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AIBU?

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Original poster

Low earner

110 replies

Mondaymanic · 16/04/2022 02:10

What do you consider to be a low earner?
I was always content enough with my pay, always would prefer more of course Grin but generally not feeling hard done by.

Lately I've learned most my friends earn far more than me and consider my pay very low but I'm conscious their view might be skewed. I earn around 27k no children and partner earns the same. Of course I know this isn't amazing pay but is it not decent?
I love North in a v cheap area if that helps

OP posts:
Chely · 16/04/2022 09:51

I'd say only earning minimum wage.
When I 1st started working at 18 I didn't earn enough to pay tax on 37.5hrs work a week. That made me a low earner but I still lived at my parents so felt pretty well off.

wonkygorgeous · 16/04/2022 09:56

I think pay is a number much like age.

Can you afford to heat your home?
Can you afford to eat well (sensibly)?
Can you afford your bills without worrying?
Do you save a little?
Do you have some form holiday at least once a year?
Can you afford transport?
If you have children can you afford to clothe and feed them sensibly without worrying?

If yes, then you have enough.

More won't make you happier, but more will give you and your family different opportunities.

If no, and I suspect many in todays economy might answer no, then it isn't enough.

isthisit83 · 16/04/2022 09:56

@GooglyEyeballs

54k household income is pretty good. No different from than a family where one person earns a 54k salary and would be considered a high earner and the other person doesn't work or is a SAMP.
I slightly disagree with this! As a joint income household benefits from TWO peoples tax-free allowance.
sweepeep · 16/04/2022 10:04

@GooglyEyeballs
54k household income is pretty good. No different from than a family where one person earns a 54k salary and would be considered a high earner and the other person doesn't work or is a SAMP.

54k would be a take home of approx 3300
2 x 27k is a take home of approx 3700

Lovetheseaside778 · 16/04/2022 10:17

I live in Wales and the highest I've ever earnt was £1500/month as admin in a college. In my present admin role I've just gone up to £10.05/hr from £9.30. I'm a graduate but have never earnt much, just used to it now, there just aren't many opportunities.

NotQuiteUsual · 16/04/2022 10:18

Our household income is around 28k with three kids, no mortgage. It's very comfortable. Ok so we're not jetting off abroad every year or wearing designer clothes. But we don't want for anything.

Kingharoldshairstyle · 16/04/2022 10:19

[quote sweepeep]@GooglyEyeballs
54k household income is pretty good. No different from than a family where one person earns a 54k salary and would be considered a high earner and the other person doesn't work or is a SAMP.

54k would be a take home of approx 3300
2 x 27k is a take home of approx 3700 [/quote]
54k as the single family income would not be considered high by most unless you earn much less.

NotQuiteUsual · 16/04/2022 10:20

Hit post too soon! Having the chance to be mortgage free so early, really highlighted how the cost of housing is just too much. On the same earnings when we rented we couldn't afford heating or school shoes. It was awful.

Itsaslothslife · 16/04/2022 10:26

Single and in a bit less than £27,000. It's alright.

I bought my flat ten years ago which massively helped, I can't afford the prices they go for now.

DarkDarkNight · 16/04/2022 10:29

I would say that is average rather than low. I earn around £28000 and it is a good wage for me as I left a job where I earned £22000 and it didn’t last the whole month.

I still feel like I’m not well off compared to other people as I’m a single parent and most people I know have 2 incomes coming in and are splitting the cost of mortgage and bills. I’m scared about the cost of living and having just bought my first house dreading the next few years really Sad

OutlookStalking · 16/04/2022 10:33

@Kingharoldshairstyle well as most people earn much less then it will be considered high by most wont it!!!

TerraNovaTwo · 16/04/2022 10:34

There are so many variables.

Plenty of couples/families earn that or higher and live off HP and to impress other people. Many are also more comfortable on the same wage as you, but are buffered by the bank of mum and dad/inheritances. And there are those who are high earners with little to no work life balance.

IMO, a low income is when you earn below the national median and have no other recourse to financial support in the medium to long term, no property or large assets or and if you have those they have sinking costs.

SisterCellophane · 16/04/2022 10:37

I earn less than you in London (so an expensive area) if that makes you feel better? My partner earns more tbh so the household income is probably similar... I would consider less than 20k a low paying job. 20-40k a very broad middle range, 40-50k "well paid" but wouldn't quite call a high earner, 50k plus as "high earners"

MidnightMeltdown · 16/04/2022 10:39

When I was growing up, the advice was that you're doing ok if you're earn your age.

So if you're 27 then you should be on about 27k. If you're 40, then you should be in 40k etc. This was a few years ago though, so you probably need to earn a bit more now to account for inflation.

However, it's still the case salary should be judged according to age.

OutlookStalking · 16/04/2022 10:42

Hmmmm. Most 50 year old teachers won't be on 50k!!! Or nurses. Some will (heads etc) but most won't. Lota of jobs won't reach those kind of numbers .

FrownedUpon · 16/04/2022 10:49

It is a low salary in my view.

Autumn42 · 16/04/2022 10:59

I would say low earner is less than 25k for full time job

MidnightMeltdown · 16/04/2022 11:34

@OutlookStalking

Hmmmm. Most 50 year old teachers won't be on 50k!!! Or nurses. Some will (heads etc) but most won't. Lota of jobs won't reach those kind of numbers .
Not sure about teachers, but it's possible for experienced nurses to earn over 50k
Autumn42 · 16/04/2022 11:46

@MidnightMeltdown - your taking about nurses in senior management, not shop floor band 5-6 ward nurses, even if they have got 30 years experience the most they’ll be on is 39k and that would be for a very experienced deputy ward sister

Dairymilk50 · 16/04/2022 12:54

@MidnightMeltdown no nurses even long standing won't be earning 50k. Most nurses cut their hours down too as they get older as ots a physical job. A lot of nurses remain at Band 5 and may possibly move to Band 6 but even then it won't be 50k.

Teachers have a much better chance of earning that over a nurse.

Fjdowkrialkakvk · 16/04/2022 13:51

I'm 30, work in healthcare and paid hourly but I earn roughly 23k a year based on 42 hours a week. Consider myself a low earner. I'm lucky to even get this wage as a HCA though.
Friends my age all seem to be on minimum 30k.
Low is very dependent, but I guess minimum wage is obviously low

Fjdowkrialkakvk · 16/04/2022 13:56

SLT will probably reach 50k. HODs 40s maybe. Headteachers closer to 60k

countdowntonap · 16/04/2022 14:15

@Fjdowkrialkakvk Don’t know whether that’s in reference to Secondary school, but Subject/Faculty directors are paid up to £50000 at my place, with SLT starting on about £9000 more than that.

SlashBeef · 16/04/2022 14:21

I think it changes depending on your perspective. When I met DH he was on like £16k and I remember thinking anything over 20k would be a fortune! When he got his promotion to 26k it felt like a dream but our outgoings just kinda adjusted so its normal now and he's looking forward to moving up again ASAP!

ZerotwoZero · 16/04/2022 14:22

@MidnightMeltdown

When I was growing up, the advice was that you're doing ok if you're earn your age.

So if you're 27 then you should be on about 27k. If you're 40, then you should be in 40k etc. This was a few years ago though, so you probably need to earn a bit more now to account for inflation.

However, it's still the case salary should be judged according to age.

May be that advice was given in a time people generally stayed in the same job for life. But now days jobs are very undependable and alot of us have career changes through life. I changed careers completely in my 40s by your reconning my starting salary in a new career should be 40k plus I don't think so.