To think salary is very low for this job ad

[Jobseeker0]

FTC job ad I just came across has a salary of £25,063 based in Kings Cross

I get that it’s a junior role but is it just me who thinks 25k is very low for this London based role? It’s really getting me down as I have a degree and a few years experience including placement year but most jobs I see pay very little and are still extremely competitive to land. I’m fighting for jobs that will barely cover my essential bills, and will require me to get a second job.

“We’re seeking a coordinator to support the successful delivery of multidisciplinary projects at the (x), working closely with project, delivery, finance, and discipline leads in a fast-paced, agile, and collaborative environment. Ideal for an early-career professional or graduate eager to develop new skills, this role focuses on overseeing project-level requirements, aligning processes, managing delivery tools, and coordinating resourcing and financial aspects of successful project delivery.

Key responsibilities

Manage and coordinate project delivery with cross-functional teams across various disciplines.
Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet established goals.
Working with the project team to ensure focus on the quality of outputs and how the work we do best reflects the values of the (x).
Actively engage in continuous improvement initiatives, including retrospectives and delivery team meetings.
Coordinate meetings and manage project resources.
Develop and maintain collaborative and positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders through effective communication and engagement.
Provide clear monitoring and reporting to clients when required, covering project-level deliverables and key performance indicators.
Monitor effectiveness across project work-streams and provide administrative support as needed.
Perform financial tracking, budgeting, and reforecasting activities.
Encourage agile ways of working and efficiencies across the (x).
Other ad hoc duties as required.
Provide backup support for Business Support when they are on leave, such as handling receptionist duties.”

Seems to be quite a long list of responsibilities too…
(I’m a struggling job seeker so appreciate I’m no expert)

I'm not sure this is as true as it used to be. DS met up with some school mates at Christmas. A couple of them were on graduate schemes with the Big Four. They were paid around £35k - so about 5k more than him, but doing 60 weeks regularly. He worked out they earned less than him and had no quality of life, no energy to enjoy London in their twenties.

I think you sound like you’re in a position to to take a step back to go forward. If I’m gathering correctly you want to go into project management- software development? If so a project coordinator role may be a good stepping stone. But while you are doing that you’re going to also want to work on some certifications PMP as an example or BA certifications, Scrum master are some other options.

You are right that at 3 years you need to be making the next step. Can you use you friend network for potential job opportunities?

Shockingly low, for anywhere

That is shocking OP!

I have re-entered the job market having had my career years ago, and was self-employed until recently. I am 55. After looking at everything in line with my background and education (educated to masters level with post qualifying awards in my discipline) I decided, fuck that. I am not being paid a pittance for huge roles that will bring mega stress. I now have a wee part time job, minimum wage, which I generally love. I'd far rather that than getting £3 odd more an hour for a job spec the length of my arm and all the working round the clock, stress, etc beyond work.

I am fortunate that I have planned for another income stream in 2026, so my part time job is fine enough, but I feel for new graduates today. It really is a tedious situation in the UK just now.

....and play the piano for the Friday meeting.
It's bloody shocking & everywhere. It's pennies above minimum wage which is hard enough to live on anywhere but I imagine is virtually impossible in London.

Exactly I was earning £20k in the north in 2006 not doing exactly a hard job.
Times have moved on and everything is so expensive.
Due to family commitments I am earning only 4k more per annum in a basic band 2 role in the NHS as I was 20 years ago!

My firat London job after graduation paid £12k. But that was in 1986. It would be worth £45k today. My dd will graduate soon and yes, I worry for her.

Incidentally, I'm not earning very much more than £45k now. My glorious career.

@Addictedtohotbathsdidnt the government just scrap salary sacrifice for pensions?

Mine was £17k… 7 years ago!

I was on 17k in a similar role,so no,I don't.

I don’t think so, we use them at work

That's normal. Im in a completely unrelated profession and earn around the same difference between me with 25 years experience and an inexperienced junior.

I earned that about 30 years ago in low base finance job. This was before the NMW and I believe that NMW has screwed wages down to low levels that no longer provide a reasonable wage to live on.
Since the inception of the NMW it's become necessary for some people to have to claim housing benefit and other benefits to provide a basic living standard. All funded by the taxpayer and continues to be, so effectively subsidising employers, not really benefiting the affected employees.
Consequently we have had a race to the bottom with wages as the taxpayer will fund everything else required. This also has a knock on effect that those employees are not able to contribute as much paye and nic because their wages are too low.

