People That Are Just Good At Getting High Salaries

[WhenWillILove]

Alright, I've noticed a trend, a phenomenon, or whatever....But I've noticed something.

And that is....There are some people who are very educated (i.e. Master's and beyond) who are making less than others who are less educated (Bachelor's, or less).

 

Take my boyfriend, for example. At 26, he earned 84k. Now, at 28, he's earning 87k. And he's in a higher management position. Others in his department, who've got PhDs, are earning 65k. And still, others, who've got the same degree he's got, are earning much less than he is.

 

A relative of mine, who graduated college with a GPA of 2.5 (maybe even less) is earning 90k now and is in a supervisor position.

 

A friend of mine, who failed 5 classes in college, and graduated with a mediocre degree, is now an MD.

 

Just kind of goes to show that grades aren't that much of a predictor when it comes to success.

 

I am starting to think that it's more of a personality that gets the big bucks than knowledge. And knowing somebody.

My boyfriend's really sociable and he just blends so well with people. He'll find talk even with a stranger and hit it off.

 

So....Insight?

[Seraphim]

Some people DO have the drive and mind to get somewhere. My mother graduated high school and that is all, by the time she was 35 or 36 she was the CEO of a company. Other people can have all the marks and intelligence and education in the world and still get no where. A lot of it is personality, emotional stability and drive.

[thejigsup]

I have a Master's but I didn't do it for the salary at all. Most people who go past the BA stage do it because they have a passion for what they do and needed the MA or MS to do it. Many of us earn less than people with BAs, but that is immaterial to us. I make enough to live on and have a little fun and I LOVE my job! Money is very important to me, but loving my job is more important to me. Why do some people with just a BA earn more than those with Master's degrees? Who knows? Seniority, job title, could be lots of things. I doubt they worry about it much.

[annie24]

it depends on your field. I have a phd and am making about $32 K a year. next year, i'm taking a position that will be $40K. small bucks don't mean lack of success! it depends on how you define success.

[Alezia]

Yes personality is a big thing. I'm probably one of the youngest people at my company to have that position but I am overall friendly, can show a good amount of leadership and take iniative. I've also done fairly well academically, so perhaps that is not the best example.

There are other older people who while are extremely technical and intelligent and much more experienced, will simply do the task that is required, and don't necesairly reach out during social events or generate new ideas. They don't usually get promoted as fast.

 

Though I come from a non-private sector, so there is no salary negotiation for the same position level. It's really based off of promotions. Perhaps in the private sector, some people are just better at negotiating salaries.

[annie24]

i do want to point out if you work in government, there are guidelines for how much you can get paid, etc... they can't give you a raise for being likeable. they can promote you though and get a higher paying salary.

[ut804]

ugh tell me about it. i have a MA degree, and yet I know people who dropped out of highschool who make more money than me! and it does depond on the field; i think i will never make much because I am in a "women's field".

[22n32]

its all about timing meeting the right oppurtuinty.. and who u know...

 

buddy never went to college but makes 75k a yr...

 

another buddy full college, made 55k but cant even get a job now..

[Seraphim]

I have a Master's but I didn't do it for the salary at all. Most people who go past the BA stage do it because they have a passion for what they do and needed the MA or MS to do it. Many of us earn less than people with BAs, but that is immaterial to us. I make enough to live on and have a little fun and I LOVE my job! Money is very important to me, but loving my job is more important to me. Why do some people with just a BA earn more than those with Master's degrees? Who knows? Seniority, job title, could be lots of things. I doubt they worry about it much.

 

It is true, my mom loved her job especially her time working as a regional manager much more than a CEO because she loved training and seeing people succeed. She started at the very bottom level of the company and became an area manager and then a regional manager, then Director of Sales and Training and then on up. The fact that she loved what she did moved her along fast.

[Ariel85]

And looks. It's also proven that attractive people earn more as well.

[oldenoughtoknow]

I don't think there is one right answer, and as the other posters have said, the path to success varies by industry. I do agree the old adage "it's not what you know, it's who you know," is generally alive and well. And if you extrapolate that to knowing people, not just based on your lineage, but by your personality and drive, it makes even more sense.

