AIBU about my salary?

[ArtemisOfOrtygia]

I don't live in the UK, but my country is not too different so I think it's okay to ask the question here.

I always thought my salary is good, but lately I can't help but feel like, maybe, it isn't. But I compare my salary to other people's salary without taking into account that they might work more hours than I do. Anyway, I work 34.5 to 35 hours a week (Monday to Friday) and I earn about £37k annually. My salary increases annually with about £1.2k, and in 3 years time it'll increase by £1.2k PLUS about £4k annually. Making my annual salary £41k PLUS a yearly increase of about £1.2k.

I should probably also mention that I work in an NGO, so I probably don't earn as much as I could earn if I worked elsewhere.

£41k for a receptionist is loads! Sounds like a lot for a potentially fairly non stressful role. But I suppose it does depend where you live.

37 grand as a receptionist? Yeah right 😂

That is a huge amount for your job title, OP. But if you live somewhere very expensive like Scandinavia then you'll be taxed more and it won't go as far.

Context is everything.

For a receptionist I'd say you were on a very good wage. With regular increases in salary, you are also in a very fortunate position. Inflation pay rises aren't a given in companies at the moment. I've worked for the same company for 4 yrs and never had an inflation (or otherwise) increase.

I earn about what you do, and I have line management responsibilities; represent the company with our regulators and at audit, and have the expectation to work extra as required - often working late or even up until 10pm/midnight if there is a deadline or prepping for an audit. The annual payrise is much less than what you have. Sounds like you have it pretty comfortable.

What is the cost of living where you are? If you live somewhere like the Nordic countries with high costs then I can understand if £37K doesn’t feel like “much”?

For the hours you work?

Those tiny 34.5 hours?

Who are you a receptionist for? Are they hiring?

No receptionist earns that much unless they've handed out some special favours along the way
Thing is, I have a BA degree in Linguistics so I probably do earn more than someone who's a receptionist without a BA degree. I also do a bit more tasks than a normal receptionist would do, such as translation. But my main tasks are receptionist work.

Your working hours are normal full time here. Is the cost of living where you live higher than in the UK?

Even with the bilingual part, it's still a high salary. Very high for a receptionist, even in London that would be considered high

An experienced receptionist at my workplace (Central London) earns around £45k. They start on £28k and it increases each year (if they are good) to the current cap of around £50k.
HTH.

How old are you OP? I see you have the potential for increases.

Thanks everyone that have posted useful responses. It's given me a much better perspective on things.

Honestly you expect us to believe you are on 40k as a receptionist?! For less than 35 hours a week? What country are you in OP? We'd all like to come and join you if everyone can have an entry level job and get paid that much for it.

I work in the nhs as a Band 6 and don't even earn what you do! I have a degree and a masters. I have to deal with distressing, potentially life or death situations.

Thing is, I have a BA degree in Linguistics so I probably do earn more than someone who's a receptionist without a BA degree

That wouldn't make any difference anywhere that I've ever worked.

Your working hours are normal full time here. Is the cost of living where you live higher than in the UK?
Yes, but not by that much. Which is why I said I thought it'd be fine to ask my question here. But seems like that even though the living costs are similar, maybe the normal working hours and standard pay are not. I didn't know that, I honestly thought people earn about the same in the UK.

That wouldn't make any difference anywhere that I've ever worked
Seriously? I always thought your level of education is taken into account in the UK. I didn't know it's not.

My receptionist earns 18.5k, last week one person spat at her and another threw their mug at the wall behind her head. Take from that what you will.

Honestly you expect us to believe you are on 40k as a receptionist?!
I don't expect anything from anyone, because I don't care about beliefs, opinions and views in regards to personal things. Especially on an anonymous online forum. I realise now that my country and the UK are more different than I thought, so my question is seemingly not as relevant as I thought it was.

If you're a brain surgeon it's low

If you're a dinner lady it's high.

Education is never taken directly into account. Other than have to have certain qualifications for certain jobs but extra qualifications above what is needed for a job would never be rewarded.

Uk full time is 40 hours a week

Minimum wage, which is what a receptionist would earn, is about to go up to £8.72 per hour.

So approx £18,000 a year.

In the uk people running small charities can expect to earn £40,000

Please tell us where you are located.

You came on here and literally asked people for their views
Comparing numbers are not personal opinions.

OP, I think it's impossible to compare salaries across countries but the average UK salary is about £27,000 (someone correct me if I am wrong). If you want to have a look at what someone in your role would earn in the UK you could try googling similar job roles in the UK.