Almost 1 in 2 American workers earn less than they anticipate

CHICAGO, USA: Earning more money in 2014 will certainly be a New Year's resolution for most Americans. According to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of online lender CashNetUSA, half of Americans who receive a paycheck today (49 per cent) are earning less than what they anticipated at their current age.

One-third (34 per cent) of American workers say their current paycheck is equal to what they thought they would be making at this age. Only 16 per cent report it being higher. The online survey was conducted in October 2013 among 2,014 Americans ages 18+.

"It's hard enough that so many Americans are struggling to get by in this slow economic recovery," says Megan Staton, director of marketing for online lender CashNetUSA.

"Now add to that the disappointment that you aren't making as much as you anticipated at your current age. Many Americans are likely to be putting 'make more money in 2014' at the top of their New Year's resolutions."

More women report making less than anticipated at their age (55 per cent), versus men at 45 per cent. This belief is accentuated in women as they age, with only 28 per cent of women 35-54 saying that they are making what they expected while 41 per cent of women 55 and older earn what they expected.