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Original poster

To ask if £30k is a low FT salary these days?

66 replies

morningperson5 · 28/10/2023 17:51

A few years ago I dreamed about earning £30k. Now I have finally got there after 9 years of FT work, it now seems many grads are being employed on salaries of £30k plus, especially in the public sector. However, I still see lots of job adverts looking for someone of 3+ years experience and offering a salary of £24k in the public sector.

This is in the south east.

The average salary is approx £33k according to Google.

OP posts:
PawsisShady · 28/10/2023 21:34

@DragonFly98 it's not - depending on age
Presuming people are over 23 then it's 21,673 for 40hrs. £10.42ph

DragonFly98 · 28/10/2023 21:23

Sdpbody · 28/10/2023 21:19

£30k is low for a full time salary. Minimum wage is £24k a year and you'd be given help and support for rent, UC etc. as a single person, you'd only get a mortgage for £120k min and you won't be able to save much more than £15k for a deposit. You'd get absolutely nothing for £135k where I live in the Midlands.

Minimum wage is just under 19k not 24k

PawsisShady · 28/10/2023 21:21

Sdpbody · 28/10/2023 21:19

£30k is low for a full time salary. Minimum wage is £24k a year and you'd be given help and support for rent, UC etc. as a single person, you'd only get a mortgage for £120k min and you won't be able to save much more than £15k for a deposit. You'd get absolutely nothing for £135k where I live in the Midlands.

This should say If you have children
I don't get any help/support, UC etc as a single person

Sdpbody · 28/10/2023 21:19

£30k is low for a full time salary. Minimum wage is £24k a year and you'd be given help and support for rent, UC etc. as a single person, you'd only get a mortgage for £120k min and you won't be able to save much more than £15k for a deposit. You'd get absolutely nothing for £135k where I live in the Midlands.

Ap24 · 28/10/2023 20:21

Yes. It's only £2k a month take home which doesn't go far now. Taking into account inflation, earning £30k 10 years ago is equivalent to earning about £40.2k today. And even compared to 2019 you would need £36.7k.

RandomMess · 28/10/2023 19:53

@AfterWeights civil service working in labs, NW uni admin roles.

Bookist · 28/10/2023 19:28

HVPRN · 28/10/2023 19:28

@Bookist thanks!

To be fair I didn't know what the big four meant either until she told me x

HVPRN · 28/10/2023 19:28

@Bookist thanks!

AfterWeights · 28/10/2023 19:27

I got 27k as a graduate in 2007.

PandaG · 28/10/2023 19:27

Son graduated last year, is in a grad training scheme job - working towards professional qualification. He's on around 35k, with one year experience. In a northern city

twattydogshavetwattypeople · 28/10/2023 19:26

Anything under six figures qualifies as low on Mumsnet.

AfterWeights · 28/10/2023 19:26

I see an awful lot of jobs for graduates WITH experience for £20k

Where?! 20k is barely above minimum wage.

AfterWeights · 28/10/2023 19:26

I'd say its low to have taken 9 years of experience to get to.

RandomMess · 28/10/2023 19:25

I see an awful lot of jobs for graduates WITH experience for £20k 😳

Bookist · 28/10/2023 19:23

prescribingmum · 28/10/2023 19:20

I believe this as DH earnt around 30k grad salary with big 4 firm in London 16 years ago

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Yes, if she'd chosen London they were offering a lot more.

Havanawinter · 28/10/2023 19:23

I am a civil servant and I had to have a degree to apply for my job. I earn £32.5k FTE (I’m part time) and my salary is criminally low for the work I do and responsibilities I have. However I have a friend on the same salary as me who does admin at a car dealership. It’s all relative.

Findyourneutralspace · 28/10/2023 19:22

Im in the same boat. There seems to be a bit of a thing at the moment where new graduates get rapidly promoted to £30k which is great, as they deserve it, but the pay rises slow down after that, which can be quite galling if you’ve worked a lot of years to reach that.

Bookist · 28/10/2023 19:21

musingtoday · 28/10/2023 19:14

And the big northern city Leeds?

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Yes x

Bookist · 28/10/2023 19:21

HVPRN · 28/10/2023 19:12

One of the big 4?

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One of the big four accountancy companies x

prescribingmum · 28/10/2023 19:20

Bookist · 28/10/2023 19:11

As a 20 year old undergraduate, DD will be paid £30K during her placement year with one of the Big Four. And that's in a big Northern city, not London.

I believe this as DH earnt around 30k grad salary with big 4 firm in London 16 years ago

Bovrilla · 28/10/2023 19:18

Depends on your sector.

I work for a charity and earn about £30k. It's a bit pants BUT the job and lifestyle are great.

If I wanted to I could go back to teaching at top of the scale on £46k but it's not worth it.

musingtoday · 28/10/2023 19:14

Bookist · 28/10/2023 19:11

As a 20 year old undergraduate, DD will be paid £30K during her placement year with one of the Big Four. And that's in a big Northern city, not London.

And the big northern city Leeds?

musingtoday · 28/10/2023 19:14

HVPRN · 28/10/2023 19:12

One of the big 4?

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I reckon it’s Asda.

HVPRN · 28/10/2023 19:12

Bookist · 28/10/2023 19:11

As a 20 year old undergraduate, DD will be paid £30K during her placement year with one of the Big Four. And that's in a big Northern city, not London.

One of the big 4?

Bookist · 28/10/2023 19:11

As a 20 year old undergraduate, DD will be paid £30K during her placement year with one of the Big Four. And that's in a big Northern city, not London.