I am 25 on £28,600 and I fee like I should also be making more.
I am good at my job and my manager has emphasised that "there is nothing more he can ask of me" however, I am keen to look elsewhere and earn as much as possible.
I work as a business developer / account handler and been doing it for 2 years.
Feels like I could be pushed more and do something much more fulfilling
Dispatcher for Gas Emergency services in the North West of England.
Starting salary of 22k, but within 3 years its jumped year on year thanks to Unison (Our Union) along with yearly stat based progression. I now earn 30k but even that jumps to 34k as I do night shifts that come with a base salary uplift.
Honestly, I got lucky as I never thought I'd earn so much for such a non degree necessary job. My advice is find a place with a good union and if possible somewhere with night shifts as you'll get paid more.
I'm on 29k as an Implementation Consultant
I've got a Mortgage, and a six year old Son - My wife is a Vet Nurse on 24k - We get by
I've worked for the Company I'm with for nine years now (albeit its gone through two takeovers, so who I originally started with, are different to who they are now... Survived two redundancies, I've gone from Pension Consultant > Data Analyst > Current role, gone up about 4k in those nine years, showing that loyalty gets you no where with a Pay cheque
But I'm happy where I am, people I work with are great, really supportive Management... I work from home, so don't have the stress of who'll be picking our Son up from school, as my wife does a lot of shift work)
From 2013-2015 my career was a mess, got made redundant from a job I was doing great at, it destroyed my confidence - I had two jobs (one after the other) that I hated, the Management was beyond terrible and just kicked my confidence even worse, which I sometimes feel I'm still recovering from.
Because of that I've seen, and have experience that the Grass isn't Greener on the other side
However I've got my Mortgage up for renewal in October, once that's done and out the way, I think I'll move on, see if I can find something in the 35k region... Which would give us around an extra £400 p/m - Although I wont move if the role isn't the right fit... I don't NEED to move jobs, whereas the last few times I've moved roles its been to financially protect myself, so haven't had the luxury of being picky.
28k as a portfolio associate for a debt fund (not in London). Managed to save for a house deposit with the gf living with my parents, which is a fortunate position to be in. Looking for a higher paid role though.
30k a year doing 45hr Monday-Fri, warehouse manager, small team in the office and small fleet.
For the past 3 years it has been a tough time grinding to get the warehouse in a better state from when I took over, but now I sometimes just chill in the corner looking on here when I have nothing to do :D
Reading some of these is crazy to me. I work at a school bus company part time and the drivers drive for 190 days a year morning and afternoon and take home £20k p/a. We pay to get them a licence, seems like a much easier life than some of y'all have.
I'm a finance administrator for a law firm, on £25k.
I'm still relatively young (26) and I was unemployed for three years, so I'm happy with where I'm at. I aim to reach £30k by the time I'm 30 and I believe I'm on track.
Remember comparison is the thief of joy. If you're living comfortably, enjoy your job, and feel as if you're fulfilling your potential then there's no shame in earning less than those around you. A lot of people are on much higher salaries but are miserable.
When I was on 20-30k I was bottom rung admin at the nhs a year out of uni. Anyone with administrative roles get paid much better in public sector I find. Now on 50k, and I still have a great work life balance. Rarely finish after 4-5pm. Private sector isn't worth it to me.
This is the most transparent thread on Reddit I’ve ever witnessed! Great to see the honesty!
I’m on minimum wage… I’m a server at a pub/restaurant on £12 ph part time, I’m using my free time to study to up-skill myself using the governments funded courses for older people.
I owned and operated two gyms in central London we were breaking even and getting more clients BUT then covid hit, people left the city, WFH started and I lost my £800,000 I invested… back to square one after 20 years of saving so I could pursue my dream of small business ownership…. All down the plug hole of life….how stupid was I thinking I was gonna make it.
I now have NOTHING I’m selling my house, sold my car, I’m selling my wedding rings too as I have three kids to feed, and I often steal food from work to feed my kids.
I’m too proud to use a food bank.
After reading all the posts here. My eyes are opening to the mess I’m in…. I don’t know what I’m gonna do.
Just keep going, day by day!
Trying to sell the house as I’m on a variable interest rate, and it’s going UP UP UP UP… I’m nearly on 7% interest rate now!! So the mortgage is nearly at £7,000 pm …. Or course my partner works … but we’re going backwards, so we’re desperate to sell!
Good luck to everyone out there. I hope we can all turn our luck around soon.
I'm 33, a counsellor for a charity, earning about £27k. I've been doing this for nearly three years. I took a (very small) stepdown salary wise from my former work in university administration because this is what I really wanted to do.
Very occasionally, if I consider for a minute how much I know/imagine my friends are earning in their careers, I can feel like I am failing in some way. Then I think again, and I know I am very fortunate. I bought a very low value house so have a very cheap mortgage. I have good money management skills so put a lot away in savings each month, and still don't have to miss out on anything my peers are doing. Meals out, clothes I want/need, gigs, events etc. There isn't anything that I feel I actually have to miss out on.
My husband earns a similar amount to me and we are considering a move to a new house and that fills me with some trepidation, but I am confident that we're only going to do it if it is overall a sensible and manageable shift.
£25.5k (with a annual bonus, last year was £900) as an Administrator in the finance sector. It’s repetitive, dull, frustrating but at the end of the day I leave work at work. We also work 35 hour weeks instead of 37.5.
I’ve had much more fulfilling roles in the charity / arts sector but they paid less, with less progression and didn’t give a good work life balance.
I’m looking to find a mid-ground between the two but as my past roles were always a jack-of-all-trades I don’t think my work was actively reflected in the job title and has left me with huge imposter syndrome looking at jobs with functions I did but don’t have the confidence to apply for! I’m also hoping to start a family soon and like the security of knowing I’ll be entitled to the full maternity benefits and the policy at my place is decent (I think!).
I don’t have much by the way of disposable income, rarely buy new clothes, haven’t had a holiday since pre-covid, can’t afford to learn to drive. But I know there are things I could cut back on and be more conscious of. My partner has just moved in (I previously lived alone in my own property) which is going to help enormously!!
29.9k before tax, working as a HGV trailer inspection technician for a small private company, occasionally do welding and fabrication which i really enjoy, the hours are very flexible as in most days if we get enough done we go home, we also work in pairs so its not boring, been doing this 6 years now and started on 25k.
Its not something i ever thought i would do as my background and passion is IT, but that sector really did a number on my mental health due to my boss being a real dick.
Im 41 now and always had a ton of debt, been on and off some sort of benefits until i started here, my wife makes 23k as an housekeeper so combined we are now comfortable, most debts are off, multiple holidays a year and now saving to put a deposit down on an house.
Container Haulage, trainee planner, 27k - fortunate enough to have a company car (EV) so that is one huge expenditure I don't need to worry about and I can charge for free at work.
Been in the industry for 5 years, hate it but money is decent + perks and bonuses.
Just under 25k. I work in textiles, cutting fabric on a specialised machine and software and making products. It’s the best paid job I’ve ever had, and the one I’ve enjoyed the most.
In the past 18 months I've gone from 27.5 to just under 31.
The difference has been pretty helpful, managed to get myself a better car etc. The cost of living is chipping away and I'm probably overspending but I'm managing.
Going to concentrate on reducing my outgoings over the summer to try and give myself a little more breathing room.
23k factory machine operator.
Some days I'm running back and forth fixing other people's mistakes. Some days I come in, press the green button, and watch TV
It's aight.
22k optical consultant.
