to worry that DD's chosen career can only earn a maximum of £27,000??

[soups1]

dd is clever. she has 3 a-levels in maths, psychology and law. She has a lot of potential for many areas. They are not amazing a-level grades, so uni is possible but maybe having to do 4 years or just a local uni, but there are lots of jobs she could do with those a-levels and go on to earn well.

She has decided she wants to do embalming/funeral work. I don't have an issue with the chosen career (although i don't get it!) but it doesn't pay well. A maximum of 27,000 and that is a lot of graduates starter money! she is hoping to go on an embalmer 2 year course soon and a lot of the time they can get jobs through there, as people contact that school and ask for people who are finishing. i am just worried about her choice.

aibu? 27000 forever isnt that much

Op is in Essex,in south east. Not a cheap part of the country.£27k is not a great wage to max on
I'm simply saying do discuss Money/salary with your daughter
I know plenty folk live on £27k or less,just saying have the conversation u

And yes I get plent of high earners are unhappy, but they're also solvent

You think someone earning under 27K must be insolvent?!

Equally I'd have same conversation if my kid chose high demand,well paid career
I'd talk money and understanding about any career choices,high or low paid
And ultimately it's their choice,I just want it to be an informed choice

It's more than I earn as an academic. And we are by no means skint, and have certainly never been insolvent. Though I would expect dc to wear hand-me-down clothes: the idea of throwing wearable clothes away and buying new ones for the next child seems positively immoral to me.

Why would she have to stop at £27k as an embalmer rather than go on to be a director?

Nothing wrong in telling your child to aim higher financially.

Of course happiness is key...but a salary of £27k for life brings limitations, especially when you think of future children and the associated costs. Encourage her in the field, but perhaps to reach further to have a higher earning potential.

Not good enough unless you're running your own business

I run my own business.

Still not good enough for my mother, who thinks I'm bored sitting at home doing nothing all day. I should get back into academia, or retrain. I have endless conversations pointing out i'm not unemployed, and going back to uni to be a dr/lawyer/chief would take 5 years of paying my own fees, not working, and being on a starter grad salary at the end.

As long as your daughter is happy then that's what counts. I was in sales for 6 years and earning close to 30k, however I was never happy and would dread going to work, I absolutely hated my job. Now I'm working for minimum wage in a pub kitchen but I absolutely love my job and the people I work with, so even though I have very little money and my earnings only just cover childcare, DM is so pleased for me because she says she hasn't seen me so happy going to work in such a long time.

I graduated with a first class science degree and starting wage for most jobs with my qualifications was 12k!

Happiness and 27k is much better than unhappy and 60k.

Op it really is a service that helps people. I saw that horrific fly on the wall documentary expose on a firm run by a chain in tooting south London. It was horrific. Such disrespect Very very upsetting. A few months later my dad died. I was really messed up about handing him over to funeral directors. But we met X and she made it all as best as she could for us. She was young. Early 20s. Seemed an odd profession esp as she came from the performing arts. But she said there were some crossover skills. I won't go into them! But there could not have been a better funeral director for my dad. She was just fantastic.
It clearly is the right profession for some. We are removed from death now. Esp compared to previous generations and it takes a special person to know what's right, to read people who are at often the most difficult time of their lives. To handle both the deceased and bereaved with care and respect. Good on your daughter.
My dad used to say funeral directors and prostitutes always guaranteed an income. ;). Be glad she's going for the former!

So she can earn more than the national average in a pretty secure, honest, decent profession working in a field that she really wants to work in, where she'll enjoy going to work. That's living the dream for most people! Be proud. I wish I'd been so focused at her age.

a salary of £27k for life brings limitations

For you. It depends on her location and outgoings doesn't it? And what lifestyle she wishes to lead.

I also agree that her chosen career path is a wonderful vocation and should be encouraged. She sounds like a lovely person and you should be proud, OP.

Fuck me - 27K is a great starting salary for a graduate in my book.

I realise embalming is not Funeral directing but I'm referring to the field. I'm sure there is crossover

Nothing wrong in telling your child to aim higher financially

There is. It's called pissing on their chips and being a pushy parent who doesn't listen. £27K is an excellent salary at just above the UK average.

I'd be worried

Oops - just spotted we're talking about final not starting salary (it's the wine). Still Ok though. Job satisfaction is key, and she may take transferable skills from that job and develop in another direction. Or build an amazing business of her own in the field. Who knows. Be happy she has motivation and direction OP

£27k brings limitations?! I'm a single mum earning £29k & we have a great lifestyle! My daughter doesn't want for anything & we're happy.

OP life doesn't always turn out as you expected. My friend was at uni training to be a doctor, great future all planned out, had a stroke and lost his hearing both ears. My other friend didn't even go to college and is now Head of Dept for one of the most high profile organisations in the country.

If my son wanted to work in a role / team he loved but it was 'just' living wage I would be exceedingly proud of him.

How many threads are there on here about adult children outstaying their welcome at home and refusing to work at all?!

I detect a hint of judgement of us lower wage earners in this thread

It's future proof - no chance of a PC being programmed to do it - and she could end up running her own funeral home if she wants to aim big.

Just because you googled 'embalmer' doesn't mean a) she wants to be that exact same job forever or b) she hasn't got ambition.

Another thing that brings limitation ime is not having the experience or ability to make money stretch a long way. It limits the number of potential careers.

Totally get where you're coming from OP, she'll struggle on that.

However, there's a lot to be said for happiness in work, so think you'll need to suck this one up

By refusing co-op funerals in favour of make-overs for dead celebrities?

This is my first try at posting something on mums net, so bear with me! Firstly, I originally trained in Careers Guidance, and in that time, did not see my yearly salary get to £27k. It would have been great if it had! That's a pretty good wage. Secondly, all the previous points about your daughter being happy in her work and having a stable job are absolutely bang on! In my time working with young people, yes I was on a good salary, but also very unhappy, and took time out on the sick at one point. Hubby and I are currently managing on his salary and doing ok. Your daughter will be absolutely fine I'm sure. Don't sweat it!