What would you consider a "high", "medium" and " low" salary for where you live?

[SnowyPaws]

DH has just been offered a new job- great! I think it's a good offer he doesn't seem as impressed. He is more driven than money by me though. Would be interested to know other people's perceptions of salaries.

I'm clearly living in a different world. To me HR is a well paid job, that is why I thought I would like to do it. It certainly pays comparatively well where I live, and it is a field that always seems to have jobs needing filled.

I daydreamed my teenage years away, dreaming of living in London and having a career. In reality when I left university I couldn't gather up enough money to buy a flight there, much less gather up enough money to rent a room somewhere. I'm in my 40s and I've still never been to London.

Never been? Jeez what's stopping you? By the way, if you go you may realise that the grass isn't always greener. Personally I would rather have a smaller salary and be near my roots than upend for a career anyway. Quality of life is great in Belfast these days!

Treacle you could be me. I too feel the the utter disappointment of unfulfilled potential. I was partially privately educated, gained a good arts degree in a subject that I now realise was entirely useless and have been stuck in a low paid admin job for the past 12 years. I know I am capable of so much more.

In answer to the original question in my area of the NW

Low =

Dd not df ffs!! Df was a very high earner by anyones standards who was an expat and is thoroughly disappointed in his offspring haha!!

There is nothing special about London. I would not regret living here if I were anyone on here. Also you can be happy and rich and happy poor - there is not a huge correlation between money and being happy so it does not really matter at the end of the day.

For bright girls in NI who want to be London lawyers on hundreds of thousands a year though do be aware that some firms will pay travel expenses to interviews by the way so a rail fare cost should not put people off.

I think teenage girls need to think about the future although most teenagers are thinking about other things at that age. My sons (in the sixth form) don't know what they want to do. Some of their friends will be doing degrees which are career specific eg one is going to do architecture. Also students need to think early on during their degree about careers as you tend to need to develop your interests in year 1 and 2 ready for applications in year 2 (for law 2 years after that) as some careers have a structure where you apply years ahead. I don't think all schools or universities or parents make that clear enough to young people - that you apply in X year to get the good job Y years hence etc.

I don't think parents should be disappointed however. My daughers are lawyers and my son a postman. I am not disappointed in any of them. Most of all they are healthy and happy and lead good lives although I do think the postman could put his degree to a bit better use. He and the other graduate postman are called professor by a colleague....

Aspiration is interesting. I mentioned above I come from the NE in parts of which children are just not exposed to high paid careers very often. A child who becomes a teacher like my mother was a massive improvement (mining family) yet teaching is relatively low paid compared to some careers and always has been and well done my mother. It was a huge achievement.

I think there has to be a change if mindset in order to change your life. You have to step out of the past. It's not the way forward. Have to move away from the what could have beens etc. Because that's happened. There must be on-line courses or evening courses you might be able to do? What about something practical e.g. I had a friend who was a property lawyer and lost his job at the last downturn. For 3 months he searched for a job then thought forget this im retraining as a plumber now he earns a great deal of money as a plumber! He loves it so much more than his office based job. What I'm trying to say we live in the first world our country is a land of opportunity. Immigrants come here and make their fortunes through owning their own businesses and arrive with less than what we started with. Maybe it's a survival instinct or a different level of aspiration? Or just willing to do different types of work? E.g. Indian immigrants to the North in the 60s and 70s worked in mills and foundries now their businesses are diverse from corner shops, to duvet businesses, jeans market stalls that turned into clothing import and export businesses! They started with nothing and often just a room
And a mattress. It's a mindset and you really have to believe you can fit it in and don't live with regrets

I agree (and I started married life pregnant sleeping on a mattress in a school owned flat - London then as now was too expensive for teachers to buy in)........ In fact some of my ancestors left Ireland during the famine for jobs in mines in the NE of England. Ireland has always been full of enterprising hard working good people who have moved abroad to make their fortunes. Unfortunately I have only Irish great grandparents ( two) not grandparents so I don't get an Irish passport after Brexit.

I agree with SoDown, it's about a mindset change. Eight months ago I took on a return to work mother of four in a job paying, I think 24K. After six months she proved herself to be a hard working, flexible, enthusiastic learner and I encouraged her to go to assessment centre (which she did), she is now on pay scale with starting salary of 33K. She wanted part-time which we juggled to accommodate and in return she juggles her work/family well. I know in longer term we'll get a very committed and loyal staff member.

My advice would be to be self aware, to know what you can offer and to understand your transferable skills. Then go for it, even if you technically aren't qualified to right level. Nothing ventured......

For full time employment:

Low = anything under $40k
Medium = $45k-$80k
High = $80k+ but really $100k+

I'm in Australia, so this would be in AUD.

Low salary is 20k and below, plenty of people here on less than 5k.

Medium 21-90 and a bit higher

High 150k and above, but not really a good salary unless you reach 200/250k

Dubai.

In London the retail salaries are extremely low (I used to get 9,5k for 40+ hours a week), so I would say below 15k is low

If we assume that we are talking about over 25s working full time (40 hours pw) in the UK Umm, NMW is equivalent to £15k pa (£14976 to be exact).