 

I know people with very little formal education that are wildly successful, but they have drive, people skills and common sense. I also know MBA's and PhD's that I wouldn't let wash my car - there would be mass dissension, it would take forever, cost a fortune, and the car would still be dirty when they were done. Not to mention the medical bills and ambulatory charges when they slipped in the soapy water. And of course, the pending law suit.

[22n32]

And looks. It's also proven that attractive people earn more as well.

 

sadly this is very true.. i dont think its all about looks.. u have to be quilifed..

 

but one company i work with, prob about 50 people there..

 

when i walk into the office all the people look like hitlers areon race...tall muscular guys, and gorgoues model type ladies...

 

 

i asked the ceo once.. i go look around are u running a business or model agency..

 

he told me, look costumers or potentinal clients.. respond better to good looking people..

 

i also noticed this with my highway patrolers.. anytime i see a car pulled over, the officer getting out is 6,5 hitler baby..

 

its an image there trying to potray.. ive never seen a 5,5 officer get outa car..

 

i think this is all unfair.. but this is how life goes sad..

 

i

[ApocalypseDreams]

In Australia, specifically the state I'm in, education has no real bearing on earning potential. A person here, with luck or the right connections, can get a job on a minesite and easily earn $80 000 or more (a couple of years back minesite food attendants were on about $80 000 dollars a year). Much more if they have a trade or have special skills such as shot firing or truck licenses.

 

My brother has a Phd in Oncology and has articles in a number of international medical journals. He works for the government and earns around $65 000 per year.

 

The idea that having a degree or being highly educated equals high pay here is a myth. If you want to earn BIG money here, get a trade or befriend people in specific circles.

[StrawberryYogurt]

Could be looks they know how to BS people, work really hard, or luck, or combo of all.

[johnnyp]

I've found that succeeding in a career (at least in terms of earning big bucks) is definitely all about personality, charisma, charm, hard work, initiative, great people skills, common sense and being prepared to go above and beyond in your role...and has almost nothing to do with education (unless you're a doctor or lawyer or something, obviously, but even then I think you'll do better than the other doctors and lawyers if you have the qualities I just listed).

 

Everyone I know that went to university and got degrees and masters degrees are all doing low paid jobs and have huge debts from their studies. And everyone I know that dropped out of school at 16 (myself included) are all earning huge salaries and have flashy, impressive looking jobs. In my case it's because I was prepared to start right at the bottom (well...I didn't really have a choice) and I never turned anything down. If my boss needed someone to do extra work, I was there. If he needed someone to work weekends to complete a project, I signed up. And everyone I met in the business, I charmed them, made a great impression and made sure they remembered me.

 

I see so many people that clock in at 9am and clock out at 5pm and never go above and beyond their role (always saying stuff like "that's not my responsibility...I'm not doing that") and then they complain when they never get a pay rise or promotion, while the hard working intern flies past them up the company ladder. As long as you're prepared to bust your a** to succeed and have a positive, helpful and 'can-do' attitude, I've found it goes a lot further than just having a piece of paper that says you passed a test.

 

And I disagree that having good looks gets you further. Of course it obviously helps you to make a great first impression but then if you're no good at your job and have no charm or personality you still won't get anywhere. I've seen MANY less than good-looking people earn huge salaries. All CEO's, COO's, MD's etc that Ive met have not been good looking.

 

But if you're good-looking, charming, hard working AND have a masters degree, then you've got the golden ticket

[Doofus]

One of the things I did learn in school is this: Data is not the plural of anecdote. Here's a page with actual data from the US Census:

link removed

 

Yes, there are really attractive, charismatic but poorly educated people who make big bank. Not as many as the reverse, though.

[WhenWillILove]

One of the things I did learn in school is this: Data is not the plural of anecdote. Here's a page with actual data from the US Census:

link removed

 

Yes, there are really attractive, charismatic but poorly educated people who make big bank. Not as many as the reverse, though.