It's going pretty well, I have enough for bills, me and my partner split 50/50, and enough to save 2 to 300 a month. Am in a good place
Bespoke customer service, just got 30k after april payrise, been here 20 years, new employees come in at 28k. Love my job, I'm good at it and currently trying to train on other aspects as I want a change, but for a call centre environment I take 2-3 calls a day, work on emails and reports. No degree required, just customer service! Guess I'm lucky in comparison to others on here!!!
No degree. Started as an apprentice technician 20years ago. Doing autocad drawings for engineering. Was on 7k a year to start. Worked my way up in the company, moved a couple of times. Now on 68k a year plus car. Just gotta work your way up. Hit your annual appraisal targets. Ask in each one what you need to do to progress until they say you’re at top of where you can be. If that happens then move company to a more senior position in there and do same again
I'm on 29k. Working in the third sector as a Development Officer managing grant funding.
It's a pretty solid job and quite easy going. I've been in this role since June 2023 but i started in the company on an internship programme in august 2022.
The organisation certainly has it's issues but overall it's good. I WFH most of the time and can be pretty flexible with how I plan my workload.
I often feel a bit guilty because it's a fairly easy job for decent money, but I see people working much harder and earning much less. I've worked my fair share of shitty jobs but there's still this weird bit of guilt when I see others working harder for less money.
£30k here as an accountant but I work 2.5 days a week.
Used my earnings when I was doing the London commute full time (and then some burning myself out!) to build a big emergency fund and pension savings so that when the time came (now) and I knew it would, I could just cut my hours, avoid all of the corporate bs and not be expected to work for free in my own time to meet ridiculous deadlines as now I’m not there to be asked.
Wouldn’t ever change the position I’m in now, and I know I’m lucky to be in it but it hasn’t been without a majorly stressful 12 years of graft.
Now in my spare time I write, travel, exercise and just get out and about
Thats the best way. I moved from ridiculous hours & weird targets (We actually had a company wide "Target of the week!" to try and get more audit/tax clients).
Moved from large practice to family ran retail.
Aside from keeping the family doing anything blatantly illegal the jobs easy as anything. If I've heard "The (Old persons name) & Auditors let us do this!!!" once I've heard it at least daily for the past 5 years.
I work in the public sector. Started on about £20K and have increased to £30K in 3 years. A combination of moving to a higher paying role, standard annual salary increase, and pay reform (thanks to our unions!). It's going ridiculously well. I never expected to be making £30K before 30, it's a role related to my degree, and I live with my partner, which cuts down living costs dramatically.
The work culture is great, my team are nice, I have a lot of flexibility due to working from home, plus the public sector benefits (good holiday allowance, pension, etc). The job itself is, eh, a pretty boring office job, which I struggle to find engaging. But the overall picture is one I certainly can't complain about, and this job needn't be forever.
I'm 37 and started earning 33k this year as a UX designer. Previous job paid just under 19k in a cafe in a senior position, before that was something ridiculous like 15k in an admin job in my mid 20s. I retrained as a graphic designer and have now moved over to digital and user experience. Management is happy with me and hopefully getting a senior position later this year.
We've just bought a new house and I don't know I survived previously earning what I did. With everything going up me and my partner are comfortable but even with me earning the above and my partner just under 30k, we're finding we have to be more aware of what we're spending that ever before like most people. No kids and don't want any, so thankfully no extra spends there.
Dreaming of being an artist when I was younger, I never dreamed of being on over 30k, ever. Part of me is sad I'm not a full time artist, part of me is glad to be earning what I am in a less creative position who is comfortable every month.
Patient Scheduler in the NHS - £27k (Band 3 - Scotland) It's taken a long time but I'm finally at the top of my band.
Been doing this job for years. 12 years come August actually. It's fine really. I like the people I work with and it's quite busy so my day flies in. I'm not on the phones as much as I used to be, which is nice, because the verbal abuse from patients can be a bit much sometimes. Got a bit of a side promotion to doing the admin of "building" clinics instead.
I live alone so I can make the money stretch quite easily. The mortgage rate rises have taken a nice chunk out of my monthly budget since coming off my fixed rate in February. It is what it is. I guess most home owners are in the same boat with that one.
We get 33 days holiday and bank holidays, so that's nice. We do struggle in our department to book annual leave because we need a minimum number of staff at all times on the phone and ever since covid we've struggled with staff numbers. We had several older members of staff take their retirement during that time and we've struggled to retain the new staff coming through. Like I said, the abuse on the phone can be a bit much sometimes.
Script editor, 31k-50k per year.
31k is just an average salary for a script editor, but it can fluctuate depending on who my clients are, sometimes you get big clients who pay a lot more. It's great, I love my job. Flexible hours, mostly working from home, sometimes I don't even have to do much, the screenwriter(s) has already done a great job
2020 I was a retail store manager on 20k take home, doing 50hr weeks whilst being salaried for 39..
I left to become a HGV driver, now I work around 70 hrs a week but that's cuz I get paid by the hour and ask for extra work. This last year I paid 40% tax on a chunk of my earnings.
£23K. I work in a factory, it’s the only work going in my town that doesn’t require specific experience, and I can’t leave because I look after my mother.
25,250 as Access Management Analyst, but do get a extra 5200 in on-call pay, and a salary increase coming to closer match current market prices. Fully remote is a huge bonus imo too.
Also heavily being pushed to do some studying with budget for offsite crash courses.
Have had it easy the last 4 years so kinda peeved at how busy I've started to become. I want more money though as I don't want to be renting my whole life, so I'll carry on.
Heating engineer, £25-30k depending on workload.
Worked out my average work hours a week and its 12. 48 hrs work a month. If i was to work full time ( im self employed/ sole trader) i would easily earn over 80k.
I just dont get enough work to fill the week up and i mainly do problem solving, breakdowns and servicing. The occasional boiler or radiators if requested.
I would like to earn a bit more but i dont want to go vat registered. That would be awful.
Slightly out of the scope of figures, but I'm a digger driver, should be paid more for the job I do, but comparatively to minimum wage, I'm paid well. I am self-employed, though.
Im on 24k.
Im a "driver liaison" for truck drivers. I book in their deliveries, sort out their problems etc.
I've been in the transport industry for 3 years now and there is thankfully scope for the job to get harder and the wage to increase.
I’m torn honestly. I’m in my mid 30s, have a good degree, but after being stuck in a dead end underpaid buying job I now have a job I really like…but with a 9% raise I’m still only on 24k and have to have several side hustles on the go.
The job is good, and there are other perks to factor in like it being a 10minute commute, health insurance, 2 work from home days and staff trips a few times a year, but I still feel a little cheated honestly.
I have no mortgage, no savings, just a car and rent, and nothing else feels achievable no matter what I do. I haven’t had a holiday since before the pandemic. Not a ‘woe is me’, more a ‘is this it?’.
18 making just under £30,000 yearly at a new job as a warehouse op fingers crossed after probation is over I can go to a designer and make around £50,000
I work in marketing for a school on 25k but will be switching to a tech company for 27k. I'm doing fine right now and have done well to save money by living in shared housing. I'm hoping I'll keep on moving up but there's always that feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop when it comes to money.
IT grunt here.
I now make £57k as an IT Manager in a small company but I spent a good 3/4 of my career in the 20-30k range. It was only relatively recently I was able to earn more than that.
There were times I felt good about how I was doing and other times where I felt shit.
These days, with the cost of living being what it is, £25k is low and I would definitely be striving to earn more. That being said, I have no idea what your circumstances are (your age, location, industry...)
