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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:
EllaVaNight · 08/01/2022 00:12

ChannelTheCalmaLlama If you noticed I used the word was (past tense). My life is earning an average salary now so a lot more than previously and I have a partner and another child. However I've never forgotten those days and so I volunteer my (admittedly small amount of) free time helping others in the situation I was in.

Also what is a Yorkshire man sketch?

blueshoes · 08/01/2022 00:12

Crazy to me that some of you are on such high salaries yet lack basic comprehension ??

You'd be amazed how many people don't read properly, rich and poor. Only rich get attacked if you are on this thread (not average, that's ok if you are average). Poor is fine.

LonglegsMumtheBlacksmith · 08/01/2022 00:12

I work 3 days a week and earn just shy of £17K (£26K FTE). DW is FT and earns £22K.
We live in the third most expensive city in UK and rent from a family member (just over 50% of the going rate). House is old and not energy efficient, so we put on jumpers / have blankets in the lounge etc. instead of having the heating on all the time. We are generally careful with money and worry about things like car failing MOT and other additional expenses.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Cost of living Employment advice Jobs
Xmasbaby11 · 08/01/2022 00:12

Salary is about £32,000 for 4 days a week. Married with 2dc and my dh earns about £35,000.

We feel ok. Our bills have gone up but we can afford it. I want to stay pt as dd1 has ASD. Partly so we use less Childcare and also so I have a day off to get things done because the weekends caN be demanding.

Original poster
RedSquirrel111 · 08/01/2022 00:12

As my original message has been deleted I imagine a lot if people are struggling.
?‽???

OP posts:
Butchyrestingface · 08/01/2022 00:14

Also what is a Yorkshire man sketch?

Famous comedy sketch series involving 4 Yorkshire Men all arguing about who's had it hardest in life, all trying to do outdo each other.

"When I was a child there was only one shoe between the ten of us...". That sort of thing.

januaryfanuary · 08/01/2022 00:14

I feel quite sad as I only earn 19K. I am a grafter but I don't seem to get anywhere. I need a new career path but now I'm 40 and I have a 1.5 year old and a 5 year old. Makes me sad and now I feel like giving up. ☹️

Original poster
RedSquirrel111 · 08/01/2022 00:15

Oh back up! Thanks mumsnethq Hmm

OP posts:
Butchyrestingface · 08/01/2022 00:15

@RedSquirrel111

As my original message has been deleted I imagine a lot if people are struggling. ?‽???
Do you mean your OP?

I can still see it.

Maze76 · 08/01/2022 00:15

Public sector, £28,000 living in Greater London. Like a pp stated, public sector workers have had pay freezes, in my sector our pay has been frozen going on 7 years. I’m doing ‘ok’, but if the cost of living increases any further, it’s going to be a struggle.

Bettybantz · 08/01/2022 00:15

Thanks for the link OP - puts me on around the 30th centile which feels about right.
It helps living where we do. I don’t feel we are poor but I do worry when things break. I save a little each month so there’s a bit to cover a new hoover or whatever but it would be so nice for those things to not be a concern.
I always imagine double my salary would mean we didn’t have to worry but threads like these make me see there are so many variables.

Frazzled2207 · 08/01/2022 00:18

OP when I said it was an average salary for around here I meant round my neck of the woods. I’m very aware that where I live, which is middle class ish but not “posh” at all, average salaries will be higher than in the wider NW. We have better than average paid jobs and I’m totally aware that our standard of living will also be better than average.

EllaVaNight · 08/01/2022 00:18

Famous comedy sketch series involving 4 Yorkshire Men all arguing about who's had it hardest in life, all trying to do outdo each other Oh ok. Not quite sure why ChannelTheCalmaLlama would think me being raped resulting in poverty was out doing him.

Original poster
RedSquirrel111 · 08/01/2022 00:21

@blueshoes

Crazy to me that some of you are on such high salaries yet lack basic comprehension ??

You'd be amazed how many people don't read properly, rich and poor. Only rich get attacked if you are on this thread (not average, that's ok if you are average). Poor is fine.

