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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for ‘normal average’ salaries?

393 replies

Mamacita191 · 04/10/2021 09:33

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?

OP posts:
Suspicioussam · 04/10/2021 11:38

I don't think Mumsnet is representative of the general population. Firstly there are more SAHMs on Mumsnet with high earning partners. It is also very middle class and the debate tends to attract intelligent, educated women who are more likely to be high earners. Also people are more likely to post who earn more.
I live on the outskirts of london (most of my friends work in london) and in my social circle between 40-60k is average. my best friend is on 100k though but she is at the top of her career. I'd say that's quite rare. Those that work locally earn a lot less.
So outside of london I imagine the average is a fair bit lower than that. You're doing fine OP.

thetesdybears · 04/10/2021 11:40

Yeah I agree but also depends where you live and what circles you socialise in.

I'm in central Scotland. I think the average is probably lower than the £27/£28K I've heard is uk average.

I'm an accountant I earn just over £40K but actually I'm part time so it's about £24K. I could earn a lot more if I wanted to but I'm happy where I am as got young kids. My husband works full time and is on about £18K. My salary is considered a very, very good salary around here. My husbands obvs isn't but plenty of people earn around that.

Most family don't earn big, work in shops, call centres etc. I do have friends that are qualified accountants and earn similar to me or more.

Nap1983 · 04/10/2021 11:42

I’m in Scotland… DH earns around 60k, I’m a nurse 30ishk, 1DC. We have nice holidays and lifestyle and no debt but are in no way “rich”. I honestly don’t know how much you’d need to earn to not to have to worry anymore…

HollaHolla · 04/10/2021 11:45

I work in a University. Non-teaching, Professional Services, central Scotland. I'm on £56k. I have an UG, MBA & PhD, so am well-qualified! My siblings earn (accountant) £85k, and (teacher) £35k.
I think we are all paid a lot better than the average. I am increasingly concerned about people I know on Universal Credit, and how on earth they are managing. Sad

maddening · 04/10/2021 11:48

Dh and I are on around the same at 43k before tax each. Live in northwest, dh works remotely (was already wfh pre covid), I will be going to hybrid once we are back in the office.

So whilst we are both on a "normal wage" we benefit by both working at that level.

julieca · 04/10/2021 11:49

@hegaxonal It only relates to full-time employment. Most low paid people are on zero-hour contracts or do a couple of part-time jobs or are pretend self-employed. So it only captures the wages of those mainly in better off positions,
Where I live, getting a full time hospitality job is very difficult. Majority are part tine or zero hours.

Phrowzunn · 04/10/2021 11:50

@Nap1983 it’s funny - I’m in Scotland too and my DH earns about £60k as well. I am a SAHM though so have no income and we have two kids. I feel like I can’t imagine how ‘rich’ we would feel if we had an extra £30k coming in. I wouldn’t know how to spend it all! It just shows you though, it’s all relative. People live to their means, no matter what they are.

NotresDames · 04/10/2021 11:55

It really depends on your role.

Some salary scales are national such as teaching or nursing (plus London weighting.)

Many new graduates start on around £25K.

I have friends whose DCs are in investment banking and law, and they are earning over 6 figures in their late 20s but they went to top unis and work in the City.

One of my DCs is on a 6-figure income in their early 30s but has a Masters and works in the SE.

It varies hugely and certainly the cost of housing in the south means most income goes on that- rent is rare under £1K a month for a 1-bed flat, and family houses of 3 beds are around £450K for a semi that's not special in any way!

Whammyyammy · 04/10/2021 11:58

My oh is on £55k, I'm £40k. South west

HelloDulling · 04/10/2021 11:59

DH and I both earn more than that, DH significantly more. But we are also well aware that we are paid well above the average. We both benefit from working for London companies but not working from the London office, so we are paid particularly well for our location.

idontlikealdi · 04/10/2021 12:03

Grads at my firm come in on 50k, it's why they move to London. Pas and secs are on similar. Context is everything.

PileOfBooks · 04/10/2021 12:04

Ah that makes sense if its 29-31 for full time earners.

Most women in our area with kids in primary are part time so that would being the average down a lot! Lots of zero hpur contracts/ retail/care and then part time teachers nurses etc.

