Money Talks.

Yes, it does.

It says… “Goodbye”.

If you’ve ever wondered why someone with similar skills seems to be making more money than you, the answer may often come down to just a few key decisions. Salary growth isn’t just about working hard; it’s about working smart (as the old cliche goes), knowing when to negotiate, and choosing roles that stretch your potential.

Here are three common career moves that may quietly hold back your earning power and some ideas on how to course-correct.

1. Staying at a Job Too Long Without a Promotion

Don Draper from Mad Men stayed with his advertising firm for years. Homer Simpson has been loyal to Mr. Burns for decades. But in today’s market, staying too long in the same role without upward movement can cost you.

Here’s why: Let’s say you started a job in 2020, earning $75,000 and received a respectable 4% raise each year. After five years, you’d be making $91,249. Now, imagine someone else started at the same salary but kept an eye on the market. In their fourth year, they land a new job paying $110,000, which is well within range for many mid-level professionals in fields like tech, analytics, and finance. That’s nearly $20,000 more per year, and the gap only widens from there. This isn’t theoretical.

According to Paysa and LinkedIn, professionals who switch jobs every 3–4 years tend to earn 10–20% more per move than those who stay put. Internal raises often average 3–5%, while external offers frequently come with 15– 25% jumps in pay.

2. Salary Negotiation During Job Offers

Many professionals think they should wait to ask for more money until they’ve “proven themselves”, usually a few months into the role. Unfortunately, by then, it’s too late. The best time to negotiate your salary is after the offer is made but before you accept it. That’s when you have the most leverage. They’ve chosen you, and you’re still a flight risk. After you’ve started the job, your compensation is locked in. While annual reviews may offer room for raises, they’re often budget-constrained and incremental.

In fact, according to Glassdoor, negotiating at the offer stage can result in 5–10% higher pay (sometimes even more). Yet, only 39% of employees negotiate their salary at all, and women are even less likely to do so, leading to long-term gaps in compensation.

3. Sticking to Comfortable Roles Instead of Stretch Assignments

“Stay in your lane, bro”, doesn’t apply to your career growth. You might think staying in your lane protects your performance. But too much comfort can be a hidden career limiter.

High-performing professionals who seek out stretch assignments, challenging projects slightly outside their current skill set, tend to gain faster exposure to leadership, build broader capabilities, and become eligible for higher-paying roles.

A report by McKinsey & Company found that employees who took on special projects or cross-functional assignments were twice as likely to be promoted within a two-year period. These assignments often act as informal auditions for management roles.

Staying in safe, repetitive work may feel secure, but it limits your visibility and learning. If you’re not stretching, you’re stalling.

Money is not everything, but earning what you’re worth still matters.

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