Anonymous
10/10/2025 10:40
Subject: Knowing work colleague makes higher salary and is younger than you
she negotiated better
Anonymous
10/10/2025 09:54
Subject: Re:Knowing work colleague makes higher salary and is younger than you
I'm in a similar boat but wouldn't trade my time with my kids for the money. I do fine and have a great work-life balance. In addition to mommy-tracking, I took a few years off after college to travel, etc. and I look back on those days with great fondness.
There is something to be said for going straight into a career out of school and working hard to get to the top. If that's your thing, you should do that. But it's not mine. I want my job to work for me, not the opposite. And now that I am 10-15 years from retirement, I want to work at my current level for another 5 years or so and then slow back down until I ride off into the sunset. Life is short and you can't take money with you.
There is something to be said for going straight into a career out of school and working hard to get to the top. If that's your thing, you should do that. But it's not mine. I want my job to work for me, not the opposite. And now that I am 10-15 years from retirement, I want to work at my current level for another 5 years or so and then slow back down until I ride off into the sunset. Life is short and you can't take money with you.
Anonymous
10/10/2025 09:45
Subject: Knowing work colleague makes higher salary and is younger than you
You are a Director/VP and you think one year means anything? Wow.
Anonymous
10/10/2025 09:40
Subject: Knowing work colleague makes higher salary and is younger than you
Anonymous wrote:I also mommy-tracked myself. I believe I will be happier in the long run.
Everything I've read suggests that family is the right emotional choice in the long run. Unless you're a fairly emotionless, materialistic person.
I am sorry I didn't fulfill my potential to rise levels. But I gave it up to ensure financial stability and pleasant living circumstances while my kids were growing up. Ambition involves taking career risk. I am responsible for 60% of my family's HHI.
Looking back, I realize I did make choices with knowledge of the consequences and I need to continue to be confident in my decision. I was laid off right after maternity leave with DC#2 and that was a setback I have never recovered from. I always remember that your kids love you but your employer doesn't really care. Almost all of us are replaceable within a short period of time.
Wait, does the ambition/emotionless thing apply to men, too?
Anonymous
10/10/2025 09:32
Subject: Knowing work colleague makes higher salary and is younger than you
I made more than my much older colleagues, but I had a lower on the org chart position. I have 2 terminal degrees and have given presentations to board members.
When I hit a salary ceiling because colleagues complained they did not want me to make more than them, I brought that up to management and received a promotion and became head of the division. Now no one complains I make more than them.
When I hit a salary ceiling because colleagues complained they did not want me to make more than them, I brought that up to management and received a promotion and became head of the division. Now no one complains I make more than them.
Anonymous
10/10/2025 09:29
Subject: Knowing work colleague makes higher salary and is younger than you
Anonymous wrote:What does this have to do with her being (one year!) younger?
I thought this was going to be an I'm in my 40s and my 30 year old coworker makes more money.
One year is nothing.
Anonymous
10/10/2025 09:28
Subject: Knowing work colleague makes higher salary and is younger than you
Anonymous wrote:Does it ever annoy you or make you take pause? Work colleague is a year younger than me (both of us are in our early 40s) and we are both Directors/VP positions. She makes 2x what I make (I know because I work on budgets) and it sometimes makes me think I should have worked harder/not mommy-tracked myself so much. I make $150,000 and she makes $300,000. She definitely has more responsibilities than I do and I am not thinking she doesn't deserve her salary. However I think if I pushed harder in my own career I could also be making similar amount of money.
I mommy-tracked hard and had 3 kids in less than 5 years. Husband makes a high salary and there was no ability for me to push my career forward with so many maternity leaves/kid duties.
Being a mom is more valuable than ditching parenthood for a career.
And one year younger is peanuts.
Anonymous
10/09/2025 15:38
Subject: Knowing work colleague makes higher salary and is younger than you
I also mommy-tracked myself. I believe I will be happier in the long run.
Everything I've read suggests that family is the right emotional choice in the long run. Unless you're a fairly emotionless, materialistic person.
I am sorry I didn't fulfill my potential to rise levels. But I gave it up to ensure financial stability and pleasant living circumstances while my kids were growing up. Ambition involves taking career risk. I am responsible for 60% of my family's HHI.
Looking back, I realize I did make choices with knowledge of the consequences and I need to continue to be confident in my decision. I was laid off right after maternity leave with DC#2 and that was a setback I have never recovered from. I always remember that your kids love you but your employer doesn't really care. Almost all of us are replaceable within a short period of time.
Everything I've read suggests that family is the right emotional choice in the long run. Unless you're a fairly emotionless, materialistic person.
I am sorry I didn't fulfill my potential to rise levels. But I gave it up to ensure financial stability and pleasant living circumstances while my kids were growing up. Ambition involves taking career risk. I am responsible for 60% of my family's HHI.
Looking back, I realize I did make choices with knowledge of the consequences and I need to continue to be confident in my decision. I was laid off right after maternity leave with DC#2 and that was a setback I have never recovered from. I always remember that your kids love you but your employer doesn't really care. Almost all of us are replaceable within a short period of time.
Anonymous
10/09/2025 15:38
Subject: Knowing work colleague makes higher salary and is younger than you
The one year age difference isn't the factor. It's the difference in work-responsibility-years that pay off for her. You chose to value those years with your kids at what's now $150k/year.
Anonymous
10/09/2025 15:34
Subject: Knowing work colleague makes higher salary and is younger than you
Anonymous wrote:What does this have to do with her being (one year!) younger?
Yeah it's not really about a younger co-worker making more. You are basically the same age but took different paths and are compensated accordingly.
It's a misleading post title.
Anonymous
10/09/2025 15:29
Subject: Knowing work colleague makes higher salary and is younger than you
Yes, there are trade-offs in life. Focus on the positives and run your own race.
Anonymous
10/09/2025 15:22
Subject: Knowing work colleague makes higher salary and is younger than you
I prioritized my family when the kids were young. Maybe I’d be making a higher salary if I hadn’t, but I wouldn’t trade having my kids or the relationship that I have with my kids for that. I think a strong foundation is so important, and I think we’re reaping the rewards of that now that they are in their teens and doing well.
You can’t have everything. I’m grateful for what I do have.
You can’t have everything. I’m grateful for what I do have.
Anonymous
10/09/2025 15:21
Subject: Knowing work colleague makes higher salary and is younger than you
What does this have to do with her being (one year!) younger?
Anonymous
10/09/2025 15:18
Subject: Re:Knowing work colleague makes higher salary and is younger than you
No, it's common for younger colleagues to make more money when they have more experience, do more work and are generally smarter.
Anonymous
10/09/2025 15:17
Subject: Knowing work colleague makes higher salary and is younger than you
Does it ever annoy you or make you take pause? Work colleague is a year younger than me (both of us are in our early 40s) and we are both Directors/VP positions. She makes 2x what I make (I know because I work on budgets) and it sometimes makes me think I should have worked harder/not mommy-tracked myself so much. I make $150,000 and she makes $300,000. She definitely has more responsibilities than I do and I am not thinking she doesn't deserve her salary. However I think if I pushed harder in my own career I could also be making similar amount of money.
I mommy-tracked hard and had 3 kids in less than 5 years. Husband makes a high salary and there was no ability for me to push my career forward with so many maternity leaves/kid duties.
I mommy-tracked hard and had 3 kids in less than 5 years. Husband makes a high salary and there was no ability for me to push my career forward with so many maternity leaves/kid duties.