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Original poster

Under 40 and on £100k+

127 replies

muffinhead4 · 16/02/2023 10:34

Talking to my brother who is 35 about work. He is on over £100k and has been for a few years (he works in IT sector) He thinks its a normal wage for his age and is shocked i am on £60k at my age (37) I work in finance.
We both work in London. Am i really behind like my brother says?
I would love to be on £100k but wouldn't know which direction to turn to.
Anyone else on £100k under 40? what do you do for work?

OP posts:
mondaytosunday · 16/02/2023 12:46

But it can all come crashing down. Friends of mine, early 30s were about to rent a house for £5500/month. They owned a flat but didn't want to sell it and wanted something bigger. The day before they were to sign the new lease he was made unexpectedly redundant. No move and they were so lucky as they could have moved in then had to scramble to find £70k for their lease!

MajorCarolDanvers · 16/02/2023 12:49

The average UK salary is £33K

Simply

OP you are earning just under double the average salary

Your brother is earning 3 x the average salary.

So he is not normal

Oblomov23 · 16/02/2023 12:55

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

SaySomethingMan · 16/02/2023 13:02

3WildOnes · 16/02/2023 10:47

He can't be that bright if he thinks 60k is a low wage. So it is surprising that he earns so well.

Since when did wage become a measure of intelligence? It’s just interest/luck, etc, isn’t it?!

MaybeSmaller · 16/02/2023 13:07

He must live in a really cloistered bubble if he is shocked at people earning 'only' 60k.

Positivelyantique · 16/02/2023 13:11

I’ve never had an income near that, although we have our own business which is worth quite a bit should we sell, we have ploughed profits back into it. However my DS is on over 100k at (just) under 30. Director for a retail supermarket, went in on a graduate scheme and has flown. It’s quite mnd blowing to me.

3WildOnes · 16/02/2023 13:12

SaySomethingMan · 16/02/2023 13:02

Since when did wage become a measure of intelligence? It’s just interest/luck, etc, isn’t it?!

Show quote history

All of my friends who earn 100k+ are pretty bright. They are accountants, lawyers, hospital consultants, quants, engineers etc. Whilst they do often live in a bubble where most of their social circle earn the same they also read newspapers and are aware of what an average income is.

autumn1610 · 16/02/2023 13:13

Springintoactions · 16/02/2023 11:24

Tbh think the person with the odd wage is you OP

Early £60ks for FT with an accountancy qualification is low - people on 4y exp are on that in every Financial Services role (grad plus 2 yr exp)

I imagine you'd get £80k at another company have a look it's a job seekers market you'll be surprised

I think maybe in London but not the rest of the country that is correct. Partner is part qualified chartered accountant and is on £35k which is a decent amount for the north in the sector. It’s higher paying than a lot of the roles he went for. Fully qualified around us probably looking at £50-60k in the sector of accounts he’s in

Tiddlywinx · 16/02/2023 13:15

Sorry love but you know you aren’t ‘behind’. You know you earn more than average. That’s not to say you don’t deserve it, but you have to know you earn more than average. I mean you’re a higher rate tax payer.

Are you both rather privileged in terms of upbringing? No shade, I was and i grew up thinking I was poor because I went to private school and grew up in a 5 bed house and parents only had 2 BMWs. Is this like that?

Mumof1andacat · 16/02/2023 13:16

What would he think of mine...my and my dh don't even earn 50k combined

nofluffsgiven · 16/02/2023 13:23

No, I'd say you're on a good wage and he's on very privileged wage and i think he's being a bit of a jerk to make out that most people are on what he's on. I suppose wages are higher in London though but still, he's obviously doing well for himself.

eurochick · 16/02/2023 13:24

I hit £100k just before my 30th birthday. That was a dreadful job though. I've had various ups and down since.

I was well-aware that was a high salary, even for London.

Fizbosshoes · 16/02/2023 13:32

CaponeOnTax · 16/02/2023 10:40

He is being disingenuous or stupid. The UK median wage is £30-40k. A quick google will set you and him straight.

Yep.
And yet most on MN threads about earning, you'd be mistaken for thinking 100k was the average wage!

Figmentof · 16/02/2023 13:32

I was on over £100k when I was 35 in 2005, as an accountant in financial services based in London. It wasn’t unusual for people with my background to be on this type of salary, but I was very well aware that it was not normal for the population generally then and it isn’t now either.

