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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you think 31k is a good salary?

76 replies

GOODORBAD · 12/12/2018 18:48

It's for a senior-ish admin role in outer London.

For context, I'm 33 and have worked for eleven years in the public sector. I have a bachelor's degree in a humanities subject.

OP posts:
AmyDowdensLeftLeftShoe · 12/12/2018 18:49

Depends in the sector you are in.

grasspigeons · 12/12/2018 18:53

What do similar roles in other organisations earn?

I think its a good salary for a job that doesn't have specific education/training requirements.

ilovesooty · 12/12/2018 18:53

There isn't enough context here to say.

KitKat1985 · 12/12/2018 18:53

It's the same as my salary. I'm very aware that it's much more than what many people earn, but by the time I've paid all bills and mortgage and my childcare bill (which is frankly like a second mortgage), I don't feel particularly well off.

Bestseller · 12/12/2018 18:54

I don't think it's much for a well educated person with a professional role, but it is a lot for a 9-5 job where the skills are easy to come by. So it depends what the job actually requires

blackteasplease · 12/12/2018 18:56

It's an ok salary but not an amazing one

Original poster
GOODORBAD · 12/12/2018 18:58

a 9-5 job where the skills are easy to come by

I think this describes the job pretty well

a well educated person with a professional role

And this probably describes me currently, but I'm exhausted, stressed and fed up of always worrying about work rather than being able to focus on my family. So looking for a change...

OP posts:
CaroloftheBalls · 12/12/2018 19:04

My rule of thumb is that your salary should match your age.

Sparklesocks · 12/12/2018 19:05

If it covers your standard outgoings and gives you a decent amount leftover then it’s a good salary.

grasspigeons · 12/12/2018 19:06

I would be careful about underestimating admin roles. They aren't all 9-5 and stress free.

MardyArabella · 12/12/2018 19:06

For an admin role yes. I think that’s very good pay tbh.

ShinyMe · 12/12/2018 19:07

It's 10K more than I got in a senior admin role in education, with 10+ years experience and a degree, so yes, that seems like a really good salary to me.

Dimsumlosesum · 12/12/2018 19:07

For me it would be

ethelfleda · 12/12/2018 19:08

Mine is higher than that, I’m in the Midlands and have no higher education to speak of.

I’d say it’s average?

90mammasophie · 12/12/2018 19:08

Yes, for outer London in an admin capacity that's pretty good!

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 12/12/2018 19:09

DH took a more junior role recently after several years of a lot of work related stress. Big drop in income but he's a changed man and our home life is vastly improved. If it's a market salary for the role, you think you'd be happy doing the work and you can afford to live on it with a lifestyle you're happy with then that's what's important I think.

Bootsuit · 12/12/2018 19:10

That's more than I earn as a degree educated nurse that could kill you if I make a human mistake.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 12/12/2018 19:11

I agree - it depends on the kind of admin. That's a really wide category. I know people earning much more, but also much less.

SingingSands · 12/12/2018 19:12

*"My rule of thumb is that your salary should match your age".
*
Literally just laughed out loud at this.

Bluesheep8 · 12/12/2018 19:14

Caroloftheballs- wow! I've got to pretend I didn't read that. I earn less than half of my age.

IchWill · 12/12/2018 19:14

I think it's underpaid for your qualifications and where the job is.

I think you'd get more out of public sector (provided you've not been there since the days of final salary pensions) and if you get a promotion of some kind.

For comparison. I'm an internal communications manager 50 miles away from London. On £46k and I don't have a degree.

CaroloftheBalls · 12/12/2018 19:15

@SingingSands Why did you laugh out loud?

I think earning £20k at 20, £30k at 30, £40k at 40 is a good rule of thumb.

oldfatandtired1 · 12/12/2018 19:15

I earn just over 31k. In 1992, when I left my ‘professional’ job I earned just over 32k. I’m now 58, divorced, kids left home and independent and live very happily alone in a mortgage free home and I live very comfortably indeed Smile. In 1992 I had a 3 year old and was pregnant with my second child and while the salary was excellent I didn’t have much left over as you might think after mortgage, childcare etc (ex husband was in a poorly paid job at the time).

So I suppose the answer is “it depends”. I couldn’t go back to my old profession now as I’m deskilled and I wouldn’t want to anyway (job was v. stressful). Current job is much less stressful and I enjoy it and like the people I work with.

IchWill · 12/12/2018 19:17

Plus a lot should be said for work life balance. I'd rather earn less and have a nice life out of work.

I could get £80k-£100k as a contractor doing my job in London. But fuck the 3-4 hours a day commuting. I currently finish my job at 16:30 and rarely log in from home, out of hours.

Bythebeach · 12/12/2018 19:19

Not a lot for around London plus eleven years experience. But it’s all contextual- do you have any specialist/ in demand skills or could anyone do it with a few months training? Or anyone with graduate level education? Are you full time?