The Salary-Workday Connection

The way American employees perceive their workday seems to be influenced by their income. Specifically, those earning between $100,000 and $149,999 annually are most inclined to label their typical workday as ‘annoying’, as per a recent survey by Preply, an online language learning platform.

The ‘Annoying’ Workday

Interestingly, about 5% of respondents within this wage bracket described their jobs as ‘annoying’, a significantly higher percentage than other salary ranges. For instance, nearly 3.7% of those earning $55,000 to $64,999 annually found their jobs ‘annoying’, while this figure dropped to 1.1% for those earning between $25,000 and $54,999. The reasons behind this annoyance remain unclear.

The Survey Details

Preply conducted this survey among 1,500 full-time American employees across the country between August 16 and August 18. However, the exact number of respondents in each salary band was not specified.

The ‘Busy’ and ‘Routine’ Workdays

On the other hand, over half (54%) of those in the $75,000 to $84,999 wage bracket described their workdays as ‘busy’. Meanwhile, those earning between $25,000 and $54,999 annually were most likely to describe their typical workday as ‘routine’, with one in four feeling they have a ‘bad boss’.

The Most Common Descriptor: ‘Busy’

Despite the variety of descriptors used by respondents to describe their job, one term stood out — ‘busy’. A whopping 42% of all respondents described their day as such.

Industry-Specific Work Perceptions

The survey also highlighted that an employee’s perception of their work is influenced by the industry they’re in. For instance, workers in transportation, manufacturing, and sales are most likely to feel bored. In contrast, those in education, construction, and healthcare typically feel the busiest.

The Silver Lining

Despite some negative descriptors used by respondents, some Americans do enjoy their work. Particularly those in the computer and technology industry reported enjoying their jobs the most. Interestingly enough, those who earn over $150,000 annually are most likely to find their typical workday ‘enjoyable’, suggesting that perhaps money can indeed buy happiness.