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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you have a wage/income that would shock people?

796 replies

Newmumatlast · 27/02/2023 20:40

Inspired by the tipping hairdresser thread, and a post on there about people having no idea what some people earn with an anecdote about a London cabbie earning twice what his nurse wife did.

I just wondered if anyone does a job where people would actually be shocked to know their true earnings based on stereotype- either way. For example cleaner earning loads or lawyer earning very little.

OP posts:
Scottishgirl85 · 28/02/2023 18:53

My husband and I earn £250k ish and I don't think anyone would know by looking at us on the school run. We're both in science/pharma. People are therefore surprised if they come by our house, it is worth a lot but otherwise we are a very modest family.

macbooks · 28/02/2023 18:54

When I was 23, I got a job paying £29k a year. I felt loaded, but ended up getting my own place/car/bills etc so the money doesn’t go far. But when I lived with my parents, it was a shockingly high salary compared to my peers

Lmonaid · 28/02/2023 18:54

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the user's request

Cerrifiedlovergirl · 28/02/2023 18:57

ElephantInTheBoxRoom · 28/02/2023 06:30

That’s so cool, how did you get into that line of work? Any specific qualifications?

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It's a subject matter I specialised in for my thesis during undergrad then worked in broadly and got more niche with my following two Masters and work experience. It was a very small aspect of my engineering work think less than 1% of the work that i know do specifically to help clients in all sectors.

I did freelance work for a lot of companies when I had my child and couldn't work full time and it grew from there.

I have great qualifications and varied experience across 4 continents so that is helpful. I think the most helpful thing is also being able to distill hundreds of pages of UK/EU env policy and apply it & ensure clients are adhering to it.

I know my engineering would probably pay more but my disability prevents me from being on site and continuing that aspect of my career so happy I managed to segue into this and the pay is decent even at a relatively jnr level, considering I only got my first formal job in this field less than 2 years ago (excluding the freelance work which i did for almost 3 years).

hookiewookie29 · 28/02/2023 19:00

Looforapoo · 27/02/2023 21:12

I’m a childminder, people often assume I’m rolling in it because of the high childcare costs in this country. In reality, I’m barely scraping by

Same here! £11,000 last year after expenses.....😬

LightReader · 28/02/2023 19:04

Managing a small number of software engineering teams in Scotland pays me around £100k + bonus + pension + private healthcare. I hire software engineers with some experience for about £50k and more experienced ones for about £60k-£70k basic + benefits. Also hire juniors with 2 years experience for around £40k. Hope this is useful. Also Glassdoor is useful for checking what companies pay for different roles.

Mudgarden · 28/02/2023 19:04

ashamedmum007 · 28/02/2023 10:02

48% of nurses are band 5, alot are band 5 for the entire career, at band 5 the maximum basic pay is £33k regardless of if the have 4 or 40 years experience. Some can earn higher, but there arent enough roles in those banding for every nurses to progress. They arent spinning you a tale, they ae telling you about the experience of basically 50% of nurses, and without those nurses, the NHS would crumble.

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That’s a useful perspective, thank you.

WaggyTailsWetNoses · 28/02/2023 19:05

sydneysunset · 28/02/2023 14:17

A friend is a partner in a magic circle firm
& earns quite a bit less than £150k, which surprised me

I think your friend might be telling you porkies, given NQ’s are all starting on 100K+ in Magic and Silver Circle firms now!

Average equity partner salary is 1.5M + in all the MC forms now.

Also, she’s contractually obliged not to disclose her drawings.

outdooryone · 28/02/2023 19:05

I'm Chief Operating Officer.
Of a charity.
While I think my salary is good, it would likely be double if I was in a profit making company.

SoCrossAboutThis · 28/02/2023 19:06

McHelenz · 27/02/2023 22:12

Just had a look at the agenda for change pay scales and to earn 50k you need to be a band 8a. So to say you're not experienced is a downright lie when you're either exaggerating your wage or you're a modern matron.

I'm a band 7 and earn just over 40.

I know nhs staff top of band 6 who work a lot of nights who are on 50k plus with unsocial hours.

Biilie82 · 28/02/2023 19:12

AnuSTart · 27/02/2023 23:12

We both earn around £5k take home each a month (I'm on slightly higher) and the parents and teachers at school treat us like crap because we 'look scruffy ' and they think us poor. And actually we out-earn everyone there.
Funny..

How on earth do you know how much everyone around you earns? Maybe they avoid you because of your attitude?

Scotland32 · 28/02/2023 19:16

Not 100% relevant to your exact question but a freelancer I employ for £30 per hour drives a Tesla. None of my business how she affords it plus her home, bills, kids etc etc (she is a single mum so no other half with an income and no large divorce payout cos she has never been married) but I do someones wonder….!

