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Original poster

What's a high flying salary ?

105 replies

Noangelbuthavingfun · 12/04/2026 19:52

For women... not men. Aibu to ask? I know it's a bit how long is a piece of string but just interested... my friends and I had wildly different views! Thanks for sharing and why if you can

OP posts:
MayaPinion · 12/04/2026 20:49

Twenty gajillion pounds making fish lips out of macramé.

Itsmetheflamingo · 12/04/2026 20:48

missmollygreen · 12/04/2026 20:47

If you struggle on 200k then an extra 60k wont help. The problem is not the money

Show quote history

Oh 100%, the problem is losing so much in a divorce and having a large mortgage alone 😁

however, I know my finances and I know an extra £60k would help so wind your neck in

Nomura · 12/04/2026 20:48

I don't think i agree with deciding on what's a high salary along the gender lines.I think depending on what the individual does that is what should be the determining factor, so the question should be, 'what constitutes a high flying salary?' period.

Blueeberry · 12/04/2026 20:48

Noangelbuthavingfun · 12/04/2026 20:38

@childoftkty that's eye watering 😅

It’s crazy!! A NQ lawyer friend of DD’s is on £180k at 25. Mad amount of money

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 12/04/2026 20:48

FunnyOrca · 12/04/2026 20:42

Wow, these responses are insane. I’d be impressed with anything over £100k

I don’t think 100k salary would afford you to have a nice house, private school for a couple of kids and money left for holidays and I would expect a high flying salary to be able to cover that

lovealieinortwo · 12/04/2026 20:48

FKAT · 12/04/2026 20:46

There aren't millions of women in high flying careers though.
High flying has a meaning that people seem to be overlooking here! It's unusual and rare to earn this salary.

Exactly, I think only 200k women earning over 100k.

Nitgel · 12/04/2026 20:47

There should be a maximum wage

TeenLifeMum · 12/04/2026 20:47

In my world high flying would be £100k and above. £250k would be “really high flying”. Not sure I’d want the level of responsibility that comes with just kind of pay though and lots of mnetters on £100k seem to struggle to make ends meet whereas I’m fairly comfortable on £60k 🤷🏻‍♀️

missmollygreen · 12/04/2026 20:47

Itsmetheflamingo · 12/04/2026 20:40

£200k?

I earn nearly that much but do feel like I struggle. However I think an extra £60k would provide a good amount more per month to relax

If you struggle on 200k then an extra 60k wont help. The problem is not the money

FKAT · 12/04/2026 20:46

There aren't millions of women in high flying careers though.
High flying has a meaning that people seem to be overlooking here! It's unusual and rare to earn this salary.

PizzaInTheBath · 12/04/2026 20:46

Another vote for 100k+ - I'm in the north and don't work in the private sector - context is important I'd say.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 12/04/2026 20:45

Noangelbuthavingfun · 12/04/2026 20:40

Wow @LiquoriceAllsorts2 that's a shed load. So my friends were right lol. What are you basing those numbers on people ?

I would expect to be high flying to after tax to be able to afford the mortgage on a large house in a good area, private school fees for a couple kids, a few luxury holidays, running a couple of pretty nice cars and days out, meals out, nice clothes. I would think at least 15k take home per month is needed for that if not more

HollaHolla · 12/04/2026 20:45

Definitely in the wrong career. I've had to take a bit of a change, but I was doing really well in my professional services job in HE. I was on the top grade 10, so on £80k-ish. That's pretty much the top grade (although it goes to about £100k-ish), largely for folks who have at least a masters, but mostly PhD.
Cries in relative poor

lovealieinortwo · 12/04/2026 20:45

For a women I would say anything over 100k.

Contrary to what you read on Mns there are not millions of women earning this

Nimonion · 12/04/2026 20:44

High flying is someone who doesn’t have to worry about money, so would be loads more than £100k (£5k a month) when if you want to borrow say £500k for a mortgage you’d be paying about £3k a month on that alone.

RS1987 · 12/04/2026 20:44

Male or female, the peak salary in my profession is around £250k

DiddleyDeeDee · 12/04/2026 20:43

Basing these numbers on my knowledge of what people earn when they become directors, C suite etc and the industry I know detail of- Insurance. A head of department in my current company may be on 100-125k and I wouldnt class a female HOD to have peaked in her career yet. Many will go on to be directors and more. So add another 150k onto that in my opinion for a woman who is a high flyer and reached her career pinnacle, so i stand by my 250k

Smallfeetbigflippers · 12/04/2026 20:43

£300k plus equity plus bonus in my industry.

FKAT · 12/04/2026 20:42

A high flying career implies an eye watering salary though? I used to earn a six figure salary and wouldn't call my career high flying - solid middle management. High flying is big dick salary - £300k + plus bonus/equity.

FunnyOrca · 12/04/2026 20:42

Wow, these responses are insane. I’d be impressed with anything over £100k

Itsmetheflamingo · 12/04/2026 20:42

JacquesHarlow · 12/04/2026 20:40

But WHAT career are you talking about, @Noangelbuthavingfun ?

in my sector, partners who are in on profit share can earn anything from £500,000 to £2,000,000 and upwards if you're in our City firms.

That's top of the career ladder - peaked.

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Does it matter? Presumably you wouldn’t suggest some who earns the lower end you mention, £500k is not “high flying” no matter what they do?

JacquesHarlow · 12/04/2026 20:40

Noangelbuthavingfun · 12/04/2026 20:37

Let's assume it's top of your career ladder - you've peaked . More interested in a number than for this career x is high and for that career y is high

But WHAT career are you talking about, @Noangelbuthavingfun ?

in my sector, partners who are in on profit share can earn anything from £500,000 to £2,000,000 and upwards if you're in our City firms.

That's top of the career ladder - peaked.

Itsmetheflamingo · 12/04/2026 20:40

£200k?

I earn nearly that much but do feel like I struggle. However I think an extra £60k would provide a good amount more per month to relax

DiddleyDeeDee · 12/04/2026 20:40

Ok well can only really consider your question in my own industry. Id expect women in the exec team are on 250k+

Original poster
Noangelbuthavingfun · 12/04/2026 20:40

Wow @LiquoriceAllsorts2 that's a shed load. So my friends were right lol. What are you basing those numbers on people ?

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