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Original poster

Average UK salary. How you getting on?

303 replies

RedSquirrel111 · 07/01/2022 22:17

Thought it would be interesting to hear off the average, and not the mumsnet six figures- can't afford to live Grin

Average UK salary for full time workers 2021 was £31,285

I'm very slightly higher on £33k with potential end of year bonus up to £2k

  • live in North West
  • insurance broker
  • no partner or children
  • own home (with mortgage)
  • comfortable but a bit worried about increased cost of living.

Generally I feel quite lucky. I can't afford luxuries, but I don't worry about basic necessities - don't really budget for food costs etc.

How does your average wage look? What's the job sector? Do you struggle? What area?

OP posts:
FunnysInLaJardin · 07/01/2022 22:43

We are average for where we are. I am £60k for nearly FT and DH is £55k FT. We are doing OK and actually enjoying a bit more cash since I increased my hours.

1/3 of our income still goes on the mortgage though!

SortMyHouse · 07/01/2022 22:43

4 times what you state as the national average. Birmingham is the nearest city. IT / Finance systems area.

forcedfun · 07/01/2022 22:44

@FunnysInLaJardin

We are average for where we are. I am £60k for nearly FT and DH is £55k FT. We are doing OK and actually enjoying a bit more cash since I increased my hours.

1/3 of our income still goes on the mortgage though!

Seriously. What bit of the Op wasn't clear Hmm

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Cost of living Employment advice Jobs
dalrympy · 07/01/2022 22:44

£28k

Single parent
SE
Own home with mortgage
Work in property. Earned more pre pandemic

Total income more like £38k including maintenance so not uncomfortable but not flush.

Luckily don't need a car so that makes a big difference.

mogschristmascalamity · 07/01/2022 22:44

I work 4 days a week but my full time pay is 9k below the average. DHs pay is the same as me but he works full time.

Live in very posh leafy village area in south east so living costs are high. We were lucky that we were able to buy a house pre DC due to 2 inheritances. Cant afford to move though.

Original poster
RedSquirrel111 · 07/01/2022 22:45

@forcedfun

I don't understand why this thread is filled with people who either earn the average but only because they choose to work part time, or earn way over the average.

I think the op was quite clear what they hoped to discuss

Thank you
OP posts:
SortMyHouse · 07/01/2022 22:46

Sorry, misunderstood, thought you wanted to know people's salaries against the average benchmark.

ChannelTheCalmaLlama · 07/01/2022 22:46

Right, ok @RedSquirrel111!! How rude. I was just answering the question that was asked. As I said I am a lone parent and also worried about money with the rising costs, for the reasons I explained. It affects lots of people, not just people who earn a similar amount to you. Why ask the question if you don't want a range of experiences?

I'm amazed sometimes at the way people speak to each other on here when responding to people who haven't been remotely rude to them. Swearing at someone just for describing their own experience of the issue you raised? HmmConfused

Gettingthereslowly2020 · 07/01/2022 22:46

£24k per year full time
Charity sector
Single parent with one child
Renting
Can't afford holidays or any luxuries and I'm really worried about being able to afford my energy bill. I bet the council tax bill goes up too.

Maverickess · 07/01/2022 22:47

£18,500 (based on 40 hours) North East England, care assistant.

Original poster
RedSquirrel111 · 07/01/2022 22:48

@dalrympy

£28k

Single parent
SE
Own home with mortgage
Work in property. Earned more pre pandemic

Total income more like £38k including maintenance so not uncomfortable but not flush.

Luckily don't need a car so that makes a big difference.

I also don't need a car, and working from home has made a huge difference. £200 saved on train fares. Which thinking about it goes a long way to towards the energy bill.
OP posts:
ChannelTheCalmaLlama · 07/01/2022 22:48

How does your average wage look? What's the job sector? Do you struggle? What area?

As far as I can see, these were the only questions in the OP so this is what I answered. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Ragwort · 07/01/2022 22:49

Channel are you genuinely expecting sympathy on your £150k salary? Hmm. How tone deaf can you be?

I am not jealous .., I live very comfortably and happily on much less than the 'average' salary ... mortgage paid off by making a conscious decision to leave the SE years ago.

