29.5k earnings who are you and how?!

[AtSea1979]

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?

Yes, not knowing can be issue. That is why women who earn a lot tend not to be showing off but just letting other women and their daughters know what is possible.

Threads like this used to depress me, but as time has gone on I see them as what is achievable for myself or my daughter.

£66,000 - in house lawyer in London. I could earn a lot more in a law firm or in a bigger company, but where I am it is a lovely place to work, the work is interesting, not stressful, I work 9-5, work 2 days a week from home, get 28 days annual leave and a good pension. Hope I can do it until I retire in another 15-20 years.

I have waded through a lot of shitty, stressful, boring, if well or better-paid, jobs to get here, mind.

I love the last page of this thread.
Absolutely we should be having these conversations.

Fear controls so many people. It stops people (statistically women) from asking for a payrise or training, it stops people looking at career changes or applying for jobs.
I had no idea what jobs were out there when I left school. I grew up on a council estate, my father was a labourer on a farm, my Mother an admin assistant. My mum scared me out of going to university (no-one in my family had ever been- it was too expensive- they couldn't afford to support me), I got an apprenticeship in an office and felt- is this really it?

My WHY was becoming a single mum. I had no home, a shit job and no money or financial support. I was desperate, but I was bright and I was determined not to become a statistic. My first job had sponsered me to do AAT but I hadn't finished it by the time I became a mum as I had been made redundant (hello 2008 crash)

I decided there was no point going back to such an entry level qualification. I got another job as an assistant accountant- I had to work in Waitrose at weekends to afford childcare so I could attend my 9-5- 18 month of working 7 days a week was a killer. My boss wasn't interested in paying for any training so I did a lot of research and self funded ACCA. It took 5 years of self-study along side working full time+ and raising my child solo.

I changed jobs mid way through my qualification and stayed in that position too long because it was 'safe'. I was hugely underpaid and far more qualified then my line manager. I plucked up the courage to ask for a payrise- my first in 3 years- it took them 3 months to decide i was only worth £3k more. It was the kick up the bum I needed to feel my own worth. I left. It was a big risk but it worked out positively.

I'm in a similar position now. My Boss is great but the job isn't what I want. I want more responsibility and some management experience. I want to really be able to use the qualification I worked so hard for. I know I can earn £10-15k more if I commuted just 20 miles a day. I plan to do an MBA soon, It will cost tens of thousands but I see it as an investment in my future.

I do feel for people who feel kicked in the balls when people say "I have a high salary because I worked so hard". To them it implies that they don't work hard in their low paid job. It isn't nessersarily hard work that gets you far, it's working smarter and taking risks.

An important part of supporting my team at work is mentoring. I want the young ones in my team to feel they can ask any question and push themselves. Fear should be embraced because it is a sign of change.

You make a good point, daddy, that it's not (just) about working hard, and that lots of people working extremely hard are not getting paid what they deserve. And there are incompetent people who don't work very hard at all making more than they deserve because of their connections/face fitting/whatever. But there are lots of things that can be learned that help you advocate for yourself and earn more - knowing how to ask for it, changing employers, learning what skills are scarce or highly valued, what qualifications will give you a leg up. Etc. And these conversations are crucial to help share those insights.

It may have been mentioned, Sheryl Sandberg is an interesting read. It’s how men get ahead / paid more than women as they take more risks, self promote more and will be more direct at asking for a pay rise.

It’s called Lean In.

I'm on £25k for three days a week in the East. No degree but professional qualification. Professional services sector, business support. DH is on £50k ish working in HR. He has a degree and a professional qualification in his field. We are very lucky as used to work in London and live a commutable distance but the house prices here are so much cheaper and we've found good jobs. We've both noticed it is very much depending on what sector you work in here though, the salaries vary massively!

Someone on a high wage making the point that they have worked hard/do work hard shouldn’t be seen as a dig that people on low wages don’t work hard! Unless that’s what they say. I work hard and have worked hard to get to where I am, I don’t believe I’ve worked any harder than many people and I don’t personally believe my well paid professional role is anywhere near as hard work as it would be if I were a full time carer or cleaner for example. In many ways I feel I work less hard the higher I climb as it’s offset by having more choices and respect and seniority, it’s less physical work so I’m less exhausted in my body at the end of the day, little things like knowing I set my own schedule and can therefore work to my own peaks of energy rather than being told off for being two minutes late to a 7am shift makes a big difference.

I’ve worked hard but so do many, and people should be able to acknowledge and be proud of their work without being taken as denigrating anyone else.

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

AIBU to ask why people aren't answering the question and are just posting their job and salaries?

If you work at registered entry level for the NHS for instance or are not a registered/professional level member of staff then you're under 30k generally (Band 5 and below) but registered staff with a little more responsibility and experience are over 30k on Band 6. So the NHS is around average but then the govt set that wage!

I think it really depends. Most professionals will expect at least £30k after a year or so in the job now and it's a realistic amount to live on especially if they are carrying student debt. I think if anything the fact that it's so low when there are people earning million pound bonuses shows what a large amount of crappily and unfairly paid jobs there are out there.

Chartered accountants are being paid £20k more than people who are trained to save your life. Wow.

