To feel I am not doing as well in my career as I hoped for

[Whyty]

I was looking at my career path and was thinking that I am not doing as well in my career as I hoped for 5 years ago.
I have two degrees Bachelor's and Masters. Over 10 years of work experience in IT. Have been working in public sector for several years now. My first salary was £35k and 10 years later I have only managed to reach £65k and a good pension. I am in a senior role with responsibilities.
I haven't changed many jobs through my career and prefer working in public sector for good work life balance. I am early 30s and I honestly feel I was hoping for earning more by this time when I look back. AIBU to feel sad about this.

I'm afraid I agree with @Doyoumind

Even a poor public sector pension is generally far, far better than any private sector pension you could enrol in now. The maternity benefits - as you've pointed out - among other benefits are generally better. Working hours are often shorter and the security is way better than private sector.

Certainly not saying you can't earn more in the private sector but you're really not comparing apples with apples when quoting your salary. You can probably add a good 25% to the figure in terms of what the benefits are really worth.

Blimey what's the problem? You have job satisfaction, no commute, good pension, great wage! Relax and enjoy it!

Masters funded by employer.

£65 in early 30s is a good salary by most people standards so seems an odd complaint.

Agree with public sector comments. No one works in a public sector to be rich. Go to the private sector to raise it. But you will potentially be missing out on family friendly benefits if you are TTC soon.

@lemonyellows yes I am staying in the role as there is good mat leave policy and I do like my role but I think I can earn more.

Jesus wept.

The only people on that in our LA are HT's and Service managers running large departments. Its a pretty good public sector salary.

That was likely equivalent of… >£10k including study time

You have to add the cost of your Masters to your £65K. It is considered post-tax earnings, so more than its actual cost.

This is just a numbers game. Properly cost what you and dh earn not just in terms of basic pay but also benefits (particularly civil service pension and the cost of your masters and also things like annual leave and sick pay, post tax). I don't think you are doing that badly in terms of pay.

You know what you need to do to earn more. You can double your pay like your dh by becoming a contractor.

Not sure what you hope to get out of this thread. Well done, you are doing alright there.

If your dh earns double, your household income is £195K. You are TTC with good maternity benefits.

He has the riskier job, but yours is safely state-guaranteed and for that you trade off in terms of actual salary but your benefits are great and you have an easy commute and meaningful job.

Erm, isn't this perfect? So you want high pay as well. Okaaaay.

You need to reframe it.

Earnings are not the only indicator of success. You have a job that pays well, close to your home and has a good benefits package especially as you are tycoon.

You say 65k doesn’t go as far as it used to. It’s doesn’t. But it’s still a good wage and pretending it isn’t is really weird. Also, if you are ttc soon, I assume there’s a partner? So you aren’t even living on only 65k wage.

You have prioritised other things instead of career progression. It’s an active choice. So how can you be disappointed? Unless you assumed that you can make these choices and people would had over ever increasing pay rises?

First, I think you are doing really well. From £35k to £65k in 10 years is impressive. Especially as you haven't moved much. The people I know who get big salary hikes are the ones who jump job every 1-2 years within an industry for better pay, benefits, seniority and upskilling. If they like a job they apply for a similar job at higher salary elsewhere then bring the new offer to the employer and ask them to match it.

But you like the public sector, where this technique doesn't apply. You like the stability,m the work life balance, the maternity conditions. Don;t undervalue these. They are all worth a fortune in peace of mind, state of mind, health and mental health.

I'd be proud if I was you.

Don’t underestimate the importance of work life balance, short commute and meaningful work. I took a huge pay cut to get these things. We need to redefine success.

Thanks for all your responses. Helps to get a perspective

I'd give my right arm for £65k at 35 in a public service job 10 minutes from home.

I'm 45 on £35k in a public sector job 1hr from home.

Stop thinking your glass is half empty. You're doing cracking when most of us aren't.

What does your partner earn and what has his or her earning trajectory been?

I think you're doing really well! I have a bsc and msc too but make <40k. I sometimes wish I'd done something else as a career as I feel like I'm stagnating a bit (been at current level 10 years, but they refuse to give me a promotion)

So you enjoy generous maternity package and have a tiny commute and a job you enjoy, and probably a generous pension with early retirement options and tax free lump sum. You need to look at every aspect, not just the gross pay!

I wonder how much extra you'd have to be making in the private sector to account for the pension differences. I bet it's far more than you think.

It would have to be a huge amount more.

From the Financial Times:

The average cost of all UK public sector pensions for 2021 is 63 per cent of the salaries. Some of this is paid by employee contributions, averaging 8 per cent, leaving the balance — 55 per cent of salary — to be paid by taxpayers. (This financial year, to April 2022, the percentage cost will be even higher).

https://www.ft.com/content/9d9b03d0-55ff-4e2a-8ec7-2caab0a89381

I knew this was going to be someone on a high salary complaining that they don't earn enough

If you are only looking at current salary as an indication of how well you are doing, especially as you are not changing and upscaling jobs for the last 10 years, what have you achieved in your career. Are you now managing people, on track to become director. Why are you still where you are?

If you want more money you need to move elsewhere, if you want career progression, you need to actively look for opportunities.

Sounds like the current job is on your doorstep and easy

You have clearly prioritised other things over money (and sounds like they're the right things). If you're TTC and already thinking about mat leave then you're likely stuck with your convenient flexible role for another 5 years!

Maybe better to look at cutting outgoings if cash is feeling tight?

The choices you have made have driven your situation- and the benefits you have in pension/ location/ funding of masters( plus time to study?) and work life balance- oh and what about job security? Redundancies( on poor terms) v common in tech……..
cost out your blessings.

£65k in your early 30's in the Midlands sounds like you are doing well to me! Is the issue that you hope to be on £100k by now?