Imagine if someone came up to you and started talking about money: "Hello, good to meet you. What do you do for a living? Oh, that sounds interesting. How much do you make? Do you get a pension? Are you investing in the stock market? You are? Great! What mutual funds and stocks do you own? Wait, you're not diversified? Let me tell you what you need to do!"

A dialogue like that could unlock all sorts of promising insights and opportunities. But at the same time, it sounds almost impossible. We've come to a point where it's generally considered inappropriate or even rude to discuss your income. In an attempt to change that, Redditor u/BigPlunk asked other platform users, "What is your job and how much do you get paid?"

Surprisingly, many of them replied! Gotta love the transparency and honesty of some people.

#1

I’m a bum and get $120 a week donating plasma, but plot twist I have an interview at the plasma place tomorrow.

Update: I went to the interview, they called and asked to push it back to 3pm which was completely fine as they had gotten their truck in. The interview went well, and I answered the questions as best as I could. They said it would be full time Monday-Friday 1pm-9:30pm and every other weekend 6am-4:30pm starting at $13-14 an hour. I hope to hear back from them in the next few days, as they mentioned getting my ID, Social Security Card, and High School Diploma so they could make copies.

Image credits: Meckles94

#2

I do research with brain cells, HIV, cocaine, and fentanyl. $29,500/year aka ~$14/hr. Yes I'm sad that this is what a Master's degree got me.

Image credits: chicken--jesus

#3

NYC roll off dumpster driver under a Teamster union contract. $40 an hour in January + medical and pension paid 100% by my employer. There’s guaranteed overtime too, so gross around $130k + the other perks. We also get a 100k severance payout the day we retire. I have a bachelors in business, but fell in love with being outside all day. I also sell scrap metal if I can collect it and I have a thriving eBay business from other things I find in the dumpsters. Made another 20-25k doing that on the side.

Image credits: fin425

#4

I’m a farmer. My earnings are flirting with the breadline, but I have very little bills and my life is overall very happy and fulfilling

Image credits: LaFilleDuMoulinier

#5

I'm a teacher in Zimbabwe. I make $150 (USD) per month. $150 is not enough. We’re just living day by day.

Image credits: DaddyMyaMilan

#6

UPS package sorter at a warehouse, 22$ an hour plus time and a half pay for anything over 5 hour shift in a single day (so for example one shift is 5 hours if I work two shifts in a row the second one would be 33$ an hour)

Unlimited overtime too so if I really really wanted to I could triple shift everyday for an entire week (that would be like 15 hours straight everyday working though) and get a months worth of money in a single check

Image credits: Negativ_Monarch

#7

I work at a recycling plant, I get $35 an hour to stand at a conveyer belt picking out glass

Image credits: brandos__

#8

Emt 15/hr

Edit: u guys need to realize, I’m on the high end. 15/hr is starting wage here and that’s freaking nuts. I seriously met a guy who worked 20+ years as an advanced EMT over in Tennessee and he was legit making 10.50 an hour. The dude was 48 on, 24 off.

Actually y’all think I’m doing rough? Check out wildland firefighters haha

Image credits: Roger_Stingingson

#9

I am a paraprofessional in an elementary school. I spend most of my time in a self contained Kindergarten - 5th grade classroom of mostly "non verbal" students with autism. (Occasionally I float to other classrooms) I make around 20k a year. I love my job, but the pay is insulting.

Image credits: SignificantBoot7180

#10

Officer on a container ship work about 6 months out of the year and make about 120k. For the most part my job is looking out a window at some waves.

Image credits: kevinkap414

#11

Damn. Reading some of these posts of people with really important jobs with very fancy degrees makes me feel drastically overpaid. I’m a dog walker/pet sitter/Gal Friday. $25-$50/hr. I average about 75k a year. Wear yoga pants and t-shirts to work every day, listen to my AirPods and do my Pimsleur while working, leave time in the middle of the day between my appointments for my violin/cello lessons each week, and am usually stoned most of the day. Love my job. No real benefits so paying for those myself eats into my profit margin, but the total lack of stress or any type of management for my line of work totally makes up for it. I honestly don’t feel like I work. It feels like I wake up and f**k around all day for really good money.

