I talk and write about money all day. So it’s rare that someone comes to me with a money question that makes me uncomfortable or that I find hard to answer.
But a couple of weeks ago, I was at a party with someone who had just gotten into journalism. He asked me about my career trajectory and my current gig. Do I get assignments or pitch my own stuff? How do I balance frequent deadlines with in-depth reporting? Then, suddenly: How much money do I make?
For a beat, I was taken aback. I’d share that figure with a close friend, but this was a stranger. It felt kind of rude. Then again, I remembered feeling underpaid in my early 20s and not having any idea what anyone else made — so I told him.
The situation got me thinking: Are conversations around salary taboo anymore?
Among the younger generations, the answer is increasingly “no,” says Thomas Farley, an etiquette expert who writes the Mister Manners Mondays Substack.
