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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is 26.7k a good salary for a single person?

130 replies

Bethditto1 · 08/06/2025 21:20

Who lives on their own.. this is in the Civil Service, this is for a person with no children.
Based on 37 hours. I think it's quite poor, just curious to know what people think?

OP posts:
Original poster
Bethditto1 · 08/06/2025 22:02

No flexi in the role im in, fixed start and finish times.

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Comedycook · 08/06/2025 22:01

No I think it's a terrible salary to be honest.... only just above minimum wage. That's not an insult to anyone on that wage by the way...I'm a sahm and if I re entered the work place, I'd probably get the same. However, 20-25 years ago, when I was job hunting, roles were paying that and here we are, still on these ridiculous salaries. It's an absolute joke how people are supposed to live on this.

Original poster
Bethditto1 · 08/06/2025 22:00

Ive had to come in via a recruitment agency to get a foot in the door. Well I didn't 'have to' but it was faster.
So unless I can apply for permanent roles here, I'm not getting the same pension or sick pay.

OP posts:
skippy67 · 08/06/2025 21:59

Bethditto1 · 08/06/2025 21:26

I'm in the North of England in a major city. AO in London is around 30k I believe.

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That's really low. I'm London based civil servant.

spikefaithbuffyangel · 08/06/2025 21:56

I am in the NW, looked at that role and haven’t applied as no it isn’t enough for me. Single and mortgage and I need 29k minimum which is proving tricky to find

Middlechild3 · 08/06/2025 21:50

Salaries aren't paid depending on marital or parental status. It's a lower level salary, if full time probably works out only a little over minimum hourly wage.

Worklifegoals · 08/06/2025 21:50

Is it 27% pension contribution, 30 plus holiday, flexi working and ability to mainly wfh?

If so, you work out what your actual wage would be in the private sector by adding that pension percentage to your wage (maybe take off 5% as many employers contribute now but they contribute minimal amounts and you need to contribute the rest) and then I think you get at least a week or 2 more than private sector.

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 08/06/2025 21:49

I think it comes down to career progression opportunities.

My son is in his 20s, did an apprenticeship in car mechanics, and is in his first post qualifying job. He earns £34k plus bonus, so approximately £40k per year. But he's unlikely to ever earn more than £40k plus bonus. Whereas a career in the CS presumably has much more scope for high earnings.

JustMyView13 · 08/06/2025 21:48

No.
If you are contributing via salary sacrifice to a pension, then this salary falls below the national minimum wage based on a 40 hour week.
If this salary is paid for a 40 hour week, and no salary sacrifice deductions, then there's no allowance baked in for you to work below that. Your employer would be in breach of NMW again.

Just seen you're on 37 Hours. If you ever work additional time, there's a high chance your earnings fall below NMW.

BuckChuckets · 08/06/2025 21:44

Bethditto1 · 08/06/2025 21:25

And sorry forgot to say im 35.

God no, I was on more than that at 25, which was 20 years ago.

imnotwhoyouthinkiam · 08/06/2025 21:34

My son earns just under that in a warehouse, 40 hours per week.
But I can't imagine he's got much chance of career progression. So whilst it doesn't sound like a lot, in the long run it's probably better than DS.

ReacherOMGyes · 08/06/2025 21:30

I'm a top of the spine point AO and on £33k where I live. Will you automatically climb the spine each year? I was a year at entry, year at middle then top after two years

Original poster
Bethditto1 · 08/06/2025 21:27

The other CS benefits are certainly good. I think when the salary is quite poor initially you tend to not think about the pension as much, but it depends.

OP posts:
Marley99 · 08/06/2025 21:27

If it’s for yourself, you can work out if it covers your current outgoings?

Original poster
Bethditto1 · 08/06/2025 21:26

Marley99 · 08/06/2025 21:25

Depends where they are in the country?

Would be fine for someone in a house share, entry level. I think you’d struggle to rent a house/flat alone on it.

I'm in the North of England in a major city. AO in London is around 30k I believe.

OP posts:
Redrosesposies · 08/06/2025 21:26

Not on Mumsnet, no. In the real world it's not a bad starting salary but you'll find plenty of people raise a family on this.

PuppyDay · 08/06/2025 21:26

You said it yourself: it’s an entry level role.

it’s the civil service, it comes with stability, decent pension and decent leave entitlements. You can climb up the grades reasonably quickly if you are good.

Marley99 · 08/06/2025 21:25

Depends where they are in the country?

Would be fine for someone in a house share, entry level. I think you’d struggle to rent a house/flat alone on it.

Original poster
Bethditto1 · 08/06/2025 21:25

Role is full time call centre role in the Civil Service, no bonuses etc. Available.

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Original poster
Bethditto1 · 08/06/2025 21:25

And sorry forgot to say im 35.

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Original poster
Bethditto1 · 08/06/2025 21:24

AO.
Have a mortgage, it is an entry level role, EO is around 30k and HEO around 34k I think in my department

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Jk987 · 08/06/2025 21:24

Depends on the role and your responsibilities.

Loveduppenguin · 08/06/2025 21:24

I think age and stage in career are important factors here too

LegoAirlines · 08/06/2025 21:24

It’s not far off minimum wage.

MidnightPatrol · 08/06/2025 21:23

It depends on your experience level.

It’s barely above minimum wage now - but, for an entry level role it would be reasonable.

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