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.

2008 - £27k civil servant but left and took them to employment tribunal (settled 3 days before it was due to start).

2010 - started as a temp but was made permanent after 10 months and was on £22k. Was happy to have taken pay cut (compared to civil service salary) as I could see career progression.

2013 - had DC1 and took 9 months maternity leave.

2014 - returned to job and subsequently got a secondment promotion (£28k)but hated it so went back to original job (now £24k following annual pay rises).

2015 - took a sideways role (£26k) and got a promotion 7 months later (£32k).

2017 - had DC2 and had 9 months off maternity leave.

2018 - returned to work and started trying to kick start career. Started an interim cover role at the end of year to further develop skills set.

2019 - Finished interim cover role after 3 months and took a sideways secondment (no pay increase but have been receiving annual pay rises so am on £37k). Am hoping to be successful in getting a promotion by the end of the year, which would increase my pay to £45k-£50k.

I work full-time in banking and my employers are quite flexible so I can work around hours in order to attend school assemblies, parents evening, sports day etc.

These threads always attract people with really good salaries. In real life I only usually meet people earning 16k or less. The richest people I know are nurses and teachers.

I was earning 15k when dd was born in 2010, now I earn 22k. I only took normal mat.leave of 9 months or whatever it is.

2003 - 38k DC1
2007 - 42k DC2
2008 - Redundancy directly due to credit crunch. SAHM for next 5 yrs
2013 - Freelance for 5 yrs
2018 - current. PAYE 46k. DC now 15 & 12

Age 21 in 2004: £20k

Age 23 in 2006: got promotion whilst on mat leave with DS £38k

Age 26 in 2009: DD was born and DH went PT for four years, both worked shifts so minimal childcare costs, my salary £43k

Age 36 in 2019: salary now £55k, DH has been back to FT a few years and is on similar. Kids 10 and 12 now so no childcare

In my opinion it’s better for men and women without ‘customer facing roles’ to have jobs that encourage flexible working. We have never had a career break or a reduction in salary because our employers treats us like grown ups and let us work from home (and on flexible hours if we need to do childcare in UK hours) as needed and take short notice holiday. Between DH and I one of us is at home everyday (he does more wfh days). We still send to nursery 3 days a week.