How do some people earn so much?

[SchoolShenanigans]

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?

Thank you, what a brave move that paid off. Did you work your way up to that from sales exec? Sorry for all the questions!

But not in the public sector. Pay isn't negotiable outside of the payscale unless you are very very senior.

Being a good salesperson is definitely a specialist skill, @jackstini, I’m not surprised you’re a high earner. Many, perhaps most) people would be pretty rubbish at it.

Thanks @HamBone

I’m a senior manager in the public sector on £57k in my early 30s. I travel into London regularly so get London weighting and I’m regularly on call out of hours. No fancy qualifications unless you count the vocational degree I scraped through years ago.

Until 5 years ago was on £21/22k, I increased my salary by applying to do mat covers, secondments, etc at higher grades to get my next step up and then worked like mad to gain any skills I lacked and build a portfolio of examples. My default setting is curious which helps me learn and I do the tricky/boring/urgent work no one else wants to do as you get more autonomy (no one wants to help in case they’re dragged in) and it’s normally much appreciated.

My partner did/does none of the above except working hard and always trying to learn more and earns £70k because he does something complicated involving data in the private sector that I don’t really understand.

We’re both from working class backgrounds so I do often think bloody hell how have we got here!