Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

If you were privately educated in the UK, what job do you do and how much do you get paid?

233 replies

MNisMyGuiltyPleasure · 13/04/2023 12:49

You often hear that people who were privately educated had a better start in life and that's why they are more likely to secure better-paid jobs.

I was not privately educated but I am well paid. So I'm curious to see what jobs people who were privately educated in the UK have as adults, an how much they earn from those jobs.

OP posts:
TeenagersAngst · 13/04/2023 12:54

I work in comms/marketing, on £70k p/a but my career plateaued massively when I had children (my choice, not imposed on me). I also have investments which bring in another £30k p/a.

However, my DSis who was also privately educated has only ever worked in min wage jobs. Go figure!

OneSmallStepUp · 13/04/2023 13:00

I was privately educated and have a BSc. I work in admin and earn about £12k.
Most of that money goes towards private counselling to deal with the fact that I was sent away from home too young and never learned to cope with my feelings.

TotallyLosttonight · 13/04/2023 13:08

My exH was privately educated and is in the military earning about £85k. I was state educated and am senior management in a private company earning about the same.

bengalcat · 13/04/2023 13:19

Yes to privately educated - @150k

emmathedilemma · 13/04/2023 13:19

So 3 answers and already a complete range of results.....which is going to be the case I'm afraid. There will be people at both ends of the spectrum from all educational backgrounds, you can't make such sweeping generalisations as "people from private schools get good jobs".

BHRK · 13/04/2023 13:21

Not what you asked but DH isn’t privately educated and on £170K+
very clever and worked his way up

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 13/04/2023 13:24

DH was privately educated due to what now would be recognised as ADHD and dyslexia. But he was punished severely for it in state school 40 years ago.

He earns NMW.

MissLucyLiu · 13/04/2023 13:24

Don't come at me.
Privately educated ranges between 200-500k +

Partner privately educated ranges between 100-150k depends on commission

AgrathaChristie · 13/04/2023 13:24

DN, private school, Uni degree, p/t minimum wage job in a cafe.

Original poster
MNisMyGuiltyPleasure · 13/04/2023 13:24

@emmathedilemma exactly. Which makes me wonder why so many people still pay through the nose to send their children to private schools when that means they have to 'cut back' on other stuff. Would that money not be better spent on nicer or more frequent family holidays? Or on deposits for a property for the children when they leave home? Or something else? I don't have kids so I am looking at this from 'afar.' But I've often found it puzzling how some families will make sacrifices to send their kids to private schools when they don't necessarily make a difference later on in life.

Happy to be proven wrong, of course.

OP posts:
ethelredonagoodday · 13/04/2023 13:34

My DH is one of 4 brothers, all privately educated. Eldest and youngest went to uni. He is a partner in a professional services firm, and has a high salary. His two middle brothers work for the family business and are shareholders, not huge salary, but very high assets. Youngest brother is a troubled soul/drop out who basically has got fired from every job he's had and now works doing casual type work delivering stuff and cleaning vehicles.

So even within that one family you can see it's not a one size fits all thing...

3WildOnes · 13/04/2023 13:36

I dont pay for private education so that they have a better job later in life. I pay for private education so that they have a more enjoyable school experience now.

Twilightstarbright · 13/04/2023 13:36

Me- £40k in a non professional job that doesn’t require a degree.

DH- £180k plus 40% bonus. Works in finance.

Kfjsjdbd · 13/04/2023 13:38

I was privately educated, went to Leeds Uni, and now head up a commercial department in a big business.

Out of my private school I would say about a third of people do a very bog standard/basic job, half of them go on to be doctors or solicitors, and maybe 5 of them per year group go on to do something really interesting/outstanding (I know the maths doesn’t really add up there!)

contentlycontent · 13/04/2023 13:41

It depends on your outlook and whether you view
highly paid career = successful in life

Private school was my making - I started half way through secondary after being badly bullied at my local state comp. It was an absolute revelation to be in a place where I was respected by my peers for working hard and knowing things. To be with other children who had a drive and desire to learn rather than mess around and disrupt lessons. It gave me the confidence to speak in class, debate different viewpoints, participate in additional activities, all of which then contributed towards the success of my uni application and further career.

