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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:
ChannelTheCalmaLlama · 07/01/2022 22:55

@coatofmanycolors

How is a poster on a high salary but with high housing and childcare costs any less squeezed than a single person living in an affordable area on the average salary? It's all relative.
Exactly. 👏👏👏
MegBusset · 07/01/2022 22:55

Lol @ mumsnet where a request for people earning average wage gets a pile on of people earning 2/3/5x 😆

OP, I'm earning £31k in charity comms. I could earn more in the corporate sector but I don't want to work for shareholders. Eight years ago when I returned to work after years as a SAHM I was on £16k, so I feel minted!

delilahbucket · 07/01/2022 22:56

I was doing amazingly but you know Covid... Self employed... Yada yada. Oh and DH made redundant last month. I do think the average salary is a bit of a misnomer though as Oop North we have much lower outgoings and that average wage doesn't reflect the individual parts of the country.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Cost of living Employment advice Jobs
loobylou10 · 07/01/2022 22:56

@RedSquirrel111 no need to pile in so nastily to @ChannelTheCalmaLlama. Just ignore if you don't like the answer.

MakeUsACuppa · 07/01/2022 22:56

Or maybe I don't fit the criteria as there is both me and DH earning 'average' salary - I'll get back to my spreadsheets Wink

Tippexy · 07/01/2022 22:56

@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

Absolutely. I have reported the personal attack so hopefully it should be deleted soon.
Original poster
RedSquirrel111 · 07/01/2022 22:57

[quote sanbeiji]@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.[/quote]
Good point.
I'm struggling to find an accurate 'household' income but this I'd a good tool
<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=ifs.org.uk/tools_and_resources/where_do_you_fit_in&ved=2ahUKEwjbi5aN3qD1AhUXQUEAHbqkCG4QFnoECDEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw38wsS79zJv42a_UGdM-mvy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=ifs.org.uk/tools_and_resources/where_do_you_fit_in&ved=2ahUKEwjbi5aN3qD1AhUXQUEAHbqkCG4QFnoECDEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw38wsS79zJv42a_UGdM-mvy

OP posts:
MegBusset · 07/01/2022 22:57

Day to day living is fine. I don't have expensive tastes and live in a part of the country where housing is relatively cheap. What I worry about is my pension and how much help I can give the DC through uni, house deposit etc.

Jynxed · 07/01/2022 22:58

£35k gross, charitable sector. Used to earn more in the NHS but burnt out and moved to something with more reasonable hours and less stress. Small pay increase due this year, 1-2%, but it won’t even cover the NI increase. Train fares are a big expenditure for me, and they are predicted to rise significantly in April. Fuel cap also going up, which seriously frightens me. 2 kids in Uni to support (loan doesn’t even cover their rent!). I am actively looking for ways to save and things to sell!

Mummy1232016 · 07/01/2022 22:58

@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

I thought the same….it also says how you getting on? Not just state the amount you earn above the average Confused that’s what the others OP is referring to are like!
PoleFairy · 07/01/2022 22:58

I'm around the average. Marketing in a professional services firm, south coast, £35k and I'm 30 years old.
Have a smallish mortgage compared to friends due to buying a real fixer upper cheap but in a nice area and being able to have DH and family do majority of work. Therefore we have a comfortable life really, able to save and have holidays and no worried about bills. DH is in construction and I out earn him by a lot. We are ttc so my worry is how we will cope if I go back part time. Mat leave isnt too much of a worry as I have savings and a good enhanced maternity package.

ChannelTheCalmaLlama · 07/01/2022 23:01

@SortMyHouse

Sorry, misunderstood, thought you wanted to know people's salaries against the average benchmark.
No need to apologise. The OP asked: "what does your average salary look like?"

Most people would naturally take this to mean what do they earn in an average year, and have answered the question asked and then been shouted at if the OP doesn't like the answer. Confused

DrMadelineMaxwell · 07/01/2022 23:01

It's interesting to see what the average is. If you look on here you get the impression lots of people are on biiiig salaries. If I look for job adverts when trying to decide what I might do instead of teaching it's all £20-25k.

Between DH and I it averages out!

I'm top of the payscale, with an additional responsibility as a non-London based teacher of over 20 years and earn, pre tax and a lot of pension contributions, £45k.
DH earns £28k in a factory and is one of the highest paid as the rest seem to be on NMW.

Crabwoman · 07/01/2022 23:02

Full time, public sector and live in the NW. Salery is approx 33k a year. Husband (also public sector) is on sightly more than that. 2 children,one primary and one secondary.

Ww don't have to worry about everyday bills and treats. Have to budget for holidays and larger purchases. We are definitely comfortable but are starting to notice that our income doesn't go nearly as far as it did 3/4 years ago.

