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?

£250,000+

100k upwards is what I’d consider to be a high earner. However, in the southeast you live quite a mediocre lifestyle for that

80+ if single

One earning 80+ and one earning 40+ if partnered

In London, I would say a ‘high earner’ would be £100k and over. In the rest of the country, the figure would be much lower, probably £50-60k.

In London, over £80k.

Outside London, average pay is about £28k so I suppose anything more than £60k is high.

100k +
Middle- 40/50k ie just where the five try to charge 40% tax

I wouldn’t take those comments personally as he’s clearly v stressed. Just tell him that him lashing out upset you and have a think about how to be supportive.

That makes you a high earner in my book, OP.

Sorry to hear you're having these difficulties.

Incidentally, I think there's research suggesting that above a certain amount (I think it's less than 100k), earning more makes you unhappier. Possibly because it tends to go with being more distanced from other people.

I live in the south east and would consider anyone earning over 250k a high earner.

I agree with other posters. The threshold for "high earner" is probably quite a broad one between 50 and 100 k depending on where you live and your peer group in other respects (friends and family).

However: I don't think your DH is really upset about you disagreeing about a matter of opinion.

He said: "I'm really worried we won't cope if I lose my job and I'm panicking"

You said "it's fine, I earn plenty"

He heard: "your contribution is not important"

He's obviously panicked, so didn't take your reassurance in the spirit it was intended. He might just need some time, especially as he's obviously wounded by having his career and job at risk.

It's all relative really. 62k is more than double my household income and we are fairly comfortable. Admittedly we wont be able to buy a house so stuck forever renting, but we can have a UK holiday every year and minor luxuries. I dont know what I would do with 62k

However, when you have been used to double that, it would suddenly seem very low and worrying

I think he is clearly just stressed about losing his job - you saying that you are a high earner and it will be ok he probably hears "you (DH) didn't earn much anyway".

As for your question, I would say yes outside of London £62k is a good wage. It's all relative though, if you are used to earning that amount you probably have outgoings to match.
Any change in lifestyle is bound to be difficult.

FWIW I think a London high earner would be £120k +

Given your wage bracket this isn’t about the money, it’s about his ego.

Earning above £45k puts you in the top 5% of earners.

I might be wrong on the exact amount but those stats are published. Will try and find a link for people.

People rarely think they are as well off as they are and tend to think that people in the next bracket are well off. So if you earn £100k you might think that only those earning £200-300k are well off etc.

£36,611 was the national average salary for full-time work, according to the ONS in 2019. Therefore anyone earning 20-30% more could be considered a high(er) earner. However, it really depends on where you live and what your outgoings are (for example, large mortgage, personal debts, child support etc). After you pay your bills, rent/ mortgage, other essential commitments out...I reckon if you have £750-£1000 left over per month, you have a nice life in the making.

@Nitw1t X post! I completely agree with you - you make the point much better than me!

It's outgoings that matter.

If your costs are minimal then 50K is very nice indeed thank you.

If you live in an expensive area and have high outgoings, then 50K may be insufficient.

Mr Micawber got it right :-)

£100k plus outside London, £250k plus in London.

As a household we now have an £80k joint income and totally broke (East Mids) but we used to have a joint income of about £120k and then we were comfortable.

It’s all relative. What I live, in London, I’d say below 100k was not really “high”, but that is relative to living costs. I would say that a high earner is someone who:

Lives comfortably in a house that has space for school child to have own room, plus a home office/guest room

Doesn’t have to worry about not being able to afford home repairs

Can afford two foreign holidays a year

Drives a car less than 8 years old

Doesn’t have to check the bank balance before going food shopping

Can eat out as a family couple of times a week without worrying about cost.

Can afford whole family to do extra curricular hobbies without worrying about cost.

Will be able to fund kids through university.

Can buy 2-3 items of clothing per month per family member without saving up.

Oh and also doesn’t have to get finance for things like iPads, smart phones, other tech.

Outgoings are optional
hence why half of Londoners manage on less than £30k a year

@Nitw1t

I agree with other posters. The threshold for "high earner" is probably quite a broad one between 50 and 100 k depending on where you live and your peer group in other respects (friends and family).

However: I don't think your DH is really upset about you disagreeing about a matter of opinion.

He said: "I'm really worried we won't cope if I lose my job and I'm panicking"

You said "it's fine, I earn plenty"

He heard: "your contribution is not important"

He's obviously panicked, so didn't take your reassurance in the spirit it was intended. He might just need some time, especially as he's obviously wounded by having his career and job at risk.

Spot on!

In London with kids I'd say £150k is good, but you won't be able to pay for three kids in private school with that. High earner would be £500k.

@CheetasOnFajitas we’re v high earners based on national averages and numbers being given by posters above - but I would still worry about some of those things!

Mindset matters too as well as the actual disposable income amounts. And the bloody cost of childcare!

I think the issue here is not whether or not he considers you or himself as "high earners" but that he is clearly distressed by what is about to happen to his job.

It sounds like he may not be handling this very well and it would be good for him to talk to someone. Many companies have access to counselling services - it may be worth asking if this is something his company has offered?