Why you should ALWAYS talk about your salary.

idk what everyones opinion is on this but I am a BIG fan of talking about salaries. Especially with co workers. Here is my story of why.


before i got in to ENT sales by base was $65k.


I got my first ENT sales role and my base $85k.


The next year i got a raise to $95K then the company gave "inflation raises" (pretty cool!) and I was sitting at $105K. I was pretty pumped about it!


I knew my boss was making at least 25K more than me but I wasn't bothered by it since he was in leadership. But then I got the vibe that my co worker (who was a female, and a few years older than me) was making much more than I was.


we had been talking about comp and stuff and base salary came up.


I was super nervous to ask her what she was making but I knew that if she was making ALOT more than me, I was going to be pissed.


turns out I was right, she was making $125k while I was at $105K. same role.

My results were for sure better than hers as well.

I was PISSED. not at her, let me be clear. she did a GREAT job getting that pay and its ALWAYS up to YOU to negotiate your pay.


But i was pissed that I had not done a better job.


By that point my boss had quit and the VP was my boss now. He did not think there was an issue and played the whole "she has more experience" card. which i hate.


But now i had the info i needed.


I knew what my experience was worth.


I decided to leave that company (for more than just comp reasons) and found an org that told me they REALLY valued my experience. so i came in at what I thought was a stupid high number. $150K base. They did not give me that, but they did give me the $130K im at now and a $25k sign on bonus.


I would NEVER have been able to do this if I didnt talk about salaries with coworkers.


I hope other ppl have success stories like this?

๐Ÿ’ฐ Compensation
26
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
4
Sales Rep
So I am actually in the opposite spot. I know I am paid more than other reps. And I have kept that information to myself. Came in externally and was able to have a lot more negotiating power. I do have a higher quota, so I kinda feel like it evens out.

However, I am hoping to negotiate at the start of the FY and am trying to think of ways to deal with the objections of am already paid more than other reps.
TennisandSales
Politicker
1
Head Of Sales
nice! do you have any insight on if you are at the max of what the industry pays? or just higher than everyone else? its always harder to negotiate when you are at the top, but still possible
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
1
Sales Rep
I know we are on the low to medium for Mid Market SaaS given quick searches on RepVue/Glassdoor, but I am 99% sure I am the highest paid on the team. (Just one person I am not sure about their comp) Everyone shared their quota which showed their base. I sent a screen shot of just the quota, not showing my base.

I know it will be an up-hill battle to negotiate for more, so I am building the "business case"
TennisandSales
Politicker
1
Head Of Sales
nice! keep us posted on how that goes! im really interested.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
4
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
Thank you so much for sharing this! It was instrumental. I went through similar at my last job, where I actually got valid salary bands out of HR.

Story: during the dotcom era, there were four of us on a sales team. 2 women, 2 men. All with comparable experience. A little more than a year in, my female colleague was issued a new work computer where the drive hadnโ€™t been wiped. It had belonged to someone in payroll. There was a spreadsheet of salaries. The 2 male reps were getting $20k more than she and I were. After the initial outrage, we got that addressed toot suite. Unbelievable.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
4
๐ŸฆŠ
Still happens now. There are no words for the rage this causes me.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
We were shocked that it happened at all about 20 years ago. It turns out theyโ€™d had us assigned differently - inside vs outside - but we all did exactly the same thing and the same amount of travel and it just wasnโ€™t caught until we got the spreadsheet. It was remedied immediately, with apologies, for what thatโ€™s worth, but the amount of anger and disappointment we both felt was awful.
Gasty
Notable Contributor
4
War Room Community Manager
Not the first time I'm hearing a story like this. Not the first time I'm disheartened with the system after hearing a story like this.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
Itโ€™s been a long time, but yes, we were shocked. Iโ€™ve straight up asked since then, and nothing like that has ever happened again.
TennisandSales
Politicker
2
Head Of Sales
WOW! that is so wild
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
It hadnโ€™t crossed my mind for a while. I remembered when reading your post. Really, people should be asking.
SticksAreUnbelievable
Valued Contributor
0
ADR (Account Development Rep) Sales Representative
First of all what idiot didnโ€™t wipe the computer?
Secondly,finding the information is so incredibly disheartening - that kind of stuff goes on ALL the time and makes good employees start questioning the integrity of everything.

Good for you guys for acting on it and getting what you deserve. <3
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
You simply donโ€™t mess with my former colleague and current friend.
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
3
Bravado's Resident Asshole
No, but I will moving forward. Thanks for the insight
butwhy
Politicker
3
Solutions Engineer
I have made it a point to have a very direct conversation about salaries with other SEs, especially younger ones. I don't know what happened in the world where all of a sudden our QUOTA CARRYING position was supposed to be in it for the tech and not the money. Such bs, and as a result, I have met so many that have no idea what their base salary should be or how to push for a starting bonus.
TennisandSales
Politicker
1
Head Of Sales
yep. companies are still trying to keep their employees in the dark. Sometimes its on purpose and sometimes its not.

some one told me 20s are for learning and 30s are for earning. ive FOR SURE found that to be true haha.

gotta learn as much as possible so you can earn as much as possible.....just gotta know what to learn
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
๐ŸฆŠ
You're right. I'm sick of the fucking reindeer games. Good for you on finding someone that values you!
TennisandSales
Politicker
1
Head Of Sales
๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ
SaaSsy
Politicker
3
AE
๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผtook me far too long to learn this and Iโ€™ve been on both sides of pay (under and over my colleagues). Itโ€™s shocking to me how many people get uncomfortable talking about this still because it really does overall help everyone get into a better spot.
TennisandSales
Politicker
1
Head Of Sales
yes. I think some people are scared to talk about it because they think that if they tell you they make more than you, that THEY will have their pay reduced. which i have NEVER heard of actually happening haha
SaaSsy
Politicker
2
AE
Exactly, power to the people
ChickenWings
Opinionated
3
Tom Callahan's Son
Being able to comfortably talk about salary with peers has taught me a lot about pay plan strategy in general.