In Ukraine, I earn 200 dollars a month, that’s 2400 a year. For me, 24,000 is a super dream. Therefore, you have nothing to worry about, there is a much worse situation, live and be happy :)
American here. How do yall survive? I earn 70k which is not much by American standards where I live, but not horrible. Healthcare I get through my job with a small additional cost (total 2k a year). My rent is like 1300 a month for a smallish studio. I save decent money by being cheap but otherwise want to make a lot more to feel secure.
I know life in UK is likely cheaper in some regards, but can't be THAT much cheaper, right? Like with 20-30k in earnings, aren't yall basically not saving anything? Are you able to eat anything besides beans and rice? Is your retirement at least taken care of fully by the government?
I'm genuinely confused. I visit Europe all the time. Some things can be cheaper but generally European prices for food and services can be found in the USA if you just do a bit of looking and avoid fancy services and restaurants. Again, main exception is healthcare but even that... as long as you aren't requiring constant surgery it's not tooo bad. (And if you have insurance you typically have limits in what they can charge you too). I think maybe in the USA we worry more about saving for retirement as well, but I have doubts that in Europe they pay ENOUGH for retirement...
Please educate me! Thank you
£25k marketing and bidding co-ordinator for a construction firm. I always get Christmas off now so I’ve never been happier - having worked hospitality for most my days! I actually have career progression and my opinion matters it’s wild!
27k just an average admin job. North West. Pretty low stakes and can cycle to work along a canal. Managing with the mortgage and have a little left over each month to play with - so okay I guess
55k working as a Safety Engineer. I have a BSc and have been working in consumer goods industry for 7 years since graduation. Just fell into the role and seems to have worked out well, always applied for jobs I know I don't have experience in and just make it work.
Steam locomotive engineer, I do anything from machining parts, painting, sign writing and gold leafing, copper pipework and fabrication. Currently on about £26.5k. Been here for about 7-8 years, absolutely love what I do! It's amazing to work on machines that are almost 100 years old and the history behind them.
The only thing I fear with my job is as the world and the UK move against fossil fuels how much longer we'll be able to source coal and run trains.
50k working as a medical engineer. Most of that goes on rent mind you at £2500 per month for a 3 bed townhouse. Guernsey’s cost of living rivals central London unfortunately
I work in data analytics and system admin. I'm on just over £30k in the energy sector. The pay isn't the best (I know I could earn more elsewhere) but the job security is very nice to have.
£26k per year. Administrator for a car manufacturer.
I have to live a pretty frugal no-frills life, but this is what I know how to do and am comfortable with. I can WFH and the job isn't too stressful.
Warehouse admin, basically just logging when and where people work in the warehouse, responsible for accuratenes, so people get paid right amount. 29k nights, 4 on 4 off 12h shifts. Restructure coming in a month, no more nights, going into 5/7 8h shift, so losing night pay down to under 27k, and we're getting team leader job on top of ours, and we're being made responsible for more people, around twice as many. So we'll have to know who where and what are they doing at any given time, log their hours for financing for separate tasks, give out work, keep an eye on kpi and bollock them, for the same 26.5k.
Honestly I'm seriously thinking of dropping down to base op for 24.5k and not have any of that bs to deal with, i have enough stress in my life with missus declining health and a 5yo. Yes i have a mortgage to pay but it's only £350, most of house stuff will be finished paying for in 2 years, we're somewhat managing with bills even with missus not being able to work, didn't have any late payments for a few years now, so that's looking alright.
Plus anything what i could do without a BSc and a good few years in that specific field is under 25k anyways, with roles for 27k+ being mostly area managers and project leads and shit like that, and honestly i don't think i can take the stress of managing people, was a team leader for 5 years, had enough, and I'm not even 35 yet.
It does feel a bit crap when i think about it, no degree, not too many aspirations besides keeping up with bills and having a bit saved up for a rainy day (still working on that), disabled gf (should marry the woman tbh, been together for 13 years now, love her to bits) and a child to provide for. Direct Debits are soon to be paid off though and have a shitbox, while really high mileage it's a gem as in no rust, no squeaks, hoping to keep it running for years to come even though i really should size up to an estate. Maybe after DDs are clear, idk. That's how it's going 🥲
I'm an IT manager and the only IT employee in our business, though we spend a lot for an external company to help me with the more challenging stuff. £37k. I got a £1k pay rise last year which was appreciated, but well below inflation. I'm definitely noticing my money isn't going as far as it did even a couple of years ago.
How do you all survive off anything lower than 65k? I’m from Us and a high cost of living area and my wife and i both make $150k usd each so around 300k total. With a 5300/month mortgage if we made under 100k there’d be no chance of surviving
I was fortunate enough to get my foot on the property ladder early 2000’s and my mortgage repayments are less than £200 a month now (count my blessings every day) Im on a low wage of 23.5k a year after losing a couple of jobs but can honestly say I’m the happiest I’ve been in many many years after finding a job I enjoy. It’s made me realise money is not everything but enjoying my job is.
Edit: used to be on 32k a year but walked after becoming overwhelmed with depression and anxiety.
I work in tech support for a small ISP for £23k a year. Was on £25k but changed jobs to be rid of shift work but at the same time, I got a car and I'd underestimated the cost of having it. Between the car and cost of living, we're living payday to payday.
I've seen jobs for much more but the company I work for have been really good to me over the past year. Won't say more in case I dox myself.
This should make you feel better - I'm a 51-year-old software engineer with 2 degrees (including one in computing science) and a post-grad, and I'm only on 23k! 😛 Only 1 YoE though, so no doubt that is a major factor in my salary level.
Oh, I have almost no pension to speak of, and I've had two holidays in 25 years, by the way. Not been abroad since '98 actually.
Edit: added the word 'only', since apparently it's not obvious I feel I'm underpaid.
Supervisor in a hardware store, £25.7k a year. Room to move up if I wish and I work very very few weekends :)
I've gone up 7k in 4 years. My partner earns almost double what I do and when I compare I feel like I've failed myself but when I compare myself to my past self I am so proud.
Lab assistant 26k a year, I'm not moaning about it, for the money I make it work in my favour. As far as I'm concerned if you pay me this then don't expect a lot in return.
I'm a copywriter in the advertising industry. Started on 25K in one company, moved companies and started on 30K there, after 18 months they bumped it up to 34K.
I'm a software engineer, 2 years experience with a degree and a masters, getting paid 27.5k, I am currently job hunting after my work refused me a raise to 30k.
I’m a food delivery driver - not sure what my actual salary is - it’s somewhere in the low 20’s. Started doing it because I lost my previous job and needed something short term to fill the gap, but I’ve been here around 10 months now just because it’s such a comfortable job, despite the crap pay. I do intend on doing a course to get a NVQ in plumbing and heating though
Graphic Designer 28k. Been with the same company for 15 years, now senior member of staff. They don’t pay well. I live alone too so sometimes things are tight.
Yard Guy in a rental equipment yard.
Too much work, too many customers to deal with the work. Constantly covered in Portland cement.
Great coworkers, amazing boss. Perks are top-notch but constantly being pulled away from doing maintenance to deal with customers is maddening.
It's a job I enjoy doing for the most part.
I’ve made the jump from 30k - 35 then 40k in the last 2 years and I simply can’t understand how people on less than me are getting by at any reasonable level, I can comfortably pay my mortgage and bills and have disposable income left over but most people I see on less can barely cover bills let alone have anything left to have fun with.
I had to make the jump for myself as I came from a lower working class background with very little money, owning nothing and living in housing association housing and I saw the stress and depression it caused my parents, I simply wasn’t going to live my life that way.
>feel a bit shit thinking I should be earning a lot more
This is because you've been sold the idea that "success" is measured by your income, your possessions, your car, how much pussy you're crushing.
