What do you class as a high earner?

[hellomary]

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?

£120,000 linked to removal if tax relief I

Completely subjective.

To be I'd say as an individual £130k plus is high earner. But as a household I'd say it was £200k plus

Over 40-45k I think. Around here that wage would mean you were a middle manager, headteacher of small school etc. But people have different ideas of what the term 'high earner' means.
I'm sure he's stressed but it was pretty nasty to accuse you of not having ambition etc. You are on a very good wage and have probably worked very hard to get where you are. Hopefully he will apologise.

I would say over £100k a year for an individual.

Average household income is about £45k, individual FT is still around £26 isn't it?

So the reality if that £30+ is a good salary and anything above £45k is doing rather nicely.

This. The answer is so subjective on an individual level and is entirely influenced by your circumstances and surroundings. So the most definite answer really is just to look at the average. 62 is 2.5 the nationwide average. So it's objectively a high income.

I would think an individual salary of 80k plus would be a high earner but this is because I am surrounded by people who earn significantly over 100k plus due to my field of work.
In fact I am the lowest paid in my area as I took a term time and part time contract but still earn 45k.

High Earner would be €10k/ month, or €120k to me.
High income couple/family would be combined €250k/yr

62 is 2.5 the nationwide average. So it's objectively a high income.
No, that’s still subjective dependent on your scale/ranking system. Especially when you consider “average” factors in a lot of working people who need top up benefits to survive.

Probably over about 60k.

£80k maybe?

100k or more

Before we had kids our joint income was £75k in the Midlands and I felt we were very well off.

Now on £50k with two kids so not so well off

Well to be honest if you are on 62k, unless you have a massively huge mortgage you should be fine financially.

I suspect this may however be more about 'male pride' and him feeling uncomfortable about being reliant financially on you, plus the (realistic) concern that in the current climate finding another job with a similar salary to what he is on currently may be difficult.

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.

I think you also said you two earn about the same. Losing 50% of your income is a financial disaster. And to be honest, just saying don’t worry I still have a job and we will be ok is not very reassuring. Do you have savings set aside for the loss in income? Can you reduce outgoings or will you need to move to a cheaper home? Sell a car? Etc? How long is he likely to be out of work? Some sectors are being hit very hard by Covid. Your response is very ostrich head in sand. I agree he’s panicking but it’s not self pity to be awake all night wondering how you will manage with half the income you usually have.

High earner = £100k
as that puts them in the top 10%

Don’t think what we all think is a high earner is the issue here. What is your DH doing to find alternative work, is there anything out there? Does he have insurance? Do you have some savings to tide you over? When will you find out if he has lost his job?

It must be a high stress time for you both and in times of high stress, people tend to snap at each other over the smallest things. Try not to take this to heart, and when he gets home you need to talk to work out where you go from here. X

You certainly earn well and he’s being a dick.

A high earner I’d class as £60/70k+ outside London so you’re certainly there or thereabouts and you’re not in London so I assume your outgoings aren’t ridiculous.

Higher rate tax payer

I'd say about 80K where I live but closer to London I'd say 120K.

I think if you can afford to send a child to private school without it impacting on your lifestyle then you are a high earner.

He’s scared because he won’t have his own money.
You were trying to be kind and sensible but he’s scared and vulnerable.

2 professional income household could easily be in six figures.

At least 100k to be in the high earner bracket in most area. But 200k+ if in the City/financial centre.

I would say for one salary, I would classify myself as a high earner if I earned £80,000.

I would say £100k

However from one of your posts you are basically saying that him losing his job 'won't make much difference anyway' That. That is what has got to have really hurt him

Agree, as you earn well you will get by, but to hint his contribution doesn't really matter is what I think the issue is

I don’t think it’s relevant to be honest . It totally depends on your current outgoings that can’t be reduced . He just sounds scared about the future and the change to your lives .