I have always come in hot trying to get the highest base/OTE possible.
This year, I quickly found myself making more money than I have in my careerโ€ฆbut with high expectations and a mountain to climb while still figuring out a new industry.

A referral I brought in was happy taking a smaller base/OTE (therefore, quota) than me.
Ending the year, his attainment is far better than mine. He is hitting accelators. He looks better on paper to higher levels of mgmt.

Something to consider. Iโ€™m all about getting that paper, but understanding the entire pay plan is key.
TennisandSales
Politicker
0
Head Of Sales
this is so important.

GREAT points.

the base salary is never the only factor.

each person needs to determine what comp plan would be best for them.

.
Pachacuti
Politicker
3
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
I know I'm paid more than my counterparts - I'm good at selling myself and negotiating. I don't want to share what I make with them cause of the problems I know it will cause.
Gasty
Notable Contributor
1
War Room Community Manager
as much as i agree with @TennisandSales's post, hard to disagree with this โ˜๏ธ
TennisandSales
Politicker
1
Head Of Sales
i totally get this! and i need to be clear: I am NOT mad at ppl that made more money than me, if you are doing well that is NOT a bad thing you deserve that.

i wont ever FORCE someone to tell me what THEY make.

I am always going to be open if ppl ask me though.

I think about how much its helped my career and how much it could help other ppls career.

I would never WANT problems to be caused but i also want ppl to be empowered.

Again, you are not a bad person for not wanting to share your salary i totally respect that. i just think there is a TON of value if you share it (in the right setting of course, im not saying you need to start telling everyone what you make all the time.)
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
1
Rolling 20's all day
Thanks for sharing. It's true that you only get what you ask for, and all the times I haven't asked I've regretted it. Live and learn!
TennisandSales
Politicker
0
Head Of Sales
yep! i remember when i took my first SDR job, it was the first base salary i ever had. it was $35k.

I was PUMPED. i had no idea, you could just go "actually im looking for $45K based on XY and Z" and the company could just give you $10k m0re.

i found this out when my coworker and friend of mine, shared he was making $45k. THATS when i realized ill never let that mistake happen again.

AGAIN: I WOULD NEVER HAVE FOUND THIS OUT UNLESS HE TOLD ME WHAT HE MADE
BlueJays2591
Politicker
1
Federal Business Dev Director
I've been paid more than other reps and don't bring that up. Usually doesn't go over very well
TennisandSales
Politicker
1
Head Of Sales
yeah you need to be aware of the context. if a bunch of sales reps are just talking shit and start sharing comp and you have the highest, its not going to go over well.

but if you are having a legit conversation with someone who wants help and is trying to learn, this info could be helpful to open their eyes on what is possible.

context is KEY
BlueJays2591
Politicker
0
Federal Business Dev Director
Very good point. I never bring it up during shit talk but for helping people learn, I allude to a higher amount but never give exact dollar amounts
SirAlex
Valued Contributor
1
Account Executive
Great thread!

How do you manage to bring it up with coworkers? I ask because I am one of the last hires on the team and pretty sure with the highest base. I want my team to know how much is possible for them as I get along real well with the team but have never felt fully comfortable openly sharing the info.
TennisandSales
Politicker
0
Head Of Sales
ok so this is a great question! I would first make sure you think through "am i wanting to share to be helpful? or brag?" sometimes those lines are blurry haha.

BUT i would save this conversation until a time where ppl can DO something about it. which is normally this time of year so BOOM.

if it comes up, i would ask your coworkers if they are asking for a raise this year
- how much are they asking for?
-what is their approach
- ect.

if its something they need helps with share your experience with getting to your base. you may not even need to share the number.
dealdaddy87
1
CEO & Founder
I disagree with the headline but I think you made the right move jumping ship if it was about more than just base salary.

As for disclosing salaries, if you need to benchmark just go and talk to recruiters about what the going rate is for someone like yourself.

Doesn't matter what your company wants to pay you or even your peers, what matters is what the market wants to pay for you.

PSA - If not already obvious from the past 6 months, of course be careful with over-the-top OTE promises, usually comes with unattainable quotas.
TennisandSales
Politicker
0
Head Of Sales
yes its what the market will pay you vs what your company will pay you
Lambda
Tycoon
0
Sales Consultant
Alphas will talk about it, betas wont, which do you want to be?
TennisandSales
Politicker
0
Head Of Sales
I believe thatโ€™s the completely wrong way to think about it.
Lambda
Tycoon
0
Sales Consultant
whys that?
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