Why is it considered rude to ask someone how much money they make?

Question

Why is it considered rude to ask someone how much money they make?

Answer 1

It's none of your business and it is very rude, you might as well ask what their SS# is and how much they have in the bank. I cannot believe anyone would even think of asking this.

Answer 2

Unless you work for the IRS or have legitimte reasons to know, it is none of your business what someone else makes.

Answer 3

Because it is none of your business.

Answer 4

because people believe their financial situation is a private matter and not anyone else's business

because in most cases - particularly from English high society it was considered crass to talk about money

Because if you have a lot and talk about it - it sounds like you're bragging

Because if you have none and you talk about it it sounds like you're asking for hand outs.

probably a lot more  this is a start.

Answer 5

Many people just think of that as a private matter.  Plus, as someone else pointed out, the person might think that you're trying to compare your salary to theirs.  Additionally, some people are just not proud of their income.  Perhaps they aren't where they want to be career-wise.  

On top of it all, in Western Society, finances are generally considered private.

Answer 6

Because so many people are pathetic enough and materialistic enough to believe that their self-worth is tied up in their income.

Answer 7

None of your business.

Would seem kind of like a busy body to me.

How about someone asking about your s*x life also?

Some topics are just flat out private or personal.

Answer 8

Abso-freakinglutley.  Why is it of any concern to you?

Answer 9

Some jobs require that you do not discuss how much money you make.  

Some people are embarrassed about how much dough they make.  

Why would you want to make someone feel uncomfortable or put on the spot by asking, when it's really not your business?

Answer 10

Because it begs the question, why do you need to know?

Answer 11

I had this conversation before. I dont understand why its such a big deal either. I think that people who dont want others knowing what their yearly income is because they like competing with others, so they try to make you think that they make more money than you. Also, if other people make more than them, they dont want to feel like their below you. Its just some people dont want to take the risk of feeling lower and looked down upon than their competitors. Money is such a serious topic that somehow we have let our income define our self worth. Money is not a private topic. A private topic is more like, have you had any STD's?

Answer 12

It seems rude because you're most likely comparing your salary to theirs, & if theirs is lower they might feel bad.

Answer 13

because then you`re giving the impression that you`re only interested in how much money a person has.

Answer 14

Yes, it is. Its nobody's business but the family you pay bills and home for.

Answer 15

Because it's none of your d*** business.

Answer 16

It's a private matter.. this is one question people do find offensive. more offensive than if you ask a woman who could be your mother her age..  because people don't give away private information about their income to strangers.. they could get people who find out where they live. hack into their computer.. steal their ID.. get somehow to withdraw money from their bank account.. it is for security reasons more than for private reasons that people should never tell what they earn.. same as a rich person if they have a lot of money in a safe in a wall in their manor house.. they should defnitely not tell anyone about this.... x*x

Answer 17

I drive a school bus and make $3.00 per hour. How much money do you make?

Answer 18

I don't think it's rude. But I guess some people will think that because they don't make a lot of money they are being judged as a person. Which is completely not true.