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“Salary Transparent Street”: People Are Revealing How Much They Get Paid And What Job They Do
According to this recent study, most people significantly underestimate what people are earning in similar jobs elsewhere. The researchers argue this holds people back from seeking better paid jobs or higher pay. They also suggest that if workers were more aware of salary disparities, at least 10% of low-paying jobs would simply not be viable at current pay rates.
So one D.C. TikTok content creator named Hannah Williams has set out on a mission to get people to talk openly about their salaries. With two simple questions, “What do you do?” and “How much do you make?”, the Salary Transparent Street project is promoting equal pay through transparent conversations, something that in many workplaces is still seen as a taboo topic.
Williams’s videos amassed millions of views and counting, and it’s obvious how much they have resonated with people. The creator now plans to travel nationwide and ask people in every capital city how much money they make. So follow her on social media to see how it goes!
More info: TikTok | Direct.Me | Twitter | Instagram
TikTok creator Hannah Williams launched the Salary Transparent Street project to get people to talk openly about how much they make for the job they do
Image credits: salarytransparentstreet
Her most popular video gained 13.5M views in just 4 days @salarytransparentstreet Georgetown, Washington, D.C. 📍 We are seeking an official partner and sponsor to help us travel to more cities. Please email us if you support pay transparency, equal pay, and increased diversity. #salarytransparency #paytransparency #salarytransparentstreet #moneytok #careertok #washingtondc #georgetown #howmuchdoyoumake ♬ original sound - Salary Transparent Street
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You know sometimes it gets depressing when you find out how underpaid science fields are
Bored Panda reached out to Hannah Williams, a 25-year-old data analyst working in the D.C. metro area who is the creator of this much-needed and wonderful project called Salary Transparent Street. “I started posting about my unique career journey on TikTok in February, and one of my videos with my own personal salary transparency (I job-hopped 5 jobs over 2.5 years) went viral. My followers told me they loved my transparency, and I wanted to encourage more people to be transparent as well,” she said.
Only $15? For SAVING lives? But then again a human life is priceless, so I guess they could never be paid enough
Wait. I thought teachers had such piss poor wages in the US? That is 160% of my full time salary before taxes in Europe.
They do but some higher cost of living places and certain positions pay higher. This is pretty high end salary for a public school teacher. Though she doesn't say what kind of teacher she is so she could be doing private ed or teaching adults.
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I’d love my job too if I earned that kind of money 😳
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I agree. Teachers and social workers are paid incredibly low.
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My mother, my sister, and their friends, all teachers. probably spent a minimum of 1/4 of their own income on school supplies, clothing, and toiletries. I worked at a Hospice thrift store and if my sister mentioned to my manager that certain kids were really in need of shoes and clothes, she would give them a discount. My sister made about $45,000 a year after 22 years in the wonderful state (/s) of Florida.
Teacher salaries are straightforward but transparent. All public employee salaries are accessible online. You can Google any school district and download their salary schedules. Teachers in high cost of living areas and pro employee/union states like CA and NY tend to make a lot more than teachers in pro-employer states that are less union friendly or in places with lower cost of living. Public teachers tend to make more than people school teachers. Teachers also tend to have better benefits than the average worker. Within an individual school district, teacher salaries are determined based on years of classroom experience and educational attainment. I work in Ventura County, CA. A brand new teacher with a BA + teaching credential will start here at about $55K per year. Veteran teachers with more than 10 years of experience make in the $90Ks and those with advanced degrees make just over $100K. Teachers max out here between $100-120K. Admins (principals, etc) make about $120-$150K.
Walter White still had to sell meth ontop of his wage to pay his hospital bills
Plus they get the whole summer off, although every one I’ve ever known says they really NEED it. Hah! My last job was non-stop non-stop and the idea of all that time off blows my mind… but they “need” it. Yeah.
Really depends. If I were walking the streets of DC and told them I make over $120,000 as a teacher without any other context people would be surprised. There's a lot more to it. I don't live in DC, I've been doing it 25 years, I have an MA and NB certification and I mentor other teachers as well as coaching, reviewing curriculum and frameworks for the state, and tutoring.
