To ask how you've reached a high salary? 50k+

[Redvelvetdreams1]

I'm on 29.5k which is the most I've ever earned in my life, and I'm 34. I have a degree and a PGCE but here we are.
I'm never going to be a millionaire, but I just don't feel like I'll ever know what it's like to be well off. I live alone too but fortunately only have myself to support.

I'm an EO in the Civil service, which i hate. I'm not trying to be rich, but I'd just love to have a comfortable salary and be able to save comfortably, go on proper holidays and not just a £19.99 ryanair flight (I know I'm lucky to even do that) afford to learn to drive, and just know what it's like to not have to check my bank account daily and count every penny.

However I know this is the reality for most people. Maybe I can go back to teaching and try to make it up to SLT, but school behaviour is horrendous these days which is why I left.

I'm just feeling a bit lost. I know I'm lucky to even have a job, but without sounding arrogant I considered myself as intelligent, I gained qualifications, can speak other languages and a lot of people my age are earning quite a bit more than me.
Just interested to hear anyone's stories and any advice on where to go from here.

Top range teacher (around 6-9 years experience) with a TLR and you'll be around 50k. Head of English, Maths or Science can earn circa 60k.

Plenty of opportunity to earn more in the civil service, and to change roles / departments. I started off an an EO on 16k back then, now on 67k as a G7. More than I ever expected to earn, though not huge compared to where I live so i’m not well off due to high housing and single income. But planning to head north next year when youngest goes to uni where my money will go further. Also have built up a very nice pension, God willing I am here to enjoy it.

Not helpful info here based on what you've said about school, but I got to 50k by working my way through the pay scales in teaching, then took on a TLR to join the SLT without being a dept or HOD.

When I said about the Ryanair flight, I was able to afford to fly abroad for one night for £19.99 and stay with a relative for free. That was my last holiday, it's just an example.

What about the foreign office? My ex is a diplomat, earns a lot more than I do and has seen the world

Thanks for your swift replies. I've only been an EO for 2 months, not sure I'd yet be experienced enough to be a HEO? Maybe I could go back to teaching.
I used to do supply teaching but with having the mortgage now I can't afford to not be in something stable.

70k lawyer. 5 years qualified.

some industries pay better and usually that is the private sector!

Where are you in the Civil Service? Are you definitely looking to leave? There's usually lots of promotion opportunities- could you look for a sideways move to another department or function? I was an EO equivalent from 2004 to 2015 and am now a Grade 7, but I moved from an ALB to a dept with more promotion opportunities.

what about teaching in an international school. Behaviour is generally good and lots of opportunities to travel.

HMRC. I'm in the 'CTU' if that means anything to you, and I really dislike it. Micromanaged to a tee.

I'll keep looking, hopefully something will come up, thanks.

I earn almost 70k same age as you. Started working in contact centres straight from uni. Did all the crappy jobs noone wanted (complaints, escalations,) worked my way up to team management, department management. Had a child took a year out.

Then came back and side stepped into sales team manager, after 2 years became head of sales.

All in all that trajectory has taken me 10 years (I had a few jobbing about roles after uni) so 24-34

@Zanatdy how do you earn £67k as grade 7, that's usually grade 6, what department are you in? @Redvelvetdreams1 don't give up, there's are lots of opportunities in the CS, Take advantage of free training, apply by for apprenticeships, be strategic about where you want to get to and speak to those who have got there. Join a network, volunteer, ask your boss for development opportunities

Thanks for the suggestion of abroad, atm I'm looking to stay here as I recently bought a home and my partner is here.
I don't want to look like a job hopper but maybe sometimes it's necessary. Sorry I know I probably sound a bit entitled, I just feel like I've got myself in this position and could have done better.

Work for a large company where you can progress and there are good pay increases
eta move jobs every 2-3 years

Some departments are like that, others aren’t. Doesn’t happen in my teams, that’s why we have an amazing retention rate as they never leave.

The Home Office (London zone). It’s just gone up by 5k in the recent pay rise.

Mine have taken on 500 in November and want to take on another 500 in March, that should say it all. 🤔

in the civil service its a case of bidding time and applying for multiple positions internally and bouncing up the scales. Using expressions of interest and the framework.

I'm in a niche role and am one of the few in my team without a PhD.

I concentrated on industries where there’s a lot of room for progression at every stage of my working life as I gain ever more knowledge and experience, and have actively sought out new stretch opportunities to get that experience and knowledge in all my roles. I also approached (and still approach) my career with the attitude that I have to fundamentally have some level of liking for what I do; but that it’s also just what I do to afford the lifestyle I want - I’ve never had the view that I need to do work which deeply fulfils me, or gives me a sense of purpose, or makes a difference to the world: that’s what I do in the rest of the life my work pays for.

If you have experience and skills gained in a CS role then you can absolutely take those elsewhere and apply them to another sector or industry, even if you’re only currently on a low pay grade. I did a year with the CS towards the beginning of my career and found the hierarchy stifling - this attitude that you had to move in a particularly way through the “ranks” regardless of your actual attributes and specialisms as a purely process driven approach. Not sure if it’s still that way, but it certainly didn’t strike me as lending itself to progression on your own terms.

Honestly if salary is your primary objective I would say aim for private sector work. Outside of some top pay scale jobs in NHS and civil service public sector pay is worse.

Could do do private tutoring?

Shift work, unsociable hours enhancemts make a huge difference to salary.
In social care.

I'm top of the teaching main scale in Scotland. £50K.

https://www.eis.org.uk/pay-and-conditions-of-service/salary-scales

I'm happy to leave the Civil service. I know people say flexi, pension etc and it is really good but salary is my main objective atm. It sounds daft but where do people find these jobs externally? I only know Indeed or TES

I'm 53 and achieved it by not leaving my job. We get annual pay review and if you stay long enough you get well paid.

This is the way to do it if you're not in a profession with an obvious career trajectory, like law. Start with a post school or university job, show your value in each role and work your way up the ladder. You can do that in the CS I assume. I have a good albeit non-vocational degree, but I am in my 75k role now due to starting at the bottom at 20k after finishing my degree and doing a very good job in each rung of the ladder so they kept promoting in me. Happy to stay where I am now!