D.C. residents reveal how much they EARN in TikTok series – from $120,000 a year to $15 an hour

Washington, D.C. residents have candidly revealed how much money they earn in a viral new TikTok series – from a government employee who rakes in $120,000 a year to a medical scribe on a $15 an hour salary.

Hannah Williams, 25, who works as a data analyst for a government contractor, wants people to be more open about how much money they make.

She decided to take to the streets of D.C. and asked complete strangers about what they do for work and their salaries, in an attempt to end the secrecy around earnings.

She posted the results to TikTok under the username Salary Transparent Street, where the videos quickly went viral – gaining millions of views, likes, and comments, and sparking a major conversation about jobs across America.

D.C. residents revealed how much they earn in a viral new TikTok series - from a government employee who rakes in $120,000 to a medical scribe on a $15 an hour salary (pictured)

D.C. residents revealed how much they earn in a viral new TikTok series – from a government employee who rakes in $120,000 (left) to a medical scribe on a $15 an hour salary (right)

Hannah Williams (pictured), 25, who works as a data analyst for a government contractor, wants people to be more open about how much money they make

Hannah Williams (pictured), 25, who works as a data analyst for a government contractor, wants people to be more open about how much money they make

She decided to take to the streets of D.C. and asked complete strangers about what they do for work and their salaries, in an attempt to end the secrecy around earnings

She decided to take to the streets of D.C. and asked complete strangers about what they do for work and their salaries, in an attempt to end the secrecy around earnings

She decided to take to the streets of D.C. and asked complete strangers about what they do for work and their salaries, in an attempt to end the secrecy around earnings

She posted the results to TikTok, where the videos quickly went viral - gaining millions of views, and sparking a major conversation about jobs across America

She posted the results to TikTok, where the videos quickly went viral – gaining millions of views, and sparking a major conversation about jobs across America

Hannah spoke to numerous people in the Georgetown area of D.C., and documented the entire thing for her TikTok account.

The jobs and salaries that strangers in D.C. told Hannah during her Salary Transparent Street series

  • IT job – $70,000 a year
  • Unnamed government job – $76,000 a year
  • Lifeguard – $15 an hour
  • Contractor – $96,000 a year
  • Research scientist – $52,000 a year
  • Teacher – $83,000 a year
  • Software developer – $90,000 a year
  • Editor – $60,000 a year
  • Unnamed government job – $120,000 a year
  • Economic development job – $100,000 a year
  • Medical scribe – $15.25 an hour
  • Research assistant – $40,000 a year
  • Rocket scientist – $96,500 a year
  • HIV prevention researcher – between $80,000 and $90,000 a year
  • Refrigeration and air conditioning technician – $60,000 a year
  • Budget analyst – $93,000 a year
  • Police officer – $120,000 a year
  • Nurse practitioner – $120,000 a year 

‘Today, we’re going to ask people what they do and how much they make,’ she began in her first video, which has now been viewed more than five million times.

A man named Chris revealed that he works in IT and makes $70,000 a year, while a woman named Morgan told Hannah that she works for the government and makes $76,000 a year.

A lifeguard said she earned $15 an hour. While a contractor, named Max, revealed that he had a salary of $96,000.

Other people that Hannah spoke to in her videos included a research scientist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center who makes $52,000, a teacher who earns $83,000 and ‘loves’ her job, a software developer who rakes in $90,000, and an editor who has a salary of $60,000 a year.

Hannah herself makes $115,000 a year, but she first began her career as a telemarketer with a $40,000 salary.

She then quit that job to become a junior data analyst for a small government contracting firm, which paid her $55,000 a year.

She quickly went through two more positions that weren’t right for her – which made Hannah worried that ‘no one was going to hire her’ due to the amount of jobs that she went through in such a small amount of time.

The Northern Virginia Community College and Georgetown University graduate then took some time off to research pay ranges in her desired field, and learned how to highlight her strengths on her resume and in interviews – and she has now landed her dream job.

Before starting Salary Transparent Street, Hannah began earning a following online for posting about her experiences in the work force and sharing advice with others. 

A man named Chris revealed he works in IT and makes $70,000 a year (pictured), while a woman named Morgan told Hannah she works for the government and makes $76,000 a year

A man named Chris revealed he works in IT and makes $70,000 a year (pictured), while a woman named Morgan told Hannah she works for the government and makes $76,000 a year

A lifeguard said she earned $15 an hour

A contractor, named Max, revealed that he had a salary of $96,000

A lifeguard said she earned $15 an hour (left), while a contractor, named Max, revealed that he had a salary of $96,000 (right)

Another person that Hannah spoke to in her videos was a research scientist who makes $52,000

She also interviewed a teacher who earns $83,000 and said she 'loves' her job

Other people that Hannah spoke to in her videos included a research scientist who makes $52,000 (left) and a teacher who earns $83,000 and said she ‘loves’ her job (right)

Now, she is determined to use her platform to end the stigma around sharing your salary with others. 