I'm kindergarten teacher in Poland my salary is +/- 600 bucks per month.
This person is in DC, I'd say there's a difference
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And don't forget a portion of that goes to buying her classes school supplies you can be damn sure the city/state is not paying for it.
Wow, teachers in L.A. get half that, once they are fully vested.
this is in an expensive city. You'd have to look at the state average and the cost of living. Teachers are often (depending what school board you work for) paid to scale.
Load More Replies...Williams said that she has always been very open and upfront about her salary, “but most people aren't.” She explained: “By talking with my community on my personal TikTok (@stocksandsquats), I heard people say that they thought discussing pay was illegal (myth!), and a lot didn't know how to negotiate their salaries or conduct market research. They realized they were being underpaid!”
I'm in grad school right now and I am working for the Washington Capitals.
Williams argues that “the 'taboo' and gatekeeping surrounding pay transparency is actually detrimental to most of us, and only benefits corporations who can get away with paying people less than they're due.” Therefore, her key message is to encourage people to break through that 'taboo' barrier and have these open conversations with their friends, colleagues, and family.
“Even though many people feel embarrassed or shy about their pay, we have to realize that our salaries say nothing about our value, our intelligence, or who we are as human beings, and talking about it helps a lot of people, combats the gender pay gap, improves diversity, and minimizes discrimination opportunities in organizations.”
I am a solo IT for 6 location and almost 300 people... i make 35k...
When asked how people react to her invitation to share their salaries publicly, Williams said that surprisingly, many people are open to discussing their salaries. “Many people also recognize us now because we went viral, so I'm certain that has helped sway people who initially wouldn't have spoken with us. The majority of people who don't want to talk to us are either older, or may work in higher or lower paying jobs (I think this goes back to the feeling of embarrassment that we need to combat!).”
Williams believes that people don't like talking about their salaries because they're worried they'll be judged, and that people will associate their intelligence, value, or character with their pay. “This is incorrect! Our salaries say nothing about who we are, and the more open we are about our pay, the better we can combat this thinking.”
According to the creator of Salary Transparent Street, pay transparency is incredibly important. “If we don't know what people make in similar job fields, how are we supposed to benchmark what our salaries should be? Having these open conversations helps people better understand what they should be asking for from their employers, so that they don't get taken advantage of because that information isn't being discussed,” she said.
“Women and POC are frequently underpaid because of these reasons, and also because of higher instances of discrimination they face in the hiring process. Providing more reputable salary benchmarks for everyone to see will help reduce instances like this,” Williams told Bored Panda.
Right now, Williams will be embarking on a nationwide Salary Transparent Street tour soon and she will film the series in every single capital city across the country. “I think this series can have an enormous positive impact with people personally, but also within our society and how we view conversations surrounding pay. If I can encourage a single person to start having these conversations and help their peers, then I've succeeded in my mission (but I hope many more will feel this way, too!).”
People revealing their wages have started a discussion in the comments
Try doing this again at a Dollar General instead of an upscale shopping area.
You'll get some very high salaries outside of a place like that. Frugality knows no income bracket.
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My last job in the UK was £25k and I thought I was doing really well! (About $33k) My new job pays around £30-40k ($38-$51k) dependent on how many hours I want to put in and I feel like I'm rolling in money... how come US salaries are all so high?
It's all relative. I don't know where in UK you are but you have to compare your salary to your expenses. In NY making 100k a year is a minimum wage because after taxes (fed, state and city) and your 4k a month rent you barely have enough to eat.
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If you live in one of the expensive areas in the U.S, which nowadays seems to be everywhere unless you move to Alabama, then a six-figure salary means nothing. It may seem a lot to some people outside of the U.S, but trust me, it is definitely not. The cheapest rents in these places are around $2,000 a month, and that will probably get you a studio. Homes are usually around $500,000 or more. A trip to the supermarket for your weekly shopping can definitely cost around $300-$400 for a normal size family. Don’t even let me mention the price of gas and everything else. By the time you pay everything, you’re basically left with nothing. It’s all relevant to location.
