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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:
oonveijv2021 · 14/04/2021 15:57

I used to earn 80k per year when I was 32 but am now on 50k because I changed industry and am now much happier. It was the same thing for DH. I should get to about 60k and then have incrementally pay increases but am not prepared to go any higher as I value time with my kids too much.

As a family we dont have a goal salary but do have happiness goal. Assuming that we bring in enough cash - we tend to have an annual chat about whehter or not we are still happy with our jobs/life and what changes if any we need to make.

gwenneh · 14/04/2021 15:57

@QpopTYUIop9

I peaked at around £200k over a decade ago before having kids and it’s been a downward spiral ever since. You could literally draw a graph of salary/kids and see the correlation. Finally culminating in redundancy (only working mother in the team, go figure).
Ouch.

I'm trying to coast past the years of young DC in my current, less demanding role before making a career jump and potentially hitting the same discrimination. I'm sorry that's something you've had to deal with.

Drunkenmonkey · 14/04/2021 16:00

@bathmatty that wasn't meant as a criticism by the way, it's just very alien to me. My DH has his own business and just earns as much as he can and my income has stagnated since having kids. We've never discussed income goals and if I did it would really stress my DH out I think. He's not wired that way, he can barely plan one week ahead let alone years.
We tend to just take each year as it comes but we might regret that approach one day.

Shadowboy · 14/04/2021 16:01

I’m a teacher so limited as I’m currently on the maximum point and have an additional mid management allowance so unless I take a senior management role then I’ve hit the maximum. I’d like to be earning over £60 by retirement though.

Stompythedinosaur · 14/04/2021 16:04

I'm aiming for above 50k, but that is tough to reach as a nurse.

The frustrating thing is I could very easily earn a good chunk more than that as a private therapist, but I really believe in the NHS.

jb7445 · 14/04/2021 16:05

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

HalfBrick · 14/04/2021 16:05

Funny how all the super high earners have time to dick about on Mumsnet isn't it? Wink Don't be offended if you're telling the truth, shame on those who aren't Halo

eurochick · 14/04/2021 16:05

I'm not sure I have one. I had an idea about wanting to hit 100k by thirty, which I did, just. Since then there have been some dips but I've mostly stayed above that figure. Now my aspirations are more around career direction than £££.

dirtyfries · 14/04/2021 16:06

I find this so much more interesting than the usual 'what do you earn threads'.

DH & I have always settled on the dream being around £100k between us.
We earn very similar amounts as stands so 50k each.
With moves into management within our industries its doable. Not interested in anything more than this if it would come with high stress/long hours.

QwertyBert · 14/04/2021 16:06

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QwertyBert · 14/04/2021 16:07

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EmmaStone · 14/04/2021 16:07

There are so many variables to this one, aren't there?

Before children, I was in a professional managerial position, working FT, in London, on an upward trajectory, on about £60k (this was 16 years ago).

Left London, left my career, eventually started dipping my toe back into the working world, but came back at a FTE of much much less. I've been inching my way back up the ladder, but currently not particularly managerial, and on a gross basic of less than I was on when in London. I've recently been head-hunted for similar roles, but I love the company I work for now (and for the role, am probably at the top end for salary - I've over-qualified for my role), so to entice me to move, I'd need a change in role (more responsibility), plus a significant pay rise to compensate for that responsibility. No-one's quite been able to do that yet, but I'm on people's radars. I could leap to a different industry, but I'm quite specialised in my current industry and not sure a different industry would want my skills (despite being very transferrable), and I love the sector I work in.

Hexinthecity · 14/04/2021 16:08

I don't have a goal salary - I'm self employed so I'm just happy chasing the elusive work life balance!

gwenneh · 14/04/2021 16:09

@HalfBrick

Funny how all the super high earners have time to dick about on Mumsnet isn't it? Wink Don't be offended if you're telling the truth, shame on those who aren't Halo
The more I earn the more in charge of my own schedule I become, so the more time I have to dick about on MN. So no offense taken. I know I'm slacking!

MN is a great avoidance tool for this report I don't want to be writing.

HalfBrick · 14/04/2021 16:10

Good on you, and your honesty @gwenneh Grin

IcyApril · 14/04/2021 16:10

I’m self employed. I want to earn £43,000/year for three days a week. I don’t want to work more than that right now due to having small children.

IcyApril · 14/04/2021 16:11

By the way, I haven’t achieved this yet and I have several obstacles to doing so so I’m not convinced I’ll get there.

WaitingForNormality · 14/04/2021 16:13

I'm early 30s currently... my goal salary for when I'm around 50 would probably be about £100K. However, I'd happily continue on my current salary (~£64K) if needed (I work 4 days, so could go up to 5 days and get another 20% of salary anyway) and would then not need to take on more responsibilities.

user1471523870 · 14/04/2021 16:13

I am on £85k at 46 and predicting to get to around £100k by 50 if I stay in the same role. But I am working towards a promotion in the next few years and hope to end up around £120-130k by then. Target is £150 by (early) retirement.

Rewis · 14/04/2021 16:14

The (unlikely) but still achievable dream would be £45k

orangegina · 14/04/2021 16:15

Aiming For 100 - £120k this year

DeciduousPerennial · 14/04/2021 16:17

For a permanent, full time job: £60+k
For a day rate role: £450/day

newlabelwriter · 14/04/2021 16:19

I think about £50k plus bonus. I used to think much lower but I realised that my earning potential increases sometimes just by asking for it. Who knew 😉

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 14/04/2021 16:21

How do you all you folk earning near £100k a year have time to post on an internet forum during the working day? What do you do? Are you overpaid?

theworldsbiggestcrocodile · 14/04/2021 16:22

I would like 55 grand ideally. Ten grand short currently and no hope of achieving a ten grand pay raise in the near future...