How has your pay fluctuated since becoming a mum?

[ICE50]

Just wondered how your salary has fluctuated since becoming a mum.

In 2006, I took a career break and left a generous package of £45K. DC were 5 and 3.

In 2010, I returned to work on £18K.

I'm only now back on £45K after requalifying. DC are now 18 and 16.

I wouldn't change a thing with the benefit of hindsight and I know how lucky I was to be able to take some time out of the workplace but I was definitely naive to think I could walk back into a similarly earning role.

I'd be interested to hear your personal experiences.

Had DS at 19
Went to uni at 20
On 22k at 24
Had DD at 26 took 9mths and went back pt.
Had DD2 at 27 and left job.
Returned to work aged 31 on 18k
Promoted at 33 on 30k then again age 35 to 47k.

Have negotiated family friendly hours so can't see me moving from this post until DD2 is much older.

Before my DS I was on 24,000 and then £40,000 basic with loads of benefits. I was made redundant and had to drop to 16,000. I soon fell pregnant and now ewrn 14,000 a year and can't see that changing any time soon due to me being a lone parent

My salary is c£50k but I'm stuck at middle manager level as I have no flexibility right now at all, as a lone parent with little support. I suspect if I hadn't have had children I might be able to earn more but it is a choice I made and would not change.

I took a small career break when my marriage broke down from a job earning around £37k. Went back to slightly lower salary for a year or so and then had a series of interim contracts, leading to my current role. I think I have been very lucky.

Left in 2012 on £28k

Returned in 2018 on €40k (£35/36k) it will go up approx 2k per year for the next 20+ years

2008: £18k - had DD1
2009: £12k - took local role and studied for new qualification at local FE college
2010: £18k - new role using said qualification
2012- £25k - promotion (new employer)
2015- £40k - promotion (internal)
2017- had DD2
2018- £56k promoted internally a month after maternity leave

My career hasn't suffered but my kids have been in full time childcare pretty much their whole lives and I fully appreciate and respect those who consider that a sacrifice too far.

In 2004 i was on 21k at 30.
Had child in 2006.
No paid work until 2012. Earned 10k for 30 hours p.w from 2012 to 2015.
Now on 12k for 18 hours p.w
Same post 24k full-time.
You see it's taken 15 years.

My career has progressed almost exactly as it would have done if I hadn't had my DC. I'm a teacher, I continued to work ft after children, so I continued to go up the pay scale and reached the top of the pay scale a couple of years ago. I suppose if I didn't have the DC I might have applied for promotions, but I'm not convinced I would have done, I'm happy with what I've got and where I am in my career.

Same as MsAwesomeDragon I've continued to work full time and have had increments (I'm a nurse) as the years have passed. My plan was always to work as a band 5 for 5 years and then start to look at band 6 roles and that's exactly what I've done... I have, however, been more selective of the roles I've enquired about because childcare is obviously a factor.

When we have a second child (planned for next year) DP will probably cut his hours and go part time, my earning potential is better than his so it makes sense.

It's near enough doubled. But I have carried on working all the way through. I have a close to 6 figure package plus company car. I have a job I can do from home, flexibility around kids/school/life, and that is worth a huge amount extra in itself.

It’s greatly increased.
When I had DD, I was running my own business, but not making a huge amount. Ex DH supported me.
A year after DD was born, we separated, so I had to get a job quickly.
Started on £32k, progressing to £70k in 5 years. During this time, I was working with the same company in many different capacities - at one point when DD was a baby, I did 3 days a week, then full time, then consultancy, then back to full time.
Left there 2 years ago when the company went bankrupt, and set up on my own.
Last year I earned £120k in the first year, now after a bumpy few months, it’s hit and miss as to what salary I take. Some months it’s been £1k NET, sometimes £4K.

I work from home and am very lucky to be able to manage my own time to enable school pick ups, going to school events, etc. But I can never totally switch off from work, I’m always thinking of what else needs to be done. Cash flow is a nightmare, and the admin and sorting out things like tax and VAT scare me senseless!

Pre-DC I had a city job earning six figures.

I spent 9 years as a SAHM before returning to work in a completely different role in the public sector. I now earn about £42k FTE (so £21k because I work part time).

My current job is much more flexible and less stressful, while still interesting and rewarding, so I wouldn't change a thing.

