How Much Do You Make?

The above exchange made me realize just how sensitive people are about how much they make. When my co-worker inquired about my yearly income, I felt like he was asking for my first-born. It’s pretty much the same reaction no matter who asks: co-worker, friend, relative or a date.  

Although questions about income can be viewed as intrusive, they tend to come up during romantic dealings. Not to stereotype (well, not too much) but the question rarely comes from a man, rather a female “getting to know you.” While I can’t say that I can recall many women that were ballsy enough to straight up ask me, but standard questions about “what you do for a living” or “how much did your place cost” tend to hint at the same thing. But if any female I was just “getting know” asked me how much I made, my answer would be a straight-faced “none of your business.” Sorry, my yearly income is classified information that should be reserved for my future wife and extremely close confidantes. Basically it’s on a need to know basis. Besides that line of questioning would lead me to believe that said female may be a gold digger.

Now that’s not to say that there haven’t been times where I was in a long term relationship and a general income range was revealed to my partner. If that range were more than her, my revelation would usually come to bite me in the ass. "Pay for dinner, you make more than me.” Or the classic line, “You can afford it.” Similar to the scenario with my co-worker, though, a female has no idea what I can and can't afford. Just because I make X amount doesn't mean jack shit. As we all know most of your gross salary goes to taxes and what's left hardly ever reflects the prestige of what your pay grade would suggest. I mean, every time I look at my gross income and see what I should be bringing home before taxes I get pissed. And if I'm making X amount but still living check to check; what's the real the difference between what you make and what I make? I don't tell you how to spend your money so don't tell me how to spend mine.

So how do y’all feel about people asking about your income? Is there a difference between someone on a date asking or a friend/colleague? Do you think it’s rude to ask someone about their income when you barely know them? Who would you reveal your income to if they asked? Why do you think people are so sensitive about how much they make?

Speak your piece…