When someone asks what you do for a living, are they usually trying to figure out how much money you make?

Question

Static_In_The_Attic · Accepted Answer

As for the majority of people I would have to say they are probably in chitchat mode & as for everyone else they might have a few tricks up their sleeves. You go to a barbershop for a haircut & the person cutting your hair is in chitchat mode & they usually ask what you do for a living. On the other hand I tried a few dating sites years back & I laughed because one or two messages in the ladies were asking what I did for a living before they were asking my name. Long story short I told them I was unemployed which was a load of bullshit & never heard from them after. Those ladies had tricks up their sleeves.

Massageman · Accepted Answer

I have no idea. Rather irrelevant to me at this point: I have enough to get by.

Xoxocutekitty · Accepted Answer

We spend just as much time sleeping as we do working. Asking about ones sleeping habits is a bit much so typically it's just nice to have an idea of what they do with themselves for 8 hours a day.

Asking what people do can provide some insight on what types of hobbies they might be into (growing up we did local BYO sledding instead if skiing) or what capacity of leisure time they might have. I figure a nurse would have occasional weekdays off while a 9-5er would live for the weekends. It's really understanding how someone else measures time, if at all.

Little_Bumblebee · Accepted Answer

I'm sure some ask to get an idea of the amount they make.

I would usually ask to know about them as a person. The work you do is a big part of your adult life. And it's a great conversation topic to get to learn more about them.
Like, do they like their job, what field is it in and why, how did they get there, and so on.

I could be curious to ask if someone was loaded just as a way to be like "how do you have so much money"? But that's not really something I would do to a stranger.

wtf636 · Answer

Usually, that is the goal. Especially when asked by a woman in the context of a date.

In some professions we all know what kind of money they make.
Doctor, Lawyer = 6 figures
Fast food, Retail = minimum wage

But also, it's just an easy question to ask. And can get a conversation going.

I get this a lot. What do you do? User experience design. What is that? (99% of the time) I explain, and now we are talking. Then I ask them, and now we are talking. It's a good way to get to know someone and the type of person they are. Someone's job can tell you a lot about them.

Aerissa_Jade · Answer

I think it can vary, some are just curious. I have loads of family that ask what I do, not cause they care how much I make but because they haven't seen me in a long time and are wondering what I'm currently doing. When someone I barely know asks, I think its a combination of both, trying to figure out how much I make while getting to know what I am doing.

Gagname · Answer

I voted No.

Do some people ask what what you do for a living to figure out how much money you make?…sure; but do most do it for that reason? I DON’T think so.

I think most people ask what you do for a living to get an idea of who you are as a person, and/or to have something to talk about when you meet.

RobT312 · Answer

I don’t think so, that may be secondary though.
i think people generally have an interest in seeing what people do for work to see if there’s a common interest, etc. as your profession tends to tell a lot about you and your personality. It also opens the door to other conversation such as where did you go to school, etc.

DonkeyDan · Answer

I don't think that's why most people ask, it's purely out of interest I guess, that is why I would ask someone the question and possibly small talk etc. Unless I had reason to believe they made good money, I might be interested in what profession allowed for that income.

SaoirseS · Answer

Not that I can tell. Usually it’s nothing more than a conversation starter or small talk. I’m more interested in how much a person likes or dislikes a job than how much it pays. When I get asked what my job is and I respond, the asker often changes the subject or comes up with a reason to be somewhere else.

AllieAnswersThings · Answer

If someone asks you what you do for a living, it could be about money - but I only ask if I'm trying to get to know someone. I honestly could not care less about how much money somebody makes, but I'd be very interested in how their career impacts the world in a positive way :)

ChiTown33 · Answer

Exactly! This is why when a woman asks me what I do for a living. I ask her how much debt she's in. It's also funny the reaction she gives to. What? You want know how much money you're going to be working with if we form a relationship. Well I want to know how big of a hole you're in then if we form a relationship. Lol

Staximus · Answer

That depends, maybe they just want to know about your life. All these women from China wanting American citizenship kept sending me messages on Facebook dating. One of the first few questions was always "what do you do for work" or what do you do for a living. I have 2 jobs but always told them "I don't have a job right now, I'm looking for one" and they would just disappear

Madhatter920 · Answer

Partially, yes, but also maybe to help form a better picture of who you are. Because, unfortunately, your job is considered part of your identity for some reason.

Lara_Croft · Answer

I have asked the question a couple of times, usually have asked guys. I would be trying to understand more about the guy's choices and why he does the things he does. Money isn't the problem, if i know him well enough and believe he has the potential to make more i will advice accordingly but otherwise it's just to gauge the kind of person he is

InferiorElegy · Answer

Depends who is asking, generally if it's a female asking, it's because she wants to know how much you make to determine your worth. Guys ask to build a social circle of friend who they can ask for help on projects and such, guys don't care how much other guys make.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

Perhaps, but they may be trying to determine how educated you are, how motivated and goal oriented you are, whether you know how to act in professional/social settings, whether you have common interests, or any number of other things.

