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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder what others are earning in my location, sector and AGE?

62 replies

rummy41 · 04/05/2011 16:54

we constantly struggle for cash (we're very good though, not getting into debt, paying back student loans regularly)

and i can't help but think i've never received much payback for working so hard at uni, working long hours, it is making me feel a bit down

i'm 27 (28 next month), earn £23.5k a year, but work hard for it (stressful job don't want to go into details, butit IS office based, which is ok). i studied for 5 years at uni - 3 year undergrad in the south where i ran up student loan debts (no other option, no financial support from family, only emotional, which is fine) but nothing over and above basic living costs.

then another 2 years where i did a part time postgrad course which was professionally relevant, again helped by getting into debt with a bit of employer support. it's maths related so don't judge my english please Smile i live in a city which has relatively high living costs compared to the city i lived in whilst a child - think something equivalent to Bristol i think.

at 27, earning 23.5k a year , is that about normal for the educational level i've put in? i seem to mix within relatively affluent circles and i KNOW it's all relative/perception, butit's hard to keep saying that when I see we have X coming in this month and Y going out!

(i suppose it doesn't help that DH is a SAHD, he would earn less than me, NMW, so it made more sense.

does anyoen know of any websites where it breaks down salary levels by sector, job and AGE? i know there are salary checkers but they're msotly based int he USA, not the UK, and besides, it doesn't take age into account (not that it should matter when it comes to earning negotiations Hmm)

OP posts:
Absolutelyfabulous · 04/05/2011 17:51

And everyone I know on big bucks ( six figs plus) have at least a good first degree, many have Post grads [ hmm]

Want2bSupermum · 04/05/2011 18:02

Hays has a pretty good section where it breaks down salaries based on jobs and experience. I am afraid to say that age and qualificaitons often have little to do with salary when working for an organization.

I follow the mantra of 'if you think you are underpaid you are' and have a bad habit of asking for pay increases. I never just ask for an increase. What works for me is telling your boss that you are looking to take on more responsibility so you can grow/develop your career and earn more. Ask your boss to draw up a list of objectives for you to meet so you can move up the ladder. After the list is drawn up let your boss know you expect your salary to increase with your promotion after you have met the objectives. You then work like a beast to meet those objectives ahead of schedule. If they don't give you the raise then put those additional responsibilities on your CV and start job hunting.

If you are looking at making good money then you need to be in a revenue generating position. Those in back office management positions can earn a decent amount but it won't be anything stellar. Back office non-management positons very rarely pay much.

jcscot · 04/05/2011 18:27

"I have a BSc and an MSc and am around 37 and get less that your husband jcscott. He is doing well!"

I know - we live in a relatively inexpensive party of the world, so I stay at home with the children and he stays in London and comes home for a weekend every two weeks or so. He's in the military, so the salary does come with a few strings attached, like an upcoming tour of hot and sandy places! His cap badge is related to his degree, so he is using his qualifications.

VivaLeBeaver · 04/05/2011 18:33

I'm 34, have 2 degrees and earn 26k a year. Midlands.

mousesma · 04/05/2011 18:34

I have a BSc and am 35 and until recently earned £45k in the public sector.
I was made redundant a few months into my maternity leave so am now on the hunt for a part time job for a similar salary (pro-rata). Unfortunately I'm not sure these actually exist.

NinkyNonker · 04/05/2011 18:39

My degree and post grad were marketing, first job out of university was on £30k plus benefits, prob totalling around £35k.

At your age I left that job and gone onto a senior management role with international board responsibility on around £48k plus benefits of around £10k value. I left university at 25, or was it 26? Confused

I'm in the South.

I loved my job, but now at 30 I have jacked it in and retrained as a teacher, which will have a starting salary of around £24k. Confused

I say will have because in those 3 yrs I also met and married DH, and had our 9 mo old daughter who I am staying at home with for a while.

Oh how life changes! Grin

myron · 04/05/2011 18:41

You need to canvass your peers - surely it's not that difficult to discuss salary generically amongst friends/colleagues in your sector? If you work amongst men, it's definitely less of a taboo topic than it is with women. When I was 28 (more than a decade ago so take that into account) armed with a first degree, postgraduate diploma and a MSc plus by then 5 years of graduate job experience I was on 31K basic (IT consultant for a software multi national in the Thames corridor). By 32 (pre kids still), I was on a basic of 45K (IT software within financial services sector) having already survived 2 rounds of redundancies but the economy then was not as bad as it is now.

MarianneM · 04/05/2011 18:57

Your salary sounds quite low for your qualifications OP.

I'm earning £30k for an admin job in London. I am 35. Didn't finish my degree and spent a few years messing around and doing odd jobs after leaving uni.

benedictxvi · 04/05/2011 19:02

I get 60k. aged 29, degree followed by masters with a few years messing around in between. Original degree in law though don't work in that sector anymore.