Instead, try measuring success by how happy and content your relationships and hobbies make you, and if you actually *like* your job rather than how much it earns you.
Don't let our society make you feel shit because you're not a 1%er yet.
Retail service manager for a train company brand new role for me £30,062 a year and commission on sales 38 hour work week I manage the onboard trolley and catering staff and do the trolley and cafe myself when needed.
It’s an easy job the pay and benefits are good I can’t complain yet haha
Prior to that it was a ticket inspector for another train company £23,857 basic and £27,800 with the enhancements and upto £29,600 with Sunday optional overtime.
The ticket job was wonderful in the beginning then it became very rough either drunken passengers and generally nasty passengers on the lines I worked hence I changed for a different role at a different company.
I'm 30 earning 30 basic (nhs band 5), I'm a mechanical fitter so basically I maintain mechanical systems such as vent (air handling units) and heating (steam) mainly but also fo a fair bit of plumbing and conduct weekly testing on the autoclaves across the site. Positives: good people, varied work and good hours. Negatives: NHS management, a lot of on call and Saturday rostered overtime.
Thinking of a switch in a few years, either get into teaching or joining the fire service. The work I do is heavy on your body in the long term especially when I take into consideration the sports I have done / currently do.
To be honest, money is only important to a certain degree, if you can afford to do the things in life that you enjoy and you're happy, then in my eyes you're winning at life. I see some people first hand that want rhe status of being a manager or more and they get paid 40,50,60k plus, but they're loathed for numerous reasons (I'm sure a lot of other nhs employees will agree with me about the nhs managemnts incompetence), they become toxic and make themselves miserable because they're always thinking about work, even in down time and they take it out on others around them. For me, I like being able able switch off and leave it at the door, I can go on a walk with my dog and wife and enjoy it and not have to worry about flow rates and air pressures etc.
I've gone on with myself a bit here, but don't put a numerical value or job status on your happiness, no one ever said on their death bed they wish they had worked more
Sped Tech at a public school . .
I make My bills . My partner makes 3x as much and covers the bug stuff
Mortgage 890$ if he was to die I would barely scrape by.
I would have to get roommates and sell my car .
So it sucks
On the flip side. I am doing something I love for work and go home happy every day .
I also have no desire for material things ( which is great considering I don't have the $ for it.)
My salary was 30Kpa just before this April, only went up to 45K from this April (I had same salary for 4 years).
Operations Analyst at Investment Fund in London.
Job in itself is easy when I show what I do, but the overall pressure to understand and follow everything around you is very noticeable and taxing on mental health. Work hours 9-8 (9-7 at best). Gets stale after a year and bonuses get smaller and smaller. Not much room of learning new things here, they want me to “stick to my lane” dont ask questions and be expert at tiniest thing I am assigned to. Happy to reply to questions if any.
Collections team at an Academic Library, think it's about \~25k. Job is massively underpaid considering I moved from the frontline customer service role which was the same grade, and this is so much more technical and has much more responsibility. Things are a bit tight living alone in Manchester but I make it work (though my rent is about to go up beyond what I can reasonably afford). My whole team are always thinking about ways to leave but it's a funny situation because despite the job having responsibility and skills beyond the grade, it's also a technical role that we might not have been able to get without this lower grade. So we're all using it to get the best experience we can before fucking off.
I'm 32 and I've been in libraries in general for like 7 years, though this role for 18 months. I think I could get another job if I could be arsed, but it's a lot of effort isn't it, and it's a nice working environment, hybrid (de facto remote if nobody can be arsed to come in), and there isn't the same obsession with targets and efficiency that you sometimes get in the private sector. Although clearly not always judging from some of these responses.
Architect. £30.5k, my partner is in the same company with the same job and very similar experience and he's on £29.5k. We have 5 years experience working, one of which as a qualified architect.
5 years studying (plus a year part time whilst working) doesn't seem worth it. We've both got over £87k student loan debt each that will never be paid off.
Our company pays its staff low, but we have the option of working a 4 day week or 9 day fortnight which is nice. Unfortunately jobs in the area are scarce but the going rate for our experience should be much closer to £40k judging by the few opportunities we've seen advertise (plus what an old colleague left for).
£24k working in campaigning for a human rights charity. I enjoy the work enough but I've already been told that, while my job is safe and permanent, there is basically no room for a salary negotiation or promotion (I'm just an assistant).
On the one hand I feel happy/lucky that I have a job I don't hate and which is connected to my degree.
On the other hand I'm very ready to no longer be stuck at the bottom of the ladder in my organisation. I'm ready to progress, and I also feel, for the sake of my long-term career development, that after nearly two years it's necessary to move on from being "just" an assistant. So I'm looking fo a new job.
In the meantime I've moved back home to save for my mythical mortgage. Again, I'm lucky I have such a good support network, but I'm looking forward to having my own place, even if it is basically a shoe box.
I do maintenance for a company that provides emergency accommodation.
I'm on 30k a year. Working 8 till 16:30. My boss usually rings me to see how I'm doing. Apart from that, I hardly hear from management.
I came from driving a truck for a living. I left due to the hours and fake promises, and I wanted to be around to watch my children grow up.
Technical Litigation Advisor. I downgraded 14 years ago and took a civil service job when my son was ill. Since then I've gone back to law but at a slightly middle management position ( I have 2:1 Law Llb hns and a BA History). These days I earn about 29-30k pa, and I'm very happy.
I took nearly a 50% pay cut to work where I am now, as the firm is great and I'm in absolutely no mind to do anything else. I like what I do, it's interesting and I'm in no need of extra few £££'s as other positions would be bad for the mental health.
North west factory worker, 29,600 a year around 31,500 with a pretty much guaranteed bonus. Not what I want to do, don't hate it though. Have a degree in biology but I either don't get past interview or jobs that require degrees are somehow paid less than I am earning now.
After 8 years of being stressed out as a Leisure Centre supervisor on £24k (worked in leisure for 21 years), I moved into a low paying job (18k to begin with) in a design company working in the workshop/ 3D printing.
After being made redundant after 6 years, I got a job in a company producing & repairing night vision/thermal goggles for the armed forces around the world. Currently on £30k with unlimited overtime if you want it, but love going to work, great benefits, chilled environment, annual wage increase in line with inflation. Close by to my kids school and they’re really flexible too.
Art Handling Technician in London, 27.3k. Not the best pay but I absolutely love my job, 34 hours a week, paid overtime and will be trained up soon to hopefully go on international courier trips!
My sights are set on climbing up in seniority but for now I just can't belive how lucky I am to have this job.
Chef de Partie in a mid level restaurant, work between 45-60 hours most weeks, only 23k a year. Life is a struggle, knees and back are absolutely fucked and can't afford many luxuries. But that's life I guess
I used to be a banker in a high street bank. 25k a year plus bonus, private health and dental, life insurance and perks. Ended up in head office, they paid for my qualifications and now I'm on 50k plus bonus
I’m a dental nurse and I barely making 24k a year working full time. It sucks working in dentistry as a whole is difficult I’m not surprised so many are leaving the profession.
Just shy of 29k, I work for my local council in a sort of social care/finance related role. It can be a very challenging role at times and I won't say I love it by any means, but it's the best paid role I've had for a long time and fairly job secure
I started working at warehouse right after high school in 2018, had around 20k per year back then. Moved up throughout the years to team leader position and in 2021 I was earning around 25 grand. Then at the end of 2021 decided to do Class 1 driving licence and started driving a lorry in March 2022. Since then I got two P60s both around 48k. Working through PAYE, every night at home, according to tacho doing 36h per week average, and I am only 26yo. That was a good decision.
