The Income Gap & Why We Should Care Two weeks ago, we looked at some numbers that suggested the gap between rich and poor in the United States is growing. Last week, we considered some possible reasons for this growing inequality.This week, we answer perhaps the most important question: So what? The numbers suggest the real income of the poor is holding steady; it is the soaring income of those at the top that is widening the gap. Why then should that one number -- the difference between the top and the bottom -- be of concern?According to several analyses, income inequality can cause... view article details

Whether you're already an executive or just an aspiring big cheese, it's never too early to begin studying the sophisticated art of negotiating executive compensation. Only executives are eligible for many types of perks and benefits - if you disagree, try asking for your own jet. And executives often have access to data sources that are harder for other employees to use, or less relevant. But you may be surprised to learn that some of the methods for negotiating executive pay can work just as well for you as they do for the senior VP whose salary continues to rise while everyone else worries ... view article details

Most of us loathe the very idea of doing our U.S. personal income taxes, not because we expect to get fleeced each April 15 (or 16) but simply because we don't know an adjusted gross income from a standard deduction. For the many tax code illiterates among us, Salary.com has combed through the Internal Revenue Service website, taking inspiration from Sarah Young Fisher and Susan Shelly's book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Personal Finance, to come up with a checklist that may help simplify your tax-filing experience. Taxable and nontaxable income To get things started with the very basics, bel... view article details

It's the First & Most Important Question of the Interview This is the first of a two-part series on successful interviewing techniques.When you sit down for a job interview at a new company, the first question from the hiring manager is rarely going to be, “Why don’t you start out by telling me a little bit about your salary.”In fact, anyone that’s been on a number of interviews knows that the opening question they’ll most likely be asked is, “Tell me a little bit about yourself.”However, just because the topic of salary might not come up until the very end of the first interview -- i... view article details

Forty years ago, economists predicted that the U.S. workforce was heading into a crisis of leisure - that people would soon have so much free time they wouldn't know what to do with it. As the impact of technology made more and more human labor redundant, it was widely assumed that a four-hour workday, or a three-day week, or even a six-month year would eventually be the norm. Those forecasts couldn't have been more wrong. The amount of time Americans spend at work has increased relentlessly over the last two or three decades. Harvard economist Juliet B. Schor, in her book The Overworked Ameri... view article details

Ever wish you could stay in school forever? Well you can - as a career. If you've checked out our 10 jobs that keep colleges and universities functioning, it's time to graduate to higher education leadership. Whether you aspire to be an alumni affairs director, a head coach, or even a college president, these 10 leadership roles are for folks passionate about giving back to the collegiate experience. Here are 10 jobs in higher education leadership worth looking at. We've included the average salaries and ranges based on Salary.com data. 1) Bookstore Director - Higher Ed. Average: $65,103 Salar... view article details

Every boss, worker, and company is different. But when it comes to asking for a raise, there are some universal "no-nos" you have to avoid at all costs. Here are the nine most common things NOT to avoid during a raise discussion. 1) "I Know the Timing isn't Great but..." Timing really is everything. It's important to know where your company stands financially before you ask for a pay raise. If your company is enjoying fat profit margins, record-breaking sales numbers, and unprecedented expansion then by all means -- walk in there and ask for a pay raise. Things are obviously coming up roses ... view article details

Every boss, worker, and company is different. But when it comes to asking for a raise, there are some universal "no-nos" you have to avoid at all costs. Here are the nine most common things NOT to avoid during a raise discussion. 1) "I Know the Timing isn't Great but..." Timing really is everything. It's important to know where your company stands financially before you ask for a pay raise. If your company is enjoying fat profit margins, record-breaking sales numbers, and unprecedented expansion then by all means -- walk in there and ask for a pay raise. Things are obviously coming up roses ... view article details

Tie a napkin 'round your neck and be our guest to check out this platter of food & beverage roles! If you’re curious about how much employees in these kind of roles earn on average, you’ve come to the right place. Here are 10 food & beverage jobs worth looking at. We've included the average entry-level salaries and ranges based on Salary.com data. 1) Food Scientist Average: $70,062 Salary Range: $56,113-$85,303 What you’ll do: Apply scientific and engineering principles in research, development, production technology, quality control, packaging, processing, and utilization of food. This rol... view article details

In order to make room for the great new work habits you’re resolving to adopt on January 1st, be sure to ring out any bad office practices. And, yes, procrastination is on the list, so reading this now instead of later is a great first step in the right direction. Here are some tips for banishing common office behaviors that can get in the way of success.1. Put off procrastination…now Overwhelmed by the difficulty or size of a pending chore? Make use of calendars and computer alarms to plan out and schedule small pieces of big projects. Doing a little at a time is usually ea... view article details