Money isn’t everything when it comes to job “compensation” for today’s workforce.

In fact, if responses from our CareerThink readers are any indication, employees increasingly value non-cash aspects such as a job they love, a good benefits package and a positive work environment every bit as much — if not even more so — than the dollar amount on their paychecks.

In January’s Reader Connection section, we posed the question, Do you get paid enough? And surprisingly, the majority of responses we received were “Yes.” You read that correctly — yes.

More than two-thirds of readers who responded said they do, indeed, get paid enough — mainly because they consider total “job compensation” to be more than just the paycheck.

A comment from J. Wright, who works for a podiatry group, was representative …
“My answer is yes. My salary, while quite adequate, is not measured in dollars alone. My time is worth more than dollars and cents … and has to be reimbursed by working for a good employer with good benefits, a great working atmosphere and toward a common goal. When these ‘salary’ requirements are met, my paycheck seems that much larger.”

And this, from J. Smith, who works at a community hospital:
“Off the top of my head, I am going to say of course I do NOT get paid enough. … However, the bottom line is that my job makes me happy. I love the people I work with, appreciate my benefits, am satisfied with my hourly salary and love the convenience of living so close to my job. Well, then yes, I would definitely say I get paid enough.”

So what’s “enough”? In 2003, the median income for an employee in the United States was about $37,000. And according to Fortune magazine, “the average white-collar raise these days is about 4%.”

There were also some “yes, but” type responses that mentioned job satisfaction, such as this comment from V. Allain, a library director:
“I think my salary is respectable, but doesn’t reflect the 120% that I give on the job … but since I work for local government, there are no performance bonuses. Since I love my job, a pay raise wouldn’t make me work any harder. I try to use that knowledge to encourage my staff to perform above the minimum expectations. Through training, job reassignments, encouragement and recognition, I try to make their job more than just a paycheck.”

What’s more, several CareerThink readers who reported being paid adequately made it clear they could be making considerably more money in a different job situation but choose not to because of the non-cash aspects of their current position:

• They love the work they do
• Enjoy the positive work environment
• Have good working relationships with supervisors and co-workers
• Are willing to get a strong benefits package in lieu of a higher salary

S. Katz, who’s a department head at a mortgage corporation, echoed the thoughts of many:
Regarding the question, Do I get paid enough?, there are important things to consider. For instance, in a larger company in a job with more targeted responsibilities, I might be paid 20-40% more than what I currently receive in salary. What I may not have at a larger company is such a (very) generous benefits package, profit sharing, flexibility, peace of mind or job security. As far as I’m concerned, I’d rather take less money at a better company. While I’m not about to turn down a raise … I feel the pros outweigh the cons in my situation and I am paid enough and happy to be employed where I am.

And from K. Vozella, an office supervisor in a hospital, who admits she is underpaid by about $7,000, compared to business standards in her area:
“I think I have the best job in my company. I have two bosses who are wonderful. I am praised when I do well and told when I do wrong.”

This from K. Shannon, and administrative assistant,
“I used to make much more money. But I am forgoing more money for more benefits. I believe this will be a growing trend, as the cost of medical care and insurance rates continue to rise.”

Granted, there were also “no” votes, much in the vein of this response from S. Whitney:
“Heck no! Even though I have three degrees, I’m underpaid by 10K. Most employers I’ve encountered want to hire you to wear a dozen hats...plus you have to master charismatic negotiation skills to try to get raises to eke up to your average salary scale.”

But overall, the responses we received are in line with a growing national trend that has shown up for the past couple of years in the media by way of employment-related polls, surveys and research:

Today’s employees are looking for more than just a paycheck on the job — and are sometimes willing to earn less if it means a situation with greater job satisfaction or more fulfilling work.