What is a good salary range for graduates in London nowadays?

[morecoffeeneededpls]

I'm curious about what salaries are like for those who are 'fresh', just out of university as well as people like me who graduated a few years ago but have had time away from the workplace. I probably have 2 - 4 years experience all in depending on what counts as relevant on my cv.

I've worked mostly in communications type roles with some PA type work too. But interested to hear what other roles get.

If you or someone you know has recently got a job in London, either entry level or just a couple years of experience, what sort of salary is normal?

Job adverts give a huge range for jobs that look very similar on paper.

It depends very much on what kind of degree you got and what industry you're going in to. I know people that were on 100k+ in finance one year out of university. I also know people working for charities on less than 20k.

I've worked at small start ups, not charities though, for less than £20k. This is going back 5 years, but there are still a lot of similar ads offering that sort of money.

Have never known anyone earn £100k in finance so quickly, does that really happen? I know a few on money like that but they're a few years into their city careers, not 22 or 23 years old.

DD graduated in June, She starts her LPC in September and then her training contract the following Sept (2019) when she will be 22. Her salary will be £45k yr 1, £50k yr 2, on qualification and if retained (she is only in a small cohort so unless she majorly cocks up or resigns she may be ok )her salary will increase to £105k she will then be 24. There are also bonuses on top of the salary. Her friends working in the same practice area have similar salary projections.

DD is under no illusion that her hours will be punishing with a dire work/life balance. Any free time such as holidays may well be interrupted and there will be times when she will have to exist on a few hours sleep. It will be quite difficult for her to maintain close friendships and relationships outside of her profession.

Her ideal plan would be to do this for 10 years then get the hell out and look for something more sustainable before she burns out but who knows.

Have never known anyone earn £100k in finance so quickly, does that really happen?

It's certainly not average but it does happen. This was in banking rather than finance generally and they were in Mergers and Acquisitions. Base salary was 50k and bonus at least 50k. Those jobs are very competitive and only go to people with top university degrees (although not always a first) and who have done internships during the summer.

It also happens in more technical areas but those jobs tend to require a PhD so certainly not an average graduate.

In communications you’d be looking at 25-35k in the private sector, more if you’re looking at financial comms.

Interesting, thanks for responses.

SunburstorMarbleHalls congratulations to your daughter! Very impressive, you must be very proud. How exciting for her.

Thanks morecoffee, I am proud of her but my main hope is that she is happy. I have heard there are many graduates that go into her chosen profession and discover that it is not for them. She might love it or she might hate it, only time will tell.

At the moment though she is looking forward to seeing what happens.

My son will be starting on £38k in 2019, following his lpc

It completely depends on the career and whether you're doing a grad scheme or not.

My first job in London after graduating was in media on 16k. Two graduates who recently left my current company were being paid around 23k.

Lots of grad schemes starts closer to the 30k+ mark, but they're very competitive.

I would say on average, entry level jobs as a graduate (excluding banking or law) would be looking at the 18-23k range.

At my work the starting salary is 20k in central London, was 19k when I started 10 years ago so not got much better!

This is also in media.

DD started on around £32k (plus company shares) but had spent a year as an intern overseas previously. Role is in HR and is not a grad scheme; her degree is in an unrelated subject.

This link explains various public sector graduate schemes and their starting salaries,the norm in London seems to be mid £20k-low £30k. I have some experience of these schemes and they are very competitive - not so much on the academic entry requirements although you mainly need a 2:1, but they are very over-subscribed and you have to go through various rounds of interviews and assessment centres and demonstrate the qualities and potential they are looking for... I would guess after completing the schemes graduates would be likely to get a permanent job somewhere in the £30ks and could easily be earning £50k in 10 years or so.

targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/public-service-charity-and-social-work/advice/320127-what-starting-salary-should-a-graduate-in-the-public-sector-be-