Why Mancunians are some of the most 'salary shy' in the UK

New data from the matching and hiring platform Indeed shows that salary remains a sensitive subject for many Mancunians, both in the workplace and at home.

While some avoid the topic altogether, others see pay gaps as a source of motivation rather than frustration.

Mancunians are among the least likely to discuss their salary, with 31% saying they would politely decline if a colleague asked about their earnings - a figure second only to Sheffield (34%).

Some take this even further, with 8% admitting they would be offended or avoid the question entirely, compared to just 5% of the UK population.

But people from Manchester see a difference between sharing and asking. When it comes to asking others about their salary, Manchester ranks as one of the most comfortable to ask others about their salary.

In fact, only 1 in 10 (11%) Mancunians say they wouldn’t feel comfortable asking anyone their salary.

Only Brighton ranks lower (9%) - and there is a clear salary transparency gulf between Manchester and the UK’s most “financially polite” cities of Bristol (28%) and Belfast (37%).

Conversations around salary are still limited even in close relationships. 1 in 3 (33%) Mancunians don’t feel comfortable sharing their salary with their partner or spouse, and 37% wouldn’t feel comfortable asking their spouse about their earnings.

Even within families, pay remains a guarded topic. Less than half of Mancunians feel comfortable discussing their salary with immediate relatives.

While Mancunians may be secretive about salary, some still open up to friends - though not always honestly. 1 in 4 (25%) admit they have lied to close friends about their earnings.

But when honest conversations do happen, the results can be eye-opening: 57% of