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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what your goal salary is?

601 replies

SmokeyApo · 14/04/2021 14:40

Hi all, just being nosey here Grin

I have been thinking a lot about career progression and asking for a raise lately, and that got me thinking about what my goal salary is. As in, the salary that I would like to earn at the peak of my career (let's say between age 40 and 50).

So I will ask: what would your goal salary be?

I won't share mine for now just because I don't want to influence the answers, but I will happily share it later on.

OP posts:
Mummadeze · 15/04/2021 18:03

Mine was 60k but now I have reached that it has gone up to 80k. I am crap with money though and never feel like I am that comfortable even though I know that is ridiculous comparing my salary to other people’s. I am saving well in terms of my pension however having started young which is a relief.

Gracie2001 · 15/04/2021 18:04

I’m 36, a single mum to 1 child, currently on £92k, I’m content and very grateful to God. £150k or more by 45 would be great, but I’m content.

Xenia · 15/04/2021 18:05

Lawyer. As I said on 6 figures since the 1990s. I have however worked full time for 27 years without a single break even for babies so a lot of these things are not just deliberately choosing high paid work in a part of the country that pays well (law , specifically business law - the most competitive hardest to get into, in London) but also age.. I work for myself. I have no pension, no security and will have a state pension at 67 but will choose I hope to work until I die.

I have never been entitled to maternity pay not even 6 weeks at 90% pay, no paid sick pay, no employer pension (we had BUPA cover via my ex employer for a very few years).

I have needed a GP for 7 minutes in the last 15 years so having the NHS and if I had private cover is not something I really need or want but I know other people regard particular employer benefits as important such as a pension - often people's biggest asset.

SimonJT · 15/04/2021 18:17

@justwant2beamum

Can people who earn £50k plus please share with the rest of us what they do 😂😂
Chief risk officer (actuarial based), just like an actuary you essentially just need to be good at maths. Actuary is a great job, it isn’t hugely exciting but it does pay well, you can train via an apprenticeship now as well which is great.
SouthernComforter · 15/04/2021 18:18

I took voluntary redundancy from a job paying low £40ks FTE last year (for a university so also had decent leave and pension). I've got another fixed term job for a similar salary but I'm not enjoying it at all. Other similar jobs now seem to be paying up to 10k less and I can't help wondering if I'm over my peak salary now... That said, I don't want to commute to London and I don't want to manage a team, so if that limits my earning potential that's fine. I paid off my cards/debts with my redundancy payout and kids are no longer in nursery so it's all about job satisfaction and life balance now.

csigeek · 15/04/2021 18:20

Currently earn £40k, late 30’s. Wouldn’t want to end my 40’s on anything less than £65k to be honest. I feel like that sounds a bit greedy but I’m at a point in my career where I feel like I’m progressing very well and there is a lot of opportunity in my field of work.

disnerd1989 · 15/04/2021 18:26

Well this thread makes me feel shit!

I'm part time and on £11k. My husband earns £28k full time. £39k. And that's under what some of you earn on your own!
I guess I could earn more with more qualifications, but I have 2 kids and I'd rather spend my time with them. We're comfortable, and the only debt we have is one credit card and the mortgage.
Although I wouldn't say no to a bigger house.

disnerd1989 · 15/04/2021 18:26

I'm also interested to know what everyone does to earn these mega bucks!

FilthyforFirth · 15/04/2021 18:27

Mid 30s and currently earn early 40ks. I'm a project manager so some opportunity to progress. I expect to end up around 60kish. That is probably my ceiling as I dont want too much responsiblity. DH same age and early 50ks I expect him to end up around 100k as he has much more potential.

Mamana127 · 15/04/2021 18:29

Oh me Jesus! what is your Job🤷‍♀️ Part time and earning 55k?

Moonpeg · 15/04/2021 18:34

disnerd1989
I are the same, I’m only part time 9-3 Monday to Thursday, min wage. My partner roughly 40k. I do this as I can be with my children, not have a nanny bring them up. We are comfortable, detached house, new car, holiday abroad once a year. children I never thought I’d have. I thought we had quite a reasonable household income, till I read this thread!! 😫😫

Ideasplease322 · 15/04/2021 18:43

Why does the judgement always some out on these threads - people Always make the comments about how would rather spend time with their kids etc etc.

It’s not a competition, horses for courses etc etc. Nothing wrong with choosing a career, nothing wrong with staying home with the kids.

