Is 26.7k a good salary for a single person?

[Bethditto1]

Who lives on their own.. this is in the Civil Service, this is for a person with no children.
Based on 37 hours. I think it's quite poor, just curious to know what people think?

It depends on your needs.
If it meets them all, then you are doing ok.
It is only on MN that you need to be earning a certain salary by a certain age, or you have failed at life.

Look at reviews of the job online.
I know people who have done HMRC call centre and not enjoyed it at all.
But also a good few people who have used it as a foot in the door, even via agency, then applied for other stuff once there and worked their way up.

Salaries are not great compared to private sector but the flexi time is good, although not sure how much leeway you have with this if working on the phone lines.

I don't know what an AO is but a lot of office jobs only pay that or not much more.

It’s an entry level position and the other benefits are excellent, so it’s overall a good package. The fact that you are 35 and have a mortgage is irrelevant. It is likely to be a secure job with good progression options so if you can make the salary work I’d say it’s a good option.

What are AO and EO?

Admin officer and executive officer
As i said I dont get flexi leave
Please stop mentioning the pension, it isn't worth a low salary for me.
Progression is not that easy and it's very competitive. It's not often based on experience of performance whatsoever.

The fact that I have a mortgage is relevant. I am on the same salary as people in their early 20s who live at home and only have to pay a bit of keep.

It's pretty much the same pay as a hcsw in the nhs - though with the hcsw job depending on shifts you can bump your pay up with unsocial hours. Similar pension benefits.

I suppose both might be seen as "unskilled" jobs - yes I would disagree with this but I guess the point is most people with some training/experience could do it.

Yes, it's not far off minimum wage so no I don't think it's a great wage but we have a low wage economy sadly.

My dd works as a junior architect with a 1st class degree and earns significantly less than 26k. In fact I pointed out to her she was on less than minimum wage but when the NI changes happened the company folded so it was a moot point.

Ha ha only by claiming a lot of in work benefits.

So basically an organisation/company reducing their overheads by paying low wages, which the ordinary tax paying, who themselves are struggling, topping up their wage.

Its bad enough when its multi £ billion profit making Tesco etc but terrible when its a Govt department.

I work in civil service and was on an AO wage for a long time. Personally, I found that wage great considering the amount of work I put in.

I think if you can get a role within the right team then you are sorted. I had a lovely facilities role which meant helping people and pottering around the office carrying out cleaning audits. I was definitely overpaid for my role.

I’m now an EO, which I think is 33K if I was full time. Again, I definitely earn more than I should for the type of work I do.

I think you also need to weigh up the work life balance that you get with working for Civil service. There’s not many places where you can turn up 8,9,10 in the morning, take an hours lunch (or more) if needed, finish whenever you’ve had enough that day, attend all necessary appointments without anyone batting an eyelid. Maternity leave is amazing, sick leave is amazing. The perks are excellent.

We also seem to get a pay rise every year which is backdated in a nice lump sum.

You could try working your way up if you’d like a bit of extra cash.

Oh I’ve just seen you don’t get flexi leave and the other perks.

Can you apply for a different type of role within civil service that does come with those perks?

I don't think it's a terrible starting salary for the North East, when there should be opportunities for progression if you have ability/potential to work at higher grades. Unless you've got lots of extra skills that means you can get a higher paid job already somewhere else.

My DH joined at 40 in entry level but should move up quite quickly once has done the training as has past skills/experience.

Only you can decide if it's enough to live off. If you're getting better offers elsewhere then take those.

I agree with this. Civil service job applications snd interviews are the most bureaucratic and rigidly structured I have ever come across in the public sector. You have to master the specific skill of that particular interview style to progress. I once temped in a team who were desperate to promote their very competent AA but she just couldn’t get past the interview, which was done by a panel who did not know her or her work. She failed the interview each time promotion rounds came up.

I also agree with OP that EO jobs are very competitive. Those are the graduate entry jobs. It’s easier to get into the civil service if you have a specific skill they want, but general recruitment drives are very competitive.

Gosh! So many factors!!

*Depends on what you mean by 'good'
*Depends on what you value (money, job satisfaction, career growth, the specifics.of the role (helping others, service, giving etc..)
*Depends on what you are comparing to and what you define 'bad' salary as.
*Depends on whether you need a certain.amoumt of money ...

Personally, if I had no dependents and was living a peaceful happy life in the Highlands working in a coffee shop (my dream retirement job), then I'd feel a wage of maybe 20k was "good".and 15k was fine!

Right now, given my lifestyle and dependents and mortgage, balanced against a desire to work in a job that supports vulnerable people, I would consider about 65/70k "good" and 40k reasonable.

If I was Trump or Elon, I'd think your wage was shit to be honest.

It's all relative to what you want, what you value and what you need.

No it’s not much above minimum wage. I assume the benefits will be quite good such as pension

I don’t think it’s much. My daughter started on the graduate scheme last year at 31K. We are in London but I still don’t think it’s enough once you take rent into consideration. I guess if you have very low rent, then it may be ok.

The civil service is so hard to get into with so many hoops to jump through, it is amazing what low salaries they pay relative to that.

Ok, but you would be doing the same job as them? Pay for a particular job doesn’t (and shouldn’t) depend on your age or outgoings or living situation.

I’m confused about what you are asking. Obviously if you have the choice of a job paying double you should take that.

I’m a band 5 AHP in the NHS and only earn a few thousand more a year. But I have career progression opportunities and I love my job.

£14g ph for 37hrs. Not nmw but quite low

Yes I am doing the same job. But im asking is the salary sufficient for someone who lives alone and pays a mortgage to live on. If Iived with parents it would be a very good salary.

I am applying for other roles, if I get something higher it seems like I should go for it now. Other companies also offer wfh and flexi. Thanks for the replies it's appreciated.

You're welcome to find higher paying call centre work.

But I don't know what salary you're expecting for unqualified, entry level work? It's above minimum wage with full training.

Can you give me an example of an alternative job? Or whst job you think should pay minimum wage?

You aren't shackled to the civil service for life; you can use the experience to leave and work in the private sector.

@Bethditto1 what is your mortgage and monthly commitments e.g lease car, credit cards?

Of course not, it’s just above minimum wage.

No judgment here, I earn less than that as a self employed part time worker. But you must know it’s low.