Sure, you've held down a job or two. You know all about paper routes and paper hats. You've got the entry-level experience.

So are you ready to earn the big bucks?

Truth be told, your high-paying career may still be a few years (and a few college courses) away. But even if you're not earning the money, do you think the same as someone who does?

In her book Are You Normal About Money, Bernice Kanner surveyed thousands of career professionals about their compensation preferences. Now you can take the same survey. How close are your answers to theirs?

1) Would you rather have ...

A cash bonus.

More vacation time.

2) Which would you prefer?

The ability to work from home.

A bigger paycheck.

3) Given the choice, which would you take?

A bigger paycheck.

A company car.

 

 

4) When professionals air their grievances, most will complain about their paycheck. After that, what is the most common on-the-job complaint?

Stale vending machine snacks.

Lack of workplace privacy.

Close scrutiny of expenses.

No window view.

Smoke-free offices.

 

 

5) Your salary just got cut by 25%. Are you taking that sitting down, or are you standing up and walking away?

I'd quit if you cut my salary by 25%.

I'd stay at my job, but I wouldn't like it.

 

 

6) Now that we know how adults react to pay cuts, let's see how they respond to a raise. What is the least amount of a salary increase that two-thirds of those surveyed said would get them to quit if a competitor offered it?

7) You just won the lottery. What do you do?

Quit my job and retire!

Keep my full-time job.

Scale my full-time to a part-time job.

 

 

8) Instead of that raise, a new company policy allows you to bring your pet to work. What do you think?

Great! I'm looking forward to bringing Rover to the office.

Uh, can I just get that raise instead?

 

 

9) Management is going to throw a holiday party at the end of the year. Interested?

I'd love to go!

Thanks, but I would prefer $100 instead.

 

 

10) Remember way back when, when you were a student with dreams of making it big? Well, you're working now. Are you making as much money as you thought you would?

No, I guess I overestimated.

Yes, and then some! I'm doing better than I expected.

I knew what was coming. I'm earning right around what I thought I would.