WhatTheHeckkkk · Answer

Oh, that never comes to mind for me. I just think that it’s a good conversation starter and I like to hear what they do. Maybe after talking, I will wonder “how much do ___ make?” But it’s never my first thought, only out of genuine curiosity.

msmissydc · Answer

Thats never my intention when I ask at least. I ask because l am generally interested. Also it sometimesmmakes for a good conversation. In addition to me probably not even knowing how much they make, even after I asked them.

The_Shadow_Dweller · Answer

I think it is the sophisticated way of asking about the money you make.

Bricealan · Answer

I had never considered that, but you are probably right.

Juxtapose · Answer

They want to see how much they can judge your supposed worth.

ChrisMaster69 · Answer

Just small talk really, I don’t really care overly what someone’s job is. im talking to them or dating them not their job,

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

They are wondering how much money you make when someone does that to me when I meet a girl I lose all faith and knowing anything good will be  coming out of it

GhostMochi · Answer

I just lie about how I'm doing in life to keep from looking like a loser. :')

NathanDavis · Answer

or maybe... they're interested on what you're doing for an entire third part of your day... and almost every day of your life I think that's a very considerable piece of information... lol

jshm2 · Answer

Not really, as it's not always an indication I work in IT, but make more than several doctors put together. I also don't look like a typical IT guy.

ArrowheadSW · Answer

I find people to be interesting. Often, I'm just curious what someone does for a living. I don't ask in order to figure out how much they make.

Razp_Sorbet · Answer

Nope just making small talk and it's easier to ask questions about what you do day to day

Raphaëlle · Answer

It depends on the situation and who you're talking with I believe. It could be just small talk asking what you do for a living or they're trying to sus out what you do and how much you earn.

susie22 · Answer

Not really sure, but that's a good possibility. I think maybe "some" guys may be a bit insecure or intimidated.

DaveJord · Answer

I don't thing so, but I do not think they will be impressed with ditch digger as an answer... so to some extend I guess its true.

Leonharted · Answer

I don't think so. I think they are more trying to figure out more about your life. You spend 40 hours per week doing it, after all.

sage2021 · Answer

Yes. And they are trying to size you up if you are beneath their expectations, they won't ask you out.

Hangry06 · Answer

Depends on the situation. Maybe they're making small talk or they want to know more about you But when it comes to dating, they're probably thinking the money wise

nikoluushkaa · Answer

I always thought it was a kind of small talk. I focus my questions on the actual work they do. Not the pay.

Gal67 · Answer

People just shouldn't ask that question, at all, and yet they do. Don't they realise it's rude?

AviatorTom · Answer

No, they're wondering if what I do us interesting. Much if the time, they're just making conversation.

Medhat-M · Answer

Not always sometimes they're just trying to get more or enough information about you.. Otherwise yeah they're trying to figure how much you earn and if your job is socially well respected or not

Alyssa_11 · Answer

I think it's a lot to do with status in society. People judge you a lot based on that sadly - it massively identifies you.

Interstate · Answer

I can't remember the last time anybody asked me of what I do for a living.

Dinklex3 · Answer

I don't.  School/jobs are a huge part of our life.

kyleelyn199723 · Answer

I doubt it, I think most people are trying to just strike up a conversation.

WowwGirl · Answer

Some, do like I do and say you run cock fights. The reaction is great

StephBelsten · Answer

If your on a date it's a possibility I suppose, but even then and especially just in casual conversation they're just tryna get to know you It's not that deep lol

geonator · Answer

I can't speak for other people but that's not what's on my mind when I ask that. It's just that their job says a lot about them and it's interesting to know

DaveToo · Answer

Sometimes, but I think most are just interested in finding out more about you.

jessicarosen · Answer

Great question. Usually in my experience, they do not. At least, in the initial conversation.

genericname85 · Answer

i think, they're just making sure you're not a deadbeat loser with no aspirations.

TacosRAwesome · Answer

Sometimes it's about money and sometimes it's about having a conversation.

Dinosaursandanime65 · Answer

They could be making a potential mistake, because I could make an entire Constitutional Draft about my career

andy530 · Answer

I don't know when I ask it I’m just curious what they do with their time, what interests they have, etc. for me it has nothing to do with money

jahaims · Answer

I'd ask to get to know them better. Idc what other people make

roy_ricky09 · Answer

Absolutely not. Just one of the ways of asking what do they do... Like job study business etc...

KellyKOO · Answer

They might be trying to get to know you. Like making conversation.

krin_m · Answer

I get paid to play on computers. No one knows (including me) what I'm going to make this year or next year :-)

Shaggy_KW · Answer

Sometimes they just want to know more about you, it's a good conversation starter, maybe you have common careers. Don't always assume the worst

cookiecrusher · Answer

And a lot of time will treat you accordingly.  Thus i always say broke.

Shy_Steve · Answer

Sometimes they might, Sometimes they might be just curious or don't know what else to talk about.

Jerre · Answer

Curiosity is all it is. Personally, I don’t give a fuck how much people make.

Slim57 · Answer

Just simple conversation, from a guys perspective anyway

Lowiu · Answer

No Id say its more to find something to talk about

hhhffg7889 · Answer

Probably more habit and lack of topics

Paris13 · Answer

Mainly if Online. xx

When someone asks what you do for a living, are they usually trying to figure out how much money you make?

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