Yep. I live in one of the most expensive metros in the US. $2K will get you a studio, as you say. Not even a particularly nice one. Median house price is $1.4M. We easily spend $300 on a trip to the grocery store for my husband and I, no kids. Gas is $6/gallon. That $1.4M home is the kind of home my parents bought on just one salary earned by my father in a skilled blue collar trade with a good union job. Now, you need a household income of at least $200K to get in at the low end of the market with something like a small condo. Salaries do tend to be higher here, but the minimum wage is only $16. The median household income is around $130K, which will let you afford modest rent, but you're far from the property ladder. Unsurprisingly, the cost of housing is the ever present political conversation here.
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This made absolutely no sense. First, a vast number of jobs in DC are government. Second (but not as important) - how many of these people are tourists? When I lived in VA (the second time), half the people walking around were tourists.
Except for the per-hour salaries, these salaries all seem really high. Most of these people here would be classified as top 1%. (Africa).
All things are relative. The top 1% in the US earn more than we can ever imagine. The salaries here do not always equal the cost of living. For example, in NYC, a two bedroom apartment costs $4,500 to rent each month, and utilities, and even public transport is pricey. So one needs to pocket about $7,000 per month or more just to live. It’s why so many families have two working parents, and so many many folks have roommates.
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I like the transparency. No need to make a secret when we all want fair wages. Still it depends on the country and the city you live in. Also how many hours does one work and do they get other benefits etc.
Im from the UK and these seem really high! Are US salaries just higher in general?
I live in the states and these salaries are high. It seems no one retail, admin, etc.. was asked or represented here. DC is more expensive and we have to pay for health insurance but wages don't always reflect those factors.
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These are above average earnings in a lot of Canadian regions, like in the prairies where I am. I'm in Market Research, digging dirt and feedback from the customers of various big companies and, basically getting the brunt of their wrath. I made about $20,000 last year, which is the most I've ever made at this company. It's not enough to keep up with inflation and most jobs requiring a trades or university degree are about $30,000-$50,000 salaried jobs. It's not unusual for someone to be working multiple jobs or receiving supplemental income help while working. In Winnipeg, we're a small/mid sized city and pay just as much tax people in Toronto, a large city.
I think we need the state (or city's) average way and cost of living for these numbers to make sense.
I make about $275k/yr running my own business from home. It's all relative based upon what you do or are willing to do. I have friends making half a mil per year who aren't doctors or lawyers!! It's all about what the field of expertise is willing to pay.
Controller, NYC, $125K. I'm on the low end. Everyone hates accounting, but it pays well.
Some of these jobs pay the same as you would get at Panda Express... we should stop making things so expensive and pay people a little more smh
Most of these salaries would be considered as being VERY well off here in Sweden but then again, cost of living is probably cheaper here.
Sweden has the best social services in the world. No social services in thr US
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Some of these are so vague it's hard to compare and see if they're being paid low, average, or high for what they do. For example, those that just said 'government'... yeah, but doing what exactly? Same with things like IT.. it's such a broad catch all it could mean almost anything from 1st line support reading off a script, data entry, db admin, project management, or director. Some more granularity would have been useful for comparisons.
My spouse is a structural steel MIG welder that has been at the same place that is unionized for over ten years and makes a little over 23/hr.
I'm a journalist and always get a kick out of people who think I get paid big bucks from MSM corporations or bribes.😂
Is this gross or net? Here in the states there's a ginormous difference between the two . . .
the only way to keep these people honest is to stay hungry & move to a better paying job... since nobody pays annuity type retirement anymore, it can only help. You owe it to your bosses to step slowly on this one, give them notice you are underpaid, and then document it with comparable jobs in your area. The best notice of all is to show them an offer letter. Ask them to match the new pay amount. If they won't do that, leave. If you really are contributing something in that workplace, your expertise goes out the door with you. And they will have to invest to bring your replacement up to speed. Or better yet, if you really do have valuable skills, start your own company. I know people who hired themselves back into the companies they left for three time the pay. Kinda puts it into perspective, huh? The whole covid shutdown thing has really messed everything up in the job market. And if you don't realize it, check the stock market news. We are about to go into a major 2007-2008 style recession. The best strategy for now may to stay put and continue to be underpaid if you have a secure job. They may lay off 25% of the people if we go into the "Great Reset" recession of 2022-2023. A bad job will be preferable to no job and no prospects. So beware.
