I’m genuinely curious where others stand on this—especially those who’ve been in the workforce for 5+ years.

I stayed loyal to my company for 4 years. Trained new hires, took on more responsibility, hit all my targets, and barely got a 3% raise. A friend of mine? Jumped jobs every 12–18 months, got 30–40% salary bumps each time, and is now making almost double what I do.

I used to believe loyalty meant something. That sticking around would be recognized. But now it kinda feels like I’ve been played.

Is the game really just “hop every year or two or get left behind”? Or is there still a world where loyalty pays off?

You've hit on a really common sentiment in today's job market, and you're far from alone in feeling that "loyalty" can sometimes feel like a trap. Many people, especially those with several years of experience, share your observation that job hopping often leads to significantly higher salary bumps and faster career progression than staying put.

While the current market often favors job hopping for salary growth, loyalty isn't entirely dead, but it looks different than it used to.

Ultimately, the "game" has changed. It's less about blind loyalty and more about strategic career management. You need to be proactive in seeking out opportunities that align with your financial and professional goals, whether that means advocating for yourself within your current company or being willing to explore options elsewhere.