I was on £24k when i was pregnant, got promotion just before maternity leave up to £30k. Went back to work ft when fd was 10months and now dd is 16 months old i've got promotion up to £38k.

I plan on staying ft, i earn more than my dp

No fluctuation just a definite drop downwards purely because I went part time so to be expected.

DS1 is 8, my pay has tripled since before having kids. I went part time for a few years but studied while doing that and went back full time when finished and when DS2 was 2. Thankfully I've managed to climb the career ladder alongside flexible working, though I wouldn't have got to where I am now if I remained part time.

I’ve just quit my job, as I’ve not been coping with juggling childcare, so I’m going from 0.6 of £39k to zero. We can afford for me to take a couple of years out, and hopefully I can return at a similar wage in a few years time.
I’m a teacher.

Lots of people who are on mumsnet ( or the ones that reply to this type of thread anyway) seem to be average to high earners. Talk of earning 45,50, 70k etc. I'm on 20k and it makes me feel like such a failure

So my career stagnated after ds1 was born, I'm NHS so went on to part time nights and after reaching the top of my Band, didn't get a pay rise for about 8 years.

Finally got off nights after ds2 turned 12, 13 years after starting and then got a promotion and now earn a decent wage plus I can do Bank shifts most weeks so take home a very decent wage.

Its stagnated.. so gone down in real terms. I've chosen not to vault up the greasy pole as I have a better work life balance doing my current role.

@Kittykat93 I find it inspiring, I love hearing about high earning women, it's something to aim for, not be intimidated by (for me!)

Same @Kittykat93
Nearly every post is from people earning really well, or earning much better since having kids. I salute you all but I feel like a failure.
I am a lone parent and have no help from my sons dad and my family all work so are unable to help. I would love to earn what I used to. I would love to study and better myself again but I just cannot see a way when I have a child, a mortgage, bills, and all the exs debt to pay.
Congrats to everyone who is doing well. But it has made me feel like I've gone wrong

Mine has increased loads too.
2012- 25k started maternity leave
2013- returned to the same job but part time
2014- 42k promotion
2015- 48k promotion
2016- 62k promotion and started my second mat leave.
2017- returned to my role
2018- 69k promotion and I am now about to start my next maternity leave again.

It has been hrs but I work very hard when I am in the office and I work flexibly. This allows me to do pick ups and drops offs, activities, assemblies and spend time with my family.

I went on maternity leave earning £80k, and being in receipt of a 15% bonus.
I got less than the average pay-rise whilst I was off, despite being a high-performer. I was also told that I wasn't entitled to a bonus at all, which was actually incorrect as I was entitled, as a minimum, to a pro-rata bonus for the time I wasn't on mat leave. I took a pay cut to go four days a week, and when I got back to work, I found that a male colleague who earned more than me was being kept in my old role, and I was given some basic admin type role. I challenged this and did get some movement on the role and bonus, but essentially I have been fucked over by the boys club.

I do still earn a good salary, but this is because it took me five long and hard years to have DD, and whilst I was dealing with IVF and recurrent mc, I took all the career opportunities that came my way. I feel a bit short changed by the way I've been treated since having a child though.

2015 47k DC1
2016 47k DC2
2017-2019 £51k
2019 new job £63k

I am not the SAHM type and why did I work my ass for an university and work hard for 10 years if i was just going to pack it in the minute the kids came along.

My parents were pretty broke as I grew up and I received no help. I want to help my kids financially. And I hate the idea of relying on someone else to feed and clothe me.

Some of us have to make different choices though. I worked damn hard before my child was born. And I do miss having that kind of job. But I had to make sacrifices based on my options and the help I had available to me. It's not like we give up once our children are born!
And though I am on a shitty wage and we struggle alot of the time I make the best of our situation.

2008: £28k
2009; first child made redundant
2010: contractor £250 per day
2011: 2nd child, new job on £38k
2012: made redundant
2012: contractor £350 per day
2013: contractor £400 per day
2014; third child
2015-16: contractor £480 per day
2016: perm £65k
2018: had £10k of Pay roses plus £10k bony so now £85k

Kid now 9/7/5 and I'm 35

Proud to have kept a well paid city job and come back from x2 maternity pay offs and x2 sex dicrimination cases.

Life's expensive I cannot afford to be poor.