AIBU to think that 30K is a low salary for a 30 year old?

[username1992]

Am I being unreasonable to think that 30K is a low salary for a 30 year old?

Just that really. I'm 30 years old. Working as a commercial support assistant in construction. Earning 30K a year.

I think it’s all relative. Where do you live? What level of qualification do you have, how long/experience in your job role?

Agree completely

if you lived in Cornwall that would be a good salary, but no so much in the City of London.

Salaries in other industries such as oil and gas may be a bit higher than construction.

You'll never have enough money

@sst1234 Thank you. Finally someone with a lick of sense. UK salaries are absurdly low. I bang on about this each time the subject comes up. The UK has such slave wages and just accept it. There’s a local national trust place near me and they want £40,000 for their head of finance and business relationships position. Another role with them is to manage one of their venues full time and it’s only £25,000. That’s a coworking space, cafe, and a lounge in one space. That’s absolutely bat shit.

But I guess people will just doff their caps and say thank you for their pittances as they race to bottom. And they will also elbow you to keep your mouth shut and not complain too much. Must be grateful for the scraps you get, you know.

What does your job entail - admin assistant?

What are your qualifications?

Commercial support assistant read admin support to me so actually I think it's quite a high wage although it all depends on your location and average pay for similar roles on your industry.

I am in my 40's and my role whilst not admin is heavily admin based and I am on 26k. Am also a manager.

But I live in the Midlands where earnings are lower and an industry that is lower paid.

It’s not great, but ok if you have opportunities for promotion & wage increases over the next few years.

Where do you live?
If London then yes.

Surely it depends on your level of education and the responsibility you have at work?

Your job title doesn't mean anything to me, so it could be a graduate job or simply an admin job.

As a comparison, someone in teaching after 3 or 4 years at uni would be on the sort of salary £30K after a few years (outside of London).

What level of education do you have?

Magbe. Maybe not. Depends on your outlook.

I am mid 30s and a few years back I left my £50K job for a £35K job and yes I have less money but I’m happier, don’t think about work when I log off and have more spare time. So yes I may be paid less than some others my age, if that’s what’s important, but my life has improved drastically and so I don’t give the money a thought.

commercial support assistant

Admin?

Entering things onto spreadsheets? Invoices? Tracking orders? Phoning clients?

What do you do?

We’re arts postgrads in our house so that’s pretty much what we earn (on a good year) but we love our jobs. And we live in the north.

I'm in a professional job. I have a postgraduate specific qualification for my job. I've worked in the sector for 11 years. My salary is £26k. Underpaid for what we do, the perception of what we do is skewed too. I'm a librarian within education in Scotland. So it depends on sector, area etc etc

Oh and I am 37.

Which SW valley? Prices are booming in the one I’m in.

Look at the job you are doing and compare it to others advertised and this will help you work your answer.

If you want to earn more you may need to change career or change sector.

I dont think questions like this are very fair. It surely depends on the industry, the location, the responsibility, the need.
It would be a low wage for a programmer or lawyer. A decent wage for a hairdresser or carer.

I’m 49 and earn £26,500. I used to earn over 3 times that but what I’m doing at the moment suits my life just now and I do have some money coming on from another source (excluding DH’s wage). I have a lot of flexibility and a level of responsibility that I’m comfortable with - the importance of this outways the need for extra money just now (though that may change in the future). I used to be the primary earner, it’s DH’s turn for the time being.

I agree with this. Also midlands based and work for the NHS. Admin in the NHS is band 2-4. Mostly band 2's earning no more than £20k.

A similar role to what yours sounds like (business support assistant) within the NHS is between £25-31k.

It's more than I've ever earnt and I'm 37!

Think too many factors here . My DS is 32 and salary nudging higher rate.
DD (35) an International Teacher 👩‍🏫 salary & package into 3 figures sterling.

I used to say if you’re earning your age, you’re doing ok.

but If you’re ambitious, it’s not a limit, absolutely go for it.

be proud of yourself, many families manage on less than this.

BTW, I just double checked and it was actually a private corporation not a national trust but that makes the salaries even worse in my opinion.

If you’re interested in computers, retrain in information security! You’ll never be out of a job!