Snappyfrog · 28/02/2023 19:16

Switchwitch · 27/02/2023 21:53

Cash in hand work also means many don't accrue their NI stamps/pension if they don't sort out their finances early enough.

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Hate this stereotype of the tradesman tax dodger. Presumably too thick to employ an accountant or understand pensions.

Hasn’t anyone out of the industry heard of CIS? Tradesmen subcontracting for companies get taxed at source. And those that don’t are no more likely to tax dodge than any other self employed profession.

DuvetDownn · 28/02/2023 19:16

This is a very interesting thread as it makes me realise that apart from my DC I don’t know what any of my family or friends earn.

Sue2704 · 28/02/2023 19:20

Maybe agency nurse. They earn a lot more don’t they?

Mudgarden · 28/02/2023 19:21

ElephantInTheBoxRoom · 28/02/2023 05:59

That’s hilarious - how come you don’t just tell MIL the truth about your salaries? I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to hold back if she kept banging on at me to get another job!

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TBH I think DH wouldn’t want his family to know how low his income is. He does what he does for good reasons that are very personal. Besides I think MIL just would not be able to take it all on board! My job isn’t something she could understand in her world, she can only just understand women going out to work at all when they have kids. So a part time, local, “little” job is all she can get her head round!

CrazyLadie · 28/02/2023 19:21

Hotpotter · 27/02/2023 20:51

Not so much based on my job title, I do a bit of a mixed role (project management/IT delivery), more around people’s perception of me I think. I’ve had friend’s/acquaintances send me links to jobs paying £25-£40k when I currently earn £68k.

25-40 is incredibly low for PM / IT work 😵

Mummyofmaniacs · 28/02/2023 19:22

Neither a boaster nor a whiner be.
Yes I will get flamed for this 🙄but it is tasteless to brag about money, ( usually an indication that you have a need to emphasise to others that you are better than you feel you appear ) as equally to whinge about having peanuts ( asking for a handout?)
Just dont, dont discuss your earnings - it is TACKY
unless you are on a golf course, touting for business....

Bubble08080 · 28/02/2023 19:23

I teach group exercise classes like Bodypump, Spin, Yoga etc… I teach mainly on an employed basis at a large chain gym.. my hourly rate is £16 for Bodypump & pilates. self employed instructors get £20 for Bodypump.. This rate hasn’t changed in 20 years! Anyone that has taken part in Bodypump will know these classes take a lot of preparation & physical & mental energy to teach. There used to be an excess of Instructors available which is why I think the rate has stayed the same for so long.. However, many Instructors are now giving up teaching as the rate is so low!
It’s also a lifestyle choice.. I teach 15 to 20 of various different classes & have to eat properly, sleep & train in the gym & at home myself to stay fit enough to teach that many classes every week.

Thirtyandflailing · 28/02/2023 19:23

Not me but Dh in and out of prison when younger, got his first job as a labourer 4.5 years ago worked his way up and now manages a nuclear site and earns 118k pa, I don’t think anybody would think with his past he’d ever earn that much! I think having a disabled child have him the kick up the arse he needed lol

luckystarg · 28/02/2023 19:24

DH is a teacher who also does tutoring, his total income is £120k pa
i work in finance and earn the same but don’t work long hours.

I do think people we know are aware we have money because we go on extravagant holidays but both our cars are 16 years old and we refuse to get new things.

CrazyLadie · 28/02/2023 19:24

Newmumatlast · 27/02/2023 20:57

I think in the UK we don't talk about income enough for people to know whats fair/what they should expect and so people are generally clueless. While we don't necessarily want our friends to know exactly what we earn this sort of illustrates that

Show quote history

Aye totally, for instance when I got my job I was told I would have less responsibilities than the guy who did the role before me and thus got lower wage, fast forward 3 years and not only do I do everything he did I do a whole load more, like 75-100% more. Got a new boss waiting to see what pay rise I am given this year and then I am asking for the dame wage as predecessor and a stipen to reflect the additional duties and if they say no, I have chosen a course I want to do to change my career path 😊

DixonD · 28/02/2023 19:24

I know a few millionaire tree surgeons.

DixonD · 28/02/2023 19:25

I should add they do own their businesses!

labitee · 28/02/2023 19:25

£3345.60 PA. £69.70 for a minimum 35hr week. Can earn up to £132.00 extra per week after insurance, NI and tax as long as you are available for the min 35 hrs a week. So, could be up to circa 11k. Carers allowance in the UK. This also affects any other benefits you may be eligible for.