Scott Galloway warns chasing a raise with every job switch could backfire — especially for older workers

Scott Galloway warns that constantly seeking raises with every job change could have negative consequences, particularly for older workers. Over one's career, it's likely they'll spend as much time overpaid as underpaid. Despite this, many workers feel they're underpaid even when being paid above market rate. A 2025 Payscale survey found 68% of workers believe they're underpaid, while 47% of those actually earning above market still felt they weren't paid enough.

The tension can be most apparent in later career stages when years of promotions and job hopping have increased a worker's salary. Older workers may face additional challenges such as longer unemployment periods after being laid off and ageism. Galloway argues that careers don't always follow a linear path of increasing pay, and a lower-paying role might be a smart decision if it provides stability, better benefits, or a better path to higher earnings later on.