POLL: Do Women Negotiate First Salaries?

Recent data shows that young women earn between 15 and 17 percent less than their male peers in their first year of work after college.

While there are several possible causes, including the persistence of gender-based pay inequality across all ages and fact that women choose lower-earning majors, experts say women's discomfort negotiating plays a major role in the wage gender gap.

Now we want to hear from you: Did you negotiate your first salary? Let us know by taking the poll below.

POLL:

Did you negotiate your first salary?

Yes

I wanted to but didn't — didn't want to seem pushy or overly aggressive

I wanted to but didn't for another reason

I didn't even consider it

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Comments

[beyondliberal]

03:26 PM on 08/02/2011

I most certainly did.
The company that eventually hired me right out of my fellowship was hard-up for qualified applicants, whom they typically paid $21,000/yr. I stood out because I had more specialized training that they were extra eager to get. I told them if they wanted me, they'd have to pay me more than the average applicant.
I started at $24,000-- a lot of money at the time for a female entry-level clinician.

[Aboomer]

12:49 PM on 08/01/2011

I absolutely negotiated my salary for my first "real" job out of college. My mom (who had many years working her way up the management ladder) taught me that if you don't speak up for yourself money-wise nobody else will either. I renegotiated my salary two years later for a significant amount more, too. Women are oftentimes too quick to be too nice when it comes to asking for money, and it is hard to ask for more, but worth it in the end.

[iowamiddleguy]

12:48 PM on 07/19/2011

My first job after 4 years of undergrad and a year of grad school was as a teacher.... I had no choice in my salary - a cool $19,500.....

[Mary Blickhahn]

09:15 AM on 06/28/2011

I was not given the opportunity. IT was assumed that as a woman I had no responsibility!

[lilyinbloom]

06:14 PM on 06/15/2011

I certainly didn't. As someone fresh out of college during a plummeting economy and struggling workforce, I considered myself lucky to have found a decent job with better pay than any previous hourly jobs!

[Leah Kaliszewski]

09:46 PM on 06/14/2011

All you gotta do is show some cleavage in the interview. Unless you're being interviewed by a woman...