Your income is also influenced by how well you market yourself. Your employer wants to pay as little as possible for your work while your goal is to be paid what you're worth. To bridge the gap, a smart person will negotiate his salary.

• Delay salary discussions until after you're...

Your education has a greater impact on your earnings than other influences such as age, race, gender, and location. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average college graduate earns twice as much as someone whose education ended with high school.

If you can't commit...