to ask if you think this salary is reasonable or am I being greedy?

[bkyegres]

I qualified as a solicitor in 2016, so I’m around 7 years pqe. I’m paid 62k in Bham, commercial rather than private client work. I’ve only just paid off my student loan last year and honestly I feel like the firm are taking the piss… all the studying and expense feels ridiculous to be seven years on and barely over 50k. Obviously I know what some other firms pay and I can look into it further with recruiters but I am starting to wonder if you have to join a new company for any decent pay these days?! I could have skipped uni and worked my way up to this salary by now so it all seems a bit pointless.

Well you get paid more than any standard teacher, nurse or Doctor with degrees and postgraduates for teachers and doctors at the same age so maybe yes YABU

I’m sure you can get higher elsewhere but you should be aware that people who didn’t go to uni and are earning £62k in their 30s are certainly not the norm.

I was a criminal solicitor for quite a few years before changing. I qualified in 1992. The salaries advertised are similar to those 30 years ago ! I wish Id never have bothered and just done what I do now - property

Unless its a top city firm the salaries are rubbish

It's way more than I ever earned as a teacher.

62k is barely over 50k? On what planet?
I have no idea how much so,icitors normally earn. I do know 62k (or even 50k) is more than I e ever earned as a teacher. Semi retired now, but have 33 years of experience and have been a head of a core subject. Degree and post grad needed, so plenty of studying involved (the No expense as I’m old).

Well you’re being dramatic on two counts, 62k is obviously significantly more than ‘barely over 50k’ and it’s unlikely you would have made your way to 60+k in the midlands by ‘working your way up’ with no qualifications.

If you think you’re so underpaid then you’re free to move firms. Not all areas of law are as high earning as others.

You think 62k is rubbish? Wow.

I'm a solicitor of similar pqe to you and earn quite a lot more than that (also outside of London). Will depend on practice area, type of firm, the market etc though... maybe worth a chat with a recruiter to see what's realistic in your area?

You can earn more than that in other areas plus you could consider commuting elsewhere since most jobs will be hybrid.

Tell me about it! I'm a teacher of 14 years with an MA in Education, a post grad certificate and a mandatory post grad diploma for my educational field and I get £45k. Still got around £10k of my student loans to pay 🙈

Can you ask your company for a raise? If you say other companies would pay more for someone of your experience, would they be willing to pay more rather than risk losing you?

I could have skipped uni and worked my way up to this salary by now so it all seems a bit pointless.

In what role could you have entered at entry level and be on £60k plus in this time frame?

If you think you can do better elsewhere then move. Or ask for a raise, but be prepared to walk if they say no.

I really think people who complain about their earnings when they're paid significantly more than the average person in the UK are completely tone deaf.

(And no, this isn't jealousy. I run my own business so earn good money. But I'm self aware enough to realise I'm more fortunate than a lot of people and to not moan about it!).

You don't climb the scale without moving.

I assume this is non-partner salary. It will be low for London but regional salaries are lower though even then it does seem a little low to be on 62K for 7 year pqe, more akin to starting pay at recent years' ridiculous pay inflation for NQs.

You generally have to switch jobs to get a pay increase. Are you able to take clients with you? If so, you can negotiate for higher. At 7y pqe, you are at the slightly difficult stage where you will be relatively expensive to hire unless you are taken on with a view to partnership.

Check Robert Walters Salary Survey to benchmark your pay. I believe you have to register to get a copy. It is a long time since I consulted it and it may just be London but these days, I would expect to also cover the regions.

Lots of solicitors on mn and someone will come along with advice on B'ham market.

surely it’s common knowledge that moving jobs is the fastest way for your salary to increase? Obv not too much or it’ll look shit on your cv

It's shit because salaries haven't gone anywhere in the last decade plus. It's about 45k in 2010 which isn't particularly high & now your paying more tax.

Well I qualified as a nurse 30 years ago, and get just over half what you earn, and I'm in London.. yes you are being greedy. HTH.

But because others earn less you will be told you're unreasonable.

Nah. Frankly, who cares if it IS greedy? You making less doesn’t improve the standard of living for your neighbour.

I’ve been a teacher over 10 years, I’m on £37k and nowhere near paying off my student loan.

Is this some sort of brag? I don't understand it. Nobody can tell you how pay rises work in your firm and you say commercial work but you've not been anymore specific.

I'm a solicitor and my experience is that you do have to move for a payrise or at least have a job offer.

I'd be intrigued to know which job pays £62k after 7 years. And £12k over £50k is a lot more than 'just £50k'.

No idea why so many teachers think their salary is really relevant. Odd.

"Barely over 50k" as if 50k is minimum wage 😂😂😂

I do think that in general UK salaries are low. And I don’t think YABU. If I were you I would chat to some recruiters and see what you could realistically get elsewhere.

Ok - so I know NQ solicitors get paid substantially more than that in the city. You should move on.