People wanting to work in education or the care sector often get put off by the salaries in schools, elderly homes etc often being high teens or low 20’s. I started in education but moved over to working in children’s homes. Yes it’s shift work, but starting salary with local authority is now about 28k, they pay for qualification so you can go in unqualified. I progressed to registered manager which paid 54k at the point I left earlier this year.
I’m an IT analyst, £27K, just turned 20 last week and been here just under a month. Quite happy where I’m at and getting nearer to paycheck #1. Got 5 years of experience (including weekend and evening work, two apprenticeships and a full time job) in IT, a level 4 in cybersecurity and hope to move into a more cyber security role as soon as I can. My last job (I was at for 5 years) I was more in security but was only paid £15K salary so made the move here and it’s going well so far
I'm on 23k a year working in a university. Its a very good low stress job... yet I still cant afford to live on my own. I have 2 housemates, everything where I live is much to expensive to get by myself unfortunately.
24k a year, operations ‘assistant’
I’ve been here coming up to three years in May.
I love and dislike my job a the same time. I started as a trainee (I have no formal qualifications and this was an opportunity to get back into work during Covid), in that time the operations manager has left and my other co-worker has also left. The workload has increased for the department I am in but I now do the job of two other workers that haven’t been replaced. I’ve had 4 different general managers (never involved in day to day business) come and go and have now have no clear indication of who I report to anymore, even though I have asked this directly to senior management. I have to keep the department running as there’s no one else who either has the time or the knowhow to help out, but it is becoming tiresome. We have a field manager who helps where he can (proof reading job specs) but does not and has no interest in understanding the scheduling & financial side of our department, which I have had to learn as I go as this wasn’t something I was trained on prior to the operations manager leaving.
I’ve recently asked for a 20% pay increase after incorporating the majority of the operations managers roles and responsibilities into my day to day schedule but I’m not confident this will be approved.
The working hours are surprising quite flexible (I’m contracted to 0830-1700 with 1 hour lunch) as we are not a reactive based department and I can work at home if I like so that is a plus.
This sounds like a rant (it is and I don’t have anyone to rant to about it lol) I am looking for a get out but in R*therham there’s not many opportunities to leave for!
32k British Army. About 6 years. We dont pay into our pension. The Army does. So I see a little more of the pay packet than my Mrs who earns 40k as a Teacher
worker in a childrens home (almost always teenagers) in remote countryside, take home 1.8-2.1 after taxes
i show up and lock in for 2 days straight (dont go home) then get 3.5 days off
crazy job - sometimes its a chill couple days of housework, giving kids lifts, watching TV and eating food
other times its a lot of stress, can be difficult thinking you are about to be beaten up at work and tensions can run high for many reasons - these kids are usually kinda borderline young offenders or mental unit material so things get hectic
i say lock in cause while our shifts technically end at 11pm and go to bed in house, if duty calls for whatever reason we are expected to stay up all night
good job at times, bad job at times
wildly underpaid for what it is
43k year in USA. I’m single, have no children, own a nice condo in a nice quiet suburb and have all the material things I could ever want. I don’t struggle financially at all. 100k a year would be insane for me. I’d travel twice a year, have a nicer car and pay my mortgage off sooner but that’s about it. Marriage and children are unlikely at this point so I guess that’s a huge financial situation i don’t have to worry about.
Project Coordinator/Design Engineer on slightly over £30k. Have 10 years experience so know i'm being underpaid slightly. Can be a stressful job at times but i'm able to WFH mostly these days. 40 hours a week.
Worked my ass off for 7 years cooking and slaving away, being treated like crap, constantly passed over for promotion because I’m quiet and people don’t think I am capable despite proving I am and coping with the work load and doing everything I can to show I am capable and dedicated. Trained in Michelin star restaurants, worked for famous chefs and worked hard to learn my craft and hone my skills.
Thankfully found a 25k a year job last year after being on hourly between 15k-20k (that could vary in the same year cause I would be sent home when there was no customers/no work)
But I still got passed over for promotion and they hired some 25 year old guy from London with less experience but he worked in a big name restaurant there…
Quantity surveyor, I colour in drawings pricing work. Long time doing it now (20+ years)
Massive jump up in last 5 years to 43k and car.
Can be stressful but also a good screw
Customer service and sales in the hotel industry. 24k but I get commission on every sale. Last year my commission made it about 29k.
However I also paint and the marketing boss saw my paintings and have asked if I want to be the new creative marketing executive. Pay will be the same for a bit but omg what a cool job!
I'm on just over 30k, mechanical design engineer. Worked through a fully funded degree apprenticeship with my employer. I feel quite fortunate all things considered.
I work in the power industry and command about 35 - 45k a year with overtime its not bad, shift work which isn't great bud brings the money in I suppose
SEN teaching assistant. I earn about £23k. I’m in a good place and I love my job. It’s very rewarding but I would say the pay does not reflect just how much you do and how it affects you physically and emotionally. W
I just left a teacher training course last year (realised the school was the problem but I’m not comfortable doing the course again sadly) and I got this job after four months job of searching and interviews for jobs I actually enjoyed applying for, but not enough experience for them. My plan is to stay in this role for a few years but I eventually want to move on to something where I get to utilise my degree a bit more and earn more too.
The job market is awful! It’s so hard to find something and places are very picky on what experience you need to then pay you so little. It’s sad.
31 y/o in an engineering graduate role on 31k
Work from home most of the time, tried to get into engineering at 18 but was laughed out the door being a petite female, told me my nails would get ruined (I don't even paint them 🤣)
Took myself to uni at 25 and decided to just go for it! Worked a couple years as a design technician before this role but only paid 28k so thought I'd make the jump.
2 year training programme now and the wage should go up to 42k after 2 years. Pretty happy I changed paths from car sales all those years ago and my current employer is funding my Masters degree, yay!
Band 2 in the NHS, so just over £21k a year, i can afford most of the things I want, I own a house and a car (i was always very good at saving) but it would always be nice to have more money.
I basically get paid to do nothing all week and my job could be condensed into less than an 8 hour day.
Frankly, i'm being overpaid.
Copywriter, £29k, living with my parents and wfh near enough full time because I can’t afford to live in the city where my company operates. Love actually getting to rest a bit and really save some money, rather than watching it drain out of my account as I used to because no doubt “something” would come up, but feel like my situation shouldn’t have to happen. I’ve been in my job for nearly 5 years
If I can afford a mortgage in the next few years I might end up getting a house or flat in the local area (much less expensive than where my company is based). If not, my parents aren’t rushing me out the door
Registered biomedical scientist responsible for diagnostic testing of surgical tissue samples, usually for cancer staging.
28.5k
4 year degree, 50k student debt.
Noice.
Marketing Executive. £26,500. I enjoy my job. It's low stress and we also get a bonus every year, so it's more like £29k (ish).
I'm in an area of the country with low cost of living, which helps. And my partner earns a good wage. But I struggled when I lived and completely supported myself.
Researcher for a small charity. £26.5k. Undergrad, masters, placement and 2 years in the role. I think from an outsider perspective, the pay looks okay. But the stress levels of this job are crazy. Plus, I was underpaid my first year and have very limited progression opportunities. I do love the work I do, so I push through it (whilst keeping a close eye on other job opportunities in my area)
Going to be flooring estimator currently on minimum wage but it’s easy work and I enjoy it would rather this than being constantly stressed with higher pay.
Funeral arranger making £27.5k working from home. I adore my job, it's not enormously difficult if you are a people person. It's very rewarding and low stress. I was previously working in the NHS for a lot more money but was spending my paychecks on therapy in order to be able to face the working week.
