To think this is a good salary for a 20 something!

[topofthedrums]

21 and earning 30K a year. I think that's pretty decent, is it not? Outside of London too.

My mum thinks not, and says it's very average.

I think she's somewhat deluded. But she insists.

Your mother knows fuck all.

Maybe the op needs some validation because her own mother hasn’t given it to her Fourrings?

I don’t be less bothered about whether it was a good income now and think more about prospects to increase earnings over time. You might start off thinking you were very rich working in a factory at 18 but your friends who earned little and went to university are likely to overtake you.
£30k is OK. It’s not the highest but far from the lowest. My son is now 23 but is on £42k basic and moans about his pay. My daughter earned nothing at 21 as she was a medical student but now earns £47k basic she’s 26.

It’s not about comparing yourself to others as opportunities are very different for different young people. What matters is whether you’re enjoying what you do, earn enough for your lifestyle and intended future life and if there are opportunities.

Definitely, I'm 26 and on 16K working full time

It's a great opportunity but for a PA it's average pay. Not bad, not great but it's a fab opportunity for you.

Good luck and sometimes it's bed to ignore our mothers when it comes to careers. Doors open to us weren't open to them and often they are bitter about our generation taking advantage of opportunities that were never available to them.

Graduate teacher with 30 years experience, top of Main Pay Scale and I was earning 37k when I retired.

Cherry Degrees are great if they're relevant and great for your career path. Obviously for law/medicine you'll be needing a degree.

But if that's not your scene, I think far too many young people waste a lot of cash on uni. Sometimes experience can be better.

I adore my job and if I could, I may well have gone back in time and tried a degree in marketing or maybe something finance related.

But I'm happy with my lot

Good luck to you OP, you know full well you are earning a good salary amd there is no need to come on here to boast.

I think £30k at 21 is bloody good! I'm 37 and a well qualified teacher, my salary's £38k and will stay there unless I go down the senior leadership route. Uni isn't everything nor is it suitable for everyone.

28, 24.5k mod civil servant (just started and plan on climbing if I can) in the SE. That's not a bad salary esp for 21. I was on 18,700 approx last summer in retail so I'm bloody grateful for my current salary!! I'd love 31-33K!!

@CherryPavlova your son sounds a bit of a prick if he moans about that salary.

Unicorn - a bit judgemental about someone you’ve no idea about. He moans because he’s bought his first home and car and trying to stay afloat with all the outgoings plus the expectations his job places on his lifestyle.

I’m twice your age and I have a PhD and only earn £35k (outside London) but I choose to work for the NHS - which obviously isn’t the best paying employer! I would say you are doing brilliantly.

I agree with unihorn, I'd be embarassed to tell anyone that my son thought that Cherypavlova

topofthedrums I agree re university not being the way for everyone. Which is why our son chose another route.

I think it's a great salary for someone your age - well done - and I'm sorry that your mum is so unappreciative of your talent. I can't understand a mother behaving like that towards her daughter. You don't need such undeserved negativity from someone who is supposed to nurture and support you. She's not nice.

To answer your OP yes that's a great salary esp regarding your age and no university degree.

As an aside, my mother used to try and compete with me with salary (I made the mistake of telling her when I got my first grad job, as I was trying to earn her approval) and when my salary outstripped hers she started competing on how many staff she supervised. Without wanting to read too much into your brief post, have a look at narcissistic mothers. It's only in retrospect I realised that my mother was threatened by me earning money which took away one of the areas of power she had over me (ie her controlling my access to money when younger)

I think it is great. Well done you.

£30k at 21 is quite extraordinary.

PA does seem quite well paid compared to nursing, teaching etc. I wonder what the downside is? Long hours, unreasonable bosses who expect the impossible?

@Unihorn quite, but you can see where he gets it.

Barbara the downside is there is a ceiling for most PAs and to be brutal, the prospects aren’t always as good when you’re not young and hot anymore.

See the numerous professional services companies who hire very young very glamorous and relatively highly paid young women to greet visitors and take their coats

Yeah that's decent. It took me 8 years of uni (including a PhD) plus 5 years relevant work experience in my professional field to get to that salary. My job is pretty badly paid considering the level of qualifications required though!

I would say yes, that's very good. I'm in my 30s with a PhD and earn mid-30s outside of London. My dh straight out of uni started on 18K with a software developer (this was 7 years ago now), some of his colleagues were on 16K!

OP - why are you trying to please anyone, especially your own mother? That way madness lies, I promise you.

Barbara the downside is there is a ceiling for most PAs and to be brutal, the prospects aren’t always as good when you’re not young and hot anymore.

See the numerous professional services companies who hire very young very glamorous and relatively highly paid young women to greet visitors and take their coats

I'm not for a minute saying that isn't true for some companies, but I think it's extremely unfair to consider a PA like that,
in general.

I've never taken anyone's coat. The most admirable PA/EA's I've come across are far from 'hot and glam' young ladies!