to ask what the "stereotypical 6 figure MN mum" does?

[TigerJoy]

And how can the rest of us get a job like that?!

I work in something financial. High income but you don’t just get this job. You need professional qualifications, experience and hard work.

No fancy schools but worked my way up and along.

Of course it’s not just about hard work but you do need to put in the hours and effort to get to a certain level. And skills.

@WeAreBorg thank you! Normally women are called out as liars or shot down in flames for being successful on here.

A lot of AI tech coming through in my industry but I hope to see out the next few years as a people manager and I think I'm good at it. I'm coaching and training a brilliant team to the next level on a lot of daily logical calls that they have to make, so far that hasn't been a skill that's enabled by AI.

Ok i thought it was a general ask hence my answer
Ok ,so I’m health could earn more privately but I don’t . Partner is corporate with a bonus
We have wrap round childcare, work a lot, kids in nursery and prepschool. Partner travels if needed to

Big 4 who work in London don’t get a car allowance. You don’t need a car to work in London. They have the option to use their before tax income to put towards a car on a lease scheme but they don’t get a car allowance. Their bonus will also not exceed 10%. Most sit between 3-7%

I last discussed it this week. It’s there to see on fishbowl or glassdoor at any time if you want to check it out.

Absolute minimum for an NHS consultant is £93,666
https://www.nhsemployers.org/system/files/2023-08/Pay%20and%20Conditions%20Circular%20%28MD%29%204-2023%20FINAL_0.pdf

But yeah, I don’t know many people earning more than that (definitely not me!)

Oops sorry, that was supposed to be a quote tweet re OP’s comment of NHS consultant earning £85K

I earn about that FTE but it has been a slog. Did work experience in the summers at school instead of having fun, STEM degree I didn't really enjoy, again worked during the summers, then straight onto one of the top engineering graduate schemes and was really tactical about seeing where the growing fields were and getting experience in them. I now work as a senior manager, the same salary is probably a head of role for a traditional engineering company.

I've come from a privileged background and it has been a battle anyway. I've been held back by sexism at points, I've repeatedly worked longer than my hours, and I'm seriously wondering whether to stop fighting and just chuck it all in for a job where i don't need to deal with people management or budgets. I only graduated ten years ago and I've spent over 2 years of it on maternity.

Don't assume just because work is well paid it's worth it. There's a lot to be said for work you can leave at the door.

Are you in the Big4 advisory in London? Because you don’t seem to have a clue what the managers and SMs get paid. The car allowance is a cash sum given which can be used on benefits but most take it as cash. Bonuses in advisory at manager level are 15-20%, and get progressively higher (30-40% at director level). The bonus %s you’ve referenced look like they might be for audit or tax, and not advisory.

Ditto.....and school was basic comp and left with CSE's. Very proud of where I am and feel a good role model for my DD's....in finance

Spoiler - I am one!!

You're referencing benefits allowance. Benefits allowance isn’t a car allowance. They’re different.

Directors don’t get over 20% bonus… whoever is feeding you these lines is lying through their teeth.

Ms and SMs do not get 15-20% bonuses and Ds most definitely do not get 30-40%, try 10-15% instead.

I earn 6 figures in TV production. Worked hard and long hours all through 20s and 30’s, took 2 x 4 month maternity leaves, DH gave up work to be at home caregiver when DDs were babies. Did a lot of overseas travel. Missed out on some early years events, but as I got more senior, I had more control of my hours and was around more as DDs hit upper teens which was a good thing. I always found TV production fascinating, but recognise it is not a career when you can leave at 6pm. You don’t really need specific qualifications or have gone to the right school, you need to have the right skill set and find the genre and job interesting. I don’t believe it is who you know, but being in the right place at the right time and with the right attitude.

Multitasking on boring meeting at the moment if anyone is wondering.

Love that a six figure earner is managing to sneak onto Mumsnet during a meeting to explain six figure salary!

Nope - I get a car allowance that I’m allowed to take as cash if I don’t want to take a company car. It’s not a benefits allowance, it’s called a car allowance. Never had it as anything else.

and I’m a director and get 30% bonus - with 15% uplift to 45% dependent on performance.

I’m sorry but I don’t believe you work at the Big4, in advisory, in London.

Your figures are WAY out. Our directors are not on 10% bonus lol. That would need to be a disastrous performance year and it would be followed by a lot jumping ship to A&M.

The car allowance is what everyone calls the benefits allowance.

Well I clearly need to change Big4!

The PP who mentioned supportive partner is spot on.

We have 3 DCs. I went back to work FT after each having had short maternity leaves each time - shortest 4 weeks, longest 3 months.

When DC3 was born DH became SAHP. He took on the full domestic role and has done it far better than I could. Left to me the DCs would have had to live on what the cat could catch.

I'm mid 50s now. Looking back at my career I had various stages where I lacked confidence and as a result didn't make the progression as early as I could have.

Casual sexism has had its part to play. In industry I still see the assumption that a woman with children will be less interested in her career whereas a man with children is assumed to be more interested in his career.

I'm too stupid and useless to ever earn that kind of money, sadly. I do envy women who can though, I wish I were like them.

You can choose to believe whatever you want to believe but the figures I’m quoting are spot on - clearly we’re not all the same

Actuary. I definitely worked harder at (state) school and university than my peers did and the professional exams were brutal.

Fundamentally the easiest route to a high salary as an employee is to do something which clearly generates money for your employer. Everyone I know on high salaries has a role where they can put a clear monetary value on the work they do.

I completely agree that half the battle is support at home. The whole family have made sacrifices to support my career and the reality is that I spend less time with my kids than I know many others would be comfortable with.

I am now mid-40s with a lot of experience behind me, over the years I have actively sought to develop my skills and develop a work persona that I can see fits the needs of my organisation, and that has helped me to progress

You refuse to confirm that:

a) you work in advisory and not audit/tax
b) you work in London

So I’ll leave you to it.

I work in advisory (not audit or tax) in London - happy now?

You need to change jobs.

Speak to a recruiter.

You’re being taken for a ride. I had no idea that there were pockets of Big4 advisory that were so poorly paid.

I don't think most people appreciate the vast difference in intelligence between many higher and lower earners unfortunately - it's just a fact of life.

A friend of mine has two late teens who managed to get almost all nines at GCSE level without doing much revision. Yes they went to a top private school, which obviously gave them confidence, but they are just on another level compared to most young adults, and will probably walk into high earning jobs.

I grew up with a lot of privately educated people, but they weren't like this - they've got the confidence, but most have ended up being moderately successful running their own businesses.

I’m pretty glad I came across this post in all fairness as neither did I and I haven’t had my head in the sand about it.

I had no idea it’s as bad as you’re saying. You’re definitely on the better side of this than I am!

Also, I’ve never had a moment mum guilt at working or FT nursery etc. don’t indulge that affectation.
plus,never ever have I seen a male quizzed is he guilty or bereft at having kids in FT nursery
Also I worked all way through Covid 14 hours days and we were short staffed as other staff got Covid or were off.
However I feel a sense of purpose I’m vocationally fulfilled
Have a supportive partner and wrap round childcare,