Mayhavingbabyinmay · 16/02/2023 13:34

Definitely not average at all!!! But closer to normal for a salary in the tech sector

TheLostGiraffe · 16/02/2023 13:35

Since when did wage become a measure of intelligence? It’s just interest/luck, etc, isn’t it?!

Obviously it isn't "a measure of intelligence". Intelligent people can choose not to do something particularly lucrative because they have other priorities (my wonderful uncle was an example of this) and equally some rather stupid people by luck end up in highly paid roles, or set up businesses that don't require great intelligence to run so earn good money that way. However, quite obviously, a lot of well-paid roles will be filled largely by intelligent people because the reason they are well-paid is because there are fewer people with the ability to do those jobs.

Sameiam · 16/02/2023 13:39

This is making me think that my 65k plus pension and small bonus (three years post qualified, aca) isn’t as good as I thought 😂 then again I’ve technically got a London job but am fully wfh. Probably need to speed up my timing to make the next jump to 80k.

HurryShadow · 16/02/2023 13:42

Among some that earn well there is a total brain fart at what is a "reasonable" wage.

My DP is a contractor and earns just under £100k per year and all his colleagues are on the same.

When business was bad and people were being laid off they were all saying "oh, it's alright. If the worst came to the worst I'll just go and earn £40k in the supermarket."

Totally clueless!

Marscleo · 16/02/2023 13:44

£60k is quite high considering you’re only part qualified

CookieMonster55 · 16/02/2023 13:44

Wish I was on £60k (mid 30s over here!)

Whitewolf2 · 16/02/2023 13:48

There is a lot of money in the tech sector so he probably does know a lot of people on over £100k. My husband (37 years old) for example manages teams of software workers, doesn’t work long hours, earns £120+. However a lot of tech companies are laying people off at the moment, my husband has been made redundant before, so it’s an industry with a degree of risk.

Twiggywinkle13 · 16/02/2023 13:49

Your brother is very, very unrealistic if he thinks it’s normal!

I’m a SAHM but DH hit £100k in his late 20’s (finance) it’s absolutely not the norm (though I know it isn’t abnormal in that sector, I don’t know about others). I do get however that it becomes easy to become distorted from reality. You’re absolutely not lagging behind, I think £60k is a very good salary! Don’t be put down by your brother.

Fizbosshoes · 16/02/2023 13:51

HurryShadow · 16/02/2023 13:42

Among some that earn well there is a total brain fart at what is a "reasonable" wage.

My DP is a contractor and earns just under £100k per year and all his colleagues are on the same.

When business was bad and people were being laid off they were all saying "oh, it's alright. If the worst came to the worst I'll just go and earn £40k in the supermarket."

Totally clueless!

There was a recent thread where more than poster was surprised that there were people that earned less than 30k in London.....🙄

emituofo · 16/02/2023 14:01

I think it is probably common in IT sector and a few certain industries. Hubby is 37 working in IT and is on 6 figures fully remote, meaning we can really live anywhere we want.

A lot of people he worked with around similar age are either on 6 figures or very close. If they need a pay rise they just need to change campany. It is much easier than asking for a pay rise. Most IT companies are also relatively good with providing flexible hours, relaxed work culture etc.

I guess he was very lucky to pick the right industry. He happend to like it as a kid and it wasnt really a choice, it had always been something he wanted to do no matter how well he would be paid. A lot of other people I know in other industries with respected jobs, some even with PHDs are still on a much lower salary without much room to grow.

Newjobformoremoney · 16/02/2023 14:05

Both my and my partner basic is well over 100k. I reached the 100k mark in my early 30ies.
I know I’m very lucky to get paid what I do. I put it down to personality, a combination of right place right time with a healthy appetite to risk. I also work hard, which has helped but definitely wasn’t the distinguishing factor as I do believe most people work hard.

my daughter goes to a sort after indie in west London. Small class of 16 and I would say we’re the lowest paid couple in her class. It was a very interesting conversation while the bankers bonus cap was lifted (interestingly they were all against it).

I spoke to one parent who told me the school was full of normal families as no one tried to hire a private jet for an 8 year olds birthday. Some people get so caught up in the lifestyle and the bubble that they simple can’t see outside of it.