To ask for ‘normal average’ salaries?

[Mamacita191]

After seeing loads of posts recently about what people earn, I feel like it’s a completely different world to what I am living in. I live in the midlands and a good salary is 30-40k which is what most people comfortably sit at. I certain rarely see jobs advertised for £60k or more (even 6 figures which I’ve read is what some people make!). Even the jobs that people advise to go into such as lawyers and accountants in a good firm etc don’t make 3 figures as I’ve read on here.

Is it just me who thinks 30-40k is a normal salary that a lot of people sit comfortably at? Am I missing out on something?

[quote borntobequiet]This is a useful calculator to see where you stand financially compared to the rest of the population

ifs.org.uk/tools_and_resources/where_do_you_fit_in[/quote]
Useful- thanks 😊

@XingMing

I have observed over a long time that some parts of the country, like the SW -- and I would guess much of the North too, just don't have any understanding of the nature of work that isn't practical and paid by the hour. I grew up in rural Cornwall before the Internet existed, and work opportunities were limited by what was physically close by if you weren't educated, and especially if you couldn't drive.

My father was in the navy, a pilot, my mum was a nurse and we didn't choose where we lived; the navy sent us there. But the work that was available locally, until the Internet, was physical... picking daffs, lifting spuds or scraping icecreams, pulling pints and changing beds. NOBODY, including young me, knew about bond trading or investment banking or thought they might like to write code. My teachers in a highly academic school suggested I should aim for the law and the bar, but I had never seen that in real life. So I chose journalism, discovered marketing and ended up in finance. Nobody I met ever told me that there was a world called investment banking where billions of pounds were raised, bought and sold. I found myself with experience holding my own in that world, and no sob stories here, I have done okay, but with the limited knowledge that most teachers have of the world outside teaching, how does anyone expect the bright child from an uneducated family to aspire to more than average. I ask this in all seriousness....

100%. I came from a foreign country, got a place at THE university that everyone wanted to get into to become investment bankers and had no clue (all I knew was that it was too for my subject) In Fresher’s week people were applying for spring weeks and when I finally caught up (at the end of second year) it was too late. I had no relevant internship, felt like I didn’t fit in with the IB crowd and gave up but I didn’t like my original subject either. We seriously overestimate the impact of role models, of a human telling other people what’s out there. I’m a software engineer now thanks to one friend at uni and a very supportive series of bosses. Gunning for very highly paid roles that again I didn’t even know existed until I spoke to people.

The lack of information is real. I used to think sharing stories etc was all tosh but upon reflection I’ve benefited from peoples’ guidance more than I can admit. Will continue to go to schools/advise teens and uni students as much as possible

Also @XingMing @SisforSoppy I think it’s really important for people to go to schools. Where I work we go in to do talks and it’s heartening to see how many come in as apprentices etc.

There should be career experience fairs etc for schools (organised by local businesses together) telling kids about their jobs. And mentoring - I’ve been lucky enough to work with lots of 6th formers and pleased to see many doing well.

Working in the Midlands in administration, the salaries are definitely on the lower end circa 21k on average - irrespective of whether you have a degree or Masters etc... I have seen (heavy) PA roles paying £9 an hour in Birmingham!

I think it makes it is really shitty and difficult to live on this type of wage. I am all for raising the minimum wage only because I can't even imagine how people make ends meet. 17 years ago I was on £21k in London at the beginning of my career, so I definitely think that wages haven't increased in line with the cost of living!

Husband and I are both qualified accountants and earn £50k and £60k respectively.

We are comfortable but not at all swimming in cash.

Depends where you live and the type of company. When I lived in London, I earned more than double what I do now in the north.

For those who are saying people earning over £100k are just moaners.

My DP's tax is 50 fucking percent. 50. Mine is around 35%.

We earn £182k. Mortgage £2800 a month. No kids.
And yet we wanted to go on a weekend away and decided against it as 'we can't afford it really'.

Our tax really pains us.

I'm on around 60k that includes a car allowance.
DH about 35k (30k is base)

I have a degree and have worked my arse off to get where I am. Post grad etc.
DH isn't university educated.
He earned more than 35k last year but was made redundant.

We do okay but I wouldn't say we are well off. Despite how it seems on paper.
We live in an expensive part of the Midlands.

@luckyJasmin

For those who are saying people earning over £100k are just moaners.

My DP's tax is 50 fucking percent. 50. Mine is around 35%.

We earn £182k. Mortgage £2800 a month. No kids.
And yet we wanted to go on a weekend away and decided against it as 'we can't afford it really'.

Our tax really pains us.

Yes you are moaners. Of course you have enough money to go on a weekend away. It is not our fault you are crap with your money.

@julieca it's just not as much money as you think - because of tax.

@luckyJasmin About £100k income before pensions I reckon.

It's not close to £200k though is it?
You've no idea what it's like to hand over HALF of your earnings, I guarantee any person who would have to do that- would moan.

@luckyJasmin then earn less?
I still stand by the fact that if you cant afford a weekend away, you are crap with money. I have far less income after-tax than you and can afford weekends away and holidays.

@luckyJasmin

Standard Personal Allowance is £11,500. Basic Rate – 20% on income over £11,501 (standard Personal Allowance) up to £45,000 (£43,000 in Scotland). Higher Rate tax – 40% on income between £45,001 (£43,001 in Scotland) and £150,000. Additional Rate – 45% on any income over £150,000

So your husband earns over £150k a year, take home of £7500 (before any deductions - but even when I put in both student loan and post-grad loan still comes out at £5990 pcm). Even with just his salary your £2800 mortgage is affordable. I used this calculator by the way.

