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Original poster

What do you class as a high earner?

164 replies

hellomary · 14/09/2020 16:36

Since lockdown and lack of job security me and dp have had a difference of opinion as to earnings. He seems to think we are very badly off and I do not. He isn’t sleeping saying we are going to live a miserable life when he loses his job (he’s probably about to) and I dared to say last night...in effort to comfort him and snap him out of this pity, that I was a high earner and we would be ok while he looked for another job.

Well he went crazy at me. From shock that he thought I could possibly believe I was a high earner to worry that I had no ambition to do better and that I was ‘clearly deluded’ if I thought my pay was in a high earner bracket. I feel upset about the whole thing, we earn similar amounts so it wasn’t said to patronise him or make him feel he’s not enough, I was simply trying to get him to appreciate we are in a lucky position compared with others.

He’s gone out on the longest walk I’ve even known today and I’ve been worrying myself about money. Was I a dick for saying this?

OP posts:
Luckyme2 · 14/09/2020 16:38

Well I guess it depends on your personal circumstances and outgoings but generally as a stand alone figure I’d class someone earning about £100,000 as a ‘high earner’

BasinHaircut · 14/09/2020 16:39

I think it probably depends where you live. I live in Greater London and between DH and I we earn just over £100k and I would say we are a high income household.

But what the threshold is for an individual to be considered a high earner - I don’t know

Original poster
hellomary · 14/09/2020 16:39

That was almost what dp said, 100k

OP posts:
RemyHadley · 14/09/2020 16:40

Depends on your area I think. £50k might be loads somewhere else but wouldn’t be “high warmer” in Central London for example.

Puppy72 · 14/09/2020 16:41

Higher earner I would class as 80k +
generally a higher tax payer also..

ihatethecold · 14/09/2020 16:41

you probably need to tell us your ball park earnings for anyone to answer

GingerAndTheBiscuits · 14/09/2020 16:43

Where I live (west midlands) I think I’d say £40k+ would be a very good wage, maybe 60k+ “high earner”?

DappledOliveGroves · 14/09/2020 16:43

I'd say a six figure salary is a 'high-earner'. But a lot depends on circumstances and whereabouts in the country you are. £100,000 doesn't go far in London or the South East but might buy a much more luxurious lifestyle in other parts of the country.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 14/09/2020 16:43

It's all relative. I live in a cheap area in the Midlands and my ex husband earns just over £50k, I definitely look at him as a high earner, that money goes far here and he lives a very nice lifestyle. It wouldn't go far at all in central London though.

FizzyPink · 14/09/2020 16:43

I think it totally depends on area. DP and are earn roughly £55k each, maybe slightly more with bonuses which would sound very high to some people. However, we live in zone 2 and want to buy a house next year so we live in a 1 bed flat and drive a Polo. We don’t have an extravagant lifestyle at all.

Although, maybe to some people we do. It’s all totally subjective.

BoogleMcGroogle · 14/09/2020 16:45

It sounds like that conversation wasn't really about whether or not you are a high earner. I should imagine it's more about him feeling worried and threatened that he can't provide for his family. It wouldn't matter what you earned in those circumstances if him providing a secure future to you is important to him. Maybe cut him some slack and have a chat about supporting each other later this week.

ThomasHardyPerennial · 14/09/2020 16:47

Probably £70k and upwards, don't know really.

PrayingandHoping · 14/09/2020 16:47

South east £100k+ high earner

£60k+ good earner

YouJustDoYou · 14/09/2020 16:50

Well, it depends what youre on, and where you live, do you have dependants etc.

LovingLola · 14/09/2020 16:50

I think it depends on your circumstances.
Do you own or rent? Have you children? Are you in debt or do you have savings? How long are you together?

user1497207191 · 14/09/2020 16:50

By arithmetic definition a "high" earner is someone earning above average, so more than around £28k or so.

Higher rate tax bites at £50k, so that's another possible threshold for "high" earnings.

Or maybe the £100k threshold where the personal tax free allowance is tapered away.

Or £150k where the additional rate tax of 45% comes into play.

It really depends. Personally, I'd say it was between the £50k and £100k thresholds, so maybe £75k or so.

Tigger03 · 14/09/2020 16:51

It’s a tough one to answer! I’d probably say a high earner is higher rate tax payer, so about £50k or so, but I can see how an unexpected loss of income could be very worrying even if you earn far in excess of this.

For example, you could be on £100k and your partner £40k, and whilst you absolutely can easily live on £100k there would be a drop in lifestyle as compared to what you’re used to. You weren’t unreasonable for saying what you said at all, but he’s probably still worried and wants to be back earning.

Sittin · 14/09/2020 16:51

£100,000

cheesyfeet123 · 14/09/2020 16:52

45k+

Original poster
hellomary · 14/09/2020 16:52

Live north of Birmingham. I earn 62 which usually goes up 4K a year.

Just disappointed that he has attacked me like this, we have enough money and him losing his job isn’t actually going to change much! He’s not been in contact all day since 11am

OP posts:
Adviceneeded20 · 14/09/2020 16:53

Our joint income is over 100k, but previously it was more than 130k. I think a joint income of £100k is high, so for me, an individual earning above 60k is very high.. depending on the second wage.

Poppyismyfavourite · 14/09/2020 16:54

outside london I think about 70k+

MillieEpple · 14/09/2020 16:55

i tend to go with the high rate tax band as a high earner and the next threshold as a very high earner.

But I do think anyone above average is earning a 'good' salary.

MysweetAudrina · 14/09/2020 16:59

Anyone who earns more than I do.

iVampire · 14/09/2020 17:00

£60k and upwards

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