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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:
Pupster21 · 14/04/2021 15:02

75k would be great but I work for the NHS so I’m probably looking at 40k

Orangesand · 14/04/2021 15:02

I'm 29 and currently on £45k.

I am happy to reach the top of my band (55k) and then stay there, with just cost of living rises.

Money is definitely not everything and if I strived to go higher through promotions, it would be more hours, pressure, responsibility. I want to be happy and have good health more than I want lots of money. I've seen how some people have no work/life balance and want to be wise and learn from that.

savvy7 · 14/04/2021 15:03

I would definitely say "aim for the salary you deserve". Too many women, myself included, undervalue themselves when it comes to salary/pay. I've been underpaid for years but am just about on a par now after asking for rises.

Bluesheep8 · 14/04/2021 15:03

I earn about half what I once did. In a job that almost drove me to a mental breakdown. My work/life balance and mental health are priceless to me. I earn enough. That's my goal.

belle002 · 14/04/2021 15:04

I’m 30 and on 45k - I think 70k would be salary goal which would still enable work life balance and starting a family in the future. Having read the book “Lean In” I am all for pushing forward as much as possible to be senior before starting family as then you are able to set your hours and negotiate for flexibility without taking a pay cut. Maybe the changes to working from home and flexibility brought about by Covid will make working much better for professionals.

FizzyPink · 14/04/2021 15:04

I’m 29 and been on £47k for the last 3 years. There’s zero chance of progression in my current company so tentatively looking for a new role to take me up to £55k.
I would imagine for the type of role I do in my industry, my salary will max out at about £90-100k but there’s lots of opportunity for bonuses on top of that

EileenGC · 14/04/2021 15:05

Top job in my field pays 80k. I’d love to achieve that which means that some years, with all the freelance stuff on the side, I could earn double that amount.

Currently on 9k. I keep dreaming Grin

earlydoors42 · 14/04/2021 15:07

This thread is very depressing reading. Everyone earns so much money!

RestingPandaFace · 14/04/2021 15:07

I’m just about to move back to permanent work after being a contractor for 12 years. I will be on £55k which puts me in the top 10% for my field, and I’m happy with that. I could have got a little more in another role I was offered but it comes with line management responsibility which I don’t really want.

I see potentially one more move up, and after that I think I’d have to do a Masters / MBA to move again.

gwenneh · 14/04/2021 15:08

I actually think people focus too much on 'progression' not everyone is cut out for senior jobs in the corporate world and this idea that you fail if you stop progressing is unhealthy.

Absolutely. That's my feeling too and why I don't think I will make the last step on the rung, which would effectively double my salary. I am not cut out for it.

I have friends who are and who have done it brilliantly, but they are also making sacrifices I wouldn't choose for myself.

Feraltomcat · 14/04/2021 15:09

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.

oldwhyno · 14/04/2021 15:09

I've never really thought about putting a limit on it. I'd always look for a bit more if possible, but the limit would come from the demands of the job (hours, travel, stress, instability), but that's rather hard to separate from pure salary.

gwenneh · 14/04/2021 15:11

@earlydoors42

This thread is very depressing reading. Everyone earns so much money!
My first job out of uni made £18k. If you told me what I'd be making at 40 I'd have been sure I'd be set for life.

Spoiler alert: I am not, we still spend too much, and now it's just in bigger figures.

Onairjunkie · 14/04/2021 15:12

£1m per annum.

Angrypregnantlady · 14/04/2021 15:12

Enough to comfortably afford a 500k house which seems to be around the joint 100k mark. We should hit it by the end of this financial year.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 14/04/2021 15:15

@earlydoors42

This thread is very depressing reading. Everyone earns so much money!
It is just proving the MN reality.

Either:

Most posters are above average wage earners

Most posters lie about their earnings

Those of us who earn about the average salary don't post on these threads

As a teacher, in Not london, my maximum salary was £32k and I felt rich as Croesus.

I'm self employed now, not quite so rich 🤑

dobidobidooo · 14/04/2021 15:18

I suppose if I am for the top of my organization then 150+ but realistically probably 60-70k. I'll be happy with that.

Skyliner001 · 14/04/2021 15:19

I'm on about 50k now and be honest am happy enough there. Don't feel I need more

tywysoges · 14/04/2021 15:20

My current goal is to go over £50K so I can take over from DH as the main earner and he can quit the job he hates Grin. Haven’t really thought beyond that.

breadbinbaby · 14/04/2021 15:21

I earn just over £50k which was definitely a big stretch goal before I achieved it, especially in my mid twenties. Progression on my career path will start to plateau at this stage but I’d ideally be around £70k at the peak of my career.

Skyliner001 · 14/04/2021 15:21

To add, I own the house outright and gave heathy savings (thanks to parental help) I honestly just want to never worry about money.

notalwaysalondoner · 14/04/2021 15:21

I'm 31 and earn about £150k including bonus, DH about the same. I'm about to have a baby and am quite comfortable taking a career hit to have a better work/life balance, so I wouldn't be surprised if this is my career maximum. In my industry top earners can be earning 7 figures. DH on the other hand is very ambitious and expects to make a lot from shares in his company and wants to be a CEO, so his limit may wind up being huge.

Skyliner001 · 14/04/2021 15:21

I'm 40

Figgygal · 14/04/2021 15:23

I’m 40 and my fte salary would be £50k
I work in a company where £200k salaries barely raise an eyebrow with me anymore
I’m not in their field but a support role

For a mid level role with little responsibility and all the flexibility I want I’m happy where I am.
I see how people in my company flog themselves and work all the hours and travel at the drop of a hat and I’m not willing to make the sacrifices that they are to get a higher salary. Very much in the work to live camp these days

Bluesheep8 · 14/04/2021 15:27

Those of us who earn about the average salary don't post on these threads

I did. I earn below the average.