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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what jobs you do that earn 40k/50k plus

242 replies

TheresAlwaysAnAskHole · 21/08/2018 00:53

As DD heads to FT school, I'm reconsidering my career. My existing career as a teacher has a salary of around £24,000 - £28,000. I am unemployed right now.

I'm wondering how quickly I can study and what jobs I can quickly move into that will bring big money.

OP posts:
BagelGoesWalking · 22/08/2018 02:40

Mumbojumbo that's a fantastic salary for your age. How lovely! Was your degree in a similar subject or something else completely? And what led you to digital marketing if it wasn't something touched upon in your degree?

If you don't mind me asking.

nippey · 22/08/2018 06:03

My DH has retrained to become a plumber, 3 months studying and about £8k the course but he’s just got a job paying £42k, early starts but home by 4pm everyday. It’s hard physical work though, he’s always tired.

Mumbojumbob · 26/08/2018 22:18

Bagel my degree is in English Language so unrelated to digital marketing.

When I left uni, I did what most generic degree students do and just scatter gunned CV’s out to any job that was office based. I fell into digital marketing but I could just of easily ended up as a civil servant, NHS manager etc.

I was offered about 5 jobs that I applied for in the end all in totally different fields, and I chose the one in digital marketing based on the research I’d done about the industry etc. I knew it was a fast growing area and once I got into the business, I worked my backside off to become a deep specialist in one particular skill. It was hard, it took a lot of self study and I did it in my free time mostly. It’s a niche skill and it’s massively in demand at the moment so I’m making hay while the sun shines.

It was worth it, being a specialist got me promoted twice in 2 years (from £16k to £26k) and I then left that company for a better paid role elsewhere (£35k).

Then I moved roles again to the head of dept role (£41k), so in 5 years I’ve doubled and a half’ed my starting salary basically.

My progression is average for the industry. I have friends who started the same time as me earning £60k+ and in London I know a couple on £80k with similar experience to me.

For quick progression and ok money, digital marketing is great if you’re willing to learn on the job and learn fast.

ThistleAmore · 26/08/2018 22:27

I am a technical writer, with a background in coding, analysis, systems management and journalism.

My skills are in high demand, because I'm a 'unicorn' who can bridge the gap between commercial teams (marketing, sales etc) and technical teams (dev, tech etc) - I call myself bilingual.

I earn quite a lot of money and I pick up jobs easily (used to be a contractor on a high day rate before switching to perm (because I am a bit lazy and the pension was tempting). However, it's taken me 15+ years to amass my (unusual and somewhat esoteric) skill set.

If you're looking for a 'quick fix', and you have a reasonably logical way of thinking, I'd suggest a branch of computer science or technical project management? The PMs I've worked with in the past (both contractors and perms) can charge an absolute fortune for what essentially looks like spreadsheet juggling to me. Wink

EustaciaPieface · 26/08/2018 22:47

I look after a website at a big organisation, I’ve no technical skills, I focus on the content and user experience, I’m lucky to have a very talented team. Earn around £50k but I’ve twenty years experience.

tomhazard · 27/08/2018 09:51

Echoing others when I say you can earn this in teaching. I'm a HoD of a small department on 40k

DoYouLikeHueyLewisandTheNews · 27/08/2018 10:01

I'd recommend IT for well paid, enjoyable work. I do not have a technical background. In fact, five years ago I was earning £16,500 in an admin/customer services role. My FT salary is now £48,500. I have only moved jobs twice since then. Project management/business analysis/portfolio management roles are lucrative and skills you need are leadership, problem solving, analytical mind and attention to detail with the ability to learn technical language and fundamentals.

Shampoo0 · 27/08/2018 10:06

Project management in IT earns well. You don't need to be qualified or technical, just need to be organised, do your homework before asking questions and sometimes thick skin. You need to be on top of your projects and great communicator. I am not one but had to work with many as I am an engineer.

Ifailed · 27/08/2018 10:06

The PMs I've worked with in the past (both contractors and perms) can charge an absolute fortune for what essentially looks like spreadsheet juggling to me.

As an ex-IT PM, I can confirm that there is a lot of spreadsheet juggling - but a technical background is a definite must so you can tell when the tech teams are trying to pull the wool over your eyes, or just plain lie.

