Job holders, whether in software, government, pharma, or any other field, earn a recurring fixed salary. They plan their lives within that income, hoping for future hikes and celebrating every increment with satisfaction.
After all, most employees compare their earnings with colleagues and are aware of what people in higher positions earn.
But it is also worth looking at how others around them earn, even though those professions may not carry so called “respect”.
When we spoke to a few people, the responses were surprising.
An auto driver in Hyderabad said, “I studied until intermediate and had to discontinue because of family problems. I first worked as a driver in a travel company. Later I bought my own auto. After all expenses, I take home about Rs 60,000 every month.”
A trash collector from households in Hyderabad said, “Our whole family depends on this work. We bought a second hand garbage vehicle. Each flat pays us Rs 200 per month, a mandatory tip we demand, and there are more than 1,000 flats in our area. For independent houses we charge Rs 300. That’s our sole income, which we do not need to account for to the municipality. Whatever the municipality pays, we spend on vehicle maintenance and fuel.” That comes close to Rs 2 lakh per month, working only from 7 am to 11 am daily.
A pani puri cart vendor shared, “I run my cart from 4 pm to 9 pm. Preparation starts from noon with cutting onions, coriander and making the pani. After all costs I earn around Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh per month.”
A 40-year-old uneducated carpenter who came from West Godavari and settled in Hyderabad said, “My earning fluctuates drastically. There will be one month where I earn only Rs 25,000. But when I get woodwork contracts in big apartments and houses, I end up with a profit margin of Rs 3 lakh as well. My lifestyle is simple and not demanding any social status like maintaining a car and living in a big house. So I save maximum for my daughter’s education and future.”
A 50-year-old plumber said, “My son studied polytechnic long back. He struggled doing some jobs but they were of no use. In 2021 he told me that after working for seven years his monthly salary was Rs 20,000. I told him to stop all jobs and join me. I showed him how to earn well in plumbing work. From doing repairs and new installations, he is making Rs 1 lakh or more per month now. He has also employed two people under him who work on a profit share and not on salary. Unknowingly we are living on a communist principle.”
Apart from all this, another interesting thing is about social media influencers. Forget about the popular vloggers and others who are making Rs 10 lakh and more per month.
Even the small-time, not much-known social media video makers are earning Rs 40,000 to Rs 1 lakh very easily, sitting at home and recording whatever they feel like.
But the only point is that they need to make videos without pause in between. So there are viewers for every kind of content, and that fetches them some income.
So after listening to these people, how should job holders feel? Are they truly earning well or only earning the so-called “respect”?
What would you choose: respect with a modest salary and unfulfilled dreams, or no social respect but a high income with fewer lifestyle demands?
