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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

29.5k earnings who are you and how?!

680 replies

AtSea1979 · 21/08/2019 10:11

BBC reports today say the average salary in the UK is £29,500.

I earn 12k but i’m part time (otherwise 18k). I live in the north. I can only dream about earning nearly 30k. I’ve thought about retraining but I wouldn’t know where to start as the job market seems so difficult.

AIBU to think the majority of people earn much less and it’s just the minority fat cats pulled that figure up?

OP posts:
lovesapinot · 21/08/2019 10:12

I know.

I thought about going to uni to study nursing as always wanted to do it. But st age 40 is come out with £60k plus debt abs a starting wage of £25k so going to stick with my £24k a year IT job thanks!

EvaHarknessRose · 21/08/2019 10:12

There's also masses of teachers and nurses on around that - the NHS is one of the world's biggest employers after all.

BogglesGoggles · 21/08/2019 10:13

I don’t know anyone over 25 who earns less. The UK has a large professional services industry which generally pays at least that for people who are qualified (occasionally you see less for grad jobs but they’re still being trained).

Stickytoffeepuddingyum · 21/08/2019 10:13

I'm in the south, in hr and earn 34 for 30 hrs. So 42 ful time.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 21/08/2019 10:13

I think the South East drags the wage average up a lot- not necessarily the "fat cats"- Im in admin and earn more than that.

noeyedeer · 21/08/2019 10:14

Teachers would earn above that if they've been in the profession a few years. I'm guessing doctors, nurses etc. Not all fat cats.

Fatted · 21/08/2019 10:15

Public sector in the north west. I'm on £25k, was on more before kids. DH is a HGV driver and earns that. Again he could be on more if he took a job doing long haul. Which I secretly wish he would.

TheMobileSiteMadeMeSignup · 21/08/2019 10:17

I work in finance, I'm pt but ft is about 22k at our accounts payable level. My DH works in e ergy and earns over 60k due to shift allowance pay. So he's helping bring up the average. We are in Scotland.

TheMobileSiteMadeMeSignup · 21/08/2019 10:17

*energy not e ergy

Camomila · 21/08/2019 10:18

I think it sounds very 'average', all my family earn around that in the SE.
DBro - paramedic - 28k
DF - seniorish council IT fixer - 29k
DH - office job for tfl - 33.5k
They all seem very 'normal' jobs to me, not entry level but not amazing either.

Zebraaa · 21/08/2019 10:19

I’m on less than that working for the NHS in south.

Blastandtroph · 21/08/2019 10:19

My FTE salary is just over that (NHS). Parity of pay means I'd earn the same wherever I worked in England.

3LoudBoys · 21/08/2019 10:20

Marketing / general admin role £29,500

Southernc0mfortmirror · 21/08/2019 10:20

I work in the NHS in the north east and am just over 30k - band 6 admin

Anotherusefulname · 21/08/2019 10:20

Me and DH earn just over that between us however the rest of my family are teachers and nurses who all earn that (and quite a bit over) in their 30s having worked around a decade.

Hmmmbop · 21/08/2019 10:20

The "professions" earn that after a couple of years in their job. So teachers, social workers, nurses, doctors, solicitors, accountants etc. Most jobs that require additional training/ qualifications. All but 2 of our friends earn that or more (some much, much more). The 2 that don't are a teaching assistant and an admin assistant.

I think you'd need to retrain/ gain some additional qualifications if you wanted to earn that, which may or may not be possible.

North West.

Shoxfordian · 21/08/2019 10:21

I don't think the majority of people earn less. What would you consider is a fatcat salary op? Over 100k?

pnppr · 21/08/2019 10:21

I'm in finance in the South, 25 years old, salary is £52k with a 20% bonus (discretionary so don't include it as my salary)
Will go up more with experience. Qualified Chartered Accountant.

InDubiousBattle · 21/08/2019 10:21

As a figure in and of itself it's really pretty meaningless. People I know who earn £29.5k include nurses (one on £50k), teachers, fireman, gps, shop owners, lecturers. But yes, in principle one person on £1million would massively 'bring up' an average salary figure which included lots of minimum wage/part time workers. You'd be better off looking at starting/finishing salaries in a field you're interested in!

Gracie300 · 21/08/2019 10:22

40k here, Events Manager in London.

Wellthatsit · 21/08/2019 10:22

Remember it's an average. That isn't the same as the most common salary.

I found this info which might make you feel better, as the average part time wage is similar to what you're earning.

"Their yearly survey showed that the average salary in the UK for men and women combined was £29,009, which includes those in both full-time and part work. For those in full-time work, theaverage UK salary is £35,423 and £12,083 for those in part-time.2 Aug 2019"

Goinglive · 21/08/2019 10:23

I'm a lawyer and I earn more in the north

thepointoforder · 21/08/2019 10:24

I earn that. Public sector in the northwest.
DH earns about 40k. Teacher with added responsibilities.

It's a pretty average salary amongst my friends/family.

BeanBag7 · 21/08/2019 10:24

Sounds about right as an average to me. Yes there will be a relatively small number of people earning £200k+ who pull up the average but most people I know earn between 25 and 30k (late 20s, south east)

ThatPairOfCats · 21/08/2019 10:24

I'm an IT developer in Scotland £39k plus standby allowance. Middling role, not junior and not senior.