How much do you earn

[strangerontheinternet]

Have previously come across a similar thread on another forum and it was so interesting! Basically people commented with their job, age and how much they earn. I hate my job/industry and feel it doesn't pay well like I was led to believe but also feel I have no idea what's out there career/job wise and how much various jobs would earn so what I could do.

I'm 27, a solicitor in Scotland and earn £35k

People who get to high salaries (especially above circa £70k upwards) these days very rarely get there by being “fortunate”, which suggests luck and something outside your control

And yet this poster considers herself "fortunate". Who knows such an innocuous word could be so triggersome?

@Butchyrestingface

People who get to high salaries (especially above circa £70k upwards) these days very rarely get there by being “fortunate”, which suggests luck and something outside your control

And yet this poster considers herself "fortunate". Who knows such an innocuous word could be so triggersome?

I think earning above £70k does involve an element of luck. You were lucky not to be have been born with a learning disability, lucky to have been born into a country with a stable economy, good education system, social security - hard work yes of course - loads of people work hard and they don't earn £70K or anywhere near it. There's loads of elements to your life that you have no control over - lack of awareness should not be one of them!.

Agree about luck but if you have the health, time and determination you can make your own luck to an extent.

My income has risen fivefold in the last 5 years. This took determination passion and effort but I was only able to “make this luck” because my son’s SN faded, I had enough money to get therapy for a musculoskeletal condition, I had the train fares for speculative meetings, etc, etc.

Sorry I only just saw the responses to my post.

I mean fortunate in the sense that the industry I work in pays high salaries. I would never tell anyone I know how much I earn as some work in Industries that I think are horribly underpaid.

@Reearry no I had no technical background. I got a degree in business. My first job in sales paid £17.5k (12 years ago), and it was my sales experience over time rather than my technical knowledge that got me into my current role if that makes sense.

Snoopy I also work in tech (used to do sales now do marketing)

I know exactly what you mean, I also feel fortunate that I stumbled into such a cash rich industry. My job in other industries would be less than half what I'm on.

I do have a degree and a masters but they aren't related to what I do.

@snoopy8 thanks for your response. I have been looking for jobs in tech that do not require a technical background so will look further into it

41, civil servant, £33k for 0.8 FTE (so £41k for full time)

I agree luck plays a large part. As my parents were relatively bright there was a reasonable chance I would be but I might not have been; luck plays a part but is not the only reason.

I also had to make a lot of applications for my first job. I have my diary entries from 1981/82 which I was looking at recently. We had 3m unemployed in 1982 - worst then for 50 years and much higher than now and I applied to 139 firms and had 25 interviews before getting it. It was a Robert the Bruce thing really - try try trying again and again.

@doadeer I'm in marketing (not tech) and would much prefer to be in sales. Why did you move?
I'm too entrenched and maybe old now (40) to move to sales though. I dont really like my industry and would love to move to tech sales, or even recruitment, something salesy

£52k for 4 dpw - as a project manager

@QueenPenny I'm in sales (science and tech). You're definitely not too old to move across. There are people of all ages in technical sales, and there's always a short supply. The major thing is being willing to work in sales. Do you have a technical background? That's more important than sales experience, combined with a willingness and strong interpersonal skills.

However, in my industry in sales you have to travel. That's one of the reasons I want to do something else, I'm sick of travelling and think a lot of it is unnecessary. I'm enjoying the travel restrictions at the moment, and proving that we're doing well financially without having to get on a plane.

Why all the hate for HR? How bizarre. There are plenty of useless “computer says no” HR admins in my company and ones who make you do the same tick box training every year, but the top level is invaluable for guidance. If I’m making changes to my department, having a coach like that helps enormously. As well as keeps us out of court.

thanks @79andnotout. no unfortunately, i have a business degree. I got the idea being on the client side, seeing vendors for enterprise software and then thinking how overpaid they are (and also how terrible the software and implementation always turns out!!)

@PeachPiePip

Why all the hate for HR? How bizarre. There are plenty of useless “computer says no” HR admins in my company and ones who make you do the same tick box training every year, but the top level is invaluable for guidance. If I’m making changes to my department, having a coach like that helps enormously. As well as keeps us out of court.

I find your post bizarre

You list reasons why indeed people may be very about HR

The fact you have a good senior HR is great. Now imagine if you didn’t and it was just “computer says no” and making you do “same tick box training”

@QueenPenny - yeah sales is very well paid (and it does feel undeserving sometimes) but you're usually juggling a lot of customers, with internal politics and issues in your own company, and trying to bridge that. Generally I find dealing with customers is the best bit, but then getting your company to do what you promised is hard. All the shit is on the backend. So you have the pressure of having to make the sales at whatever cost so people get paid, but then actually getting everyone to follow through is a pain. Although depends on the company, my last one wasn't like that, but it was also losing money so everytime you lost a sale, someone got sacked. That wasn't much fun either.

This is my experience of instrumentation sales. Software might be completely different.

Secretary £27k

30, freelance writer, £60k-£100k depending on the year

I actually find these threads really interesting. I'm branching out into a new career post-DD and its interesting to know what my potential earnings are. Thank you!

I was on £1200pm. But had to quit, though I was a key worker, to homeschool.

@BananaHammock23 What sort of stuff are you writing / what clients to earn that? (As a fellow, very demoralised, freelance writer.)

Procurement, public sector. Six figures. Early 40s. I have worked both public and private in the past and have settled on public for the moment.

To answer a pp - its been a combination of being professionally qualified, good at my job and luck - luck to see new and better job roles advertised which suited me at a time I was looking out for them. I've actively searched out roles which would be good for my career (haven't sat around and stagnated). I also have an OH who is self employed who has been able to be the main continuity for the children, once I went back to work after maternity.

@Z0rr0 - I wondered that too. Most writers I know - and I know a few, earn below the taxable threshold, even though many of them are quite well known and respected authors who the public probably assume earn a fortune.

I work as a homelessness prevention officer. I earn 23k.

I'm utterly depressed by this thread. At least I can go to bed at night knowing I made a difference to society in some small way.

Shout out to all the carers and people working in mental health and substance misuse services!

I earn 300k buying and selling quavers