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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What's a high flying salary ?

105 replies

Noangelbuthavingfun · 12/04/2026 19:52

For women... not men. Aibu to ask? I know it's a bit how long is a piece of string but just interested... my friends and I had wildly different views! Thanks for sharing and why if you can

OP posts:
childoftkty · 12/04/2026 20:00

Depends where in a career someone is so a newly qualified lawyer on £165k is high flying. Someone well into or at the peak of their career £250K upwards

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 12/04/2026 20:29

Agree with previous poster, very different for a 22 year old straight out of uni versus a 35 year old and then different again for a 45/ 50 year old

Noangelbuthavingfun · 12/04/2026 20:37

Let's assume it's top of your career ladder - you've peaked . More interested in a number than for this career x is high and for that career y is high

OP posts:
LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 12/04/2026 20:38

300k?

Noangelbuthavingfun · 12/04/2026 20:38

@childoftkty that's eye watering 😅

OP posts:
Noangelbuthavingfun · 12/04/2026 20:40

Wow @LiquoriceAllsorts2 that's a shed load. So my friends were right lol. What are you basing those numbers on people ?

OP posts:
DiddleyDeeDee · 12/04/2026 20:40

Ok well can only really consider your question in my own industry. Id expect women in the exec team are on 250k+

Itsmetheflamingo · 12/04/2026 20:40

£200k?

I earn nearly that much but do feel like I struggle. However I think an extra £60k would provide a good amount more per month to relax

JacquesHarlow · 12/04/2026 20:40

Noangelbuthavingfun · 12/04/2026 20:37

Let's assume it's top of your career ladder - you've peaked . More interested in a number than for this career x is high and for that career y is high

But WHAT career are you talking about, @Noangelbuthavingfun ?

in my sector, partners who are in on profit share can earn anything from £500,000 to £2,000,000 and upwards if you're in our City firms.

That's top of the career ladder - peaked.

Itsmetheflamingo · 12/04/2026 20:42

JacquesHarlow · 12/04/2026 20:40

But WHAT career are you talking about, @Noangelbuthavingfun ?

in my sector, partners who are in on profit share can earn anything from £500,000 to £2,000,000 and upwards if you're in our City firms.

That's top of the career ladder - peaked.

Does it matter? Presumably you wouldn’t suggest some who earns the lower end you mention, £500k is not “high flying” no matter what they do?

FunnyOrca · 12/04/2026 20:42

Wow, these responses are insane. I’d be impressed with anything over £100k

FKAT · 12/04/2026 20:42

A high flying career implies an eye watering salary though? I used to earn a six figure salary and wouldn't call my career high flying - solid middle management. High flying is big dick salary - £300k + plus bonus/equity.

Smallfeetbigflippers · 12/04/2026 20:43

£300k plus equity plus bonus in my industry.

DiddleyDeeDee · 12/04/2026 20:43

Basing these numbers on my knowledge of what people earn when they become directors, C suite etc and the industry I know detail of- Insurance. A head of department in my current company may be on 100-125k and I wouldnt class a female HOD to have peaked in her career yet. Many will go on to be directors and more. So add another 150k onto that in my opinion for a woman who is a high flyer and reached her career pinnacle, so i stand by my 250k

RS1987 · 12/04/2026 20:44

Male or female, the peak salary in my profession is around £250k

Nimonion · 12/04/2026 20:44

High flying is someone who doesn’t have to worry about money, so would be loads more than £100k (£5k a month) when if you want to borrow say £500k for a mortgage you’d be paying about £3k a month on that alone.

HollaHolla · 12/04/2026 20:45

Definitely in the wrong career. I've had to take a bit of a change, but I was doing really well in my professional services job in HE. I was on the top grade 10, so on £80k-ish. That's pretty much the top grade (although it goes to about £100k-ish), largely for folks who have at least a masters, but mostly PhD.
Cries in relative poor

lovealieinortwo · 12/04/2026 20:45

For a women I would say anything over 100k.

Contrary to what you read on Mns there are not millions of women earning this

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 12/04/2026 20:45

Noangelbuthavingfun · 12/04/2026 20:40

Wow @LiquoriceAllsorts2 that's a shed load. So my friends were right lol. What are you basing those numbers on people ?

I would expect to be high flying to after tax to be able to afford the mortgage on a large house in a good area, private school fees for a couple kids, a few luxury holidays, running a couple of pretty nice cars and days out, meals out, nice clothes. I would think at least 15k take home per month is needed for that if not more

PizzaInTheBath · 12/04/2026 20:46

Another vote for 100k+ - I'm in the north and don't work in the private sector - context is important I'd say.

FKAT · 12/04/2026 20:46

There aren't millions of women in high flying careers though.
High flying has a meaning that people seem to be overlooking here! It's unusual and rare to earn this salary.

missmollygreen · 12/04/2026 20:47

Itsmetheflamingo · 12/04/2026 20:40

£200k?

I earn nearly that much but do feel like I struggle. However I think an extra £60k would provide a good amount more per month to relax

If you struggle on 200k then an extra 60k wont help. The problem is not the money

TeenLifeMum · 12/04/2026 20:47

In my world high flying would be £100k and above. £250k would be “really high flying”. Not sure I’d want the level of responsibility that comes with just kind of pay though and lots of mnetters on £100k seem to struggle to make ends meet whereas I’m fairly comfortable on £60k 🤷🏻‍♀️

Nitgel · 12/04/2026 20:47

There should be a maximum wage

lovealieinortwo · 12/04/2026 20:48

FKAT · 12/04/2026 20:46

There aren't millions of women in high flying careers though.
High flying has a meaning that people seem to be overlooking here! It's unusual and rare to earn this salary.

Exactly, I think only 200k women earning over 100k.