Sorry if I have limited sympathy - but this is exactly what is so infuriating about some of you that are earning £££ - you feel cash poor because of your choices.

I come out with £1975 after statutory pension deductions, and yet your husband comes out with £7500 and supposedly cant afford a weekend away?
Some people are terrible at managing their money. I remember an interview with a banker who assist many very highly paid footballers and she said most have zero savings. They splash the cash and literally live pay cheque to pay cheque.
How we spend our money is a choice. I am not poor but have far less than you, but obviously manage my money better.

I get paid a handsome wage, beyond what I aspired or set out for. However I work more hours than I sleep or spend with my family. There are some highly paid jobs but in the main it is for good reason and only the insane accept the job.

I don't really see any jobs near me (NW) that I'm qualified for that pay more than what I earn. I would like to earn 30k+ but 🤷🏽‍♀️ they all want management experience which I don't have

Happy to listen to ideas if anyone has them!
BA Hons degree (leisure management)
A levels, GCSEs etc
Worked in contact centres for 15 years, retail, carer, hospitality, always customer care based stuff

Like for instance I've just picked this
They want 3 years experience in a relevant role
Experience of managing people
And a load of other stuff for 25k +

Which is what I earn 🤷🏽‍♀️

@julieca why do you think we are crap with money if we earn a lot and don't have much left over?

You presumed we spend it on crap whereas in reality we put it into Bitcoin (short term trading so we withdraw profits continuously) and buy investment properties 🤷‍♀️

Any spare money we never keep but invest more and more.

[quote luckyJasmin]@julieca why do you think we are crap with money if we earn a lot and don't have much left over?

You presumed we spend it on crap whereas in reality we put it into Bitcoin (short term trading so we withdraw profits continuously) and buy investment properties 🤷‍♀️

Any spare money we never keep but invest more and more. [/quote]
In which case you dont mean you cant afford a holiday. Rather, you prefer to spend your money differentlyi.e. investing.

@luckyJasmin

It's not close to £200k though is it? You've no idea what it's like to hand over HALF of your earnings, I guarantee any person who would have to do that- would moan.

Are you in the UK? In thr UK the maximum income tax band is 45% additional rate and NI would be 2% on top, however that is the headline rate not the effective rate over the whole income. You said you have a combined income of £182k and he pays 50% and you pay 35%, that does not add up, firstly because income taxation does not go as Hugh as 50%, secondly because even if he earned the whole £182k his effective rate would only reach 41%, with any split his effective rate would be in the thirties.

So no, there is no way you are handing over half your earnings in tax, your numbers are a fabrication.

Also plenty of people do pay high tax without moaning, in Scandinavia it is common for people on even average wages to be paying close to fifty percent and they aren't whinging all the time. Myself and my husband both earn six figure incomes and we don't moan about our tax bills, it is part of life and contributing to society.

@NotMyCat

I don't really see any jobs near me (NW) that I'm qualified for that pay more than what I earn. I would like to earn 30k+ but 🤷🏽‍♀️ they all want management experience which I don't have

Happy to listen to ideas if anyone has them!
BA Hons degree (leisure management)
A levels, GCSEs etc
Worked in contact centres for 15 years, retail, carer, hospitality, always customer care based stuff

Like for instance I've just picked this
They want 3 years experience in a relevant role
Experience of managing people
And a load of other stuff for 25k +

Which is what I earn 🤷🏽‍♀️

If you want to make that step up then apply for the jobs anyway. They might say they want management experience, but initiative is a huge part or that. List your relevant transferable skills, your management qualities that are not management experience, apply for every job you like the look of and go for the interviews. You might not get anything, but you might just surprise yourself.

@MatildaIThink we're not in the uk.
We also sell shares throughout the year so whilst our salary is £182k, our actual income is more as well sell a bit of shares plus whatever we make on Bitcoin/etherium etc.

Its 45% for him plus healthcare levy (even though we already pay £3k for private healthcare)
My tax is 37% plus healthcare levy.

When I also think of the VAT of 10% on top of everything we buy, it's crazy how much goes into tax.

I think 30 is closer to normal and 40k is above normal in the UK. I work in an expensive city in the US and people feel sorry for you as a teacher on ( an average of 75-90k us dollars) because people expect to earn 100k plus salaries although the average is still only maybe 65k. Teachers feel badly done to as they compare themselves to all their friends on 100k plus but I think 75-90 us$ k is bloody great for a teacher to be on. I don't know how we managed on our 30 k salaries in London now I look back or how people manage to buy homes so I think in London that 30 k is more like 40 k and few in London make less than 40k. I think 40 k outside London is a good salary in the UK surely?

@luckyJasmin I'm sorry but with that income even AFTER tax and a huge mortgage (which is your choice btw! No one forced you to get a mortgage of 2800!) you should be able to afford a weekend away. But it's not that it's that you prioritise investing etc. Please don't plead that you have it tough on an income of 180+!! We earn half that and have PLENTY of cash and we can afford weekends away! And we have two children!!

People cut their cloth accordingly.

Last year we were very very high earners (income varies each year due to self employment). We do however have high housing costs, school fees no pension contributions or work benefits etc. But it’s our choice. We don’t feel ridiculously rich because we live differently to the way we did when we were both on £20k