What job would you describe as an 'extremely good' job?

[ItsNotAGameOfSubbuteoMatthew]

My FIL has been telling people DH and I have 'extremely good' jobs. I will reveal what they are (within reason) within the thread but wondered what job and salary you would describe as extremely good? The reason I ask as it's meant the people he's told have ended up costing more than they would have done if he'd been realistic/honest to them so there is a consequence in his perception of our jobs.

@mopsue
42

It depends if you value contribution to society or money more, as most people seem to value money more highly, I guess a good job is one where you make money from ripping other people off.

I'm not one to drag out reveals unnecessarily but many of you have pitched your 'extremely' where I would have pitched it.

At least £60k/year if not £100k+ if we're looking at real extremes.

I work part time for my local council earning less than £30k year and DH retrained vocationally a few years ago so works in the education sector on less than £30k/year. So our household income is between £50-60k/year. I'm happy to say I have a 'good' job. It's worthwhile and it pays a fair wage for 4 days a week. DH has never earned over £35k even in his previous job working for a private company.

FIL is a clueless braggart.

Those wages are obviously decent enough and more than many families bring in, but I wouldn't say they were particularly high enough for him to be mentioning or pointing out. £60k for one person I would say is a good job.

I think you’re directing your anger at the wrong person tbf, the CF kids who thought they’d casually rip you off are the ones you should be cross at - not the FIL.

The reason I ask as it's meant the people he's told have ended up costing more than they would have done if he'd been realistic/honest to them so there is a consequence in his perception of our jobs.

I'd love to know what is actually meant by this statement, but the way I'm reading this thread is an invitation to create judgement over which jobs people feel are "worthwhile" and what money you get for that worthy job.

At a time like this when a lot of the population either don't have a job, or are on 80% of a low wage, I'd say it's a pretty tasteless topic to bring to open discussion.

Or maybe I've just completely misunderstood what the message in the OP actually is.

daisychain01 not related to 'worthwhile' but related to how bragging aka exaggerating aka telling lies can cause financial problems for the people you're bragging about. If he'd been honest the DC would have charged us an average price or even mates rates. But FIL won't bear the cost of his bragging; we will.

I’ve always wanted to be Black Rod, I could knock on a door and get paid £93,000 pa

That's pretty crap of the person who overcharged you. Cheeky. I'd make sure everyone knew

Extremely good salary for me would be well over 100k

@Pacmanitee I agree. I could work in the private sector for far more than I earn now. But I know what I do makes a huge difference to people’s lives (not me on my own but my sector)
My entire career is based around widening access to HE. It is very rewarding (it’s not curing cancer granted, but when the first person in a family gets a university education it changes their future and their future family-people literally live longer) and I see lives transformed.

I think Mesut Ozil at Arsenal has a good job, £350,000 a week

@Megan2018 we're in our 30s & the only reason that friend got the excellent pension was because she went in at 18. Friends who went into the public sector after uni have good pensions but not the excellent ones as the schemes had all closed.

@mopsue I went straight from my undergrad, my postgrad was paid by my employer (with paid study leave). I could earn significantly more in the private sector asI have an MBA, but I like what I do and I feel the total package affords a better lifestyle for me and my family.
I may not do the full 40 years for maximum pension though! Aiming to reassess at 30 years service (about a decade left).

I think you’re directing your anger at the wrong person tbf, the CF kids who thought they’d casually rip you off are the ones you should be cross at - not the FIL

I agree the FIL isn't to blame for the high price, but I also don't think OP should be cross at the contractor kid - they gave a quote, OP accepted it and paid it - that was her choice!

Just get a second quote next time OP, so you know you're not being ripped off.

I'm a careers practitioner working in a large inner city mixed comprehensive with attached sixth form. This is a frequent question I ask students when they have their guidance appointment, 'What would you consider to be a good job for yourself?" or 'What sort of life would you like to have?' .... its so interesting to hear their individual responses but youth largely attribute a "good job" to pay, but that's because what society has taught them to think. It's also interesting to me that's it taken an international pandemic to encourage most to consider public services and essential services a worthy job......

Working for the council and in education certainly wouldn’t make me think you’re rolling in it

Do does your FIL not know what you earn (and why should he?) or was he just making it up?

I would say a joint household income of 100k is a very good family wage.
Individually I would say once you hit the higher rate tax band (45k ish) that you have a 'good job'. It's also regional so that salary would be very good in NE England but not necessarily the SE. But it's not just about money, it's about flexible working, stability, career progression, pension and other benefits. So someone earning 70k could have a better life because their company pays a better pension contribution, they have flexible working, private health etc.

The higher rate tax band kicks in at 50k

As I thought everyone would have a different interpretation of extremely good.
I myself value people in the police and judicial system. Healthcare. Armed Forces. Teaching. Etc.

However if one does earn 250K per annum - your take home pay would be wiped out by 3 kids at a top boarding school. That is horrifying.

A job that you enjoy, gives decent work life balance and pays well enough that you don't have any money worries etc.

Also a job in a company that looks after the staff and makes them feel valued.

Does your FIL think you earn way more than you do then OP?

I’m curious, does he know how much you earn or is he or has he been a very low earner?

Often this is about perspective. If you’ve been on min wage or benefits all your life, then a joint income of fifty odd grand a year would seem really good,

If you earn a lot more than 50 odd, then it would not seem so good to you.

At least £60k/year if not £100k+ if we're looking at real extremes

This is where you would pitch it? Which indicates you also think you’ve really good jobs?

For me this means “very good” means highly paid. This might be cultural though. So senior lawyer, financial services, own business etc.

I do a morally good job, which is love, but I wouldn’t call it a “very good” job.