My partner thinks my salary is low, is he being proud?

I started in a new industry and I can say my salary is at the entry level right now. My partner keeps bringing this up and says things like, ‘Can you really work for such a low salary? Do you see yourself as that unimportant?’ For me, gaining experience is important at the moment, but their approach is shaking my confidence. Would it be unreasonable to say I’m not ready to negotiate my salary?

6 Answers

6

I think your partner is putting a bit too much pressure on you. Things like ‘low salary’ don’t really lead to a conclusion. Maybe there’s a deeper issue for them, either they’re jealous or projecting something about themselves. Their constant pressure makes you think, it’s not normal.

When I first started at work, my salary was very low, and everyone had something to say. My sister, for example, would say, ‘What are you doing, did your efforts fall to the ground?’ But I mean, you do what you need to when the time comes; no one should doubt that.

Your partner is clearly thinking about you now, but I think asking this much is a bit excessive. They have spoken directly, that’s true. But here, it seems like they consider themselves overly important or something. Is there a logic that says, ‘You are valued according to your salary’?

Actually, entry-level salaries in new jobs are quite normal, especially in a place focused on gaining experience. But how does your partner find the right to interfere in this situation? You should talk within a framework of respect. Maybe they’re expressing this way out of concern.

Let me add this: I don’t think my partner intends to do anything bad, but they said, “You wouldn’t take that salary even if you found it on the street.” So this made the situation a bit tougher for me. Would it be better to change jobs and start over?

Let me say this: what does it mean to say “Can you work for such a low salary?”? Your salary might be low, so what? The person who feels insignificant is themselves; I think you can rightly feel proud. Plus, maybe it’s low now, but you might surpass everyone in the future.