It's no wonder that our public services are constantly underfunded and overstretched. 😏

Salaries are shockingly low for graduates atm! DS1 needed a filler job for a year before starting a legal traineeship. Got a paralegal post paying minimum wage. He would earn more in Tesco. He took the paralegal position for the experience. He’s living at home so it’s doable but his gf & him want to get a place together soon. Realistically they’ll have to wait till he starts his traineeship. This is in Scotland, how on earth do you live on mw in London/SE?

Yanbu. I was looking at ~£20k London entry level roles when I graduated nearly 25 years ago. That’s very low.

You shouldn't need a degree to do an admin job.

This is precisely the point I was trying to make to a previous poser who was outraged at the rising benefits bill. I was earning £30k in a middling LEA position before I retired 20 years ago. Given inflation £25k terrible wage for a graduate - although the promise that graduates earn higher salaries was not true for either of my DC. I hope you find something better soon

Salaries in the UK are generally shit. DH doubled his salary just by moving to the US, same job, same company. We live in an expensive city but we are still WAY better off. We are semi seriously looking at moving back because of politics but higher end pay for my job in the UK seems to be about £60k and my current mid band salary is twice that… and yeah, I pay for healthcare but taxes are lower so my net pay is still at least double. And the healthcare I do get is high quality and doesn’t have a wait list…

You’re not imagining it, pay and quality of life in the UK are not great.

YANBU. It’s appalling that anyone can be paid that wage for full time work when the cost of living is so high. I was paid more than that for my first job 15 years ago and based in the north! Minimum wage should be at least 30k by now.

It’s 4am and I’ve been up all night applying for jobs. I have LinkedIn premium so can see the amount of applicants, and so many very low paid jobs in London are still getting 500+ applications 🫠

I know not all applicants will have tailored CVs, and maybe some who require sponsorship will still apply… but even when you factor the less desirable applicants in it’s still way too competitive. Chances of recruiter even looking at my application is low

& then when you consider we’re fighting for salaries that barely covers essential bills. God help you if an unexpected cost comes up… at least in prison food, shelter and warmth are guaranteed lol

Absolutely this. As a parent in London I am a couple of years off retirement but am accommodating three adult DC who are working/saving and need me to house them to help them get anywhere in life.

That is a shocking salary for central London. Not as bad if it can be negotiated to be fully remote to help young graduates still at home.
Agree also with PP that the benefits culture is so disincentivising. My eldest at home at 27 says the only people from her class at school who have their own place are the two women who had babies and live on benefits. Everyone else is in shared flats or still at home.

Also. The highest earner amongst my 27 year old graduate’s peers is the one who works in a pub. No qualifications but worked her way up to events management and gets good perks and tips.
I actually dissuaded my younger two from taking a degree and it’s worked out well. One did an apprenticeship and was kept on. One just took a local job and has worked their way up. They earn about the same as the graduate and without the debt.

It's an absolute joke of an ad. Avoid like the plague. Being undervalued doesn't do your mental health any good either.

I agree, it’s paltry. I live in London too. It’s about £28-30K for an admin role in the ‘burbs and they want a lot from you.

In 2001 pre-kids (in a grad job, in a not particularly well-paid industry) I was earning around £20K.
I worry for DC - they’re early 20s. DD did a useless degree and is now fannyyng about trying to upskill and doing retail on the side. She wouldn’t listen re doing a more academic type degree (she’s very clever but couldn’t see it for herself so chose something she had a modicum of talent in but not enough to succeed commercially imho). ATM she’s living at home and thinking she’ll move out in a year!!
DS is in his final uni year doing a v academic degree - he’ll probably get a first - he would’ve walked in to a job 20 years ago but now I don’t know what will happen. He’s not applying for grad schemes now as he’s just about coping with his course in terms of stress management (his MH isn’t great) so he’ll have to look when he graduates. He’ll be coming home too.

I agree, it’s paltry. I live in London too. It’s about £28-30K for an admin role in the ‘burbs and they want a lot from you.

In 2001 pre-kids (in a grad job, in a not particularly well-paid industry) I was earning around £20K.
I worry for DC - they’re early 20s. DD did a useless degree and is now fannyyng about trying to upskill and doing retail on the side. She wouldn’t listen re doing a more academic type degree (she’s very clever but couldn’t see it for herself so chose something she had a modicum of talent in but not enough to succeed commercially imho). ATM she’s living at home and thinking she’ll move out in a year!!
DS is in his final uni year doing a v academic degree - he’ll probably get a first - he would’ve walked in to a job 20 years ago but now I don’t know what will happen. He’s not applying for grad schemes now as he’s just about coping with his course in terms of stress management (his MH isn’t great) so he’ll have to look when he graduates. He’ll be coming home too.