JsOtherHalf · 04/05/2011 19:48

BA Hons, 42, 23k (pro rata) per year public sector... it's a good job DH earns more. Degree not directly related to job, but I have passed some in-house courses.

notevenamousie · 04/05/2011 19:55

I'm 2 years older than you, also 5 years higher education, public sector, £36k for what should be a 40 hour week but is usually closer to 50, don't get paid for overtime or get to take it back tho. Studying in the evenings too.

JenniL1977 · 04/05/2011 19:59

I'm 33, a retail manager in Yorkshire, £33k. Got a 2:1 from RG University in English.
DH got thrown out of uni half way through his first year, fucked around for the next 6 years, and now owns and runs his own business in software development, he's on about £50k.
Degrees are fairly pointless IMHO - especially in the arts - but I had a great time for three years!

JenniL1977 · 04/05/2011 20:04

Sorry, I don't actually mean what I said there- if you want a career in the arts or academia, then of course an arts degree is worth doing. And a law or accountancy degree is always going to stand hou in good stead in those fields. But doing a degree -any degree- in the hope that it will give you a springboard to a higher salary doesn't work any more.

C4ro · 04/05/2011 20:04

My first job after BSc I was on 12K a year. That was poot so I swapped job areas pretty quickly. By 27 I think I was on about 25K ish. I did MSc at 32 and am now on 70K but bear in mind I'm not in the UK any more. I'm 36 now.

Rather than worry about now, take a look at what might be possible in 5-10 years with your current role as a stepping stone. You might be in a really good place... or not... but I'd also strongly advise you against caring too much about what others are getting.

Serenitysutton · 04/05/2011 20:08

I actually think you're getting the piss taken to do a stressful job for that sort of money. IMO that salary doesn't compensate for stress. I'd expect a stressful job to compensate you for it. Mind you you never know if it's the job or the person making it stressful.

proudfoot · 04/05/2011 20:20

I am 24. I am in my first graduate job and earn 26.5k. I have a masters degree and am doing another postgrad qualification part-time.

GastonTheLadybird · 04/05/2011 20:26

I am 24, have no degree (but am studying part-time) and I earn 30k basic for a four day week working in C.London and probably another £20k on top in bonus which includes profit share. However, I work in a target orientated environment and directly generate revenue for the business I work for.

It really does depend on your job, if you're working in marketing or events for example then it wouldn't be too bad for outside London as they're really desirable industries to work in and a consequence of that is lower salaries across the board.

pointythings · 04/05/2011 21:02

I'm 43, on £27k (public sector, IT) - it's not a lot for what I do (and the pension is not gold-plated), but the trade-off in terms of work/life balance is worth it - I have two DCs and seeing them and having a normal family life is so worth it.

DH earns the same as me so we're actually very comfortable and earning well above average household wage - I am continually looking for professional development opportunities, but don't want to move out of my salary band because it would make me more of a manager and take away those parts of my work that I like best. However OP, with a DP who is a SAHD it's definitely worth looking into more training and development and a move up the career ladder.

springbokdoc · 04/05/2011 21:42

My job doesn't count so will tell you about DH. BSc and MSc now works for Met police (not a copper though) earns about £24k aged 30. Loves his job.

Most of my friends from uni (non-medics) went into law, accounting or consultancy jobs and earn anywhere from £50 to £100k+. But work hours that seem to be never ending and expected to be available 24/7 on bloody blackberries. They all have BSc degrees in either directly relevant degrees or engineering/science ones and are aged between 28-34.

(Just realised that apart from dh, from my group of friends I am the only one with an arts degree Hmm)

buggerlugs82 · 04/05/2011 21:52

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns.

ifeellove · 04/05/2011 21:57

I'm in my late 30s, live in Scotland and earn £25k pro rata in the voluntary sector. Worked for the same organisation for 7 years with no chance of promotion or progression. Time for a change maybe??

bilblio · 04/05/2011 22:27

This thread is depressing me.

I'm 33. Public sector near Manchester. £18.5k.
I have an English Degree, which has only become relevant since getting this job 2 years ago.
Over qualified, (especially experience wise), underpaid, I do way beyond my job description, or I'd be bored. Thankfully I'm made to feel hugely appreciated by the other staff and managers... It's just a shame they don't hold the purse strings.

It's a good job I love my job!

Crysalis · 04/05/2011 22:39

aged 21 i was earning 45K in a soul-destroying sales job. jacked it in, went to uni and did a post grad as well in a humanities subject. then got a job in a related field which i love and at 32 i earn about 21k, but am happy. wish my job had a salary that meant i could save and afford a mortgage, but very glad i do something i value.

SisterCarrie · 04/05/2011 22:41

Work in professional services marketing in London, currently on mat leave. On £52K plus bens, aged 33 with Oxbridge degree. Currently planning on SAHMing for next while; similar jobs where I now live are around £30K but should pan out to same sort of disposable, as much cheaper SOL here on south coast.

ssd · 04/05/2011 22:43

ah cheer up people

I am mid 40's and earn 5.92 per hour

go figure