Image credits: Snoo33903

#12

Entrepreneur, negative 10k per year

Image credits: Key_Interaction6305

#13

carpenter here, 67$ an hour with including my benefits.

Image credits: manicdubb

#14

Air Ambulance Pilot (helicopter). $80k a year.

Image credits: FodderOfCannons

#15

Private jet captain. Varies with overtime, but this year will be around $360k.

Image credits: CL350S

#16

Licensed Nursing Assistant for a Home Care Agency- $13.50/hr. It’s embarrassingly underpaid, but the girl I take care of is so incredibly sweet (18F with cerebral palsy - nonverbal). Being able to help her and her family out means more to me than my actual paycheck.

Image credits: mrsfighooton

#17

i just started a new job as a software engineer with 384k total comp. to be honest i don’t really know what to do with most of my money besides caring for my aging parents and saving. i feel very lucky and privileged to be here.

Image credits: _Saxpy

#18

Underwater Welder. 296k annually.

Image credits: Psychotic_Precision

#19

I work in a steel mill that heats steel bars to a certain hardness. I get paid 18$ an hour and so far we haven’t had anyone die for a year (that’s a record)

Image credits: cashbabyflow

#20

Master of the custodial arts. $17.50/h.

Image credits: nurdboy42

#21

13 year old here, I take out the trash and take out of the dishwasher at home and get paid 78 dollars a month or 936 dollars a year by my mom.

Image credits: Deddenei

#22

Artificial intelligence/computer vision. About $230k.

Image credits: Horror-Limit-6670

#23

Vet tech, $15/hr in Utah. Getting a raise later this month tho!

Image credits: Grin_nbearit

#24

Inspect nuclear reactors under contract, ~$100k/yr but only work 10 weeks a year

Image credits: ronm4c

#25

I’m a line cook / manager for a busy restaurant, and I get paid $19 an hour +tip share + profit share from two recipes of mine on the menu.

Image credits: [deleted]

#26

I’m an English teacher in charity organization. 6$/h

Image credits: thegreatnightfall

#27

I work at a small tech company doing any random thing they want. I make 90k.

Image credits: Juju0047

#28

Senior IT analyst, a little under $100k. Not bad for a GED recipient.

#29

Paraprofessional at an elementary school in a classroom with students who have autism. I get paid $19.70 an hour plus a $70 monthly stipend for helping the kids with toilet duties.

Image credits: kittypac

#30

Air Traffic Controller. Around $100k

Image credits: ATC_av8er

#31

Medical Coder - make $31/hr, about 65k annually.

Image credits: PM_Daddy_Bellies

#32

School Psychologist for public schools. $125,000 for 180 days. Full benefits and retirement. Never ending professional development for licensure renewal. Took me 35 years to get this salary. Started at $40,000 in 1986. Public educators are on a graduated pay scale.

#33

I’m a lab analyst for a microbiology lab, doing sample testing and environmental monitoring in a germ-free environment where hospital drugs are made. I make $18 an hour. Not bad, but the stress of the job combined with the fact that it’s on the low end of the wage of these sort of jobs means I’m looking for other options.

#34

Freelance Video Editor. $500-$600/day. "Bad" year I make 40-50k per year. Great year are 95k-110K.

Image credits: HorsFaceKilla

#35

EMT/Security for a tribal casino, graveyard shift, $18/hr. I've seen things you wouldn't believe.

#36

Here, this’ll surprise some folks: I’m a librarian (hence the user name), and I earn right around $100K with full benefits.

But I’m in the Bay Area, and that’s with a Master’s Degree + 15 years of experience. So it’s not all that impressive in context.

#37

Professor, Stem. ~$85-105k per year depending on grants I bring in.

Image credits: eggplant_wizard12

#38

Drive yard truck for Walmart. Make 10k a month or 120k a year

#39

Finance, basically Excel for a living. 95k$ per year taxes and health insurance already deducted.

#40

CDL truck driver doing rolloff dumpsters for $20/hr

Image credits: 01XterraPhilly

#41

I'm head of HR and Finances at a national political party (non-US). I make about 60k a year (before taxes).

Might take up walking dogs as a side gig, after reading this thread.

