Average UK salary. How you getting on?

[RedSquirrel111]

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

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?

If you live in a place where houses cost 90k on average vs 400k on average, why is that not relevant? What about places outside the Uk where houses cost a fraction of that? Average income is only meaningful in a homogeneous grouping. Even in a smallish country like the Uk there is a wide disparity in cost of living, so what does ‘average’ really mean? Are you just looking to feel good / virtuous about your own situation ?

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

Not sure why you are so angry. There is an argument that gross income is not as meaningful a figure to measure quality of life as net income.

You asked if people are struggling. That's a function of net income taking into account bills.

But I geddit. Rich people don't deserve to have problems and don't deserve to be on this thread.

41k in public sector, managing but not saving much at the moment.

No opportunity for progression with this employer and the annual pay rise was stopped 2 years ago, no sign of it returning. With the cost of living going up might have to think about a new job in the next couple of years.

36K between us...on 18K each with 3 kids. We don't struggle but I love a good bargain. We don't have holidays abroad or anything and I save for birthdays and Christmas year round. Looking forward to when all 3 are at school and I can hopefully get some courses down and get a better job.

We still have nice times and none of us go without...we just can't spend frivolously.

I'm also in the most expensive city outside of London

I don’t remember Winchester being in the NW…
www.itv.com/news/2021-08-10/most-and-least-affordable-uk-cities-in-2021-revealed

I'm about 5k above the average salary. I was lucky in that I got on the property ladder in the 90s before prices spiralled, so I don't have a large mortgage and I don't live in an area where housing is particularly expensive.

I have enough money for my day to day needs, occasional treats and to make savings, but not enough to spend without thinking. I generally have frugal habits, shop around for things, buy a lot of stuff secondhand and so on. I've no interest in having the latest tech, TV subscriptions, beauty treatments, holidays abroad etc. but I do try to buy ethically when it comes to food and essentials.

I don't have children, so that's a big saving and also gives me more freedom in the way I spend my money, although I try to save as much as I can, as my pension is in the private sector and isn't marvellous.

Just to add to the above, I'm the sole breadwinner in a two-person household and because we don't have children, we don't get any tax credits or benefits, so my income, less tax, is absolutely all we have to live on.

I'm not usually one for splitting feathers over an op, but someone whining they are struggling to pay the mortgage on a combined salary of over 150k when in the same breath another poster was struggling to feed herself just begs belief.

Cost of living increase is really noticeable for me. With two strapping teenage boys the food shop isnt getting any cheaper and fuel costs are rocketing.

Well a lot less than that lol !!!

Band 6 NHS midwife, London based and request majority nights, full time. £45000 (roughly as it changes) plus I have done about £10,000 overtime this year too. 9% pension though plus student loan. Makes a big dent into it.

Meant to add. 2 children. Still renting (I have only been qualified a couple of years so now saving) and my husbands income isn't great. send he is part time We don't struggle, we have plenty of little breaks away (Only things like Haven, Butlins, Pontins ect) but we get by with 2 very happy, lucky children. Will just be much happier once we manage to become homeowners and have so much more security... thinking about moving up north at that point.

thinking about moving up north at that point

If it's viable for you in terms of family commitments, do it. You don't say what sort of accommodation you're renting in London but I'm fairly sure you could buy something more than reasonable up north on your salary.

I always seem to earn the national average. This year £31.300. Just me now kids are gone, north-west so I cover basic bills and manage to save with no stress It's a good feeling after years of struggling as a single parent.

32k project manager (decent bonuses performance related not sure how much it will be 2/3k? Maybe?
Married
West Midlands
Own house with mortgage
2 kids (2 and newborn)
Cheesed off at my current pay grade but it’s the price I’ve paid for basically having a year out of work for mat leave and then falling pregnant again 10 months after coming back. Only way to move up soonish now will be to leave my current company.
Concerned somewhat about the rising cost of everything (food and gas/ electric being the main ones) also concerned about when we go to remortgage what the rates will look like.
Childcare is a huge expense as we don’t have reliable family around. £650 a month just gone… 🥲

Most people I know earn 18-27k..the 'average ' is at the top end and the aim for most..I am mid 50s and now earn 25k full time.
Won't ever own a house, living in a council bungalow after we downsized from the house after kids grew up.. Paying full rent, it's not a 'free' house 😉. After years of struggling now just about comfortable. DH just has state pension. Not looking forward to older age though as little pension as savings are minimal.

Probably my last job before retirement. I earn about twice national average which covers me, ds and very small mortgage.

I'm a single parent so work full time and have full time care of ds. We don't generally struggle although I'd like to clear the mortgage before I retire.

I'm amazed how this thread has been derailed by high earning people. Genuinely. Thought they'd keep off once it was pointed out to them. They have the whole of mumsnet (amd privileged in life too) qhy come onto a discussion about those earning far less than them!?

Anyway I'm interested in what people do to earn around the average wage. If I'd stayed teaching I'd be earning more but left for health reasons and its hard building back up again. Most 30k jobs I see require substantial retraining rather than degrees.

I'm in HR and have been earning 32k in my current role. Finish there next week and start a new role for 42k. Excited for the new challenge!

I'm finding it more difficult to pay all the bills and have spare cash at the end of the month tbh. Hopefully the increase in salary will help me x

Working full lime earning £28,000

Living in the East Midlands
Works as a Customer Service Team Leader
Single home owner
No children

Lives fairly comfortably, all bills managed with a bit of saving or mortgage overpayment each month

28, teacher and whole school literacy coordinator. I earn 39,600 and my partner earned 25k (just started in new career).

Pregnant so will be going down to part time at 0.8 so will be going down to 31,680 in 2023!

We earn that between us, I used to earn just above on my own but did not like my job. Now I do a minimum wage pay timer job that I like. It works for us

44k here, do a technical, niche job. South East. To earn more I'd have to move into management or go abroad.

I think we will get a pay rise this year but I doubt it will keep pace with inflation.

Cost of living is a definite worry.

@Loveand

£96k personal income, my own business in Finance. I work part-time about 20 hours per week.

The only luxuries that we pay for is tutoring, sports and hobbies for the children. We also spend time abroad quite a lot when we are allowed to.

🤣🤣 ooof! You are in for a ROASTING!