What should I do if a senior colleague asks about my salary, especially since I know mine is higher than his?

Does not matter if yours is below or above, I would just state you do not feel it is appropriate to discuss salary.

You're not under any obligations to discuss salary with your colleagues except with your line manager or HRC.

The answer to that question starts and stops with the previous two answers. To think someone who doesn't need to know asks is rude enough. I just thought good manners and etiquette would have nipped this in the bud.like 50 years ago, thats all, so it shouldn't even be asked anymore. Repeat, not a putdown, just shocked there are still people who ask.about others salaries to bring this up.

I agree with all of the above. However, the asking does make for an awkward moment and may strain the relationship longer term.

I agree. Someone with whom I work, who had been out of the workforce for several years, hinted and then then asked outright. I said that I don't discuss my salary with anyone and that it only leads to trouble.

Bad form; politely point this individual in another direction.

Extending the several very good answers already posted, this very question raises a couple of issues:

- Does your company have a policy re compensation confidentiality? If so, this then triggers what you do about a breach of company policy. If not, then why not? As a senior exec in the company, you can/should take initiative to establish such a policy. In some companies, the very asking of such a question is grounds for sanction if not termination.
- Why is he asking? The reason may be illuminating in various ways, beyond curiosity per se.
- Answer to above question may have implications for your role, recognition, and future in the company.

Remember, nothing happens independent of context or motives. How do those apply to you?

This article is from the Texas Workforce Committee and basically states that employers may be violating federal law (NLRA) if they prohibit employees from discussing their salary and benefits: http://www.twc.state.tx.us/news/efte/salary_discussions.html
Just wanted to pass that along. If someone asks me about my salary, I just tell them I never discuss pay, that I was always taught that some things should be kept confidential no matter what. It can hurt someone's feelings if you are friends as well as colleagues, but having them find out you make significantly more than they do (or reverse, that YOU make significantly less than they do) can really harm a friendship and working relationship either way.

This NLRA policy is prime example of consideration that not all laws are right, appropriate, beneficial. Certainly, in some realms this is public info. In the private sector, however, unless the company has adopted policy of compensation transparency, as some have, conversations about compensation may be inimical to stakeholders' interests.

Discussing salary is never going to lead to a good outcome. One, if not both parties will be frustrated. Simply decline on the grounds that you feel this is personal information,