PileOfBooks · 04/10/2021 12:05

I am amazed at jobs that start high. I was an oxbridge student but still amazed as I went into teaching and my social circle was probably different. I would love to advise my kids well when it comes to it.

HopeHappy · 04/10/2021 12:06

Definitely a subjective topic. As has been mentioned elsewhere on a fuel thread, there is a high population density in the SE, so it's reasonable to suggest that a high percentage of people that comment on these threads live in the SE.

What comes with the higher salaries though tends to be the higher outgoings.

For example, to rent a bog standard 3 bed semi near me is £1,600 per month and that's not in a really nice area. Rental agencies will benchmark affordability at around 2.5 x the rent, so £4,000 per month of income. 2 people earning £30k a year would make that affordable, but that's the minimum round my way.

As for solicitors, it always surprises me that they don't earn more than they do! I recently looked at a firm of solicitors' accounts where the managing partner earned just over £100k and the other partners earned somewhere between £60-75k each. Considering the level of knowledge required and the recognised heavy workload, I'm not convinced that sounds like a good deal to me!

Sonarl · 04/10/2021 12:09

60/70/80/90K is very much a normal professional salary in the South East. Living expenses are way more though remember. Average houses are 5/6/7/800 K

Watchingyou2sleezes · 04/10/2021 12:10

I have tradespeople working for me on over £100k, they work on price work and are very good at what they do and consistently earn at those rates. Plenty of others hitting in between £60k-£80k. Some fields you just can't offer salaried roles because the only people interested in them are shit or older hands looking to wind down before retirement

I really do think some of you would be very surprised just how much money some people make in roles people look down their noses at

PileOfBooks · 04/10/2021 12:12

Sonar it isn't for nurses/teachers etc. You'd have to be a headteacher to earn that!

And you do realise lots of people live in the SE who will be earning far less... and must live somewhere. Just much smaller places than you call "average!"

It's amazing how blinkered we become when we just mix with "people like us."

Sonarl · 04/10/2021 12:13

They are self employed though right? Very different thing and running a business has different tax implications. the OP was talking about PAYE salary roles I think.

KaleJuicer · 04/10/2021 12:13

@Watchingyou2sleezes well said. My DC think they are winding me up by saying they'll skip university and become a tradesman of some description and I say I'd be delighted (and mean it).

Hexagonalblock · 04/10/2021 12:14

@julieca
Ok I’ll rephrase that; working in full time paid employment.

I was trying to include the fact that many people are working very hard but not getting paid (carers, SAHPs, etc).

ThorsLeftNut · 04/10/2021 12:16

I’m qualified, additional certificates in my field and I’ll never get more than £22k. It’s a joke.

Remember that next time your pets are under anaesthesia being monitored, recovered, cared for by someone only just meeting minimum wage.

YouTubeAddict · 04/10/2021 12:16

We’re on £31.5k and £40k with additional income of £12k. Seems fine to me.

tappitytaptap · 04/10/2021 12:22

@Milkbottlelegs

Not sure about lawyers but some senior managers in a big four outside of London would just about be making £100k including bonus. For most people that would be at least 4-6 years post qualified.
I think that’s pretty high tbh. I’m a big 4 new director (outside London) and it’s just about 6 figures full time excluding bonus. When I was a senior manager it was maybe 70-75k.
julieca · 04/10/2021 12:22

@Watchingyou2sleezes

I have tradespeople working for me on over £100k, they work on price work and are very good at what they do and consistently earn at those rates. Plenty of others hitting in between £60k-£80k. Some fields you just can't offer salaried roles because the only people interested in them are shit or older hands looking to wind down before retirement

I really do think some of you would be very surprised just how much money some people make in roles people look down their noses at

Why would I look down my noses at people in the trades? I know the people I hire to do work in my house will largely be making more money than me.
NotresDames · 04/10/2021 12:24

I certain rarely see jobs advertised for £60k or more (even 6 figures which I’ve read is what some people make!)

I think that's the point @Mamacita191!

Very few highly paid jobs are advertised unless they are in the public sector where they have to be advertised.

Most jobs paying 6 figures are often promotion within the company, or through networking, and contacts via Linkedin etc.

Both my Dcs who earn more than average were headhunted, via Linkedin or agencies, or promoted through their companies.

They also both very long hours- on balance no one earns 6-figures for doing a 9-5 job.

Friend's DC in banking in the City works 12 -15 hour days as routine.