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AIBU?

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Original poster

If you attended private/grammar school, what is your job role and salary?

539 replies

Z3lda · 31/10/2021 08:24

Extremely nosey I know and obviously no one is obliged to share. But I'm just intrigued as it seems many are quite desperate to get their children into the best private or grammar school, but I just wondered what kind of jobs and salaries students from these schools go on to actually have? I know that education provides children with far more than just a path to a specific job and salary, but I do think many send their children to these schools for this reason.

OP posts:
Campervan69 · 31/10/2021 08:41

I went to private school and was one of the poorer children there. All the children of very wealthy parents had a rung up on the ladder already as their parents had friends in high places who were able to give them internships etc. So they have all capitalised on their wealthy start whereas the friends I have from more normal backgrounds are like me fairly well off in decent level salaries but nothing spectacular. But also none of us were particularly driven to achieve that level.

Frazzled2207 · 31/10/2021 08:41

Early 40s dh- close to six figures working in an anyalyst role in IT.

However he’s very academic and I don’t know think he’s done well just because he went to grammar school. He would have done anyway.

Early 40s me - c45k but I took several years off my career to focus on my children. I went to a private school and have several school friends who did extremely well in various careers. And others who went to become teachers etc (obvs that’s great too but not financially in most cases!)

However what strikes me about all the people I know who’ve done very well in life is although their school was probably part of it, they all had very supportive parents who in different ways helped them do well at school.

RumHoney · 31/10/2021 08:44

State grammar, in house lawyer (not London). High 5 figures, possibly nudging 6 depending on bonus.

ZenNudist · 31/10/2021 08:44

I've got friends and family who went to grammar school and are not on stellar salaries.

I went private and am doing OK but that's not my school thats because I chose accounting as a career.

I have colleagues who didn't go to private or grammar and even ones who didn't go to uni (we have a small school leaver programme) and they do very well. To get 6 figures you have to get to director or partner.

So I say it's not the school but the job you choose and how hard you work.

KeyboardWorriers · 31/10/2021 08:44

Went to a bog standard comp. Got into a top university and was awarded a first class degree. Earn c£70k (could earn a lot more in my profession but have chosen to work in public sector as it is flexible hours around children and very fulfilling)

Itsnotgreatlike · 31/10/2021 08:45

I went to grammar school. I don't earn big money. Partly because school knocked all my confidence out of me and it has taken 30 years to recover. Partly because salaries are fairly low where I live.

Kitkat151 · 31/10/2021 08:46

@KeyboardWorriers

Went to a bog standard comp. Got into a top university and was awarded a first class degree. Earn c£70k (could earn a lot more in my profession but have chosen to work in public sector as it is flexible hours around children and very fulfilling)
Good for you....except not what OP is asking
Seashor · 31/10/2021 08:48

Local comp for myself and my husband. He’s a lecturer and I teach. Private education for one of our children , he owns his own business and earns more than my salary in three months. Second child very academic at comp but has her head screwed on.
There’s so much more to it than where you went to school. I see it in children every day, some just have a ‘drive’ and you can see that they will succeed through grit and determination. Others just have no idea that they are wasting their talents. These are the frustrating ones.

Ginger1982 · 31/10/2021 08:48

38 and went to private secondary school. Lawyer on £37k but only because I've chosen a certain path. If I'd stayed in the area I trained in I'd be on a lot more but miserable.

KeyboardWorriers · 31/10/2021 08:49

@Kitkat151 I know it isn't. But, as others have pointed out, surely better to look at the picture in totality

Footprintsonthemoon1 · 31/10/2021 08:52

Not me but one of best friends and her sister went to a private girls school, one is a chartered accountant running her own firm on big bucks and friend is a solicitor on 40k+

lastqueenofscotland · 31/10/2021 08:52

Im a QS I do consultancy stuff so pay varies… but it’s more than comfortable

Trisolaris · 31/10/2021 08:53

State grammar 55k plus bonus. I’m 34 and in HR

lastqueenofscotland · 31/10/2021 08:53

I know people from school making literally millions working in banks/cooperate law. I also know people working in retail.

biscuitsnotbaby · 31/10/2021 08:53

It depends whether we’re talking private or public schools.

The GDST must produce half the female academics, medics, scientists and engineers in England.