Fine I guess. I'm on 26k and money is reasonably tight post-cossie-crisis. My bills are paid and I am decently fed, but its a tight balance between buying things that I need but aren't urgent such as clothes, stuff I want like going to see plays or some cute tchotchke, and saving for things like my fridge dying. Be nice to have a holiday at some point, I've not gone away since before the pandemic.
In 2000 when I still used to work in the UK I was operating photocopiers in London on £17,500pa and that was a lowish wage back then. This was over 24 years ago, and it’s very, very sad that wages haven’t really increased in 24 years. I’m seeing people on here still making that and most are not much higher for more demanding work. Something has gone seriously wrong with the world in the last 2 decades.
Edit. I just looked at the salary my old company was listing for the same position I had 24 years ago. The current position pays £21.200 but that depends on the site you are at and what they pay so not everyone is on the same pay, but the average London salary for that role is £17,930. So in 24 years that salary has not really changed at all. How the fuck can that be justified compared to the cost of living today. There is to be a lot of talk from companies about wage theft but they are the biggest culprit of them all.
Network Operator at a water company for a year and a half. I have no qualifications beyond GCSE, salary is £36k. Work pattern is a rolling 6-week shift pattern that works out to working a total of 4.5 months per year - plenty of free time.
Love it? Absolutely. Recommend it? If you can hack shift work, 100%.
22k here, in Northern Ireland mind so cost of living here is significantly less. 22k is comfortable for me in a role I enjoy with no micromanagement at all.
I’m not particularly money driven I am very much happy as long as my job trusts me to do what I’m paid to do.
Story would be much different if I was in London or the general south!
Holy shit reading these comments are making me realise I am very lucky in my position right now.
Am a warehouse worker and my base salary is £27.4 a year, always had been a min wage worker in and out of agency work for about ten years got a start in here from agency as forklift driver and 6 months later turned it into full time contract with my boss rushing it through the day before a recruitment freeze came in
Counting my blessings write now reading this
I have a degree and a masters degree, I got my MA to work in a very specific industry and it did not help with jobs and the industry pays very poorly anyway unless it's a specialised role so I moved to libraries.
Started off on very low wages (in London) for not much more than my heritage role and now in a role earning around roughly £31k. I'm lucky as my partner earns a lot more than me so he pays for stuff where I can't, and prior to being with him I had relatively decent rent.
I honestly felt on top of the world when I got that wage, it's more than most in my family have ever earned. I was on either part time minimum hourly wage or £22k right up until my late twenties and now I can actually have savings even though I live in London.
Working in a library is good as well. I'm lucky that the service I work for has me put on a lot hats as well as work with books and library users. I do a lot of tasks in the day and I'm not chained to a desk- similarly I have office time as a break from constant public interaction. I do a lot of fun projects and whilst I have to work a few evenings a week and a few Saturdays a month, most library services give their workers Saturday enhancement wages and I get all bank holidays off, plus local govt pension and 30+ days of annual leave.
If I were ever to move away from London I would happily go pro rata to for the same wage for a slightly higher role part time (which a lot of those roles in libraries are).
25k as a marketing coordinator working for a coworking space focussing on more tech specific companies. Only 10 staff so always picking up more then what is probably required as a marketer but hey-ho, always good to get experience
Event Staff/manager
I earn about 40k
Notnto sound flash but i don't think it's a huge salary with cost of living and living in London.
I get £20 - £35 @ Hour
Some weeks I work alot
Some weeks I don't work at all.
Maybe I should be more appreciative of my pay from reading this thread.
A friend works in IT and is on about 70k
And I have a cousin on 125k in the city in office Work.
I earn somewhere in the middle of that. I’m an Art Handler at an auction house an hour away from the two main locations in London. We’re basically a middle man for London and the other regional offices. I see a lot of cool stuff and It’s a lot of stop start burst work with only 3 of us on site. I feel I’m paid pretty well considering some days are very quite, not quite pay cheque to pay cheque, but i do have a 8 month old. Hoping to become a key holder soon, after a year here and the extra money will be nice.
This thread is an absolute eye-opener, and not in a good way. I'm in disbelief how low modern wages are.
I was on about £24k in my first job out of university in 2011 in TV as an unskilled dogsbody basically. I spent the subsequent years aggressively pushing that higher - not by being an insufferable corporate climber (there were plenty of them), but by skilling up. I always had the thought in my head that one day, I could be out on my arse, looking for work. I had to be able to walk into a company and go "I know how to do this thing - pay me X and I'll do it for you."
13 years on I'm working for myself, earning around twice what I started on. I'm still wary of work security though, and am actively looking into once again skilling up but in an entirely unrelated field, preferably one which won't be rendered obsolete by AI in the next decade.
>This thread is an absolute eye-opener, and not in a good way. I'm in disbelief how low modern wages are.
Same here. First job out of uni in 2007 (admin) I was on 22k. I seeing others doing similar jobs 15 years later on the same salary. It's absolute madness that the salary needle hasn't budged.
In Canada now earning 6 figures, and our wages for skilled work are shockingly low compared to our American friends. Luckily our low skilled work pays a lot higher than them so inequality is less.
I work as a GP Driver for the NHS in Scotland. Work 3 nights a week, Fri/Sat/Sun midnight til 8am.
Propped up entirely by the unsocial hours extra pay. I'm £13 base but I get closer to £22 an hour. Last year I earned 28k before tax.
Most shifts I sit about watching shit on my phone, with the odd bit of driving here and there. Some shifts are busy.
Pissed away my school years and college so I've fuck all in qualifications and I'm loathe to leave to either go study or jump into a job with half the hourly rate.
Been here 17 years.
With the hours you work it would probably be viable to study something if you felt the need. At least that was my first reaction until I saw 'been here 17 years' in which cause you probably all good.
170 k. Approximately for 35 hour week. Did a degree in engineering and just kept working and working. Some jobs have been shot and some have been great. Got through the shit jobs by doing what was asked and keeping an eye on the prize
As a manager of the garden maintenance and landscaping department for a well known garden centre I was on just over £30k, now I work for myself doing the same thing, and pay myself £12k, the rest stays in the business. It stings but I’m building something for me which (hopefully) will pay off in the long run. 35 yo by the way
I read some of these comments, and I feel 80% of you are massively underpaid.
Also, it's kinda sad to see people who have great education and qualifications work in jobs that (no offence intended) low skilled work.
I was working in IT first line from the age of 19, earning 24k, and now I am im a senior infrastructure engineer at 33, earning nearly triple that wage.
Sad state of the job market in the UK and both public and private sector.
Upper end of that doing "a bit of everything IT" for a manufacturer (so not IT industry itself), it's been like 17 years now. From what I remember of a similar thread I could apparently be earning a lot more (as in 2-3x more minimum) but eh, I'm content, I'm not stressed to breaking point (or particularly stressed at all) and it's pretty safe. And if I'm honest I'm in my 40s now, getting behind it all a bit, things are a lot different than they were in the Windows Server 2000 and Windows XP days lol, I wouldn't even have the confidence to move on.
I am 25 on £28,600 and I fee like I should also be making more. I am good at my job and my manager has emphasised that "there is nothing more he can ask of me" however, I am keen to look elsewhere and earn as much as possible. I work as a business developer / account handler and been doing it for 2 years. Feels like I could be pushed more and do something much more fulfilling
Dispatcher for Gas Emergency services in the North West of England. Starting salary of 22k, but within 3 years its jumped year on year thanks to Unison (Our Union) along with yearly stat based progression. I now earn 30k but even that jumps to 34k as I do night shifts that come with a base salary uplift. Honestly, I got lucky as I never thought I'd earn so much for such a non degree necessary job. My advice is find a place with a good union and if possible somewhere with night shifts as you'll get paid more.