We have a draughty victorian house so will almost certainly have to make adjustments when fuel bills rise.

Our jobs are pretty full on and manic I'm considering a move up the ladder, but that will come with significantly higher stress, which I'm not sure I want.

Mummy1232016 · 07/01/2022 23:03

@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

OP said

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

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

So you read that as OP not asking for UK average, asking for six figures and that she was asking for a range of answers and experience???

ChannelTheCalmaLlama · 07/01/2022 23:03

@DrMadelineMaxwell

It's interesting to see what the average is. If you look on here you get the impression lots of people are on biiiig salaries. If I look for job adverts when trying to decide what I might do instead of teaching it's all £20-25k.

Between DH and I it averages out!

I'm top of the payscale, with an additional responsibility as a non-London based teacher of over 20 years and earn, pre tax and a lot of pension contributions, £45k.
DH earns £28k in a factory and is one of the highest paid as the rest seem to be on NMW.

People don't get large salaries at entry level jobs when starting out/ moving sector, generally (a few exceptions in highly qualified professions). You would need to look at the promotion prospects and salaries for the roles those entry level roles could lead to.
belowaverage · 07/01/2022 23:04

20k retail, DP 19k care home, 2 kids, in scotland and luckily bought house years ago and moved up ladder so small mortgage left, run a car ,usually able to get a good holiday but have looked at term time prices and are way out of budget for a bit of sun so will probably be UK holiday camp.
My boss is always complaining about how skint they are , once commenting on our two week holiday as they could never afford to go abroad on her 120000 salary, also said her DH was main earner in the household just like a lot on here my heart bleeds if you struggle on 6 figures.

Original poster
RedSquirrel111 · 07/01/2022 23:04

@delilahbucket

I was doing amazingly but you know Covid... Self employed... Yada yada. Oh and DH made redundant last month. I do think the average salary is a bit of a misnomer though as Oop North we have much lower outgoings and that average wage doesn't reflect the individual parts of the country.
Completely agree. That's why I thought it would be interesting to compare the 'average' across different areas, job roles etc and see how people find it.
OP posts:
WoodenReindeer · 07/01/2022 23:05

Yup I've found that too. Ex teacher and lots of jobs advertised at 20k and some at 24k. Many at 25k want other qualifications, experience...

SortMyHouse · 07/01/2022 23:05

23:01ChannelTheCalmaLlama

Started a new thread for £100k plus - would love to hear the reality of London, kids and big wage / we may move to London soon and hopefully have kids.

JasperTheHungry · 07/01/2022 23:06

I earn almost exactly the average. I’m a single mum. I’m scared. Everything is going up except my salary. I don’t see how I’m going to manage.

OnaBegonia · 07/01/2022 23:07

I'm in Scotland, self employed , take a salary of £30k, single parent, doing ok, looking to downsize house to save £ now that two D.C. are up and away.
If I was single on my income I wouldn't have any concerns like OP, kids drain your bank account 🤣

ChannelTheCalmaLlama · 07/01/2022 23:07

OP said

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

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

So you read that as OP not asking for UK average, asking for six figures and that she was asking for a range of answers and experience???

Sorry. I am an Aspie so I skipped over what I assumed to be a facetious joke about lots of people on here banging on about their husband earning whatever. Like a joke about the mumsnet chicken that feeds 50,000. I assumed that was a throwaway comment in the OP's preamble because the OP subsequently asked very specific questions at the end of the post, so presumably as they were the questions asked they were what she wanted a response to. I answered and then got attacked for doing so. Confused

ToooOldForThis · 07/01/2022 23:07

Sorry if someone has asked this, but do you mean salary or household income?
Dh and I earn around average, but obviously in our case that's x2 for household income

RedPandaMama · 07/01/2022 23:08

Work full time, public sector social housing, on £27k. Partner works in the same office but a different team so a band lower, on £23k. We rent but through the pandemic have been trying to live frugally so we can save for a mortgage. We've done brilliantly saving but house prices just keep going up and up so can't afford to buy anything despite having a deposit. We live in the NW and house prices are 15-20% higher than in 2019. We've economised down to one car instead of two but the increase in petrol prices as well as rising gas/electric and food shopping means we've barely saved anything there. We've just had our second baby as DP is getting older and we didn't want to put it off, so now there's four of us in a tiny 2 bed house... I have just gone on mat leave and I'm a bit worried about going down to statutory pay and might have to go back to work early.

We aren't struggling but we live frugally - for two people who work hard and work full time, I think we should be able to enjoy ourselves. In reality we haven't been on holiday in years, don't drink or smoke, don't go out, have one car and we buy the majority of clothes and everything for the baby, secondhand.

Really hope we can buy a house soon. I've been sinking money into renting for nearly 8 years now and I'm so done with it.