If you had children/married young and now have a medium/high paying job how did you do it?

I think it is, though from memory it was more about whether you had the maths and English GCSE equivalent (I think all unis require that) and if you didn't have standard qualifications if you could evidence that you'd be able to cope with the academic requirements of the course. We had a lot of people with unconventional education backgrounds including those who had been in care, were refugees, had spent teen years in hospital etc. They did seem to be quite flexible as long as they were confident you were in it for the right reasons and that you had good enough English to be able to write essays and do the work placements. With kids, you do need a good support network around you because it's a demanding role, but it's also a role where people are often parents (and majority women) so people obviously do find a way to make it work!

I had my oldest aged 22 when working a gap filler minimum wage job. Fortunately I already had a degree.

I went back after 6 months for a mngmt promotion. Then after having their siblings by 25, I moved to anything office based and public sector, and then only stayed in each role for a year at a time; applying to the next grade up each time. So by 30 I was earning double what is started on.

I think being office based and public sector with a clear progression route was the key for me.

I'd still like to be higher qualified in a technical role.

Had my first at 20, wanted to train to be a nurse but had to wait until she was 4 before I could go to college and get the maths grade I needed (had highers but not the grade I needed for maths), did college met my husband and had 2 more children with no support to do full time uni, eventually managed to get my nursing degree through the open uni, very expensive child care years though

I know quite a lot of people in my profession (social work) who went into it after having children, though it does require a degree, and for that, either a levels or an access course. It's not easy at all, but it has an advantage over a few other things as a) having children or caring responsibilities is beneficial experience and b) if you're willing to go into local authority social work you're pretty much guaranteed to get work at the end of it, and although it's a lot of responsibility it's a higher starting salary than many professions - newly qualified in children's area usually 38k ish. There used to be more financial incentives to help people study but I'm not sure that's the case any more though.

Had two kids young. Looked at what you can earn in different careers and what the training is. Went uni when kids were 3&5. Luckily selected a pathway that's fairly AI proof. Been earning decent (by MOST adults standards, not by mumsnet standards lol) money for a good few years now, and they are young adults. None of that was easy but earning more gives you choices and it's worth it.

I was 18. Three kids by 26. Got a job as a TA, progressed to cover supervisor and then Spanish instructor as languages were my strongest skill. Moved into a pastoral role from there and eventually became Head of Year. Then left schools to work in a glamorous, high-profile industry that 18-year-old me would never have imagined I'd end up in. There are some pretty big perks to my role but it's not hugely paid but it's £38k and that is fine for me. I've no mortgage which helps.
I studied a lot and worked my arse off. I did a lot of crappy jobs before the TA one, I've worked since I was 15 and it's always been important to me thar I pay my own way.

Hard though. But I'm absolutely reaping the benefits of being 45 and no kids at home while some of my mates are knee deep in nappies and nursery. I honestly wouldn't have had it any other way looking back.

Got an entry level job in accountancy and did the exams and worked my way up.

It was harder doing exams with a small child, I was also a single parent but had a lot of support from my parents.

Daughter is now 8, I’m a manager on a very nice salary and recently just managed to buy a new home with a husband I met doing accountancy. Hard but 100% worth it!

My dsis had a baby at 16. She had not long completed her GCSE’s. She took 6 months off and then went to college. Worked for a few years after as a TA then completed an access course and a SW degree. She’s now 35 with 2 dc. Bought her home with her DH at 24. She’s now a Band 8 SW earning about 50k (i think) with a dc going off to Oxbridge in September.

I spent 10 years studying. 2 years for a level 3, a 6 year degree with the OU and a 2 year part time masters. Worked alongside that building work experience.

Training and education are the answer. Unfortunately it’s very difficult for teenagers who have babies, pregnancy and parenthood don’t really give a lot of free time and (often) spare money for education. Hopefully if your children are now a little older you can get back to it and find your ideal job. Good luck! 💐

I went to college and completed an access the education course. Then I went to University and got a BA joint honours in English Lit and History. Then I completed a PGCE.
I taught for 25 years and have just retired/took redundancy. I do a few days supply a week in my old school.

I had my first when I was 16 and DH was 18. He went to university, I worked for my dad (I just did admin for his building company), then DH joined me but doing finance stuff. We started our own business a couple of years later and although I don’t work there anymore (we had more kids much later) he still does and I still own half the company. You have loads of options - try civil service maybe?

If you don’t have a degree you can get government funding for one. If you’re interested in healthcare there are many allied professions where you can get £5-7k a year in grants from the NHS to help you with this and you can work weekends/evenings on the side. I am on one such course now and I’d say 40% of those doing it also have children. Most of the jobs at the end are £30k+ from the start or within a couple of years.

I had 2 by the time I was 23. Went to college to do an access course when my youngest was 6 months old. Spent my 20s and their nursery/primary years getting my own education while working practically full time too.

Went all the way to masters level. Have a professional career now, not a high earner but comfortable on £60k in my 30s. Kids are now teenagers.

It was hard work, when I look back I do not know how I managed it but I did and you can too!

After DC started school I went back to college and then onto university to complete my degree and then professional qualification. It was a lot of hard work, I’d do my studying in the evenings, well into the early hours to meet deadlines but it was so worth it.

I married at 24, had my first at 27. Now I’m 37 and earn just under £50k working four days a week.

I went back to work when my son was 11 weeks old. I started a qualification when he was 5 months old. I studied while working full time with a baby. Then I got a better paying job, then another and then another.

It was bloody hard work. But 100% worth it.

You probably need to get a degree or do an apprenticeship degree level program. You might need to go back to college first to be able to join those courses.

I got married at 23 and had my first at 25 which is young compared to our friends but I got my final professional qualification when I was pregnant. It’s meant I’ve always had that piece of paper to fall back on and now I run my own business and earn a decent wage working part time.

Stay at home husband for a decade

I had my DC as a teenager like you. I did all sorts of part time jobs whilst studying for my degree. Got a better paid job and career after I graduated.

but be careful what you wish for. I then had a huge health problem needing surgery and have had a disability ever since and was made redundant. I was thrn self employed for a decade now early retirement due to my physical and mental health. Im only in my 50s.

my simpler but poorer life when I could go for long walks I would love to live again.

I retrained in social work as a single parent of a 9 and 7 year old. Best thing I ever did.

Had 4 children between 17-24. Hard years unable to work as couldn’t afford childcare. No qualifications outside GCSEs.

Joined the civil service as an EO in 2020 and have worked by way up to SO which is a very decent wage for me. You have plenty of options so don’t lose hope.

I went back into education securing A levels, a degree and a post grad.

I’m not sure if you would consider my salary to be medium range (based on the salaries purportedly being received by some on this site) but I’m a teacher and I earn just under £50K a year (before deductions of course!). I had my first child at sixteen, left school without any qualifications. By the age of twenty, I had three children. I worked in the evenings as a waitress and took on extra responsibilities to improve my CV. I developed my admin skills and worked in a range of low paying administrative positions. I got a lucky break and landed an administrative role at a large American bank in the city of London. I then relocated and couldn’t do the journey into London, as I was now a single parent. Like many, I applied for a TA role and worked around my children’s schedules. I loved the job and decided I wanted to pursue a career in teaching. I went to college in the evenings to obtain my GCSE’s, Access to Teaching course, undertook my undergraduate degree and then did a PGCE. Lots of grit, determination and dedication was required!!! I worked full time during my studies. I won’t lie, it was exhausting but so worth it.