I have a sibling who believes it was a waste of money and they would have achieved the same results in the state sector. Unlike me, they were confident, had no difficulties making friends and were not bullied at any point in their life.

FWIW we are both in good careers with FT salaries over £100k (however working PT and earning less)

The confidence to believe in myself and resilience I developed cannot be measured and I would sacrifice anything for my children to have this should they be struggling at any stage. It is worth far more than holidays and a house deposit - the money can come and go with various life events but that drive from within is what makes me happy

As far as social circle goes - the variation between salaries and career success from those I went to private school with is as wide as on this thread. Working FT minimum wage to owning own businesses to directors of major banks and everything in between

Hoppinggreen · 13/04/2023 13:42

My DC go/went to Private school but not to improve their career prospects.
So did I and I earn around £50k part time working in Business Consulting. I am not sure if my education helped my career in terms of qualifications etc but it gave me other not as tangible things. Nobody ever employed me purely because of which school I went to.
I think if you see Private education as an investment that you will get a guaranteed return on you may well end up disappointed

Dassams · 13/04/2023 13:43

I dont pay for private education so that they have a better job later in life. I pay for private education so that they have a more enjoyable school experience now.

I guess it also depends on the state options available - if they are not very good with lots of disruption and/bad behaviour/drugs then that is a valid argument

cloudonego · 13/04/2023 13:43

I know quite a few adults that were privately educated due to parents being in the military (but otherwise working to lower middle class families) and they are all average or below average earners, anecdotal obviously, but I don't think private education in itself can guarantee high wages, none of those families were the sort to network or pursue the other benefits of private education, it was a means to an end to enable the military personnel to post frequently.

Dassams · 13/04/2023 13:45

Op, you are assuming that parents are spending money on private schools looking for a return on their investment.

hamstersarse · 13/04/2023 13:46

State educated until 13 then private. Have a degree and masters in a specialist role - earn ~£75k

I could definitely earn more but I CBA with the extra responsibilities, happy to have a balance - so that is entirely personal and not anything to do with education

Fudgewomble · 13/04/2023 13:53

I pay for private school as the 2 local options are poor (emergency executive head teacher special measures police outside the school gates poor). I’m not particularly expecting a return on my investment I just want my children to have a nice experience and access to relevant extra cirriculars now: which for our DC means playing in multiple different bands/orchestras/ensembles and having a swimming pool and hockey Astros on site.

DH went to (the same) private school and is on £400k + so we don’t make any sacrifices to send them there and still go on lots of holidays and will have house deposits for them.

I went to a variety of horrible state schools. I am in wonder at the opportunities and facilities DC have access to and I remind them of their privileges constantly!

3WildOnes · 13/04/2023 13:53

Dassams · 13/04/2023 13:43

I dont pay for private education so that they have a better job later in life. I pay for private education so that they have a more enjoyable school experience now.

I guess it also depends on the state options available - if they are not very good with lots of disruption and/bad behaviour/drugs then that is a valid argument

Absolutely. I would have been just as happy with my first choice state (actually, happier as I would have a lot more spare cash!) and think their results would have been just as good but I couldn't afford a house in the catchment. The state school we were offered is a bit shit so I am happy to make sacrifices in order for them to go private.

sequincardi · 13/04/2023 13:55

3WildOnes · 13/04/2023 13:36

I dont pay for private education so that they have a better job later in life. I pay for private education so that they have a more enjoyable school experience now.

This is a very interesting point of view
Not many think like this ime

Dassams · 13/04/2023 13:56

A good education is about so much more than future earnings potential!

In addition, not everyone wants to have a demanding high paying job.

This is a very narrow minded need question imo!

PutYourBackIntoit · 13/04/2023 13:57

Dassams · 13/04/2023 13:45

Op, you are assuming that parents are spending money on private schools looking for a return on their investment.

This!

I send mine to private school so I don't have kids that have zero opportunities after school, and to preserve their MH. They were completely floundering in the state option.

My hope for them next? To qualify to go to a college to study subjects that pique their interest. This was not looking possible where they were before.

They are bright, well behaved kids with spld.
Bottom sets of our state school is a shit show. They deserve better, we are fortunate we can afford better.