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Original poster

AIBU to think many Mumsnet posters seem to be high earners?

288 replies

Jane143 · 15/09/2026 13:01

AIBU to think that the majority of people on MN seem to be high earners? As a guide, income over £60k? Most people I know in real life earn closer to average wage which I think is around £35k

OP posts:
bilbodog · 15/09/2026 13:40

All you have to do, in any area of the country, is look on rightmove to see how many houses are for sale at 1 million upwards. Someone lives in those houses and probably have family incomes well over £100,000.

doctors/surgeons/consultants
barristers and some high flying solicitors
any large corporation has many high level managers, directors all on high figures
tech companies - particularly international ones
top civil servants
successful company owners
independent financial advisors

ive got neices and nephews early 30s earning over £100k.

Ponderingwindow · 15/09/2026 13:37

I think we notice the threads that are outside of our own experience. That doesn’t necessarily mean those posters are over represented.

BirdLandedonmyHead · 15/09/2026 13:36

Its very easy to feel your income is normal if you are surrounded by people earning similar and your outgoings match your income.

Hence loads of people on MN saying that they arent particularly well off... but earn double the average.

Fizbosshoes · 15/09/2026 13:35

Everyone seems to know how much their friends earn too. Ive got no idea how much friends earn although i live in a mc area and most people seem to have an enormous amount of disposable income!

Average earnings on MN seem to be about £80k + despite that not correlating with rl. Ive seen a few posters on different threads , who are incredulous that anyone in London earns less than 35k! When i imagine there are way more people earning minimum wage than 100k but the enormous salaries of CEOs etc means the average skews higher. One of DH nephews is on 100k+ and his boss is on £2m + That is completely mind boggling to me!

Original poster
Jane143 · 15/09/2026 13:35

Thesillysocks · 15/09/2026 13:30

In finance you see many salaries above that (200k fix + 200k bonus)

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Do they actually do anything worthwhile in their lives though to justify this obscene amount of money? Charity donations etc?

OP posts:
Original poster
Jane143 · 15/09/2026 13:33

RaraRachael · 15/09/2026 13:30

I find this in the Style and Beauty threads.

Somebody was asking for ideas for new tops and Sahara was suggested. I'd never heard of this brand so looked it up - £160 for a tunic!
I earned a reasonable amount but could never have afforded that.

Any brands that are suggested on S and B always seem to be expensive ones.

Yes I’ve noticed that too

OP posts:
OnlyUsername · 15/09/2026 13:33

"Six figures". Urgh. Aka I'm so humble I couldn't possibly be specific.

Backedoffhackedoff · 15/09/2026 13:32

I think you notice them more as being more influential or skilled in your career often translates to general increased confidence/ bolshiness/ arrogance.

also tbf people with big careers tend to know a lot about a lot.

RaraRachael · 15/09/2026 13:30

I find this in the Style and Beauty threads.

Somebody was asking for ideas for new tops and Sahara was suggested. I'd never heard of this brand so looked it up - £160 for a tunic!
I earned a reasonable amount but could never have afforded that.

Any brands that are suggested on S and B always seem to be expensive ones.

Thesillysocks · 15/09/2026 13:30

Jane143 · 15/09/2026 13:21

I cant imagine any job where someone would be worth £400,000! Even a top surgeon is surely on much less?

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In finance you see many salaries above that (200k fix + 200k bonus)

Nurseposter123 · 15/09/2026 13:28

Optimist2020 · 15/09/2026 13:04

I think there’s a broad range of posters on Mumsnet. A lot of the posters appear to be living in London and the South East were opportunities and salaries are higher.

Im 39 and earn around 80k but wouldn’t class myself as a high earner (Midlands).

You are in the top 7% of earners in the country.

TheFishFish · 15/09/2026 13:26

If we had the actual data, I suspect actually the distribution of earnings on this site would be largely in line with the national average for the UK.

What is happening is that actually, a lot of people will be lying about being high earners. Always happens on those threads with people going "I have 200k in savings, is that good?" Aye, right.

