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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I am 42 and have only worked at one place my entire career since I graduated from grad school. I have had different roles (moved up the managerial chain to a Director level) but in 15 years have only worked for one employer. I assume that is relatively rare. Have I missed out on a lot of salary growth by not moving?  I will say I have been mommy-tracked as well.  I had 3 kids in 5 years. I started my career at $55,000 and at currently at $150,000.

In that time my DH has gone from starting salary of $150,000 to $575,000.  So clearly his salary trajectory shot up and mine sort of just slowly climbed but not astronomically. [/quote]

If you look at the overall U.S. you are doing quite well for yourself.  That's a very good white collar salary even though it might feel average for DMV.

I'm 56, female, and have worked for the same F500 company with a 3 year hiatus (layoff with severance and rehire) since 2000.  My grade level has not changed but I have gotten proficiency adjustments putting me close to the top of the band I'm in.  The layoff cost me a manager title and grade that I haven't been able to get back since 2011.  The limited promotions in my area mainly go to young, extremely high EQ men.  I have 2 kids that were born while I was at the company.  I was laid off after my second maternity leave which coincided with the Great Recession.

I started at $85K post-MBA and am now at $165K. I am an individual contributor who would be equivalent to a non-managerial GS-13 or 14.  (I was a GS-13 before grad school.) And I'm not in DMV so my salary goes further.

When I look back, I can see that mommytracking vs. playing politics and investing ostentatiously in looking busy probably cost me the chance to rise.  I lost a lot of mentors and advocates during the years when I needed to make sure I could manage my workload and keep my kids' lives pleasant and stable.  I'm also definitely not a sports watcher or beer drinker type.

As a mom, I wouldn't do it differently if I could do it over.  I have zero mom guilt and know my long-term employer could fire me tomorrow for any random reason.  Because it already happened once.   My kids have had some complaints about personal inconveniences like aftercare and summer camps but I don't expect them to blame me for ruining their childhood or to try to marry SAHMs.  So that's okay, I guess?

Regarding your husband's trajectory, that's quite a high salary.  Looking at my MBA classmates, there are takeoff points in the 40s in many people's careers who are upwardly bound.  That doesn't happen to most.  It happens to the ones who make it to a real c-suite level/upper echelon.  Whether you think your husband's salary is impressive or not, it looks to me like a social signal that he's passed the filter.

It is easier for men to make it to those higher pay levels.  Lots of data on that.  But changing employers is statistically known to help career pay growth for both men and women.

So, OP, as a household, I think you should be quite content.  Especially if your kids are happy and successful.  If you are ready to take on career changes to pursue more rewards, it might work.  Just also consider the risks.  [/quote]

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