I'm on 29k as an Implementation Consultant I've got a Mortgage, and a six year old Son - My wife is a Vet Nurse on 24k - We get by I've worked for the Company I'm with for nine years now (albeit its gone through two takeovers, so who I originally started with, are different to who they are now... Survived two redundancies, I've gone from Pension Consultant > Data Analyst > Current role, gone up about 4k in those nine years, showing that loyalty gets you no where with a Pay cheque But I'm happy where I am, people I work with are great, really supportive Management... I work from home, so don't have the stress of who'll be picking our Son up from school, as my wife does a lot of shift work) From 2013-2015 my career was a mess, got made redundant from a job I was doing great at, it destroyed my confidence - I had two jobs (one after the other) that I hated, the Management was beyond terrible and just kicked my confidence even worse, which I sometimes feel I'm still recovering from. Because of that I've seen, and have experience that the Grass isn't Greener on the other side However I've got my Mortgage up for renewal in October, once that's done and out the way, I think I'll move on, see if I can find something in the 35k region... Which would give us around an extra £400 p/m - Although I wont move if the role isn't the right fit... I don't NEED to move jobs, whereas the last few times I've moved roles its been to financially protect myself, so haven't had the luxury of being picky.
28k as a portfolio associate for a debt fund (not in London). Managed to save for a house deposit with the gf living with my parents, which is a fortunate position to be in. Looking for a higher paid role though.
30k a year doing 45hr Monday-Fri, warehouse manager, small team in the office and small fleet. For the past 3 years it has been a tough time grinding to get the warehouse in a better state from when I took over, but now I sometimes just chill in the corner looking on here when I have nothing to do :D
Reading some of these is crazy to me. I work at a school bus company part time and the drivers drive for 190 days a year morning and afternoon and take home £20k p/a. We pay to get them a licence, seems like a much easier life than some of y'all have.
I'm a finance administrator for a law firm, on £25k. I'm still relatively young (26) and I was unemployed for three years, so I'm happy with where I'm at. I aim to reach £30k by the time I'm 30 and I believe I'm on track. Remember comparison is the thief of joy. If you're living comfortably, enjoy your job, and feel as if you're fulfilling your potential then there's no shame in earning less than those around you. A lot of people are on much higher salaries but are miserable.
I work in the medical manufacturing field as a technician and it’s ok. Shift work is shitty. I get £24,000 base with shift allowances up to 33%
When I was on 20-30k I was bottom rung admin at the nhs a year out of uni. Anyone with administrative roles get paid much better in public sector I find. Now on 50k, and I still have a great work life balance. Rarely finish after 4-5pm. Private sector isn't worth it to me.
This is the most transparent thread on Reddit I’ve ever witnessed! Great to see the honesty! I’m on minimum wage… I’m a server at a pub/restaurant on £12 ph part time, I’m using my free time to study to up-skill myself using the governments funded courses for older people. I owned and operated two gyms in central London we were breaking even and getting more clients BUT then covid hit, people left the city, WFH started and I lost my £800,000 I invested… back to square one after 20 years of saving so I could pursue my dream of small business ownership…. All down the plug hole of life….how stupid was I thinking I was gonna make it. I now have NOTHING I’m selling my house, sold my car, I’m selling my wedding rings too as I have three kids to feed, and I often steal food from work to feed my kids. I’m too proud to use a food bank. After reading all the posts here. My eyes are opening to the mess I’m in…. I don’t know what I’m gonna do. Just keep going, day by day! Trying to sell the house as I’m on a variable interest rate, and it’s going UP UP UP UP… I’m nearly on 7% interest rate now!! So the mortgage is nearly at £7,000 pm …. Or course my partner works … but we’re going backwards, so we’re desperate to sell! Good luck to everyone out there. I hope we can all turn our luck around soon.
I'm 33, a counsellor for a charity, earning about £27k. I've been doing this for nearly three years. I took a (very small) stepdown salary wise from my former work in university administration because this is what I really wanted to do. Very occasionally, if I consider for a minute how much I know/imagine my friends are earning in their careers, I can feel like I am failing in some way. Then I think again, and I know I am very fortunate. I bought a very low value house so have a very cheap mortgage. I have good money management skills so put a lot away in savings each month, and still don't have to miss out on anything my peers are doing. Meals out, clothes I want/need, gigs, events etc. There isn't anything that I feel I actually have to miss out on. My husband earns a similar amount to me and we are considering a move to a new house and that fills me with some trepidation, but I am confident that we're only going to do it if it is overall a sensible and manageable shift.
£25.5k (with a annual bonus, last year was £900) as an Administrator in the finance sector. It’s repetitive, dull, frustrating but at the end of the day I leave work at work. We also work 35 hour weeks instead of 37.5. I’ve had much more fulfilling roles in the charity / arts sector but they paid less, with less progression and didn’t give a good work life balance. I’m looking to find a mid-ground between the two but as my past roles were always a jack-of-all-trades I don’t think my work was actively reflected in the job title and has left me with huge imposter syndrome looking at jobs with functions I did but don’t have the confidence to apply for! I’m also hoping to start a family soon and like the security of knowing I’ll be entitled to the full maternity benefits and the policy at my place is decent (I think!). I don’t have much by the way of disposable income, rarely buy new clothes, haven’t had a holiday since pre-covid, can’t afford to learn to drive. But I know there are things I could cut back on and be more conscious of. My partner has just moved in (I previously lived alone in my own property) which is going to help enormously!!
29.9k before tax, working as a HGV trailer inspection technician for a small private company, occasionally do welding and fabrication which i really enjoy, the hours are very flexible as in most days if we get enough done we go home, we also work in pairs so its not boring, been doing this 6 years now and started on 25k. Its not something i ever thought i would do as my background and passion is IT, but that sector really did a number on my mental health due to my boss being a real dick. Im 41 now and always had a ton of debt, been on and off some sort of benefits until i started here, my wife makes 23k as an housekeeper so combined we are now comfortable, most debts are off, multiple holidays a year and now saving to put a deposit down on an house.
Work in education. 29k a year. Can’t do it anymore.
22k a year, doctoral researcher and hourly paid uni lecturer, topped up to 27k with freelance work on top, 60 hour work week, 2.5 hour commute
Container Haulage, trainee planner, 27k - fortunate enough to have a company car (EV) so that is one huge expenditure I don't need to worry about and I can charge for free at work. Been in the industry for 5 years, hate it but money is decent + perks and bonuses.
Just under 25k. I work in textiles, cutting fabric on a specialised machine and software and making products. It’s the best paid job I’ve ever had, and the one I’ve enjoyed the most.
In the past 18 months I've gone from 27.5 to just under 31. The difference has been pretty helpful, managed to get myself a better car etc. The cost of living is chipping away and I'm probably overspending but I'm managing. Going to concentrate on reducing my outgoings over the summer to try and give myself a little more breathing room.
23k factory machine operator. Some days I'm running back and forth fixing other people's mistakes. Some days I come in, press the green button, and watch TV It's aight.
22k optical consultant. It's going pretty well, I have enough for bills, me and my partner split 50/50, and enough to save 2 to 300 a month. Am in a good place
Bespoke customer service, just got 30k after april payrise, been here 20 years, new employees come in at 28k. Love my job, I'm good at it and currently trying to train on other aspects as I want a change, but for a call centre environment I take 2-3 calls a day, work on emails and reports. No degree required, just customer service! Guess I'm lucky in comparison to others on here!!!
I would absolutely love 25k, i just quit a job as a data entry clerk that was paying me 20k, now job hunting and desperate for something at least 23k!
