Keeping this in consideration, are people's income public record?
A person's income tax return is confidential and not available for public inspection, but there are a variety of public records that shed light on someone's financial situation.
Furthermore, why you shouldn't tell people how much you make? THE DOWNSIDE OF REVEALING YOUR INCOME* You start associating your identity with your income. * You might come across as arrogant and boastful. * You lose ground in salary negotiations if you ever change jobs. * People will start expecting things from you i.e. “Larry makes $10,000 a month, let him get the dinner tab!”
Hereof, how do you find out how much a public company makes?
You can find information on the compensation of officers of public companies in the company's filings with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. Public companies that list on an exchange or NASDAQ must file quarterly and annual reports with the SEC.
Can you ask someone how much they make?
Employers can still ask candidates about their “salary expectations,” or the amount of money they would like to make in the new role. Employers can also ask you to disclose your salary after an offer is made. If you lied in your interview, you could legally be fired.