Are you underpaid or overpaid?

[BlueHouse]

Nothing scientific.  No facts needed.  No research required.  Just your feelings on whether you are underpaid or overpaid for what you do.  You may take into account the conditions you must work in, etc. 

[eljefe-speaks]

I have worked at my current employer for ~10 years and I started in an entry-level job with low pay. I don't think I have every been able to recover, even after several promotion. I did receive a "market adjustment" last year, but I think I am still a little under my peers. However, this is all guesswork because I have no idea what anyone here makes.

[JLee]

Under - I was just given a lateral title to take over my boss's job.

[dandarc]

I voted "underpaid" based solely on never receiving significant push-back for an increase I've asked for. The rational part of my brain tells me "you didn't ask for enough if there hasn't ever been an 'oh - I should run that by XXX'", and I'm having a rational thinking kind of day.

I guess that isn't entirely true - I had one middle man tell us that they were going to ask for an increase in the bill rate on a contract years ago, and then proceed to tell us that we would not receive a penny increase. 'Us' being the people who's time they were selling, and we're not exactly easily replaceable at least in the short term. That renewal ultimately did go through for the 2 of us on that contract - with increases for us via a new middle-man.

[diapasoun]

Overpaid. My work is not that hard and I still earn significant bank for it.

[Kris]

Hm. I have no idea how to gauge this.

I make low-six-figures a year from writing and self-publishing romance novels.

I voted "overpaid" because I get to work at home in my jammies.

[rockstache]

Overpaid. My work is not that hard and I still earn significant bank for it.

+1
I'm paid the market rate for what I do, as far as I can tell. But I feel overpaid because it's easy and mostly pleasant.

[Brother Esau]

I'm underpaid for what I'm worth (degree, licenses, experience) but overpaid for what I do (super chill job).

[diapasoun]

Overpaid. My work is not that hard and I still earn significant bank for it.

+1
I'm paid the market rate for what I do, as far as I can tell. But I feel overpaid because it's easy and mostly pleasant.

Yep, same.

I could also earn more in other jobs, but that work would involve me very, very much earning my keep.

[Saskatchewstachian]

Underpaid compared to colleagues - Started in a down cycle so my starting wage was a decent amount lower and annual adjustments have never made up the difference, performance bonus's are one-off's so don't move the needle at all on catching up either.

Overpaid compared to industry - <30yo and a large income so can't just up and move to a new job to get the pay discrepancy sorted out.

it's a weird conundrum to simultaneously know you're overpaid but be frustrated about being underpaid compared to colleagues.

O well, comparison is the thief of joy so try not to dwell on it and carry on saving away.

[StarBright]

I voted "Just Right."

I am underpaid compared to colleagues and my job constantly feels hard.

But I remote work and live in a lower cost of living area than my company base and have some decent flexibility when it comes to supporting my family's schedules. So I have flexibility and am paid east coast wages while living in the midwest.

[Eowyn_MI]

I feel that my pay rate is fair for the amount of work that I do.  I'm not sure how it compares to my coworkers but I try not to worry about that since it's not going to change my paycheck.

However, I have a decent balance between days of feeling like I have the best job in the world and days of feeling like they can't pay me enough to put up with this BS.

[Luke Warm]

Hm. I have no idea how to gauge this.

I make low-six-figures a year from writing and self-publishing romance novels.

I voted "overpaid" because I get to work at home in my jammies.

Nice!

[Michael in ABQ]

Gross income is about $120k a year while deployed. But that's working 6-7 days a week 8-12 hours per day and always on call. I'm in charge of ~100 people, responsible for millions of dollars of equipment, and have to deal with many significant decisions on a daily basis.

Then I see a budget line item for a contractor to be a field service representative for a single piece of equipment and there's $250k allocated for one year. Yeah that guy is not getting paid $250k, there's definitely some profit and overhead from his company, but I'm sure that person is making $100k+ for waaaay less work (albeit in a foreign country). So yeah, I might feel a bit underpaid compared to that. On the other hand, with the tax benefits and the fact that a significant chunk of that gross income are allowances that are completely untaxed, my effective income is probably closer to $140k.

[Samuel]

I voted "just right". Coming from the lower wage work I thought would be my lot in life I definitely feel overpaid, even though I probably am a bit behind my direct peers since I'm not much of a job hopper or salary negotiator.

It's all relative, though. I generally feel wildly overpaid when compared to my friends in the non-profit and educational worlds and like an underpaid rube when compared to my friends in the tech world.

[Freedom2016]

I average out to "just right."

