HN Explorer

Reminder to check what your previous salaries were, adjusted for inflation

39 points by epicureanideal ↗ HN
https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm

You might be surprised to find out that you used to make more in the past.

200K in Jan 2020 would be 230K in Oct 2022, for example.

It may be worthwhile to keep in mind your previous salaries, adjusted for inflation, when negotiating compensation for new roles.

(And then of course, if you've increased your skills, experience, training, and so on since then, likely it would be reasonable to try to get an increase.)

18 comments

[ 1.1 ms ] story [ 51.8 ms ] thread
musk_micropenis
Ugh I wish I hadn't checked. There's very little chance I'll get a raise but my salary has effectively gone backwards, significantly.
epicureanideal
At least you know it would be reasonable to negotiate for the equivalent or more.
the_only_law
My salary has generally progressed but with a recent layoff I thing I going to be stuck taking one step forward and two steps back even with a new job.
danuker
If you can't get an increase, get a counteroffer.
082349872349872
Don't forget the perks as well: for instance, back in the day we all used to have offices with walls and doors.
sema4hacker
My first job as a programmer was in 1976/77 for a consulting shop for $17,726 = $90,300 now. Then I worked for a CRT terminal manufacturer... 1978: $19,568 = $93,304 now, 1979: $25,667 = $111,997 now, 1980: $33,164 = $127,034 now, 1981: $41,642 = $142,641 now. Then I started my own software company and became self-employed until retirement.
compumike
While negotiating your own individual salary is one thing, from a macroeconomic perspective, doesn’t the taming of inflation require avoiding a price/wage spiral? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wage-price_spiral And doesn’t that imply using the stickiness of nominal wages to effectively reduce real wages?
nerdponx
The recent inflation has kind of wiped out my salary increase from changing jobs. I'm now only about $10k up from where I used to be. This is a good reminder to stop being a submissive baby and actually negotiate a legitimate raise in the coming year.
WWLink
Looking at this, my salary has gone up faster than inflation, but not much. Like I make 10k more now than I did 4 years ago. Ouch.
MauroIksem
I make about 10k less now than I did 4 years years ago.
kjellsbells
Any tips for managers in big orgs here? If you have an employee asking for X%, but you are just a lowly first line manager, your chances of getting them that raise would seem to be essentially zero. You go to your manager or your skip and plead your case but you get denied. What do you do next? How do you maintain morale and engagement from the employee?

Logically, the employee needs to decide at this point whether to vote with their feet or suck it up. If the job market is hot they will go and you lose a valuable team member. If it isnt they stay and may feel resentful.

dontbenebby
What previous salaries? I’ve had a perpetual issue folks would only connect me with cleared roles or nonprofits, then had violent toddler like reactions when I pointed out as COVID fell I’ve never had a security clearance and could get on a one way plane ticket with my galaxy brain and Star Alliance points.

I’ve given up on using my technical skills and later this week plan to try to find a local restaurant where dishwashers get tipped out because I lack customer service skills to save up for emigration.