Is it difficult to earn more than £40k?

[Lowwages]

I’m currently on benefits due to a long period of sickness and I’ve been trying to prepare for work for whenever I get better. I’ve been running the numbers though and the benefits I receive for being sick with 2 young children is equivalent to a £40k salary. I’m quite shocked but now also worried that life will always be a struggle as a single parent unless I can exceed that £40k salary.

I’m currently 32 and looking at getting qualified in finance or going to med school but the average salaries on glass door and payscale seem really low considering that these are supposed to be some of the best paying jobs in the UK.

Just how difficult would it be for somebody newly qualified at 35+ to surpass £40k? I’m aware that I could never recover or that I could meet a partner to share finances with but I think that it’s better to prepare.

Don't get why life will be a struggle on an equivalent to £40K when most of us survive on far less. Benefit system is an insult to the hard working underpaid.

What about something like social work? Starting salary around £28/30K after the 3 Yr course then no mind blowing pay rises but steady progression up.
Plus working for a local authority they’re likely to have better arrangements around sick pay etc and pension is quite good. Lots of people go into it later.
I would recommend adult social care rather than children and families as the pay is normally the same and it’s (marginally) less stressful.

And presumably you might get universal credit top up on a lower salary anyway

I’d take good health over the benefits I receive any day, it’s devastating what my children have missed out on.

Thank you, this is heartening. I’ve always been told that you can’t hope to get anywhere in life without a degree, unless you’re exceptionally charismatic so I’ll be looking into some alternative career routes.

That’s a good suggestion, something like HMRC or similar? I’ll take a look at pathways now.

Ignore the naysayers OP. Just smacks of jealousy/discontent which you don’t need.

I wouldn’t bother with a degree tbh. waste of money. Finance seems like a more practical route as a single parent - you’re more likely to get into flexible hours and working from home which all eases your budget.

Have you thought about professional qualifications like accountancy, financial planning as an alternative to a degree?

Also another route is to get into an entry level job (admin/customer facing work), do that for a year or two to get to know the industry which is all invaluable knowledge, then get into a back office role asap - you could go for risk, marketing, propositions, etc in any kind of bank/insurance company, or IT, HR etc. Lots of varied rewarding roles which give you a springboard for £40k+ careers.

To be honest op, at your age and in your circumstances, I would probably look for 'just' a job - but one with potential in a solid company - rather than a start from scratch uni then career path.

One random example - you could get a job with a bank or other large firm earning £20 odd k, WFH. Get a bit of experience for a year, branch out to another company with a higher salary and do on the job learning in risk or compliance or project management. Take every free course or development opportunity offered to you and climb the ladder...big UK banks especially have very good internal opportunities available for those who are ambitious with their head screwed on, even with no qualifications.

Yup. It's a pretty straightforward career path with plenty of options. Good pension. They may offer guaranteed interview for those with disabilities, not sure.

That is insane that’s the amount of benefits received. I started out in finance on about that and I had to work 12+ hours everyday sometimes longer and all nighters. These careers are all extremely competitive and if you are starting out at a smaller firm you might not be on much more than 30K.

Try this link (or search Civil Service Careers):
https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/

Maps your local Civil Service vacancies & career pathways. Disability should get you some priority. Very keen on training & development. But be warned process can take months & involves detailed vetting for security etc.

Have you got a work coach who can help you?

I'm disabled (so career options are more limited) and work in data. I started on 30k,and within 2.5 years I'm on 60k.

I have done a masters during that time but it wasnt necesary

If you are good at maths and problem solving a tech job will generally pay fairly well and there is quite a lot of training around, some aimed specifically at women.

And tech doesn't have to mean coding, although its worth giving it a try to see if you like it. But it can go from coding through to project management, scrum master, testing etc

Op I think that you have had some good advice on this thread. You really do need to do your own research around some of the suggestions, you do sound quite naive around job and career choices.

I think it IS very difficult to earn 40k outside of London / big cities. I’ve been working in professional fields for over 20 years and still think it’s a good salary. It’s pretty rare where I live, unless you are in the NHS/LA.

You don’t need necessarily need a degree for finance/accountancy roles. The firm my ds works for takes on graduates and post a level trainees. Taking professional exams (icaew) and working full time is demanding but regular salary increases with clear progression path.

As others have said you don't need a degree, but tbh it often helps, sorry to say.

For accountancy anyway, any position I had as a trainee wanted you to have a 2.1 degree

There are a lot of professional exams, and the pay is shite to start.

I would look into becoming an accounting technician, if you did it and worked in a company instead of a practice it would be a softer way to get into it. After you complete that you can always go onto qualify as an accountant, you will have exemptions from some exams.

My development plan to get to the salary I have now was:

• learn a skill that is rare and sought after (and pays well)
• regular CPD and continue to broaden the scope of my particular speciality
• have a big business presence within my organisation
• make myself known within the wider industry (public speaking events, conferences, symposiums)
• approach senior management with original ideas, strategies and make myself heard
• execute my ideas and strategies to a high standard

I'm now on the board as a director and manage on a European level.

Took me 5 years. A mixture of luck, picking the right area of expertise, being confident, building the right relationships and negotiating to a high standard.

Civil service departments should all offer this but only if you show you actually meet the essential criteria.

To add, I started at my current workplace on 30k, I'm now on 6 figures and I'm 32.

@Catchasingmewithspiders can I ask how you got in to that role? I am operations/senior admin in a school but am looking for options. I love who my job is for (the children) but it really is not a liveable salary.

PM me if you wish

Just read you're great at maths and problem solving - tech might be worth a look at.

Also

Sales Managers are paid a good amount of money. It's not a job for everyone but if you do it well then the sky is the limit.

Civil service also has started doing degree apprenticeships too and offer a huge range of career options - I wish I'd known about it when I was in school

Accountancy? You could enroll on a part time accounting technician course now & look for a job.

Wow, hope you're not teaching my kids with that attitude. You know long term health conditions are neither fun nor easy? And that the OP and anyone claiming sick benefits get put through the mill and often only awarded following appeal?