This article in the NYTimes is pretty interesting, about how people in our generation tend to share how much they’re making a lot more than the generation before.

Personally? A few people knew how much I was making at my first job, but only Colin and another guy friend know what I’m making now. I only have a rough idea of what a couple of friends are making, but no exact numbers (well, except for one friend). (eg. Colin makes approximately twice what I do (after US taxes), which means he actually gets paid a sh*tload) None of my colleagues know what I make, and I think that’s a good thing just cause it can be…friendlier that way.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t really want people to know what I’m making unless maybe it’s someone in the same industry in a position above me and I’m trying to get a job, for example.

I don’t want to feel poor compared to my friends (poor WITH my friends, however, is a different story – not that I’m poor, but you know what I mean – being cheap, for example, together, finding random happy hours, bargain shopping, etc). At the same time though, I feel like you can kind of gauge how much anyone is making just by the industry they’re in and their jobs – for example, it’s obvious that lawyers and bankers make a ton of money, while, I dunno, advertising is average pay, so it isn’t really necessary to know exactly how much anyone makes to be considerate of each other when planning group dinners/drinks/activities.

What I earn is still kind of private to me, and I just don’t need a bunch of people knowing what I make! Besides, they can approximate just by knowing what I do.

Do you share what you earn with your friends? Why or why not?