There is no context to this list. A generalized job description without specialties, experience, where you work...
Note to self: if ever moving to the states, apparently pick Washington DC.
But the flip side is everything costs more, especially housing.
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Okay like 85-90 percent of these people should be making way more than they are.
I make $17.60 an hour or about 36k a year working with medical telemetric systems. Hardware for heart monitors and the like.
They should definitely do this in other cities. And I don't mean NYC, SF or LA.
One of the things I absolutely love about the company I work for is their encouragement of transparency. They list what every position makes and the encourage everyone to publish on Glassdoor. Honestly refreshing after coming from many companies that tried to pretend this was illegal.
Are wages higher in the States because you have to pay health insurance etc? I was on £45k/$58k a year as a military officer and I thought that was good as my outgoings were minimal. But that looks low in comparison to these people.
Yes but also these living areas specifically are very very expensive. Those are not average wages for average people.
Load More Replies... Try doing this again at a Dollar General instead of an upscale shopping area.
You'll get some very high salaries outside of a place like that. Frugality knows no income bracket.
Load More Replies... My last job in the UK was £25k and I thought I was doing really well! (About $33k) My new job pays around £30-40k ($38-$51k) dependent on how many hours I want to put in and I feel like I'm rolling in money... how come US salaries are all so high?
It's all relative. I don't know where in UK you are but you have to compare your salary to your expenses. In NY making 100k a year is a minimum wage because after taxes (fed, state and city) and your 4k a month rent you barely have enough to eat.
Load More Replies... If you live in one of the expensive areas in the U.S, which nowadays seems to be everywhere unless you move to Alabama, then a six-figure salary means nothing. It may seem a lot to some people outside of the U.S, but trust me, it is definitely not. The cheapest rents in these places are around $2,000 a month, and that will probably get you a studio. Homes are usually around $500,000 or more. A trip to the supermarket for your weekly shopping can definitely cost around $300-$400 for a normal size family. Don’t even let me mention the price of gas and everything else. By the time you pay everything, you’re basically left with nothing. It’s all relevant to location.
Yep. I live in one of the most expensive metros in the US. $2K will get you a studio, as you say. Not even a particularly nice one. Median house price is $1.4M. We easily spend $300 on a trip to the grocery store for my husband and I, no kids. Gas is $6/gallon. That $1.4M home is the kind of home my parents bought on just one salary earned by my father in a skilled blue collar trade with a good union job. Now, you need a household income of at least $200K to get in at the low end of the market with something like a small condo. Salaries do tend to be higher here, but the minimum wage is only $16. The median household income is around $130K, which will let you afford modest rent, but you're far from the property ladder. Unsurprisingly, the cost of housing is the ever present political conversation here.
Load More Replies... This made absolutely no sense. First, a vast number of jobs in DC are government. Second (but not as important) - how many of these people are tourists? When I lived in VA (the second time), half the people walking around were tourists.
Except for the per-hour salaries, these salaries all seem really high. Most of these people here would be classified as top 1%. (Africa).
All things are relative. The top 1% in the US earn more than we can ever imagine. The salaries here do not always equal the cost of living. For example, in NYC, a two bedroom apartment costs $4,500 to rent each month, and utilities, and even public transport is pricey. So one needs to pocket about $7,000 per month or more just to live. It’s why so many families have two working parents, and so many many folks have roommates.
Load More Replies... I like the transparency. No need to make a secret when we all want fair wages. Still it depends on the country and the city you live in. Also how many hours does one work and do they get other benefits etc.