Gettingthereslowly2020 · 07/01/2022 22:49

Oh how I wish I was "struggling to get by" on £150k! More than 6 times my salary.

Coronado2 · 07/01/2022 22:50

@SortMyHouse

Sorry, misunderstood, thought you wanted to know people's salaries against the average benchmark.
I thought this was what the op was asking too. It was only reading some responses and going back and rereading that I realised the thread is only for people around the average salary.

There's no need to be so rude to people.

ChannelTheCalmaLlama · 07/01/2022 22:50

@Ragwort

Channel are you genuinely expecting sympathy on your £150k salary? Hmm. How tone deaf can you be?

I am not jealous .., I live very comfortably and happily on much less than the 'average' salary ... mortgage paid off by making a conscious decision to leave the SE years ago.

Why would you think anybody would think you would be jealous? Being a lone parent isn't exactly a picnic that everyone's desperate for an invite to! Whatever your salary.
forcedfun · 07/01/2022 22:50

Surprised by all these people purportedly on many multiples of the average salary who can't read a couple of quite clear paragraphs and conclude this isn't the thread for them!

SortMyHouse · 07/01/2022 22:51

22:46ChannelTheCalmaLlama

You said nothing wrong.
Maybe we should start our own thread where a 6 figure salary, dependent upon where you live isn't really the 'dream'.

If I was in London I wouldn't have half of what I do now.

So, I understand your worries.

FunnysInLaJardin · 07/01/2022 22:51

OK, so only the average in the part of the UK the OP is in?

Channel you know the 'average' person is only allowed to worry about money?

coatofmanycolors · 07/01/2022 22:51

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the request of the user.

Original poster
RedSquirrel111 · 07/01/2022 22:53

@ChannelTheCalmaLlama

Right, ok *@RedSquirrel111*!! How rude. I was just answering the question that was asked. As I said I am a lone parent and also worried about money with the rising costs, for the reasons I explained. It affects lots of people, not just people who earn a similar amount to you. Why ask the question if you don't want a range of experiences?

I'm amazed sometimes at the way people speak to each other on here when responding to people who haven't been remotely rude to them. Swearing at someone just for describing their own experience of the issue you raised? HmmConfused

Literally the first line:

'Thought it would be interesting to hear off the average, and not the mumsnet six figures'

Bit crack on with your £150,000k struggles love Hmm

Back to how people are experiencing 'average' salary :)

OP posts:
sanbeiji · 07/01/2022 22:53

@RedSquirrel111 your question is deceptive.
2 people on 'average' wages is obviously a very different picture to someone with a 'high earning' DP.
And 2 people whosecombined wage is average , something else.

Whom exactly do you want to comment on this thread?
Those who survive on an 'average' wage (meaning the total household income is 30K-ish) or a total of 60K-ish for a couple.

MakeUsACuppa · 07/01/2022 22:53

I have read the OP and can confirm I fit the criteria to comment on the thread....

Northern England, I work in financial services work FT and earn £32k, DH earns roughly the same. I was part time for years but went FT when DCs went to secondary school.

I am currently obsessed with getting the mortgage paid off/down so I can drop a day or two and increasing my crappy pension. Also obsess with cutting the astronomical electric bill, teenagers seem to consume as much electricity as food!

I'm also doing Dry January and no spend January so above helps me take my mind off alcohol & frivolous spending Wink

ChannelTheCalmaLlama · 07/01/2022 22:54

God there are some bitter people here. I haven't asked for any sympathy. 🤣🤣 I simply answered the OP's questions.

Do all the people attacking me speak to people you know like this in real life? I have friends who earn far more than me and friends who earn far less. Friends who have different challenges to mine. We talk about these things where appropriate and nobody has ever responded like this.

And on a post where somebody specifically asked people to write about their region, earnings and whether they're worried about finances, to then behave like this just because somebody answered the question?!? Bonkers.

SpookyScarySkeletons · 07/01/2022 22:54

Full time £40k. I'm at the top end of the salary for my role. Married, 2 kids. Living oop north so comfortably off compared to pretty much everyone we know.

DH on a much lower salary but doing something he loves now compared to higher salary roles he has done in the past. Which at the end of the day despite all this talk of average salaries etc is all that really matters.

Seeing him come home full of enthusiasm about his day makes me very happy regardless of what he earns.