@teacupdrama you will soon get people saying that they manage wine holidays and 2 cars on 25k and are comfortable and another bunch saying you can't survive in London on less than 75K and they feel skint on 60K

Absolutely - it is subjective, which is why I asked what feels rich to you

The subjective feeling varies with many things, including where your income sits in comparison to those you mix with, but also the choices you make. If two families have identical income but one buys a considerably more expensive house than the other, they will have less disposable income and therefore potentially feel less rich. Ditto variations in pensions/other savings versus those who choose to spend it all now, those who acquire a lump of capital versus those who don't, and so on.

For me, "comfortable" means that you don't need to check the bank balance before handing over your debit card, unless the thing you're thinking of buying is out of the ordinary for you; that you have a savings cushion so that a broken boiler or big car repair bill can be covered without borrowing; and plans in place so that you will be similar in retirement.

To me, rich people buy upmarket cars from new rather than middle market or secondhand, change them every year or two, send their children to private schools, have horses, swimming pools or helicopters, multiple holidays in luxury accommodation, spend loads on jewellery and think nothing of £100+ per head for a restaurant meal.

Truly rich people can have that lifestyle without needing to work but might do so because they enjoy it.

Lecturer. £42k. Scotland.
Many years of slog and gaining qualifications to get where I am now.

I’m a blogger earning more money than I could if I went out and got a regular job... even though I have a degree so that was a waste of time

The way to earn more money is also to move jobs. There’s no point moaning you’ve been in a job for 15 years and not had a payrise. I see it here all the time. If you don’t get paid enough then move to a job where you will.

I earnt good money pre kids, 34k in 2001 at 27 and gave it up to be a SAHM. I went back to work on £18k to get my foot in the door, I brought home £300 a month after childcare. From there I moved to £29k, a year later to £35k, back to £30k for complicated reasons and then to £38k and 6 months later to £50k. Best in mind this is in the voluntary sector where pay is lower. I won’t peak there because I know my next move. I am senior so plan to see out our current strategy and look for a role in a larger charity which will be about £65k. It will probably take me a year or so to find. I plan to do that for up to 5 years and then move to a large executive board role which should take me to £100k or thereabouts. Not sure after that but much as I love my job it’s a stepping stone to the next one. I know what my skills are and where the gaps are and that’s what I’m working on to prepare for the next move.

57k public sector in South East. Pretty average amongst my set of friends. Some on 100k+.

I was on 30K as a dental nurse on Harley street. Negotiated a 10K pay rise as I was the only dental nurse doing at least 5 people's jobs. I'm now on 24K as a senior dental nurse

It absolutely is the industry you work in. A carer or nurse is absolutely worth no less to SOCIETY than a lawyer or Sales Director. Arguably they are more important. But Those sectors don't generate cash. Cash-making businesses therefore can afford to pay their staff more money.

It's how business works, Society accepts this because businesses (should) pay taxes which help fund the NHS, the Police, The fire sevice etc

I earn about that for 3 days a week would be nearer £50k if I went full time. DH earns about £29k as a full time salary. I know plenty on less and some on more.
It’s all relative my £30k in London doesn’t go far but I am blessed with a lowish mortgage (£720/month) and we dont have any debt to worry about so I feel lucky.

But people posting their jobs and incomes does answer the question, by demonstrating that many, many normal people do make that and above.

Income is not normally distributed, the chart does slant to the left, but not as much as you might think. www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/personalandhouseholdfinances/incomeandwealth/bulletins/householddisposableincomeandinequality/yearending2018

The way to earn more money is also to move jobs. There’s no point moaning you’ve been in a job for 15 years and not had a payrise. I see it here all the time. If you don’t get paid enough then move to a job where you will.

That's true but it also depends on getting a job offer which is outside your control to some extent because no matter how good you are, how good your application or how good your performance, there might also be someone else applying who has all those things as well and does better on the day. It's no big deal if there are plenty more jobs to apply for, but that's not always the case.

But on the whole I agree that jumping from job to job is the only realistic way to increase your salary quickly.

I'm a teacher (RQT) and earn almost that after 2 years in the profession and working in a special needs school (so getting SEN point 1).

I expect to get more than this after a few more years and getting more responsibilities

I earn £29.5k. I do internal/in house recruitment (basically an extension of the HR department and we recruit for our own roles rather than employing agencies to do it for us) and I live in Birmingham.

Although I do also get a company car with this so my ‘package’ is worth around £34-£35k.

I’m 41 years old and been working full time since I was 18 and it’s taken me years to even get to this salary!

I'm in the Midlands and earn just over that full time. I have a professional accountancy qualification and work in further education. I'm actually at one of the lower grades, a lot of people here earn a lot more than me

Careers Adviser in Scotland, earn £18.5k for a 21 hour week so over £30k FTE. I'm 43 years old though and I've been in my profession for 13 years. I was lucky to get put through a related NVQ in my 20s, got a trainee careers adviser vacancy then completed a postgraduate qualification which again, my previous employer paid for. I couldn't have achieved this withou being in related jobs, employer sponsorship and a lot of part time education while at work, e.g. completing post grad when baby was napping etc