Examining The Curvilinear Relationship Between Income And Job And Pay Satisfaction

Previous research has shown that income is related to both job satisfaction and pay satisfaction. However, this research has assumed that these relationships are linear. The current study investigated whether the relationship between income and job and pay satisfaction might be better understood using curvilinear models. Self-report data was obtained from 25,465 working adults in the US using a company rating web site, www.careerbliss.com. Results indicated that the relationship between income and job satisfaction was linear. However, income and pay satisfaction were found to have a significant curvilinear relationship such that people began reporting decreased pay satisfaction above income levels of $260,000. Additionally, supplementary analyses demonstrated that other facets of job satisfaction also had significant curvilinear relationships with income.