#42

I do whatever needs to be done around the warehouse that doesn't require a forklift. $19/hour

Image credits: Ronyx2021

#43

Union journeyman plumber/pipefitter $46.33 an hour.

#44

Massage therapist /esthetician $22hr at my job. $100hr working for myself.

#45

Aircraft Cleaner, $17/hr + free flights :D it’s a pretty fun job I enjoy it

#46

Front end Web developer. Between my job and side business coding small business websites I do about $120k a year. Hoping to double that by next year.

#47

Cyber security advisor three years in. 141k.

#48

Street Magician. It depends, location and season are the biggest factors. I can make anywhere from $300-$3k a week.

#49

Restaurant Manager for a well known “Breasturant”…$75k base salary and $20-$25k in annual bonuses

Image credits: Tseago116

#50

Disabled Veteran 30k a year

#51

Substitute Teacher, $40.57 an hour

#52

Wendy’s Crew Member, $9 normal hours, $10 when I close. If I become an ambassador I could make $12 an hour but that’s a lot of work. I work the grill usually and they say I’m the best at it not including the managers and one of the ambassadors.

#53

Senior Hardware engineer for a tech company. Everything said and done I’ll make about 270k this year including benefits.

#54

Professional Theatre Actress. Current job $568 a week before taxes.

#55

I work factory for a smaller company that makes mcdonald’s buns i’m quality control. 60k yr

#56

Design - $100/hr - websites, art direction for marketing campaigns, all contract work currently so it’s either a feast or a famine

#57

Walmart stocker, $15/hour, about $20,000 a year.

Image credits: DontShowMomMemes

#58

Third mate on an oil tanker. $95k-100k per year

#59

Agency (travel) nurse $81.50/hr, $130/hr OT

#60

Nightclub Director. Las Vegas. 100k base. 100k tip pool. 150k performance bonus.

And the other perks

#61

Litigator. $225k

#62

Custodian $24/hr government/ union job with benefits and pension.

#63

Strip Club DJ. Gross around $65k doing three nights a week.

#64

Dental assistant $30/hr

#65

Project Manager in the wireless telecommunications industry and I make $95k a year. I live in the Northern California area.

I also am a part time horse photographer (because I love it) and I make an additional $20-25k at that.

Image credits: darkbay

#66

Sustainability consultant, 40k.

It's an entry-level position I got right after graduating. I mostly do life cycle assessment and environmental impact assessment. Very fulfilling job but also pretty stressful.

#67

Manager of a Cannabis Dispensary $17hr

#68

Welder- $25 hourly

Hopefully I can up that wage when I start working union soon.

#69

Paramedic in the UK

£17.50ish/hr after shift overruns and unsocial hours pay I make in the neighbourhood of £43,000 per annum.

#70

Meat manager salaried at 77k + bonuses.

#71

Virtual assistant $4 an hour

#72

Chipotle GM, 58k/year

#73

Toddler lead teacher. Just got a raise from 9.65 (minimum wage) to 10.50 but not because I’m valued, because we’re so severely understaffed and everyone that walks through walks right back out once they learn how low the wage is. Don’t blame them one bit.

#74

English prof, 45k and I teach 4 different classes each semester, supervise MA students, do research, and serve on a bunch of committees/do service for the university. :(

#75

Malware analyst. $125k

#76

Oil refinery guy, 150k/yr; union job; 401k and pension; good benefits.

#77

Nuclear plant electrician 50 an hour, 130-150k a year depending on Ot/bonus. Moving into an operations role in the plant soon

#78

Software engineer, $133k/yr not factoring in bonus and discounted stock

#79

Data analyst. 65k annually.

#80

I'm a university student and I have a part-time job as a lifeguard. I get paid $23 an hour which is pretty good.

#81

$26.51/hr OT at $46/hr after 76hrs fortnightly.

What do I do? Milk cows and act as a farm hand doing what ever the owners of the dairy want.

What's funny is besides the owners wife, my partner and I are the only ones here tht have a professional degree and have any business experience.

Will miss the money when my visa runs outs and I have to go home.

#82

Actuary. About 110k base before bonus.

#83

Electrical substation design engineer. $126,000/year