Is salary/wages the main motivator for job satisfaction?
By Anish Asokan
@RevivedWarrior (1903)
India
October 20, 2024 7:38am CST
For any employment, salary is a key component and perhaps the most important component, providing the financial reward for completing the assigned tasks.
Competitive salary provides financial stability and is one key parameter for a person to take up assignments, especially in the corporate world. Getting paid well, leads to more motivation and in turn more job satisfaction for many. For many seeing the salary getting credited on the last working day of the month brings the joy and happiness to do things as needed for the job profile.
However, factors like work-life balance, company culture, growth opportunities and recognition also play a significant role apart from salary for job satisfaction. There are many high paying jobs which have toxic environments to navigate through.
Personally, I feel salary alone cannot be a main motivator for a job profile. After working in 3 toxic environments (they were well paying for the job role I had taken), I realized the work-life balance, company culture and growth opportunities mattered. In fact, my suggestion to younger graduates is to take roles where there is growth.
So, is salary/wages the sole determinant for job satisfaction?
5 people like this
7 responses
@Aansh13 (11362)
• New Delhi, India
20 Oct
Well, I Honestly believe, there are two major things, out of them one is surely the Salary....
But second one is the kind of JOB, your profile, your team.... etc....
Also, if you have sad team, at least the amount coming in the account should be high to tolerate that
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (1903)
• India
21 Oct
Salary can be a motivator even when the other factors could be low , except if it is a toxic workplace. Thanks for sharing!
@somewitch (1310)
•
22 Oct
We aren't money-making machines but human beings, so I agree salary is not everything. Work inevitably involves compromises, some people are more likely to sacrifice their wellbeing for a better salary. And I'm not one of them, health comes first. 
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (1903)
• India
22 Oct
We are definitely not machines but social animals .And health is definitely the most important among every other factor in job evaluation. Thanks for sharing!
@RevivedWarrior (1903)
• India
21 Oct
Apart from salary , other benefits including medical insurance does matter. Thanks for sharing!
@snowy22315 (179440)
• United States
20 Oct
No doubt salary helps with job satisfaction, but I think it is mostly the intrinsic reward you get from working.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (1903)
• India
21 Oct
The intrinsic reward seems to differ from people to people. Some are just focussing on the money , some the totality of the job interests. Thanks for sharing!
@sathviksouvik (19295)
•
22 Oct
I think salary is one component. The major factor of job satisfaction is the type of the job and conduct of co-workers
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (1903)
• India
22 Oct
Work culture and job type are definitely important criteria. Thanks for sharing!
@aureategloom (8748)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
21 Oct
in my opinion, salary is very important if you got family to take care of. i believe that a lot of people are willing to work in a bad environment if they're going to make enough money for their families.
i enjoyed my last job even though it wasn't well paid because my coworkers were really good people and our director was such a nice lady. there were also many opportunities to work on your personal and professional growth - and our director was encouraging us to do it.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (1903)
• India
21 Oct
Work flexibility os mostly what we cherish although it may not be high paying job. And it is also true , there at times we are willing to work in an unfriendly environment , just for sake of money. Thanks for sharing!
@RevivedWarrior (1903)
• India
21 Oct
Job satisfaction is definitely the most important factor. Thanks for sharing!
