To ask what your job is if you earn £50k plus

[CareerInspirationRequired]

Just that really!

I'm in a job that I fell into many years ago. Its OK but I'm bored. It's a professional job that many people would think earns about twice what it does. I'm on approx 30k (people are always shocked to learn this) and will be forever in this job (no real promotion open to me). Its a sector a LOT of people want to work in and in which some people will work for free. The result is we are actually paid very little - and people outside the sector are always shocked by this.

I'm considering a career change, but have no ideas what to. So if you're earning 50k plus sell me hour career. I have a degree, an MA and I'm sure lots of transferable skills.

I earn less than 10K as a part time vet nurse. Certainly not in in for the money! DH earns 170K as a clinical director of a pharmaceutical company involving overseeing clinical trials. Having said that he starts work at 7am and doesn't finish until sometimes 1am the next morning, we barely see eachother, he doesn't take holidays, and he is frequently travelling (when covid allows again he will be off again). Money really isn't everything, I would prefer a more balanced approach to life, even if it meant earning far less. I've been in both situations and I know which one I was happier in.

CyberSecurity Mgr £80K plus bonus

Also not in London

Public servant, equivalent of civil service grade 7

I’m a decision maker.

@GrealishHairband that's your job title? What do you make decisions on?

I'm a senior in data analytics.
Without outing: I don't have 10 years of experience (closer to 5); I decide on my deadlines myself (if someone asks me to do something that'll take me 1/2 day, I tell them it'll be ready in a week). I have a very cruisy work life.
My pay is £76,000 package.

I have an economics degree so data analytics is not too hard to get into BUT you must be very good at maths.

I’m a chartered surveyor. Needs a relevant degree, 2 years on the job training minimum before taking the “exam” to achieve chartered status and then slogged my guys out for 10 years to achieve a bit over £50k. Would NOT recommend. It is a very very skilled profession and I don’t think the reward reflects the skill or the effort.

Some surveyors WILL earn more, some definitely six figures, but it’s the exception.

Many of my friends are solicitors or accounts and knowing what I know now, I would be an accountant (probably an actuary) or solicitor rather than pick my profession again.

@MapGirlExtraordinaire have you recently changed jobs??? Till recently I worked with a data scientist who was amazing at mapping stuff! But she was on less than £50k and I’m so proud of her for moving jobs because she deserved so much more £ and appreciation!

Senior Business development manager. £70k

I' don't want to derail but I'd be interested in a reciprocal thread with jobs that used to be relatively well remunerated (or at least enough to afford a mortgage for a decent house) and are no longer, perhaps together with a suggestion what changed.

Small independent high street shop proprietor, perhaps?

Hedge fund managers earn huge amounts - I imagine it must be quite hard to become one though!

Agency nurse across West Mids and Wales.

Those who are doctors…. Would you recommend it as a second profession? If someone 30s or 40s wanted a career change, would it be worth it?

Civil servant

Small independent high street shop proprietor, perhaps?

@Zilla1 I'm not sure that sort of role has ever been hugely well paid has it? The difference is that house prices used to be far lower, so you could work in a job like that and afford a mortgage!

I'm in HR on £100 plus. I have a degree and an MA (company paid)... but having a birds eye view across lots of industries I have found high salary doesnt equate to people always working particularly hard or being the best or brightest at their job, and low salary doesnt always mean uninteresting work, its a whole host of things that make different people tick and satisfied in the job market! I work in charity, I find the work stimulating and rewarding, and I also did when I earned half what I did now. I also think some firms just pay well and have great benefits but aren't that nice to work for (the one I am in now for example!), so work out what you can live on, and then how much you would like to aim for and what a role would give you in terms of 'joy' then go for it!

This thread is so interesting but has cemented that I’ll be poor forever as I definitely couldn’t do any of the jobs listed here! 😂

KL73 you’re quite right. I’ve met some really unexceptional people earning silly money, and some of the most interesting and brilliant people living modestly.

@TakeMeToKernow

Those who are doctors…. Would you recommend it as a second profession? If someone 30s or 40s wanted a career change, would it be worth it?

Are you ready to spend 10 years to qualify as one? Need a medical degree and plenty of experience.

@elprup I'd be interested in thoughts. I use that as an example as I recall the proprietor of the archetypal local shop would make lots of money relative to other jobs/businesses up to the 80s/90s pre-internet though happy to be corrected.

Accountant, CA, with a tax specialism, CTA.

It was about 5 years post graduation study.

QC Micro in pharmaceuticals. 4yr degree. I also get 8% annual bonus and private health. 2.5% raise each year

@Veronika13 have worked with a couple of career changing doctors who started medical school in their 30s. That said, they are vastly outnumbered by those doctors leaving the profession entirely, emigrating or leaving clinical practice for health start ups.

Chief of Staff - mix of problem solver, trouble shooter, project manager and generally known for getting shit done.

I work in PR for a financial services company in the city. I earn £65k.

Contractual and compliance role, a big career change at 31. No formal qualifications but niche area where I am a subject matter expert. Approx. £125k plus £12k bonus.