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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you earn £50K+ what do you do?

545 replies

Poppi89 · 30/03/2020 18:51

I have seen a lot of posts on here where people say how much they earn and I am shocked how many people earn over £50K, so I was just wondering what it is that you do?

Also, do you think it is more important to have a high income or a job that you enjoy?

OP posts:
Wrinklesareenhancing · 01/04/2020 10:07

@bingoitsadingo well it's clearly hard for you to grasp the issues. Women earn VERY differently to men. Even women doing the exact same job. I've come across one client who was earning half of what a colleague was. He was also a client. She was the one that seemed to do the bigger better job, but was never promoted.

Men in well paid jobs is not the same as women in well paid jobs. Not that hard is it?

I0NA · 01/04/2020 10:54

If you are a high earner, it’s more luck than hard work or talent

Yes of course it is. Only men get their well paid jobs through hard work or talent, women just get theirs through luck. Next thing we will be told it’s through our “ feminine wiles “.

Hmm Hmm

Falacy · 01/04/2020 10:56

Men in well paid jobs is not the same as women in well paid jobs. Not that hard is it?

Precisely.

I always cringe when the posters drop in and let us all know what Billy Big Balls earns.

Wrinklesareenhancing · 01/04/2020 11:12

If you are a high earner, it’s more luck than hard work or talent

I understand where you're coming from, but I think you may be letting 'luck' take the blame too much. I worked from 7 -9 pm 4 nights a week for nearly 5 years to qualify in my job. I did this whilst having 4 MC's and 2 children. It was hard work and stressful.

I am however lucky enough that the hard work was able to 'land' as I'm lucky enough to be fairly bright and I could therefore use the learning to pass the exams.

I was lucky that there is a great office round the corner from me that allows me to work part time and not commute to london. It was hard work calling every single company in the local area to find one that would let me do this. I felt I had to pull on my big girl pants and phone them and ask to speak to the MD, I devised a script, I practiced before I rang. I was lucky my DD's were at nursery and I was able to make all those calls.

I think you can make some of your own luck and hard work can help make you lucky. Some things though are just accident of birth and it's true that it impacts on one's out come in life.

claragolightly · 01/04/2020 11:15

I'm a financial journalist / editor. I live and work in London and am well paid for my profession.
I love my job : )

TheWordmeister · 01/04/2020 11:35

if you are a high earner, it’s more luck than hard work or talent

I disagree. I’m highly qualified and good at my job. No luck or excessive hard work here.

Wrinklesareenhancing · 01/04/2020 11:47

@claragolightly do you cover personal finance?

Madamum18 · 01/04/2020 13:10

Senior (2nd tier) Education Officer in LA

Shaded · 01/04/2020 13:40

If you are a high earner, it’s more luck than hard work or talent

It is a combination of all three. Working to get the right qualifications, talent to excel in what you do and also the luck that people recognise your efforts and you progress in your chosen field. It does not just fall in your lap.

Shaded · 01/04/2020 13:41

And of course working in a field where your work is compensated well.

tentative3 · 01/04/2020 13:52

Train driver. I did various other things previously that were much more in line with what was expected of a woman with a degree but sacked it all off and am happy doing this. It's increasingly attracting people with degree level education and experience but the academic barrier to entry is incredibly low and it is still open to all. The hours make family life difficult if both parents work but it is doable.

Original poster
Poppi89 · 01/04/2020 17:36

@CookieDoughKid That's really inspiring that you have got where you are from being a refugee. Your teacher sounds lovely and I'm happy all of your hard work has paid off.

OP posts:
Original poster
Poppi89 · 01/04/2020 17:43

There are many great professions on here that are still heavily male-dominated eg train driver, police officer, computer software engineer.

Why do you think these are still male-dominated - because females aren't applying because they think they don't have a chance or they are applying but not being hired? Or could it be to do with the gender pay gap - I wouldn't want to work in a place where the male got a lot more than me for doing the same job!

OP posts:
2018SoFarSoGreat · 01/04/2020 18:39

The heavily male dominated roles continue to baffle me. I think a lot of it is to do with attitude of value.

I interview a lot of people and , see quite a difference in the confidence levels between male and female applicants. In fact, I'd say misplaced confidence in many cases, yet it is still there, and some of those doing the hiring may well fall for it. Male applicants say they are looking for specific - and higher - salary ranges - not always numbers that match skill level. Female applicants do not.

Again, I am generalizing somewhat but have been hiring for many years and this is my experience.

As a female in a broadly male dominated role, I have been told it is my gravitas that makes me stand out. Gravitas. Typically attributed to the elder statesman (old, white skinned and white haired!) in our midst. We need to hold classes in building that as a core strength of women in the workplace.

pinata · 01/04/2020 18:41

@poppi89 I think “men’s” work is higher paid because it has historically been deemed more valuable (by men), plus most of the women I know are not great at choosing jobs and career paths that have high pay attached.

pinata · 01/04/2020 18:47

@2018SoFarSoGreat also agree with everything you’ve said. I work in a very heavily male dominated industry (often only woman in a room full of 20 men, all engaged in a willy-waving contest). I have a large team, and the men in it generally think they are far better than they really are. The women tend to try and do good work and get noticed that way. But getting paid highly is really only 20% about the work you do (which of course you have to do well) the majority is about how you are perceived and if others, in positions of power, want you to succeed. I’ve seen capable women cast aside in favour of far less capable men - because the men had sponsors up the chain

shakalaka · 01/04/2020 18:51

Project Manager here, I usually enjoy my job but today a total Cock womble has made me see red....

CarlottaValdez · 01/04/2020 18:52

I’m a mum to one young child and earned reasonable six figures until today as I’ve just taken a 20% pay cut while half my company is furloughed. I’m a lawyer in house.

moveandmove · 01/04/2020 18:56

I work in finance.

Hoggleludo · 01/04/2020 18:58

Take home. About 500k. Own business IT related.

Hoggleludo · 01/04/2020 19:02

I worked in the music industry before. Oh man. Bloody loved that job. Only female in the industry. It was physically hard work though!

I love my job now though.

BillywilliamV · 01/04/2020 19:02

I should really earn over 50k but I love my colleagues and company too much to move so they get away with exploiting meGrin

MrsRusselBrand · 01/04/2020 19:04

Am a medical sales rep ( ex nurse ) . Good pay I guess £55-£75 k depends on bonus . Used to be happy but seriously considering going back to nursing , will be a drop in salary but I'm just not that happy in what I do . So to answer your question - I think happiness is more important , some things can be bought and that makes you happy but if you don't enjoy what you do on a daily , then it ain't worth squat ! Wink

slipperyeel · 01/04/2020 19:07

75k, work in software development. Usually enjoy my job though wouldn’t say I love it.

SueEllenMishke · 01/04/2020 19:10

Luck plays a huge part in career development but it doesn't replace planning, preparation or hard work.
'lucky' people often know how to make the most of the opportunities they encounter.