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Original poster

Why do people think some professional jobs like teachers/ midwives aren't paid well?

423 replies

Rollovers · 22/04/2019 08:52

I read a lot on here about people moaning about teacher/ nurse/ midwife wages etc. I thought in the NHS you start off on around 25k which I think is a decent wage. I've seen on MN alot of nurses and midwives earning £30/40k upwards.

I genuinely am wondering why people think that's low pay? What would they want as a reasonable salary? Am I not understanding something. This is a genuine question and I am in no way being goady.

I earn very low @17k so perhaps my perception is slightly skewed.

OP posts:
CordeliaWyndamPryce · 22/04/2019 19:54

I've worked in industry and in teaching so I'm pretty well placed to compare sectors. And the amount of work I do now (averaged over the year) is comparable to my previous career, but I'm paid 20k less than someone at the same stage in industry. There is a reason there is a national shortage of teachers, and I think salary does have something to do with it. Especially in subjects like mine (physics) were a lot of grad schemes pay almost as much as I earn after 6 years teaching. It's so much easier to quit when you are qualified for an entry-level position which pays similar to what you currently earn.

However, I think the biggest problem is conditions rather than pay. I'd never advise someone to become a teacher if they want time with their children or any kind of a social life in term time, or if they don't have a super strong bladder. The state system is (imo) broken and won't be fixed anytime soon. If a job in my current (independent) school hadn't come up at exactly the right time I'd be one of the thousands who quit within the first five years.

I've never done nursing, but I suspect the situation is similar.

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 22/04/2019 19:56

The language on here is a true testament to the professionalism of the nursing profession.

Yes, because saying fuck off on an anonymous internet forum is how I practice all the time... hell just today I called a patient a cunt and told him to go suck a fuck when he asked for my help. Hmm

PortiaCastis · 22/04/2019 19:56

Agree with Duckwillows brilliant post

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Jobs
PortiaCastis · 22/04/2019 19:57

The bullshit on here is a true testament to some posters

MrsCasares · 22/04/2019 19:59

Ohtheroses - you didn’t answer my question. You stated a NURSE didn’t answer a MIDWIFERY question. You do KNOW they are different professions.

Or are you just STUPID.

TooStressyTooMessy · 22/04/2019 20:01

Grin the air is blue around clinical staff of all grades and professions in most hospitals, just not in front of the patients. When you work in such stressful conditions you tend to swear behind closed doors.

isabellerossignol · 22/04/2019 20:02

In areas where salaries are low, nursing and teaching are very attractive for being well paid. That is certainly the case where l live. And nurses, and to a far greater extent teachers, find it hard to find work.

But I can see that if I lived in the London area where salaries for comparable jobs are often about three times what they are in my area, then clearly a 30k salary isn't attractive at all.

Hawkinsfirefly99 · 22/04/2019 20:03

The entry requirements for a PGCE are very low in comparison to other professions. You don't need to have great A levels or excelled at University.

Most of the teachers i know finished University with 2:2's so the salary they receive as a teacher is actually pretty good considering they didn't do very well at university and aren't the most intelligent of people and would actually probably struggle to get a place on any other graduate scheme / course.

I think if teachers were to be given significant pay rises then the PGCE entry requirements should be increased in line with that (i.e needing a 2.1 and very good A levels). It would help attract the best candidates and would make teaching seem more of an attractive career path rather than the fall back.

CatchingBabies · 22/04/2019 20:04

Laughing @ohtheroses thinking that midwifery is a flexible career, showing your age thinking that fixed days still exist. It’s a rota of long days, short days and nights or nothing. Seeing as you seem to know so much about the profession I’m sure you’re aware of The Better Births report and the government requirement for continuity of care that makes working set days / shifts impossible now?

TooStressyTooMessy · 22/04/2019 20:04

If it wasn’t already obvious why experienced nurses and teachers are leaving in droves then this thread would explain it.

Mistressiggi · 22/04/2019 20:05

Hawkinsfirefly99 was a teacher mean to you once, dear?

starzig · 22/04/2019 20:06

While the public sector was getting pay freezes (poor souls) some of us were getting 6% pay cuts.

EL8888 · 22/04/2019 20:07

@MrsCasares l love it when people don’t know that nursing and midwifery are different professions 😂🤣😷. Especially when that person is a know it all

Hawkinsfirefly99 · 22/04/2019 20:09

Mistressiggi no, just pointing out that most of the people that I know that are teachers were in bottom sets themselves at school.

MrsCasares · 22/04/2019 20:10

EL8888, I was an SRN, SCM (showing my age). Retired now, thank god.

Cherrysoup · 22/04/2019 20:10

I’m in a teaching job that I think pays fairly, £45K for some responsibility and 20 years experience. Except for exam season and Parents’ Evenings, I walk out the door within 15 minutes of the finish bell. It’s the first year I’ve been able to do this as other schools have expected me to stay for at least an hour or more. My DH is on similar money but not in teaching.

I think that emergency services and medical staff should be paid a lot more.

Piggywaspushed · 22/04/2019 20:13

hawkins, do you really ask all the teachers you know about their degree level? Are you compiling some sort of survey?

Just to add to your collection I'll let you know that all bar two of my department (16 people) has a 2:1. One of the people who doesn't has a first from Cambridge.

TooStressyTooMessy · 22/04/2019 20:14

starzig were you also getting punched, scratched and spat at? Were you able to get a drink of water and go to the toilet at any point in your shift? Did people scream at you and threaten to go to the press or their MP then slag you off on Facebook? All the while trying to do complex work with multiple patients where the consequences could be catastrophic?

If yes then you have my utmost sympathy.

EL8888 · 22/04/2019 20:18

@MrsCasares lucky. You are best off out of it!

MrsCasares · 22/04/2019 20:20

EL8888 - don’t I know it. Young ones who nurse/midwife these days have my utmost admiration.

MrsCasares · 22/04/2019 20:22

Although I miss looking after my newbies!

Eateneasterchocsalready · 22/04/2019 20:22

Agree op.
Private sector pays more... sure if your in job that pays more like a Banker!!

Very good pensions too

WingingWonder · 22/04/2019 20:22

I am well paid but our grads who are expected to have years of work experience and a 1st or 2.1 degree start on 19k. In London...

MrsCasares · 22/04/2019 20:24

Good pensions = 9.5% off salaries.

MrsCasares · 22/04/2019 20:24

Don’t forget the deductions from wages folks.