To think it's realistic to get a strictly 9-5 Tech job paying £75k+?

[OreoDream]

WIBU to think it's realistic to think I could earn £75k+ working in Tech (programming) if I wanted to work strictly 9-5 with no extra work at home?

Yes, definitely.

In a similar scenario 20 years ago I was earning £55k.

That is, it's reasonable to assume, given hard work, drive, determination and hitting the right markets, you could earn such a figure.

AIBU to think I can get a grad job that's 9-5 with no extra work for £20k? Of course it's bloody unreasonable.

I'm a lead front-end developer. If I worked FT I'd be on around £45-50k. But for that I'd expect to have to pull some crazy overtime when needed. From my experience, the more you get paid, the less chance you have of sticking to 9-5.

The salary is realistic but I don't think the hours necessarily are.

Most professionals work more than 9-5. Especially if you want to progress.

Quietwhenreading - Hit the nail on the head. Also, what programming language(s) and how much experience will be a huge factor.

SeriousSteve - are you still a developer/software engineer? I've been out of the industry for 17 years and I'm no longer in the UK, but still occasionally have a nosy at the job listings. I was surprised at how relatively little salaries seem to have risen in that time period... But, again, probably hugely dependent upon your specific area of expertise.

Just think to yourself they can probably replace you with someone from India that they can pay £500. A month. So they could have 100 people doing your job and still be quids up.

No.

It depends on your skills and ability and experience of course, but the fact you're asking on here suggests you aren't top of your game.

To progress to a point where you could realistically earn that much without overtime usually takes overtime and proving yourself to be outstanding. Dropping whatever you're doing as the clock turns 5 is unlikely to get you into the role you're after.

From my experience, the more you get paid, the less chance you have of sticking to 9-5.

I'm no longer in tech but couldn't agree any more but think that this applies in any industry.

If you were contracting rather than a permie you could, but it would be luck of the draw how many extra hours you were expected to put in in any one contact.

YABU. Some people can earn that and more working limited hours, but you need to be quite a lot more skilled and/or specialised than your average programmer. Like a PP said, the fact that you're asking this on Mumsnet suggests that's not your situation. If it was you'd know exactly what you're worth because recruiters would be trying to hire you left and right.

Frankly 40-50k would be very optimistic if you really won't work any overtime.

As a contractor you could after a few years. If you've picked the right languages and are always up to date with them. And are confident and interview well. (Remember you need a programming type personality to impress programmers at interview)

As a permy probably take more than 10 years to get to that kind of salary.

On avg I've had to learn a new language or technology every 2 years. And if I don't have the latest thing I'm worthless.

Currently I don't have angular. And therefore it would be hard for me to get a job now, despite 20 years programming experience and the fact I'm currently working.

Yep. Not sure what planet you're living on if you think that is realistic!

Maybe depends on where you are? London and banking wages are higher. I do know people who work for banks earn that much but not sure about their hours.

I earn the top end of that £45-50k range mentioned by a few other posters here. I'm a developer mainly backend, SQL and web services but can do a bit of front end. Outside London and not really SE. And crazy hours not expected. But not strictly 9-5. There are some evenings required but it is from home and I don't do more than 40 hours week. I think £40-50k is reasonable for fairly office hours, and probably £60k too as I have seen job ads with that quoted.

I would guess £20k is reasonable as graduates for working 40 hour weeks but I'm just guessing. I don't know how much our grads earn exactly!

Both dh and I work from home as programmers, depends on your skill and languages, he's near to that 64k (senior developer working with mostly JavaScript and .net framework) but I'm only on 22k (in an junior role, same company, mainly JavaScript and doing more of the front end design stuff too.)

Oh forgot the other part, he mostly works 9-5 but on rare occasions has to do weekend work/after hours (this weekend being one!) I've only had to work 9-5.

saltymydear JavaScript is probably the most in flux area! It seems to me a new framework pops up every year! Angular is old school now? All I hear is angular2, react and vue. Know none of this :( Just plain old jquery.

Head - I'm a C# dev not a JavaScript Dev and still wouldn't be able to get a job without all those things you mentioned.

I think you're right I'd need angular2 not angular.

I counted it up once and in 20 years have had to learn 10 major languages/ frameworks.

And once I learn angular2 I'll be competing with kids who have 6 months more angular experience than me - and who cost an awful lot less.

saltymydear I am shocked a c# dev needs up to date JavaScript experience. Do you have to do a lot of web UI?

Head - yes I'm a FE specialist. Which means I can't get a BE job which wouldn't require Angular etc.

From experience, you'll struggle with the hours (not the salary). Work doesn't stop bang on 5pm, there'll always be tasks and things you want or need to get done by certain deadlines that mean you work later.

The sorts of jobs for that money are applications architecture ime.

YABU - hours are the main issue as that salary is a top end and indicates senior/leadership role

How many years experience have you got Oreo and what languages/areas have you worked in?

DH is a developer on about 54K - he works flexi hours - under 40hours a week.

BUT he has been doing it for 20 years, and the limiting hours - and his/our corresponding fantastic work-life balance - is what has capped his salary.

A friend he used to work with at the same firm left 2 years ago for a £110k job in the city developing for the banks - seems to work round the clock for his money, and he is not thinking the grass was greener so much any more... more money, no life to spend it in.