I'm flying home from a corporate gig that paid me as much in two days as almost a semester of adjunct teaching pays me. So:
 
corporate = overpaid
academic = underpaid

 

[Zamboni]

I didn't vote because I am underpaid and overpaid at the same time and there wasn't a multiple select option.

I am underpaid for my field.
However, I think my entire field is overpaid for what we do.

[Dave1442397]

I voted 'just right', although I think the skills I'm picking up this year could lead to a 15-20% bump in salary if I start looking around next year.

The big plus at the current job is that I work from home, going into the office one or two days a month at most.

There are days I feel overpaid, and then there are days like today when I feel like I should be getting something extra to offset the idiocy I put up with. Of course, there are idiots at every job, and they have to be dealt with. Today just felt like a Dilbert cartoon to the max.

[Bloop Bloop]

I am self-employed so I guess I am paid whatever clients are willing to pay me.

The way my profession (law) works is that the people at the top of the pyramid are overpaid and the people at the bottom are severely underpaid. This is just how the profession is structured. For most of my career I have been very much underpaid, like everyone else at my level. Right now the pendulum is swinging and I'm probably slightly overpaid, as I'm now in the top, say, 15-20% of my profession. As I venture into more lucrative levels closer to the top of the pyramid I will probably become significantly overpaid. At least, here's hoping. Because I didn't endure all the shit I endured to not get paid a lot of money.

[APowers]

I didn't vote because I am underpaid and overpaid at the same time and there wasn't a multiple select option.

I am underpaid for my field.
However, I think my entire field is overpaid for what we do.

I didn't realize ice resurfacers got paid so much!

[Metalcat]

I am definitely underpaid due to an ongoing disagreement with my employer that I believe that we should charge significantly more, and she's too afraid to do it because her mentor tried years ago, but did it so stupidly that she lost 30% of her patients.

I've slowly crept her up a few percent each year, so we're within a few percent of where we really should be. It's negligible, but it still irks me.

[Jtrey17]

Hm. I have no idea how to gauge this.

I make low-six-figures a year from writing and self-publishing romance novels.

I voted "overpaid" because I get to work at home in my jammies.

Oh!! I’m a tech writer currently but want to have your life in a few years. Tell me more, please!!

[Kris]

Hm. I have no idea how to gauge this.

I make low-six-figures a year from writing and self-publishing romance novels.

I voted "overpaid" because I get to work at home in my jammies.

Oh!! I’m a tech writer currently but want to have your life in a few years. Tell me more, please!!

:) I write in a romance genre that lends itself well to series, so that readers who like one book might want to go on and read the rest. I publish direct to Amazon, and the vast majority of my sales come from ebooks. There are thousands of self-published authors doing the same thing, around the world.

If you want to learn more, there are lots of resources around. If you’re on Facebook, the group 20Booksto50k would be a good group to join. As would the Self-Publishing Formula’s group “SPF-Community” are filled with people who are doing or want to do just that.

[Just Joe]

I'll second what someone said up thread - depends on which day you're asking. Generally pleased with the larger work picture - salary, duties, location, coworkers, etc.

[Luke Warm]

Hm. I have no idea how to gauge this.

I make low-six-figures a year from writing and self-publishing romance novels.

I voted "overpaid" because I get to work at home in my jammies.

Oh!! I’m a tech writer currently but want to have your life in a few years. Tell me more, please!!

:). I write in a romance genre that lends itself well to series, so that readers who like one book might want to go on and read the rest. I direct to Amazon, and the vast majority of my sales come from ebooks. There are thousands of self-published authors doing the same thing, around the world.

If you want to learn more, there are lots of resources around. If you’re on Facebook, the group 20Booksto50k would be a good group to join. As would the Self-Publishing Formula’s group “SPF-Community” are filled with people who are doing or want to do just that.

could you give us a link to one of your books?

[Kris]

Hm. I have no idea how to gauge this.

I make low-six-figures a year from writing and self-publishing romance novels.

I voted "overpaid" because I get to work at home in my jammies.

Oh!! I’m a tech writer currently but want to have your life in a few years. Tell me more, please!!

:). I write in a romance genre that lends itself well to series, so that readers who like one book might want to go on and read the rest. I direct to Amazon, and the vast majority of my sales come from ebooks. There are thousands of self-published authors doing the same thing, around the world.

If you want to learn more, there are lots of resources around. If you’re on Facebook, the group 20Booksto50k would be a good group to join. As would the Self-Publishing Formula’s group “SPF-Community” are filled with people who are doing or want to do just that.

could you give us a link to one of your books?

Nope.

:)

[BussoV6]

Overpaid. Half the stuff I do in my job, I'd do for free. The other half, I'm well paid for.

It helps that my boss thinks I'm underpaid.