ChubbyMsSunshine · 15/04/2021 18:44

I read years ago that a good goal is for your salary to match your age. At the time it was no way near but now I'm very close.

It totally depends on circumstances though doesn't it?

Twylar · 15/04/2021 18:49

What type of work are you all in? 8m genuinely interested. I know a lot have mentioned corporate but in what area?

Tooshyshyhushhushioi · 15/04/2021 18:50

First target (at age 20) was 50K, then 100K in early 40's now late 40's I earn 250K in a C-suite level position in the northwest. Love my job although I would describe work and home life as very fluid. I'm fortunate that I don't ever have to worry about money and I'm currently planning my exit strategy to be mortgage and school fees free so I can retire early. I count my blessings every day and know I am very fortunate.

Heysiriyouknob · 15/04/2021 18:54

@ChubbyMsSunshine

I read years ago that a good goal is for your salary to match your age. At the time it was no way near but now I'm very close.

It totally depends on circumstances though doesn't it?

And we can't all do that.

Because then there would be no one to clean, and no one to care for your nan.

I work in care. I will only ever earn minimum wage. But someone has to, right?

Leontine · 15/04/2021 18:57

I don’t have a goal but having survived on a very low income, honestly even £40k is unimaginable to me.
The most anyone in my family has ever earned is £44k.

marshyindigo · 15/04/2021 18:58

Well this thread makes me feel shit!* I'm part time and on £11k. My husband earns £28k full time. £39k. And that's under what some of you earn on your own! I guess I could earn more with more qualifications, but I have 2 kids and I'd rather spend my time with them. We're comfortable, and the only debt we have is one credit card and the mortgage. Although I wouldn't say no to a bigger house.*

Why does it make you feel shit if it's a choice you made and you would rather be with your children? I did my Masters whilst my children were toddlers and now earn 5 times more than I did when I started 6 years ago. I'm happy with my choice and what it's provided my family, I had to sacrifice some time with them but it's worked out in the long term with the stability and flexibility I now have but I own that sacrifice, you should own your decisions too, no point having regrets, or change things if you're unhappy.

marshyindigo · 15/04/2021 18:59

Sorry complete bold failure there hopefully it makes sense which bit I'm quoting!

Leontine · 15/04/2021 19:01

@Heysiriyouknob I often think when I read stuff on here that people don’t seem to realise that most people don’t have well paid jobs.
The demographic on here seems to be overwhelmingly southern middle class. Lots of people earning £40k+ which is considered average, but that here up north would be a bloody good wage! (And I come from a mostly middle class family!)

mimillion · 15/04/2021 19:08

It would be interesting to see where people are living in relation to their salary, I’m in the NE and the majority of my friends are University educated yet none of us earn over 40k nor are likely to and we are mostly at the wrong end of our 40’s. I am on my own with a little boy but generally manage to live comfortably on about 35k, a few holidays a year (normally) and we eat and drink well

Luckyelephant1 · 15/04/2021 19:18

The thing is, knowing what people earn or wish to earn is meaningless without knowing their outgoings or how many dependents they have.

Someone on 50k who lives alone with no kids and has paid off their mortgage probably has a hell of a lot more disposable income than someone on 100k with 3 kids and a large mortgage. Where you live is also a huge factor.

Devlesko · 15/04/2021 19:19

12k
Don't laugh, it's all I need.

Heysiriyouknob · 15/04/2021 19:22

@mimillion we were in west London. Dh working full time for a local authority, quite a good position, worked there 10 years and still only on 32k as payscales and pay in general at the council are crap. I'm care so min wage every where.

We relied on housing benefit top up to to pay rent. We had to move 200 miles north in the end as London rents increasing made it impossible for us.

Dh has the same job as they agreed remote working. Up here same job is 7k a year less. Pitiful for the amount of work and responsibility but he has better perks than in the private sector and his job is secure.

OnePinaColada · 15/04/2021 19:30

@Feraltomcat

I remember when I first started work I thought earning your age in £s was a good goal. I was 19 at the time on 9k a year so it didn't seem massively attainableGrin

20 years on and I earn just shy of 60k so I've smashed my goal 😄 I've no interest in taking on any extra responsibility or management tho and would quite like to go part time so don't think I'll go any higher than this, which I'm cool with.

I had the same goal too when I was younger. Once I reached it, I aspired to earn double my age. I've only just managed that now.

I think however, a lot depends on what you do, where you are, full time, part time, self employed etc etc

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