 

Yes, but that's a generalization. Not everyone is a Mark Zuckerberg.

[Firiel]

Some people are just wonderful at making connections and making impressions-- and then following through with them. My husband will never make a lot of money (he's not in a field known for the salaries!), but as of this summer when he still had a year of his undergrad left, he had three or four job offers. He's good at what he does and goes above and beyond the call of duty. And he a great people person. He's also really just your average joe when it comes to looks... he's not a super fit, ripped guy or anything.

 

Me? I was working as a janitor after graduating with a 3.97 GPA from a good college. Some people are just really talented at finding jobs and/or finding jobs that pay well.

[Princess123]

Sometimes I think its about who you know. If you want to model you have the red carpet if you know someone. I had a friend who didn't finish high school and was 20. While at his pizza delivery job he was very personable and talked to a customer who happened to own this company and hired him on. He makes a lot. Very close to getting 6 figures. But he has the smarts in technology for this job although no education. Skills and who you know.

 

If you love your job you will succeed and want to go further than a person who is feeling stuck and not liking theirs.

[jobstrategist]

And looks. It's also proven that attractive people earn more as well.

 

 

Not true at all, i seen a lot of unattractive men and women in my 15 years of working who made nice salaries.

[sony78]

It's all about the drive my other half has the degree and the masters he earns about 250k us and he's only 30. He's not a manager but a developer. A very good one he works in an industry that pays well and he knows his worth based on his skill set.

 

He studies and does what he has to and he's good at it. But if he didn't study then he wouldn't be as good developer.

[TheVP]

A lot of it depends on the job you are applying for. If you are trying to get a job as a scientist, you probably won't get far with a 2.0 GPA.

 

The sales department is completely different. I know a lot of sales reps that do well over 100K a year, and they are all the types that spent their college time socializing and throwing parties.

 

A good GPA is nice for your first out of college job, but no one cares about it 5 years or less afterwards.

[Lonewing]

One thing I learned about education is that it is a cleaverly packaged gambit sold to the intelligent people by the smart people. The difference between the two? Smart people know how to use what they have to get what they want from others. If you give an intelligent person data and ask them to analysze it, and slant the data towards what the popular conception is, you can convince the intelligent person that whatever the data says really is true - even if it's only popular myth.

 

The Smartest people would be your political leaders in all capacity - be they in office, business, or even theology. They are the ones who have convinced the masses that not only is their platform the Right way to think and act, but they have also conviced many to part from their resoruces to advance the cause - even if the money isn't exactly going to "the cause" as it's advertised!

[bichin]

People who believe in themselves take more risks and therefore stand to gain more rewards. The difference between a risk that ends in a loss vs. one that ends in a gain is whether ability is sufficiently applied to opportunity. There are always opportunities available. Believe in yourself, create or recognize opportunity, and apply your ability as creatively and diligently as possible. If your current endeavor is not rewarding you sufficiently find one that will. People who refuse to settle for less earn more, emphasis on earn.

[Lonewing]

People who believe in themselves take more risks and therefore stand to gain more rewards. The difference between a risk that ends in a loss vs. one that ends in a gain is whether ability is sufficiently applied to opportunity. There are always opportunities available. Believe in yourself, create or recognize opportunity, and apply your ability as creatively and diligently as possible. If your current endeavor is not rewarding you sufficiently find one that will. People who refuse to settle for less earn more, emphasis on earn.

 

No. The difference between a hero and a fool is success. One has it and the other does not.

 

The amount of risk taken, the difference in ability, the opportunity itself - it really all comes down to serendipity. Luck. Granted, someone who is better prepared can make better luck more likely for themselves, but in the end, it's still Luck.

 

One of my early jobs came about because my boss was hiring that day - and when I say hiring, I mean anybody with a pulse. I got the job because I stuck around for ten minutes after class and put my information down. Luck.

 

I know a whole lot of people who refuse to settle for less in life - and they are single, unemployed, and by and large unsatisfied with their life...while dreaming away about that wonderful life they should be living if only they were wealthy...