• FREE RESOURCES
  • PREMIUM CONTENT
        • SEE MORE
          PREMIUM RESOURCES
  • HR DEEP DIVES
        • Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for HR Professionals
          Employment Law
          Labor Law Posting Requirements: Everything You Need to Know
          Recruiting
          businesswoman selecting future employees on digital interfaces
          Recruiting Resources for HR & Hiring Managers
          Performance Management
          vector image of young female making star rating
          Performance Review Resources
          Employment Law
          Understanding Equal Employment Opportunity and the EEOC
          Recruiting
          Onboarding Resources for HR & Hiring Managers
  • CORONAVIRUS & HR

  • LOGIN
  • SIGN UP FREE

HR Morning

  • FREE RESOURCES
  • PREMIUM CONTENT
        • SEE MORE
          PREMIUM RESOURCES
  • HR DEEP DIVES
        • Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for HR Professionals
          Employment Law
          Labor Law Posting Requirements: Everything You Need to Know
          Recruiting
          businesswoman selecting future employees on digital interfaces
          Recruiting Resources for HR & Hiring Managers
          Performance Management
          vector image of young female making star rating
          Performance Review Resources
          Employment Law
          Understanding Equal Employment Opportunity and the EEOC
          Recruiting
          Onboarding Resources for HR & Hiring Managers
  • CORONAVIRUS & HR
  • Employment Law
  • Benefits
  • Recruiting
  • Talent Management
  • Performance Management
  • HR Technology
  • More
    • Leadership & Strategy
    • Compensation
    • Staff Administration
    • Policy & Procedures
    • Wellness
    • Staff Departure
    • Employee Services
    • Work Location
    • HR Career & Self-Care
    • Health Care
    • Retirement Plans

How much do employees need to earn to feel successful?

Christian Schappel
by Christian Schappel
July 30, 2014
2 minute read
  • SHARE ON

If you asked HR pros what employees would need to make to feel successful, most would probably answer $100,000 or more. But the good news for employers is: That number is actually much lower.

The majority of Americans said they’d feel successful making less than $70,000, according to a new salary survey from CareerBuilder conducted by Harris Poll.
The goal of the survey was to identify two things:

  • The salary level at which employees would feel successful, and
  • How many people are actually earning their desired salary.

The two aren’t necessarily the same, and the survey fielded answers from 3,372 full-time workers.

Feeling successful

Here’s how the numbers broke down in terms of what employees needed to make to feel successful:

  • Under $50,000 — 25% of employees said that’s what it would take for them to feel successful.
  • Between $50,000 and $69,999 — 30%.
  • Between $70,000 and $99,999 — 23%.
  • Between $100,000 and $149,999 — 15%.
  • Between $150,000 and $199,999 — 4%.
  • More than $200,000 — 4%.

(Numbers don’t add up to 100% due to rounding.)
This may strike many employers as good news, as they’re probably likely paying employees closer to their “success” level than they originally thought.
Unfortunately, this is where the good news comes to a grinding halt.

Not getting desired pay

While employees may be closer to feeling successful than you originally thought (at least as far as compensation goes), the majority are still not getting paid the salary they desire.
In fact, just 35% said they’re getting paid their desired salary.
Here’s how the numbers broke down in terms of who’s earning their desired salary:

  • Of those making less than $50,000 — only 23% said they’re making their desired salary.
  • Of those making between $50,000 and $75,000 — just 39% have hit their salary target.
  • Of those making between $75,000 and $100,000 — 56% have hit their target.

From there, the amount hitting their desired target naturally continues to escalate.
The survey results also suggest what employees should do if they’re not happy with their current salaries: Ask for a raise. It found that 66% of workers who asked for a raise actually received one. But the majority of workers — 56% — have failed to do so.

Pay transparency: Good or bad?

The survey also polled HR pros to get their thoughts on pay transparency — and 2,188 responded.
Their views on openly disclosing salaries across the workforce:

  • 53% view it as a bad idea — saying it sparks jealousy and morale issues, and it violates worker privacy.
  • 47% view it as a good idea — saying it ensures pay equality and dispels wrong assumptions.

Get the latest from HRMorning in your inbox PLUS immediately access 10 FREE HR guides.

I WANT MY FREE GUIDES

Keep Up To Date with the Latest HR News

With HRMorning arriving in your inbox, you will never miss critical stories on labor laws, benefits, retention and onboarding strategies.

Sign up for a free HRMorning membership and get our newsletter!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
HR Morning Logo
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linked In
  • ABOUT HRMORNING
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • WRITE FOR US
  • CONTACT
  • Employment Law
  • Benefits
  • Recruiting
  • Talent Management
  • HR Technology
  • Performance Management
  • Leadership & Strategy
  • Compensation & Payroll
  • Policy & Culture
  • Staff Administration
  • Wellness & Safety
  • Staff Departure
  • Employee Services
  • Work Location
  • HR Career & Self-Care

HRMorning, part of the SuccessFuel Network, provides the latest HR and employment law news for HR professionals in the trenches of small-to-medium-sized businesses. Rather than simply regurgitating the day’s headlines, HRMorning delivers actionable insights, helping HR execs understand what HR trends mean to their business.

Privacy Policy Terms of Service
Copyright © 2021 SuccessFuel

WELCOME BACK!

Enter your username and password below to log in

Forget Your Username or Password?

Reset Password

Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.

Log In

During your free trial, you can cancel at any time with a single click on your “Account” page.  It’s that easy.

Why do we need your credit card for a free trial?

We ask for your credit card to allow your subscription to continue should you decide to keep your membership beyond the free trial period.  This prevents any interruption of content access.

Your card will not be charged at any point during your 21 day free trial
and you may cancel at any time during your free trial.

preloader