Sharing your salary with everyone? Woman explains the comparisons and pressure it can create

A woman has sparked an online discussion after advising people to think twice before revealing their exact salary to friends, relatives or colleagues. She said salary discussions can be useful in certain situations, but making specific earnings known to everyone can create comparisons, expectations and unnecessary pressure.

Simran Maurya shared her views in an Instagram video, particularly cautioning people who are starting their careers and receiving their first salary. She said the excitement of landing a first job can lead people to openly discuss their earnings with friends and relatives without considering how the information could affect them later.

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A post shared by Simran Maurya (@simraniscreating)

Why salary figures can create pressure

In the video, Maurya distinguished between discussing salaries and openly sharing exact figures with everyone.

“Please stop sharing and discussing your salary with just anyone without thinking twice. And before you come tell me, 'Hey, what's the harm in sharing your salary?' The problem is not with telling your salary. The problem is sharing the exact figure of your salary with just anyone without thinking it through,” she said.

She said people often become particularly open about their earnings after receiving their first pay cheque, telling friends, cousins, family members and relatives about their income. According to Maurya, this can eventually result in people around them knowing their salary figure better than they do.

She also argued that knowing someone's exact earnings can lead others to develop expectations about their spending and savings.

‘Am I underpaid?’ Salary comparisons can raise questions

Maurya said people may begin making assumptions about what someone should be able to afford after learning their salary.

“The moment people know your salary, they will start creating expectations around you and your salary: 'Oh, you earn this much? Then you can easily afford this.' 'Oh, you earn this much, yet you don't have any savings?'” she said.

She added that such comparisons can leave the person earning the salary repeatedly questioning their own financial position.

“And you know what's the funniest part about this? The other person will just make a comparison and move on, but you will repeatedly question yourself: 'Am I underpaid?' 'Is my salary too low?' 'Am I doing well in my life or not?'” Maurya said.

Why she urges caution with colleagues

Maurya also advised employees to be more careful when discussing compensation at the workplace. She warned that information casually shared with a colleague could potentially be brought up later in another conversation or context.

“And at the workplace, please be a bit more careful, because the information you are casually sharing with a colleague today, who knows in which conversation or context it might be used against you tomorrow,” she said.

Her comments reflect her view that employees should consider who they trust with specific information about their earnings rather than treating salary figures as information that should automatically be shared within their professional or personal circles.

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‘Don’t make your salary public information’

At the same time, Maurya clarified that she was not arguing against salary discussions altogether. She said talking about compensation can be useful when negotiating pay, understanding market rates or considering a job switch.

“Talk about it. Talk to people you trust, talk to people in your industry, ask questions,” she said, adding that discussing compensation can help people determine whether they are being paid appropriately for their roles.

Her main point, she said, was not to stop salary conversations but to be selective about whom to discuss exact figures with.

“So, I’m not saying you should never discuss your salary with anyone, but I am saying don’t make your salary public information. Not everyone needs to know your exact numbers,” Maurya said.

The clip was shared with the caption: “Not discussing your salary with everyone will always keep you on safer grounds.”

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