“Are people who change jobs happier?”
I was asked this question while presenting our latest salary survey data to recruiting groups from Austin, Dallas and Houston.
To answer the question, I went back to our datasets and compared surveys we conducted this year for the Texas groups, the Bay Area and Chicago. I think this is a question that many people ponder, especially as end-of-year review season approaches.
While we hadn’t previously collected data on overall job satisfaction, we have been tracking salary satisfaction across recruiting groups for years. Because compensation plays a major role in job satisfaction, we analyzed salary satisfaction separately for those who stayed in their current roles and those who recently made a move.
In our 2025 survey, only 58% of professionals who stayed in their roles over the past two years felt satisfied with their salary, while that number rose to 72% among those who made a move!
It makes sense: When we look at why people move, money is the number one reason. Of those we surveyed who made a move in the past two years, 75% said salary was a motivator.
Of course, salary is only one aspect of job satisfaction. There are many factors to keep in mind when changing jobs (or staying put), including team dynamics, growth opportunities, and the firm’s outlook. However, it’s clear that there is a strong correlation between making a move and feeling happier with your paycheck.
The end of the year is a natural moment to reflect on your career goals and what you want to build in the year ahead, whether that means growing in your current role or exploring new opportunities. As you think about your own path, it may be worth asking yourself a bigger question: In addition to salary, what drives your sense of satisfaction and forward momentum in your career?
You can take a look at the salary surveys we’ve most recently conducted here if you’d like to dive into the data. And if you’d like to discuss your career goals and new opportunities for 2026, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or Eva.