Would you class £32,000 as a good salary?

[Poshpuppy]

I know there are so many variables. For a 21 year old living at home it's probably a very good salary!
For a single parent who owns a home maybe not.

For me, I'm 35 and I don't feel this is a good salary for me. I'm in the Civil Service, I have a degree and master's, it's my own fault for possibly doing qualifications that haven't led to anything higher paid/more specific.
I'm an EO/Executive Officer grade which is junior. There are not many HEO/Higher Officer grades that don't require very niche experience or line management, there are also few fewer HEOs than AOs or EOs so competition is tough.

I'm looking outwards at the local council, third sector and private sector. I know money isn't everything but when you have things to pay for and any chance of saving then it does help. I think I'd feel comfortable on closer to 40k, whether this will happen is another matter.

Of course there will be people on under 30k who manage perfectly fine, it's all relative. Just wondered what anyone thought!

@Poshpuppy to save money could you maybe move in with your parents?

I’m nhs band 4 and on just over 30k. It’s a very generous salary in my view. I feel quite flushed.

I am a couple of years older and also live in the NW. For someone with no education, it is probably average and wouldn't be too bad, but it is on the low side for someone who has graduated with a masters (I am assuming over 10 years ago?) As you say, somewhere closer to 40k or above 40k would be more comfortable and appropriate and you should aim higher.

The NHS should pay more IMO, especially for nurses , they definitely deserve so much more.

Not in this economy! I earn 46k and don't feel this gets me the lifestyle it should. However, if I go for a promotion I hit the higher rate of tax and then I'm working for the taxman.

I’m also an EO in the North West on £32k and consider it about average. I’m not particularly ambitious though and I’m quite happy cruising along at this grade for a while. I find the job very easy, not stressful and enjoy the flexibility. For me that’s worth more than a higher wage so for now I’m not interested in applying for HEO roles. Maybe when my kids are older I’ll be more interested in my career.

I don't think the degree and masters is relevant unless it is pertinent to your role really. If it isn't why not look for a job where it is? (If you want more money).

You can progress in the civil service to higher grades if you’re ambitious however it’s a fair bit of work. It sounds like you’ve been quite passive, and also are only looking at roles in your immediate team / department.

Sign up to civil service job alerts so you’re getting notified of every HO role coming up in your geographical area. Seek a mentor within your department to help you with the application and interview process. Talk to your manager about what additional experience you need to demonstrate you’ve got HO level skills and take on stretching work to develop those. Consider what type of HO role you want and work towards that. Question why you’re automatically ruling out roles that involve line management.

If your colleagues are happy at EO grade then good for them. If you want to progress that’s fine too but you have to work for it in the civil service.

That isn't far off my starting salary after a Masters when I was 21 (19 years ago!), so no it is not great.

I've just looked at 153 HEO roles and they pretty much all went essential or desirable criteria i do not meet. I look every week, in every department.

Of course there will be people on under 30k who manage perfectly fine, it's all relative. Just wondered what anyone thought!

People are not paid a salary on their living accommodation and circumstances - they are paid to do a job, its not relative to whether a person lives in a house share or lives with their spouse.

EO is an entry level grade, so I think the salary is very good for the level of responsibility. There are absolutely loads of HEO roles in the Civil Service. For an existing CS there are literally hundreds of HEO vacancies currently live on CS jobs. Some will include line management responsibilities - if you want to get paid more you have to take on more responsibilities but HEO is still a junior grade. It sounds less about your qualifications and more about a lack of drive to put yourself forward for more senior roles? This is coming from a 35 year old grade 6 civil servant, with no relevant qualifications and who didn’t start my career until the age of 26.

There's no lack of drive.
I have been rejected for numerous heo roles. When they specific line management experience on the essential criteria and I don't have that, it's quite obvious im not going to get shortlisted.

It sounds like your skill set might be quite limited so the salary may be appropriate? Perhaps you could explore a secondment to expand it?

OP, you mention that you own a flat (but get no income on it) and that you rent a home with your partner. Between you both you can afford your life, but not all the extra luxuries. You are thinking of starting a family.

I'd say CS seems excellent for maternity/kid years due to the flexibility. Honestly, once you're a parent flexi work is worth a LOT in terms of lifestyle and stress levels. Also the hours. The job security. The pension.

Perhaps look at other departments before throwing away the benefits you have there? Remember moving jobs means losing some entitlement to things like maternity pay (or enhanced mat pay) etc. so keeping continuity of employment is important to consider if you're planning a baby soon.

Can you live in the flat you own and therefore not pay rent? if not, can you sell the flat and then perhaps invest the ££ so you derive some extra income from either interest/dividends/stock increases?

Which is over a decade ago and no longer an option.

Hence ridiculous.

'I'm in the Civil Service,'

20% Pension makes it a lot better. I looked this bit up 'index-linked defined benefit scheme (primarily the Alpha scheme) offering guaranteed retirement income based on career average earnings.'

That like gold dust I would not let that go at least get some years in

Plus 30 days holidays after 5 years

Factor in chances of promotion it is very difficult to get in the civil service and surely you have more chance with CS experience

Some companies still offer 20 days.

And I know people in local government who, if they do over their 37 hours a week, can 'accrue' extra holiday like a long weekend every month.
Unbelievable.

What exactly is your job?
If you are not getting experience for a higher exec role then of course it won't be an option.

Does your manager at the moment not know you want to progress and suggest how that may happen?

How can you get your essential or desirable criteria? Do you need training/courses? Would work look into this for you?

Alternatively try to apply for jobs outside CS, it’ll be harder but you may get lucky.

That should come up in appraisals or 1-1s.

Could you get a mentor?

If was 22 living at my mom’s house in the Midlands and it was a starting salary I would think it was ok.'

Mom -are you American?

I have a masters, I'm HEO level and it's still the lowest wage ive had in years. But I love the job. LA's pay more for the same level but the security & pension swing it for me. I also think they're a really family friendly employer.

@Poshpuppy It's a good number of years since I took early retirement from the Civil Service and your current salary is about what I was on when I retired, but when I was working, the grades had scaled salaries - so most staff started at the bottom of the scale for the Grade they were and then moved up the scale every year they were still in that grade. Is that no longer the case?

If it is still the case, what is the maximum (i.e. top of the payscale) for the grade you have just been promoted to and how long will it take you to get there? It's worth looking at that in conjunction with the Alpha Pension. That is still a defined benefit pension scheme, even if it is not so good as earlier civil service pension schemes, because it is based on your career average and will be guaranteed when you come to retire and will be revalued every year you work there by the CPI in each year. So it is still better than many other kinds of pensions out there!

I wouldn't be too quick to jump ship and find something else, until you have weighed up everything. I know you don't want to think too much about pensions just now, but if you don't consider it, you could have a nasty shock when retirement finally comes around.