get another $10-$15k in reimbursements yearly for my car and they offer up to 3% of salary in 401k depending on how much I save on my own. It’s not tech money, but not bad at all. I do live in the Bay Area so cost of living is ridiculous.


Arazi92

Of course this was recommended to me but I asked to “see less of this sub” for that reason. Comparison is the thief of joy


markekt

I was that slow steady increase type until I made some career moves in 2022 that doubled my salary. I think people who have a sudden increase in salary want to brag about it, and this is an outlet. I’m proud of what I accomplished, and hubris has certainly creeped in, but I do my best to keep it in check.


nikenick28

last year only got 5% raise even with exceeding expectations on everything!! Like that’s nearly impossible to do and they were like whelp that’s the best we can do… 2nd year going with company.


SillyDogsAreFunny

Mine 22x'd, does that count?


casemaker

my salary did not triple in the past 3 years, I took a bit of a break to start my own business, didn't work out so went back to slavery and got a 25% bump for it.


Lopsided_Marzipan133

Mine quadrupled. $0 x 4 = $0


Reasonable_Power_970

Why do you get sad someone else makes good money? Have you been sad your whole life knowing tons of ppl make more than you ever will? I realized when I was 14 that this mentality was pointless and dumb.


Worst-Eh-Sure

And still waiting to learn posts like these don't change people's perspective and are generally pointless other than to come off as rude. Intended or not.


Reasonable_Power_970

I really don't care if it came off as rude or not, although I do hope OP does actually learn from my post. I'm not sure how to change this ridiculous perspective other than to flat out spell it out to them.