Smart Replies When Someone Asks Your Salary

Don’t you hate it when out of the blue somebody asks you about your salary? It can be your aunt, an interviewer, close friends, or just your date asking. In a world where financial matters are often kept behind closed doors, answering this may feel overwhelming. 

Like, do you reveal the numbers with unapologetic honesty,  say something witty, or do you dodge the question? Your heart may skip a beat or two as you grapple with the dilemma.

Don’t worry! In this article, we'll explore a range of appropriate responses that will help you to handle such inquiries with grace if you're not comfortable sharing your salary figures.

Why Someone May Ask About Your Salary

There can be numerous reasons why someone might ask about your salary. And the reasons vary depending on who’s asking, such as -

Family Members:

• Concern: A family member might ask this out of concern for your well-being. They want to make sure you're earning enough to support yourself and your goals, and that you're being fairly compensated for your efforts.

Close Friends:

• Sharing: Your buddies might ask about your salary because they're comfortable discussing personal matters with you.

• Curiosity: They may be genuinely curious about your financial situation and career progress. 

Colleagues:

• Benchmarking: Your colleagues might ask this as a way to find out if they’re being paid fairly compared to others in similar roles.

Love Interest:

• Long-Term Compatibility: In a romantic relationship, discussing salaries might come up when planning for the future together. This also helps in figuring out if anyone is only there for the money. 

• Trust: Sharing salary information can be a sign of trust in a relationship.

Interviewer:

• Budget: During a job interview, the interviewer might ask about your salary expectations to understand if they can match your financial needs and expectations.

Anybody:

• To embarrass you: Not everyone has good in their heart for you. So every now and then you might get asked about your salary just because the person asking wants to embarrass or humiliate you. In such cases, handling the case with humor can be one of the best responses.

How to Politely Decline

If you don’t feel comfortable enough to discuss your personal finances, including your income level and salary, politely declining such inquiries is a good idea. Below are a few ideas on how to do that.

Give a Range

If an interviewer asks, answering with a salary range can provide a general idea without revealing specific details about your previous/current salary.

For instance:

• I've always believed that discussing salaries can be a bit tricky, but considering my experience and expertise in the sector, I expect to earn between $50,000 to $70,000 each year.
• This job is almost identical to my old one, but given the increased workload, I believe a wage range of $70,000 to $80,000 per year is reasonable.

Say It's Private

Another straightforward approach is to politely express that your salary is a private matter and not something you're comfortable discussing.p

• I appreciate your curiosity, but I prefer to keep my financial matters private. I'm sure you understand that everyone has their own comfort zones.
• Sorry, but I've made it a personal policy to keep my salary details a secret. 
• Thank you for asking, but my salary is a personal matter to me. I hope you don't mind if I keep that information to myself.
• I'm afraid I can't share those classified figures. But I can assure you that it probably isn't as much as you believe.
• I understand why you’re asking this but don't you think that’s a little too private? And, if you don’t mind, I would like to keep it that way.
• You know, discussing salary feels a bit like discussing medical history—it's personal. I hope you understand. 

Redirect the Conversation

Instead of directly disclosing your earnings, you can redirect the conversation using these strategies:

Ask About Their Salary

If a colleague or friend is asking about your income level, you can evade the question by shifting the focus to their own experiences:

• I'm actually more curious about your career aspirations. Have you met any exciting financial milestones lately?
• I get by. What about you? They’re paying you well?
• Oh, I'm doing fine in that department. How about you? How's everything on your end?
• Speaking of salaries, different companies have different approaches. So, how has your compensation evolved since you started there?
• You know, salaries vary widely across industries and positions. So, what's been your experience with compensation in your field?

Talk About Your Job

You can divert the conversation from salary to your job role, all the tasks and responsibilities, to highlight the values you bring to the workplace.

• It's interesting you ask about salary, but what truly brings me satisfaction is the impact I've been able to make at my workplace. For instance, last quarter, I led a team that developed a solution that improved our client's efficiency by 30%.
• I want to think of the job as a constant learning adventure rather than just one that involves money. Recently, I've been exposed to automation, which has been a game-changer for me.
• While my salary is a part of my job, what truly excites me is the opportunity to continually learn and grow in my role.

Be Vague

Another good idea is being vague about the whole thing. For example:

• Let's just say it's more than enough to meet my needs.
• I'd rather not go into any specifics, but I feel valued by my employer.
• I'm doing okay in that section, thanks for asking.
• I've found a salary that works for me.
• It's in line with industry standards.
• I make enough to live comfortably.
• Let's just say I'm not complaining.
• My earnings are aligned with the market standards for my role.
• I'm within a range that I'm comfortable with for my level of experience and responsibilities.

Humorous Responses

You can ease the awkwardness and lighten the mood when discussing sensitive financial topics, such as your salary and net worth, with a touch of humor.

Make a Joke

Cracking salary-related jokes works well with friends and colleagues, but it's wise to avoid them when an interviewer asks about your salary.

• My salary is quite competitive. In fact, my electricity and water bills are competing to catch up with it.
• My salary? Let's just say my bank account and I are in a long-distance relationship.
• My salary is like fine wine – it gets better with time, but it's not quite vintage yet.
• You’re with the IRS, aren’t you?
• My salary? Let's just say it's a constant reminder that I chose my career for passion, not for counting zeros.
• I make just enough to fund my cat’s gourmet diet.
• I get enough to tolerate my boss.
• Never ask a woman her age and a man his wage.
• I make just enough to pay taxes and pretend to be an adult.

Give a Ridiculous Answer

Or you can up the ante by giving an outlandish answer:

• Oh, you know, I make so much money that even Elon Musk asked me for financial advice last week!
• Let's just say I have a personal money-printing machine.
• I don't actually get paid in money. I get bananas for all my efforts.
• Less than I want, more than I need.

If you have a funny bone in you, you will enjoy these witty responses.

Conclusion

When answering inquiries about your salary, remember that your worth extends beyond numbers. Sure, transparency can empower, but discretion is valid too. You may politely deflect the question or make a snarky comment. Choose what feels right to you!