Good programme/project managers were getting around £4k per week as contractors, & that was a couple of years ago.

DontMakeMeShushYou · 27/08/2018 10:42

I earn in that region as a librarian, although I will qualify that by saying I am head of the library and the rest of my staff are qualified librarians earning between £24-£30K. Also, it's not very family-friendly in that I generally need to be onsite during staffed hours and there is some evening schmoozing to be done. You'd need to retrain by doing a masters in librarianship/library science and starting salaries for qualified librarians tend to be in the £20-£25K region in my sector.

I'm so lost, I envy those of you earning 50k and still being able to work around your family. The big thing people don't realise that as teacher, if your child is sick there is a lot of pressure on you to still work and you miss a lot of school events unless you have a generous Headteacher.
That's the case for the vast majority of jobs. It isn't exclusive to teaching at all. I guess it might look that way if you're seeing parents at assemblies or collecting their ill children, but the reality is that to do that most of them will just be missing out on family time somewhere else (because they've used annual leave, or work shifts so won't be home from work until the kids are in bed).

Barker26 · 27/08/2018 10:55

I earn 48k as a branch manager for a car parts company. No real training, did nvq level 2 at college then took a sales role at 19k. In 6 years I have moved up the management just due to doing well and now earn what I do. I have no degree. I am 26

Original poster
TheresAlwaysAnAskHole · 05/09/2018 21:40

@DoYouLikeHueyLewisandTheNews

How did you make the jump? How do you go from one career to Project/Programme Management in IT?!!! How can I compete with people when I have no background as such in that industry x

OP posts:
stopfuckingshoutingatme · 05/09/2018 21:41

Sales and business development
And commercial

No one ever wants to work in sales in my
Company and it’s suprise a me as we are pretty well paid !

Lemono · 05/09/2018 21:47

FML

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 05/09/2018 21:48

And sales doesn’t mean low morals

Every company needs someone to sell , and people need to buy . Being a decent salesperson and operating with integrity helps grow the business.

keyboardkate · 05/09/2018 21:55

I get a feeling that teachers are not fully rewarded in UK despite the fact that they work bloody hard.

Here are the pay scales for Irish school teachers. There is a huge difference. I have relatives there and they are very respectful of the school system and it is highly rated.

www.into.ie/pay/PayScales/

Temporaryanonymity · 05/09/2018 22:02

I work in HR. I have MCIPD and an MA although the latter wasn't necessary. I'm in a regional multi site role so it is surprisingly flexible (lone parent, working full time.

bridgetreilly · 05/09/2018 22:07

International superstar. My main qualification was being awesome, though of course I work very hard at keeping my awesomeness at peak levels.

I wish.

What I actually earn is about £25k. It would be more but I choose to work slightly less than full-time for the sake of my mental health and wellbeing. And for the same reason, I choose not to seek promotions that would add extra stress or time pressures. Some things are worth much more than money.

Treacletoots · 05/09/2018 22:13

Digital Marketing. Although qualifications mean very little. If you can deliver results and prove it that's how you get the ££. Essentially marketing is about providing a return on investment. If you can, and are good at it, your skills are highly in demand. Digital marketing is tracked to the nth degree so you can prove your worth (or not!) I have always been able to negotiate a higher salary by pointing out I'll make them 10x the difference in a month or two.

It goes both ways too. If you don't deliver its very obvious and you'll be out in your ass very quickly

postcardsfrom · 05/09/2018 22:15

A lot of sales jobs do - main skills= problem solving and being able to talk to people

postcardsfrom · 05/09/2018 22:16

Publishers - academic ones would value a teacher in a sales role...

Chickenkatsu · 05/09/2018 22:20

Apparently the median salary at Facebook is $240,000 so that might work.

Sidalee7 · 05/09/2018 22:20

I also work in sales - account management.
Earn mid 40's.
5 years ago I was earning mid 20's - have had a few moves and pay rises since then.
It is stressful though and lots of out of hours socialising.

BlaaBlaaBlaa · 05/09/2018 22:23

Senior university lecturer

calilark · 05/09/2018 22:25

Another head of library at a university in that bracket. Qualified with 15 years experience.