Job Title Inflation: 92% of Workers Say Job Titles Are Used to Fake Career Growth

Job titles are supposed to signal achievement. However, for many employees, they’ve become nothing more than a brand.

A new MyPerfectResume survey of 1,000 U.S. workers reveals that job titles are increasingly being used to simulate career advancement, without raises, promotions, or real power. 

According to the Job Title Inflation Report, 92% of workers believe companies use inflated job titles to create the illusion of growth while holding back compensation and advancement opportunities.

For many, a fancier title is simply a way to justify more work for the same pay. It may look good on LinkedIn, but it leaves workers feeling underpaid, misunderstood, and stuck.

Key Findings

Inflated and misleading job titles are becoming more common, and workers know they’re not always a real advancement.

• 92% say job titles are sometimes used to fake career growth.
• 91% believe employers use title changes to avoid giving raises.
• 66% say companies are handing out impressive-sounding titles more often than in the past, without changes to pay or responsibility.

Workers Aren't Fooled

Many workers say they’ve been given grander titles without the corresponding compensation or were pressured into accepting one in the first place.

• 39% were given a more senior title without a raise.
• 38% held a title that sounded more advanced than their actual role.
• 37% felt pressured to accept a title without negotiating compensation.
• 15% accepted a lower salary in exchange for a better-sounding title.

Why Employers Inflate Titles—According to Workers

When asked why companies hand out inflated or prestigious job titles, workers cited several strategic reasons:

• To justify assigning more responsibilities (20%)
• To flatter or appease workers (19%)
• To avoid offering higher pay (18%)
• To retain employees (16%)
• To make the company look bigger or more legitimate (14%)
• To reduce turnover without actual promotions (13%)

Title Inflation Creates Career Confusion

When job titles don’t match the actual work, it can harm both workers within and outside the company.

• 41% say their title has made them appear overqualified or underqualified to recruiters.
• 11% had a creative or unusual title that made it harder to explain their experience.
• 57% say coworkers with the same title had significantly different responsibilities or pay.

The Trap Behind Job Title Inflation

Some workers end up stuck, unable to move up, or even out, because their title sounds more advanced than it actually is.

• 34% say they feel “title trapped,” stuck with a flashy title but no real path forward.
• 54% say job titles influence whether they accept a new job offer.
• 65% say their title accurately reflects their role, but…
  • 23% say it understates their responsibilities.
  • 13% say it overstates them.

Titles Are Not a Substitute for Advancement

Job titles are meant to recognize progress, not disguise a lack of it. When companies use them to simulate career growth without offering promotions, raises, or actual change, employees notice, and they don’t trust it. 

Job title inflation doesn’t inspire loyalty. It hinders career confidence by causing confusion, frustration, and attrition. Workers are ready for employers to stop performing and start rewarding.

For press inquiries, contact Nathan Barber at nathan.barber@bold.com. 

Survey Methodology

The findings presented in this report are based on a nationally representative survey conducted by MyPerfectResume using Pollfish on August 7, 2025. The survey collected responses from 1,000 U.S. adults currently employed full-time or part-time. Respondents answered a mix of yes/no, single-selection, and multiple-choice questions covering perceptions of job title inflation, compensation mismatches, career advancement, and workplace transparency.

Demographic Breakdown

The survey sample was fairly balanced by gender, with 52% identifying as male and 48% as female. Respondents represented a wide range of ages, including 13% aged 18–24, 19% aged 25–34, 17% aged 35–44, 16% aged 45–54, 14% aged 55–64, and 21% aged 65 and older.

Educational backgrounds were also diverse: 16% held a graduate degree, 29% a bachelor’s degree, 17% an associate degree, 36% a high school diploma or equivalent, and 2% had less than a high school education.

About MyPerfectResume

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