Title: Do people in wealthy areas look down on “ordinary” jobs?
Another slightly awkward post from me, but I’d genuinely like some outside perspective.
I’m a man in my 30s, no kids, and I work as a bus driver. I live in quite a wealthy part of Surrey (think big houses, lots of Range Rovers, that sort of thing), and lately I can’t shake the feeling that people around here are pretty dismissive of what I do.
The job itself is fine—steady, decent enough pay, and I take pride in doing it properly. But socially, it’s starting to feel a bit uncomfortable. When people ask what I do, there’s often a noticeable change in tone. Conversations seem to dry up, or I get polite-but-patronising comments. A couple of times people have been outright rude—nothing dramatic, just that slightly sneering, “oh… right” kind of reaction.
It’s hard not to compare myself when most people locally seem to be in high-paying professions. There’s definitely a sense that if you’re not earning big money or climbing some kind of career ladder, you’re a bit of an oddity.
I don’t think I’m imagining it entirely, but I also wonder if I’m becoming oversensitive to it. Do people in more affluent areas tend to look down on jobs like mine, or is this just a few individuals and I’m letting it get to me?
For what it’s worth, I work hard, I’m reliable, and I’m contributing—but it doesn’t always feel like that counts for much in certain circles.
Interested to hear honest views.