Can you not understand the difference in sensitivities in commenting on a thread about 'average' earnings? 'I don't earn that wish I could' -- 'I earn £150,000 and I'm struggling' Really? Can't you?
OP posts:
TokenGinger · 08/01/2022 00:26

Salary £36k
North West
Mortgage is manageable
1 DC, nursery costs are more than mortgage!
Live with DP whose salary is £28k

I consider us to be very lucky. I see so many people unable to afford the basics and choosing between heating and food. I do worry about the rising costs of fuel but we're lucky that paying for them means that we'd go without a luxury, rather than go without food.

We would like another DC but cannot afford two sets of nursery fees so we'll need to wait until DC gets the 30 hours entitlement.

PattyPan · 08/01/2022 00:26

I was on £36k until promotion a couple of months ago and was very comfortable despite being in the SE (mortgage over £1k on a 2 bed!), but I don’t have a car and apparently use much less energy than the average household so have been less affected by inflation. Also don’t have DC.

gwenneh · 08/01/2022 00:29

@Fruby

What job earns 5 x average salary!?
I can think of a few. Most are in either specific tech fields like software development, or executive/board of directors level.

In my household we have high incomes, and high outgoings. It washes. We're saving, we're comfortable, and we're cautious because we're both quite conscious that all it takes is one of us losing a job to get off balance very quickly.

eca80 · 08/01/2022 00:32

Sorry, but it just feels gloaty to read someone judging a ‘high earning’ single parent when the poster is on a double income and living in a much cheaper area.

If the point of the thread is to hear only from those on exactly the national average, it has failed miserably, and rightly so. Average is only meaningful in the context of your expenses. Makes as much sense to talk about global average wages(less than £1,000).

Blankscreen · 08/01/2022 00:36

I ear £41k for doing 6/7ths of full time so effectively full time. I feel underpaid for what I do

DH earns a lot I'm embarrassed to say how much on here.

We spend a lot. Mortgage is massive
Private school which I know is a choice is £££ and we just seem to fritter momeyy away

I'm ashamed as how bad we are with money but equally don't feel like I have time to sort it out

ConstanceL · 08/01/2022 00:36

I earn average but my husband earns more- are you only hoping to hear from people with a joint household income of ca £31k? Your OP is a bit confusing so not surprising people are misunderstanding then getting shirty with one another..

NinaDefoe · 08/01/2022 00:37

Average earner here!
I drive an average car, go on U.K. holidays (one a year), live in a 3 bed house. I don’t buy designer clothes or accessories.

I eat out, go on day trips, go out whenever I like, support my DC, buy nice clothes and have a decent amount of disposable income.

I live in a modest house though and as I said, have a modest car and inexpensive holidays.

Original poster
RedSquirrel111 · 08/01/2022 00:44

@eca80

Sorry, but it just feels gloaty to read someone judging a ‘high earning’ single parent when the poster is on a double income and living in a much cheaper area.

If the point of the thread is to hear only from those on exactly the national average, it has failed miserably, and rightly so. Average is only meaningful in the context of your expenses. Makes as much sense to talk about global average wages(less than £1,000).

Poster is on a single income. As was clear. I'm also in the most expensive city outside of Lonfon.

I'm not judging, I just made a very clear post asking for experiences of how people felt on an average income.

Average is not 'meaningful in context of your expenses'. That is utter Bullshit.

OP posts:
Solo · 08/01/2022 00:51

Job share so £11,500pa. I'd love to earn more, but I left my above-average salary to protect my health - both mental and physical, and I have a chronic illness.
No mortgage (at last).
Single parent.
Hardly manage really and as grateful as I am for tax credits, it isn't enough to help with all the hikes in prices.

Lion1618 · 08/01/2022 00:57

If I were full time then my salary would be circa £37k. As it is, I work 3 days a week so am earning a lot less. OH earns around £38-39k full time. We live in a modest house which we are rapidly outgrowing and needs heaps of money spent on it, drive cars which are both 15+ years old, usually go away in the UK once a year...so no I don't feel particularly well off. However can afford to feed our family, put petrol in our cars, clothe ourselves and go on nice family days out. Could be much worse!

Solo · 08/01/2022 01:03

Meant to say I live in London.
Full time equivalent salary £23K

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