How much of a pay cut have you taken during the recession?

[LuckyTheDog]

My situation is this:

My new job pays 39% less than my old one.

My wife was forced to take a lower-level position in order to avoid being laid off (taking a roughly 10% pay cut) and is now being asked to take a 10% pay cut on top of that.

How about all of you?

[Luminous Animal]

1. 30% in the same job.

[NightWatcher]

2. closed my business last year

I then helped my cousin open a pizza business for $14 an hour (worked there for 3 months).
I then took a minimum wage job while I looked for other work, and got laid off after 5 months.

Now I'm volunteering (to build experience in a new career field) while receiving UI

[Donnachaidh]

3. over 25%

after looking for work for 18 months (DH). And probably a third from the part time job too.

Welcome to feudal America!

[sense]

4. 40% in the same job in 2008 and

30% of what was left at the same job in 2009.

[Brickbat]

5. In 2000, I was making $45K a year.

Now I'm freelancing from home, making about $17K a year. Mr. Brickbat is making more now than he did in 2000.

[LeftyMom]

6. It's too depressing to even think about, let alone explain. nt

[dysfunctional press]

7. i won't get a cost-of-living-adjustment in my disability check for the next two years...

but my wife just started a job that pays 20% more than the one she lost in september.
however- that previous position, which she had for almost two years, had paid 9% less than the one before it(after 6 years on that job).

[KansDem]

8. I've faired a lttle better than you...

No raise but no pay cut either.

Health-care insurance has gone up, though, meaning I'm bringing home less each paycheck this year than last.

Guess I'm lucky!

As the old song goes:
I'm not much to look at, nothin' to see
Just glad I'm livin' and happy to be
I got a woman, crazy for me
She's funny that way

I can't save a dollar, ain't worth a cent
She'd never holler, she'd live in a tent
I got a woman, crazy for me
She's funny that way

Though she'd love to work and slave for me every day
She'd be so much better off if I went away

But why should I leave her, why should I go?
She'd be unhappy without me, I know
I got a woman, crazy for me
She's funny that way

[WhiteTara]

9. I would say 100%

now I work for food (literally!) and rent. I haven't had a paycheck for almost 4 years. Being a small business owner, you take what you can get and be thankful you still have a business that pays the rent.

[liberal N proud]

10. I managed to eek out a tiny raise over the last year.

I was shocked when my boss called me in. I thought there were not going to be any, but I was lucky.

Damn lucky.

[blogslut]

11. I make 2/3 less than I did a year ago

I'm barely hanging on

[TransitJohn]

12. I'm lucky.

Last summer and fall, our company instituted an across the board 7% pay cut/furlough program for everyone, CEO on down. 3 rounds of layoffs, of which I made the cut. The furlough/pay cut was rescinded in December. I don't think I'll be getting a raise this coming year, but I'm glad to be working. I hope everyone else ends up okay at the end of this. :grouphug:

[Dappleganger]

13. 30% less with no benefits.

[LiberalEsto]

14. 100%

I used to have a job as a part time marketing writer, but they haven't had any work for me in 15 months. And I can't collect unemployment.

Last summer my husband had to take a job paying 12% less than his previous salary, in order to go from consultant to staff employee and to receive sick days and vacations.

[JackintheGreen]

15. Down just over 30%

Laid off off from a P/T "making ends meet" job.

[RebelOne]

16. Haven't taken a pay cut, but my health insurance

went up by $100 a month and I haven't had a raise in 4 years. No one in my company has had any raises.

[DCBob]

17. 50% but supposedly it is a deferral and I will get it back once conditions improve...

we shall see.

[brendan120678]

18. Over the past two years in the same job, I've...

had a total salary increase of only 7%.

Since I started my "professional" career 5 years ago, I've had a total salary net increase of about 19%.

This is taking into account only net salary, not benefits and other factors included.

(edited to add: my 401K has tanked, though. I've lost over $20K from that over the past 2 years. Luckily, I'm only 31, so there is time for that to recover).

[upi402]

19. 40% wage cut, a Republican's dream come true! n/t

[JVS]

20. I got a raise and better benefits, while non-unionized positions are getting furloughs.

[RobinA]

23. I, Too

went union last year. Have been laid off twice, 2001 and 2008. Went back to school to get my Masters and graduated in 2006. Started making less money with the MS than without it. Said the h*ll with this, in 2008 took a union, civil service job for which I was over qualified. Since have been promoted to a position for which I am not overqualified and am making somewhat more money. The union is a HUGE improvement over non-union, despite the bitching of many long-time unionites and nonunionites who like to rub it in that the union is not utopia. After 28 nonunion years I will take it.

[prolesunited]

21. First job I lost, I went down $15,000 to take another.

Two layoffs in three years. Now I'm down 100%.

[alfredo]

22. Got no COLA on my SS and pension.

[Lurks Often]

24. I guess I have been fortunate

No pay cuts, raises and performance bonuses have been smaller then in the past, but I am also getting to the top of my pay grade.

I have also survived a number of lay-offs.

The bad news is I am making almost no progress on reducing my debt, which is due to some bad luck (car, dental work) and some bad choices (ooohhh, shiny, I want!) over the years.

There are a lot more positive things in my life then negative, things could always be worse.