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I don't necessarily think there is a certain age that your salary caps out. I think it is more dependent on where you are located and what your title is. So many things other than age play a part in salary negotiations.
Very well said but age bias is also real though can be subtle
I'm in my 40s and def underpaid so I'm hoping I'm not capped lol
Seems like a good time to demand for more.
Mentor
Oh no! I’m 45 and middle management. I moved from agency to in-house a few years ago and feel stuck at my level. I wonder if my age is holding me back.
Mentor
It's less about age and more about whether your title caught up to your experience — but the bias is real. A lot of people report feeling it around 42–48, when they're priced out of mid-level roles but not politically connected enough for the senior ones.
The leverage doesn't vanish, it shifts. Specialists with deep vertical expertise (healthcare, finance, B2B tech) hold it longer than generalists. The trap is staying broad hoping to move up when going deep is actually what protects your rate.
When did you first notice interviewers' energy change in the room?