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Original poster

How do some people earn so much?

105 replies

SchoolShenanigans · 10/05/2023 18:31

I earn £31k. I have a degree and 10 years in the public sector. I am low-mid management. I'm grateful for my salary but the more I hear people talk about what they earn, the more I wonder if I'm missing something?! Most people I speak to around my age (mid 30s) seem to earn £50k+ minimum doing all sorts of roles. Today, someone told me in passing that they earn £90k and I'm thinking - where did I go wrong?!

I know I chose the underfunded public sector, so I don't expect £90k but I genuinely can't see how I've ended up earning so little compared to people around me.

So for those on big salaries, how did you make it happen? Training? Right place at right time? Was it a result of a long term career plan or a couple of fluke promotions? Is this a recent salary or have you been a high earner for a while?

OP posts:
AuntieMarys · 10/05/2023 18:34

Both ds and his partner earn about £75k each...they're 23. Work for major companies.
Mind you that's London.

otherwayup · 10/05/2023 18:37

If it makes you feel any better, I'm 52 and earn £12k.
I'd feel like I'd won the lottery if I was on your salary op 😂

doadeer · 10/05/2023 18:38

In what context do people tell you how much they earn? My own mum doesn't know what me and DH earn as I wouldn't boast about it.

Some sectors are just very lucrative, I work in tech and there's lots of money to be had.

Fullrecoveryispossible · 10/05/2023 18:39

I started off on 21k in a job that didn’t need a degree. I then went on to apply for jobs that I really didn’t feel qualified for, and thanks to interviewing well, I got them! I was on 50k at 25.

Hotfootgoose · 10/05/2023 18:40

I work for public sector and pay is always terrible. Anyone who goes into a profession that requires empathy is paid low wages. Look at the nurses…government won’t pay them properly as they are caring jobs, train drivers however have cash thrown at them.

HolyGuacamole28 · 10/05/2023 18:43

I’m early forties and on £65k in finance. But I loathe my job. So who’s better off really?

Swishhh · 10/05/2023 18:43

My DH recently retired from a 185k job, he moved around every seven years and received a pay rise each time he moved.
My DS is 22 and earns 29k, he works in the South East of England, if he moved to the London branch he’ll earn over 40k.

Oaktree1233 · 10/05/2023 18:43

Most people have to do professional qualifications for a number of years before earning those large sums. So for big 4 they have to pass ACA exams and maybe CTA or management accountancy exams whilst working. For Law they have to do an extra year or maybe two years of exams depending on their degree. People in the council earn big money. They might have post grad legal or other professional qualifications. Does your employer offer any career advancement studies? It might be worth looking at all the cv of those in higher positions than you. Also people who get highly sought after graduate entry jobs will be high paid but then the competition for them is incredibly fierce with a tiny portion of people per 100 being accepted. So maybe try to up skill? At the moment you just have a degree as do thousands of people so how do you differentiate yourself? What was your degree in - does in lead to an obvious job? People in the local government can certainly and do earn 90,000 plus.

cocksstrideintheevening · 10/05/2023 18:47

I'm professionally qualified after a degree and my package is circa 90k. I'm one of the lower earners in my circle.

Truestorypeeps · 10/05/2023 18:49

How many years have you been in low-mid management? In the Public Service in Ireland, after 10 years at that level you'd be making €60k (£50k).

Bobbliest · 10/05/2023 18:51

Started at current company ( multinational pharma) on 18k in 1998. Have science degree and Master’s. Salary increased fairly slowly in line with promotions.
Moved to another company for period of time and returned to original company.

None of it is down to luck but I’m in a group where there have never been any redundancies and role can’t be outsourced to India etc.

Currently on around £150k (incl bonus). I think what has helped is:

  • Scientific role
  • London based
  • Hard to recruit good people to role as lots of positions available so employee’s market
  • Only have one DC unfortunately so been a bit easier to focus on work when needed
  • Based at headquarters so lower chance of being consolidated as can happen in local offices.
Zuve · 10/05/2023 18:52

I earn £32000 working full time in a supermarket. I have a degree

Bloobells · 10/05/2023 18:57

I am a professional working in the public sector and earn around 100k fte, although less in practice as I work part time. I had to train for over 10 years to get this position. It’s high responsibility and highly skilled, but not stressful. I work flexibly and often from home so it’s a pretty great job overall.

Bloobells · 10/05/2023 18:59

I think the key reason I earn so much is my professional qualification. Worth pursuing something along those lines op?

mosiacmaker · 10/05/2023 18:59

I think you just manage salary jumps by applying for new jobs, never disclosing your current salary and asking for a number that makes you feel a bit sick.

ThatFraggle · 10/05/2023 19:00

Bloobells · 10/05/2023 18:59

I think the key reason I earn so much is my professional qualification. Worth pursuing something along those lines op?

Do you mind saying what it is?

pinksheetss · 10/05/2023 19:02

I earn 40k doing document control/ admin work but it's within the wind farm industry and on contract work (although paid through PAYE by recruitment company) so paid more because it's fixed term contracts

The industry has limited people who are experienced with building substations so same people get moved around and paid well for it. I believe the civil engineers on site are paid around 120k

BarelyLiterate · 10/05/2023 19:04

It may sound like stating the bleedin’ obvious, but nobody is ever going to earn a fortune working in the public sector. The total number of people in the who earn £100k+ working for the government must be a few hundred, maximum.

PinkFootstool · 10/05/2023 19:07

So you're a HEO? Are you looking to move up to SEO? Or in the higher grades? Go on internal training, look at CS Online training and put yourself up for lots of the free courses. Volunteer for work that could assist with promotion opportunities. Look on your intranet for promotion-related training, there's often women-focused courses to encourage women to go for it.

If you want the promotion, you need to aim for it - it won't be passively given to you.

louderthan · 10/05/2023 19:08

I'm 42 and felt super rich last year when I got a new job and went from £22k to £32k. I took a long time to find my 'niche'.
Public sector grade 6, no people management. I hope to go up to grade 8 in the next 5 years or so.

ghyt · 10/05/2023 19:09

Don't stagnate. I change jobs regularly, I don't wait around to get promoted. I look at what the next level is, the the experience I need and apply as soon as I have the evidence to show I can do it. Public sector also. Longest I've stayed in a role was 3 years, after that I've never stayed more than 2.

Heatherbell1978 · 10/05/2023 19:10

I work in finance although project management. So private sector. Big company with plenty scope to move around internally. My package is £78k. I have 20+ years experience (mid 40s). I've moved around a lot and gained experience doing a variety of different roles so I could turn my hand to various things now. I was quite settled in my last role (4 years in it) but at the top of my pay band so sought a promotion and got it. 10% pay-rise but the job is a bit boring so I'm planning another move.

ghyt · 10/05/2023 19:10

@PinkFootstool she didn't say civil servant?

louderthan · 10/05/2023 19:12

In my previous job I'd have to have done a masters to progress and still probably been on only about £35k.
It depends on the sector as well as the role, senior managers in my current dept in the public sector are earning £50k-ish, but in the private sector they'd be earning £70-odd.

catinthesunshine · 10/05/2023 19:13

I’m in my 40s earning £52k in the civil service. I earn this because I have technical skills that are hard to find.

I career changed after 15 years in low paid charity jobs which I regret doing for as long as I did.