‘If the Great Resignation has taught us anything, it is that there is power in numbers,’ she told Washington Post recently, while discussing her new TikTok series.

‘When workers are empowered, they can actually influence change. I figured, what better way to get open salaries out there on the internet than by asking strangers on the street? 

‘I thought that it was going to be successful, but I had no idea it would go as viral as it did.’

Since posting her first video, she has racked in more than 330,000 followers.

She went on to post four more videos from around D.C. She also shared four that were taken in Arlington, Virginia, and two from Alexandria, Virginia.

Hannah, who works as a data analyst for a government contractor, is determined to use her platform to end the stigma around sharing your salary with others

Hannah, who works as a data analyst for a government contractor, is determined to use her platform to end the stigma around sharing your salary with others

'So many of us equate our salaries and pay with our worth. We need to disconnect from that notion,' Hannah said. 'It’s literally just a number, and it’s highly likely that you’re underpaid'

'So many of us equate our salaries and pay with our worth. We need to disconnect from that notion,' Hannah said. 'It’s literally just a number, and it’s highly likely that you’re underpaid'

‘So many of us equate our salaries and pay with our worth. We need to disconnect from that notion,’ she said. ‘It’s literally just a number, and it’s highly likely that you’re underpaid’

The TikToker, who makes $115,000 a year, believes that the lack of transparency about pay has negatively impacted how minorities are treated in the workplace

The TikToker, who makes $115,000 a year, believes that the lack of transparency about pay has negatively impacted how minorities are treated in the workplace

Hannah is happy that she has started an open conversation about income – something that she thinks is still considered taboo to talk about.

She believes that the lack of transparency about pay has negatively impacted how minorities are treated in the workplace. 

‘Not having those salaries and those open transparent conversations is really a disadvantage for women and people of color because they are the ones that are more likely to be taken advantage of,’ she explained.

‘So having these conversations is really important for closing the pay gap and increasing diversity in companies.’

Many people have taken to the comment section of Hannah’s videos to share their support for the series, with one writing, ‘I love how Millennials and Gen-Z are way more open to talking about salaries.’

Many people have taken to the comment section of Hannah's videos to share their support for the series

Many people have taken to the comment section of Hannah’s videos to share their support for the series

Another added: ‘It’s refreshing to hear that not everybody is making $200,000 because [that] is typically what pops up on TikTok.’

‘Thank you for making this account,’ gushed someone else. ‘Salary transparency is important.’

‘Yes! Salary transparency is literally the best way to demand equal pay,’ agreed a different user.

‘Don’t let companies fool you into thinking sharing your salary is bad.’

‘Love this idea. I used to work in human resources, our society needs much better transparency on pay overall,’ read a fifth comment.

Despite being nervous about how people would react to her questions at first, Hannah revealed that she has yet to encounter anyone who got angry when she asked them about their salary. 

However, she sometimes talks to people who aren’t comfortable sharing their pay – which is totally OK with Hannah.

‘We’re not trying to change people’s minds overnight. But even the ones who don’t want to say it, they leave with something to think about,’ she added.

Another person interviewed for the series was someone working in HIV prevention research, who makes between $80,000 and $90,000

A budget analyst who is paid $93,000 a year also opened up to Hannah about her salary in one of her TikTok videos

Other people interviewed included someone working in HIV prevention research, who makes between $80,000 and $90,000 (left), and a budget analyst who is paid $93,000 a year (right)

Hannah also spoke to a police officer who makes $120,000

A nurse practitioner joked that she doesn't make 'enough' with her $120,000 salary

Hannah also spoke to a police officer who makes $120,000 (left), and a nurse practitioner, who joked she doesn’t make ‘enough’ with her $120,000 salary (right)

‘So many of us equate our salaries and pay with our worth. We need to disconnect from that notion. 

‘It’s literally just a number, and it’s highly likely that you’re underpaid.’

In another TikTok, a contractor for the navy revealed that he makes $75,000 a year, but admitted that he doesn’t like his job.

A man with a ‘quasi’ government job said he makes in the $120,000 area, while someone who works in economic development told Hannah that he earns a little over $100,000 a year.

A grad student at George Washington University, who also works as a medical scribe, said he makes $15.25 an hour. While a research assistant at GW said she rakes in $40,000 a year. 

Other people interviewed for the series included a rocket scientist making $96,500, someone working in HIV prevention research, who makes between $80,000 and $90,000, a refrigeration and air conditioning technician, who earns about $60,000, a budget analyst who has five years of experience and is paid $93,000 a year, a police officer who makes $120,000, and a nurse practitioner, who joked she doesn’t make ‘enough’ with her $120,000 salary.