Im from the UK and these seem really high! Are US salaries just higher in general?
I live in the states and these salaries are high. It seems no one retail, admin, etc.. was asked or represented here. DC is more expensive and we have to pay for health insurance but wages don't always reflect those factors.
Load More Replies... These are above average earnings in a lot of Canadian regions, like in the prairies where I am. I'm in Market Research, digging dirt and feedback from the customers of various big companies and, basically getting the brunt of their wrath. I made about $20,000 last year, which is the most I've ever made at this company. It's not enough to keep up with inflation and most jobs requiring a trades or university degree are about $30,000-$50,000 salaried jobs. It's not unusual for someone to be working multiple jobs or receiving supplemental income help while working. In Winnipeg, we're a small/mid sized city and pay just as much tax people in Toronto, a large city.
I think we need the state (or city's) average way and cost of living for these numbers to make sense.
I make about $275k/yr running my own business from home. It's all relative based upon what you do or are willing to do. I have friends making half a mil per year who aren't doctors or lawyers!! It's all about what the field of expertise is willing to pay.
Controller, NYC, $125K. I'm on the low end. Everyone hates accounting, but it pays well.
Some of these jobs pay the same as you would get at Panda Express... we should stop making things so expensive and pay people a little more smh
Most of these salaries would be considered as being VERY well off here in Sweden but then again, cost of living is probably cheaper here.
Sweden has the best social services in the world. No social services in thr US
Load More Replies... Some of these are so vague it's hard to compare and see if they're being paid low, average, or high for what they do. For example, those that just said 'government'... yeah, but doing what exactly? Same with things like IT.. it's such a broad catch all it could mean almost anything from 1st line support reading off a script, data entry, db admin, project management, or director. Some more granularity would have been useful for comparisons.
My spouse is a structural steel MIG welder that has been at the same place that is unionized for over ten years and makes a little over 23/hr.
I'm a journalist and always get a kick out of people who think I get paid big bucks from MSM corporations or bribes.😂
Is this gross or net? Here in the states there's a ginormous difference between the two . . .
the only way to keep these people honest is to stay hungry & move to a better paying job... since nobody pays annuity type retirement anymore, it can only help. You owe it to your bosses to step slowly on this one, give them notice you are underpaid, and then document it with comparable jobs in your area. The best notice of all is to show them an offer letter. Ask them to match the new pay amount. If they won't do that, leave. If you really are contributing something in that workplace, your expertise goes out the door with you. And they will have to invest to bring your replacement up to speed. Or better yet, if you really do have valuable skills, start your own company. I know people who hired themselves back into the companies they left for three time the pay. Kinda puts it into perspective, huh? The whole covid shutdown thing has really messed everything up in the job market. And if you don't realize it, check the stock market news. We are about to go into a major 2007-2008 style recession. The best strategy for now may to stay put and continue to be underpaid if you have a secure job. They may lay off 25% of the people if we go into the "Great Reset" recession of 2022-2023. A bad job will be preferable to no job and no prospects. So beware.
There is no context to this list. A generalized job description without specialties, experience, where you work...
Note to self: if ever moving to the states, apparently pick Washington DC.
But the flip side is everything costs more, especially housing.
Load More Replies... Okay like 85-90 percent of these people should be making way more than they are.
I make $17.60 an hour or about 36k a year working with medical telemetric systems. Hardware for heart monitors and the like.
They should definitely do this in other cities. And I don't mean NYC, SF or LA.
One of the things I absolutely love about the company I work for is their encouragement of transparency. They list what every position makes and the encourage everyone to publish on Glassdoor. Honestly refreshing after coming from many companies that tried to pretend this was illegal.
Are wages higher in the States because you have to pay health insurance etc? I was on £45k/$58k a year as a military officer and I thought that was good as my outgoings were minimal. But that looks low in comparison to these people.
Yes but also these living areas specifically are very very expensive. Those are not average wages for average people.
Load More Replies...