[LennStar]

Hm. I have no idea how to gauge this.

I make low-six-figures a year from writing and self-publishing romance novels.

I voted "overpaid" because I get to work at home in my jammies.

Oh!! I’m a tech writer currently but want to have your life in a few years. Tell me more, please!!

:). I write in a romance genre that lends itself well to series, so that readers who like one book might want to go on and read the rest. I direct to Amazon, and the vast majority of my sales come from ebooks. There are thousands of self-published authors doing the same thing, around the world.

If you want to learn more, there are lots of resources around. If you’re on Facebook, the group 20Booksto50k would be a good group to join. As would the Self-Publishing Formula’s group “SPF-Community” are filled with people who are doing or want to do just that.

could you give us a link to one of your books?

Nope.

:)

WOW 6 figure is not bad at all in the writing profession :D
Of course it's English and romance, the biggest field.

Can you somehow tell us how much you get on a per country base? I am really curious. (I, German, for example have bought English books of a "Vietnamese" writer living in France. Isn't the internet great?)

[Kris]

Hm. I have no idea how to gauge this.

I make low-six-figures a year from writing and self-publishing romance novels.

I voted "overpaid" because I get to work at home in my jammies.

Oh!! I’m a tech writer currently but want to have your life in a few years. Tell me more, please!!

:). I write in a romance genre that lends itself well to series, so that readers who like one book might want to go on and read the rest. I direct to Amazon, and the vast majority of my sales come from ebooks. There are thousands of self-published authors doing the same thing, around the world.

If you want to learn more, there are lots of resources around. If you’re on Facebook, the group 20Booksto50k would be a good group to join. As would the Self-Publishing Formula’s group “SPF-Community” are filled with people who are doing or want to do just that.

could you give us a link to one of your books?

Nope.

:)

WOW 6 figure is not bad at all in the writing profession :D
Of course it's English and romance, the biggest field.

Can you somehow tell us how much you get on a per country base? I am really curious. (I, German, for example have bought English books of a "Vietnamese" writer living in France. Isn't the internet great?)

Sure. About 80% of my royalties come from US sales. After that, it’s UK with about 10%, Australia and Canada next. Everything else is a smattering. I’m slowly increasing numbers in some other countries like Germany through Amazon advertising. I haven’t translated my books yet, though some Italian translations are coming out this summer.

[ketchup]

I'm say I'm just about right.  A bit under industry average for my position I'm sure, but my company also took a bit of a gamble with my promotion since I'm on paper not qualified at all.  But I've been able to manage 10%+ raises each year since then, so something is going right.

[Zamboni]

I didn't vote because I am underpaid and overpaid at the same time and there wasn't a multiple select option.

I am underpaid for my field.
However, I think my entire field is overpaid for what we do.

I didn't realize ice resurfacers got paid so much!

Flying pucks makes it a dangerous job so high paid field. Drinking beer while riding around in a fancy go cart makes it a fun low paying gig ;-).

I didn't vote because I'm not working but for my civilian government job I was paid fairly...sort of. The job itself could be very hazardous but was relatively low paying like most government jobs. However some gold plated benefits, including a full pension at 50, made up for it. I've never seen any similar private sector jobs so can't compare pay. My former military (Coast Guard enlisted) job was much the same.

Hmmm, I should retire from ice-smoothing and become a romance novelist, apparently, lol.

[Kris]

I didn't vote because I am underpaid and overpaid at the same time and there wasn't a multiple select option.

I am underpaid for my field.
However, I think my entire field is overpaid for what we do.

I didn't realize ice resurfacers got paid so much!

Flying pucks makes it a dangerous job so high paid field. Drinking beer while riding around in a fancy go cart makes it a fun low paying gig ;-).

I didn't vote because I'm not working but for my civilian government job I was paid fairly...sort of. The job itself could be very hazardous but was relatively low paying like most government jobs. However some gold plated benefits, including a full pension at 50, made up for it. I've never seen any similar private sector jobs so can't compare pay. My former military (Coast Guard enlisted) job was much the same.

Hmmm, I should retire from ice-smoothing and become a romance novelist, apparently, lol.

Hockey romance is a lucrative subgenre, ijs...

[gaja]

I'm underpaid compared to my coworkers, but overpaid compared to the rest of society.

[PDXTabs]

I'm not 100% sure. I suspect that I am overpaid in base salary and paid about average in total comp terms.

[Giro]

I am embarrassingly overpaid and try to be very charitable because of it. 

[BlueHouse]

I am embarrassingly overpaid and try to be very charitable because of it.

Interesting.  Do you mean official charities or do you also tip extra, pay extra to day laborers, etc?