Makebelieveanotherlife · 15/09/2026 13:25

Thesillysocks · 15/09/2026 13:08

Well… I’m a high earner (6 figures) and so are most of the people I know IRL. When I read MN I feel like everybody is on UC.
Perspective, I guess.

Exactly the same as how I see it too. Everyone I know is a high earner and I feel like I can’t relate to most posts on here unless something very very generic

Jugjug · 15/09/2026 13:24

Jugjug · 15/09/2026 13:20

Mumsnet does skew richer. And I don’t think it’s all bullshit because there are other clues posters unknowingly give away that aren’t “hey everyone I earn 100k”.

Not to mention the fact private school gets debated VERY heavily on here despite being something that would only cross a few families radars in the real world.

Its hard to believe it’s all fake and bullshit when they are going to the lengths of discussing it for 1000 post threads

Themsofcoffee · 15/09/2026 13:23

Ppl are more likely to post about their high income. And show off about their high achieving DC.
I'm not a high earner. Ppl i know irl mostly aren't either, though some are.

Original poster
Jane143 · 15/09/2026 13:23

gamerchick · 15/09/2026 13:20

Yeah and all the time in the world to post on internet forums seemingly.

Yes that’s the other thing that puzzles me. How they have time for MN while busy earning £100k plus !

OP posts:
Original poster
Jane143 · 15/09/2026 13:21

EstoyRobandoSuCasa · 15/09/2026 13:10

There's a current thread about MP's earnings in which several posters said they wouldn't take the pay cut to become an MP (apparently they earn £98,599 plus expenses). One poster said they were on £400,000.

It does seem skewed as most people earn far, far less than MPs.

I cant imagine any job where someone would be worth £400,000! Even a top surgeon is surely on much less?

OP posts:
Jugjug · 15/09/2026 13:20

Mumsnet does skew richer. And I don’t think it’s all bullshit because there are other clues posters unknowingly give away that aren’t “hey everyone I earn 100k”.

gamerchick · 15/09/2026 13:20

Yeah and all the time in the world to post on internet forums seemingly.

Original poster
Jane143 · 15/09/2026 13:19

ForPlumReader · 15/09/2026 13:17

Interesting that you don't consider that high when it's more than double the average.

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I agree. I’d class that as a high salary. Especially when you consider it’s in the higher tax bracket

OP posts:
Original poster
Jane143 · 15/09/2026 13:18

Thesillysocks · 15/09/2026 13:08

Well… I’m a high earner (6 figures) and so are most of the people I know IRL. When I read MN I feel like everybody is on UC.
Perspective, I guess.

Maybe the algorithm on what we get on our feed is skewed? I very rarely see anything about UC but see lots about people on huge salaries. Someone recently was talking about buying an average car for £60,000. I would say that’s out of reach of most people nowadays unless on a payment plan where you never actually own the car.

OP posts:
ForPlumReader · 15/09/2026 13:17

Optimist2020 · 15/09/2026 13:04

I think there’s a broad range of posters on Mumsnet. A lot of the posters appear to be living in London and the South East were opportunities and salaries are higher.

Im 39 and earn around 80k but wouldn’t class myself as a high earner (Midlands).

Interesting that you don't consider that high when it's more than double the average.

emuloc · 15/09/2026 13:14

Thesillysocks · 15/09/2026 13:08

Well… I’m a high earner (6 figures) and so are most of the people I know IRL. When I read MN I feel like everybody is on UC.
Perspective, I guess.

As you say, perspective. I certainly don't feel that everyone on MN is on UC. I understand that there will be a mixture of posters, who will fit into different economic groups.

NerrSnerr · 15/09/2026 13:10

Many pretend to be high earners. The same people who lurk on s&b and pretend they’re at the h ight of fashion and look amazing every day and everything anyone else wears is dated. They’re always teeny tiny, eat a huuugggeee salad for each meal etc .

There’s clearly a core of Mumsnet users who use it to live the life they want to live.

EstoyRobandoSuCasa · 15/09/2026 13:10

There's a current thread about MP's earnings in which several posters said they wouldn't take the pay cut to become an MP (apparently they earn £98,599 plus expenses). One poster said they were on £400,000.

It does seem skewed as most people earn far, far less than MPs.