Jealous that younger friends is more successful

[DinoDann]

I'm sure I'm being unreasonable but need some perspective. I'm 29, 1 child. I went to uni, did BSc and MSc, I live in London, make around 60k.
One of my close friends is 24, works in the creative industries, and has just been offered a management/leadership role, making 82k a year, plus bonuses she will be on 6 figures. She never went to uni etc. She will admit that she partially has luck to thank and that her position is very rare for her age.
It makes me irrationally jealous that I studied for 4 years, and will be making less than her!!

AIBU to be jealous?

You’re doing so well, it will do you no good to compare. Plenty of people have worked just has hard as you and are worse off.

focus on your own success and happiness

Her success takes nothing from you though?

One of my brothers was kicked out of school during A levels for smoking weed. Worked in retail, factories, did some temping. Got sacked constantly.

Must have learnt on the job in one of them and has found his niche in the years since though still no qualifications bar crummy GCSEs. I don’t know exactly what he does now but it’s in tech sales and he earns more than your mate and literally does almost no work at all. When I FaceTime him during the day he’s washing his car, sunbathing, just back from the gym. Seemingly, what he does do is valuable enough to his employer, he gets huge bonuses.

He’s been incredibly lucky and I’m genuinely happy for him. Some people work hard. Some people are jammy. Some are both.

Yes, you are being unreasonable. I'm often unreasonable for exactly the same reason as well.
As someone else has said, comparison is the thief of joy. I'm sure your younger friend looks at you and perhaps wishes she had the degrees you have and other things in your life that aren't in hers.

Yeah life is like that. You have to shrug your shoulders and get on with it. You probably have some aspects to your life which others would be envious of. The right to vote or drive, your sight etc. Money doesn't solve everything.

I certainly wouldn't feel bad. Your salary is great for your age. How do you know how much your friend is earning? Did she tell you? It seems an awful lot for her age. Could she be exaggerating? I can't imagine many manager roles at that age. I'm nearly 10 years older than you, working in London and earn 40k. I'm pretty happy with that! I don't get why friends discuss salaries.