Whereas many public schools produce often quite indifferent A Level results and entry into second rank universities, but very high salaries in the City, land management, media and marketing.

Stste school outperformers always make their way onto this thread but don’t realise they’re exceptional.

shylatte · 31/10/2021 08:53

I went to both secondary modern and grammar. Those at "the top" of the SM (who were mostly quite wealthy incidentally) have become teachers and nurses, and they are the exception rather than the rule. At the grammar the norm was to go into medicine, law, pharmacy, engineering. There was a massive difference between the two schools (even though the SM was a "good" one) both in terms of teachers expectations and student aspiration.

Nutsaremynemesis · 31/10/2021 08:54

Public school, bunch of wankers. I got expelled and told I’d “amount to nothing”.

I now earn 6 figures for my part time job (science based PhD, niche technical job). Early 40s. My education did not factor in what I achieved: it was determination to escape my upbringing that got me here - someone I know who has fostered over 100 children once told me that the children of negligent and abusive poorer people end up in foster care and the children of negligent and abusive wealthier people end up in boarding school. In my case he was right.

My children are at local primary / comp and are thriving.

freeandfierce · 31/10/2021 08:56

Early 50's, I'm a teacher and dept lead £34k, my sister went on to be an aeronautical engineer but is now a police officer in Australia (she's older than me). Not sure of her salary.

Howshouldibehave · 31/10/2021 08:56

[quote Bluecheck679]@Asking4Advice I'm always intrigued by teacher salaries on this board. I'm a teacher (6 years qualified) and I'm on £41k. Are you newly qualified or is this a common salary? I'm in Scotland and we have set scales, I'm at the top of the main scale now.[/quote]
English pay scales for teachers are easily available online if you wanted to search.

Pay doesn’t rise incrementally up the pay spine automatically, so if the school has no cash, you won’t necessarily move up to the next. Pay isn’t portable either so if you’re unhappy in a school and wish to move, the new school doesn’t have to pay you the point you were on before.

wallowmall · 31/10/2021 08:57

DB works in a MC law firm. the vast vast majority who are partners & earn 1-2m a yr went to private schools.

Ariela · 31/10/2021 08:57

Grammar. Average salary for responsibility (did have much higher per kids)

Interestingly, my friend went to grammar with me, and aged 30 ended up in a job on the same pay scale as someone that did the same course as she was going to (but didn't as her parents couldn't afford 2 of them to go) but she was managerial with responsibility for budget and masses of staff, he was more technical in role but didn't have the responsibilities. He completed his course 2 years before she would have.

PushyGalore · 31/10/2021 08:57

Consultant Surgeon
45 years old
80 hours a week NHS and private
£250k

Scoutingformygirls · 31/10/2021 08:57

Of family, friends and acquaintances I can be very sure there is no evidence that selective education = higher salary at all. Sadly the biggest factor in high income from those that I know is being male 🙄 and one of the greatest negative factors in lifestyle and security is being left holding the kids by your cheating or unkind husband!

2 of the most financially enviable people I know have next to no qualifications from rubbish comps with disinterested parental input. A couple of the most highly educated people I know, with stellar qualifications, are no advert for those big bucks city careers. One is unemployed after years of crying about the pressure of it all, having spent years not having hobbies or making it to social events. The other hates hates hates her job and would love to do something else but feels completely trapped by the salary.

I went to lots of different schools. Many of the friends I made at a private school are not doing v much at all work wise. Some have really interesting careers in creative fields but a huge number are SAHM or have general office based roles. Friends from a rather uninspiring comp are in the civil service, nursing, teaching and medicine. No huge salaries but dependable income with pensions.

In our sibling set it's the DHs that are the higher earners, regardless of where they went to school.

wallowmall · 31/10/2021 08:59

80 hours a week NHS and private
£250k

How on earth do you sustain 80 hours? Does the bulk of your salary come from the NHS or private work?

Bum1 · 31/10/2021 08:59

I'm relatively poorly paid (50k)

Only on Mumsnet...

I went to a grammar school but am one of @Seashor 's 'bright but not driven' contingent.

Grit is fine if you want a heart attack in your fifties. Talents are for enjoying, not wringing out like an old sock in pursuit of £££.