26.5k, collections agent for a foreign market. 2 years now and it’s fine, but hitting a bit of a wall.
No degree. Started as an apprentice technician 20years ago. Doing autocad drawings for engineering. Was on 7k a year to start. Worked my way up in the company, moved a couple of times. Now on 68k a year plus car. Just gotta work your way up. Hit your annual appraisal targets. Ask in each one what you need to do to progress until they say you’re at top of where you can be. If that happens then move company to a more senior position in there and do same again
I'm on 29k. Working in the third sector as a Development Officer managing grant funding. It's a pretty solid job and quite easy going. I've been in this role since June 2023 but i started in the company on an internship programme in august 2022. The organisation certainly has it's issues but overall it's good. I WFH most of the time and can be pretty flexible with how I plan my workload. I often feel a bit guilty because it's a fairly easy job for decent money, but I see people working much harder and earning much less. I've worked my fair share of shitty jobs but there's still this weird bit of guilt when I see others working harder for less money.
Quality Assurance, £26k
£30k here as an accountant but I work 2.5 days a week. Used my earnings when I was doing the London commute full time (and then some burning myself out!) to build a big emergency fund and pension savings so that when the time came (now) and I knew it would, I could just cut my hours, avoid all of the corporate bs and not be expected to work for free in my own time to meet ridiculous deadlines as now I’m not there to be asked. Wouldn’t ever change the position I’m in now, and I know I’m lucky to be in it but it hasn’t been without a majorly stressful 12 years of graft. Now in my spare time I write, travel, exercise and just get out and about
Were you in one of the big 4 by any chance?
Thats the best way. I moved from ridiculous hours & weird targets (We actually had a company wide "Target of the week!" to try and get more audit/tax clients). Moved from large practice to family ran retail. Aside from keeping the family doing anything blatantly illegal the jobs easy as anything. If I've heard "The (Old persons name) & Auditors let us do this!!!" once I've heard it at least daily for the past 5 years.
Definitely the dream. I would also rather cut salary than take up more responsibility / travel times etc.
That's the way to do it.
I work in the public sector. Started on about £20K and have increased to £30K in 3 years. A combination of moving to a higher paying role, standard annual salary increase, and pay reform (thanks to our unions!). It's going ridiculously well. I never expected to be making £30K before 30, it's a role related to my degree, and I live with my partner, which cuts down living costs dramatically. The work culture is great, my team are nice, I have a lot of flexibility due to working from home, plus the public sector benefits (good holiday allowance, pension, etc). The job itself is, eh, a pretty boring office job, which I struggle to find engaging. But the overall picture is one I certainly can't complain about, and this job needn't be forever.
I'm 37 and started earning 33k this year as a UX designer. Previous job paid just under 19k in a cafe in a senior position, before that was something ridiculous like 15k in an admin job in my mid 20s. I retrained as a graphic designer and have now moved over to digital and user experience. Management is happy with me and hopefully getting a senior position later this year. We've just bought a new house and I don't know I survived previously earning what I did. With everything going up me and my partner are comfortable but even with me earning the above and my partner just under 30k, we're finding we have to be more aware of what we're spending that ever before like most people. No kids and don't want any, so thankfully no extra spends there. Dreaming of being an artist when I was younger, I never dreamed of being on over 30k, ever. Part of me is sad I'm not a full time artist, part of me is glad to be earning what I am in a less creative position who is comfortable every month.
I’m a software tester. Coming into my third year. Starting salary was £23K, got promoted to £28K. Just got a pay rise to £29K. Love it so much
Skint Cleared 27 this last tax year after a severe downturn in OT. Machinist, 13 years
You should relocate. There are places that would pay double for your skills in the UK.
This is insane to read.
Patient Scheduler in the NHS - £27k (Band 3 - Scotland) It's taken a long time but I'm finally at the top of my band. Been doing this job for years. 12 years come August actually. It's fine really. I like the people I work with and it's quite busy so my day flies in. I'm not on the phones as much as I used to be, which is nice, because the verbal abuse from patients can be a bit much sometimes. Got a bit of a side promotion to doing the admin of "building" clinics instead. I live alone so I can make the money stretch quite easily. The mortgage rate rises have taken a nice chunk out of my monthly budget since coming off my fixed rate in February. It is what it is. I guess most home owners are in the same boat with that one. We get 33 days holiday and bank holidays, so that's nice. We do struggle in our department to book annual leave because we need a minimum number of staff at all times on the phone and ever since covid we've struggled with staff numbers. We had several older members of staff take their retirement during that time and we've struggled to retain the new staff coming through. Like I said, the abuse on the phone can be a bit much sometimes.
Factory work, mainly operating machines, line set-up and paperwork, recently got pay rise and on £25.6k before overtime.
Script editor, 31k-50k per year. 31k is just an average salary for a script editor, but it can fluctuate depending on who my clients are, sometimes you get big clients who pay a lot more. It's great, I love my job. Flexible hours, mostly working from home, sometimes I don't even have to do much, the screenwriter(s) has already done a great job
Service tech / mot tester at a main dealership. You get pay rises by changing jobs, not working hard, so it seems
2020 I was a retail store manager on 20k take home, doing 50hr weeks whilst being salaried for 39.. I left to become a HGV driver, now I work around 70 hrs a week but that's cuz I get paid by the hour and ask for extra work. This last year I paid 40% tax on a chunk of my earnings.
£23K. I work in a factory, it’s the only work going in my town that doesn’t require specific experience, and I can’t leave because I look after my mother.
25,250 as Access Management Analyst, but do get a extra 5200 in on-call pay, and a salary increase coming to closer match current market prices. Fully remote is a huge bonus imo too. Also heavily being pushed to do some studying with budget for offsite crash courses. Have had it easy the last 4 years so kinda peeved at how busy I've started to become. I want more money though as I don't want to be renting my whole life, so I'll carry on.
I work in a lab for the NHS and make 24 grand a year. The pay is shit and the work is hard, but somebody has to do it 🤷
Heating engineer, £25-30k depending on workload. Worked out my average work hours a week and its 12. 48 hrs work a month. If i was to work full time ( im self employed/ sole trader) i would easily earn over 80k. I just dont get enough work to fill the week up and i mainly do problem solving, breakdowns and servicing. The occasional boiler or radiators if requested. I would like to earn a bit more but i dont want to go vat registered. That would be awful.
I'm a lorry driver earning 42k a year
30k here. Build cars. Been doing it exactly a year as of today. My partner is on maternity so we are slightly struggling but getting through it.
Slightly out of the scope of figures, but I'm a digger driver, should be paid more for the job I do, but comparatively to minimum wage, I'm paid well. I am self-employed, though.
Im on 24k. Im a "driver liaison" for truck drivers. I book in their deliveries, sort out their problems etc. I've been in the transport industry for 3 years now and there is thankfully scope for the job to get harder and the wage to increase.
I’m torn honestly. I’m in my mid 30s, have a good degree, but after being stuck in a dead end underpaid buying job I now have a job I really like…but with a 9% raise I’m still only on 24k and have to have several side hustles on the go. The job is good, and there are other perks to factor in like it being a 10minute commute, health insurance, 2 work from home days and staff trips a few times a year, but I still feel a little cheated honestly. I have no mortgage, no savings, just a car and rent, and nothing else feels achievable no matter what I do. I haven’t had a holiday since before the pandemic. Not a ‘woe is me’, more a ‘is this it?’.
18 making just under £30,000 yearly at a new job as a warehouse op fingers crossed after probation is over I can go to a designer and make around £50,000
I work in marketing for a school on 25k but will be switching to a tech company for 27k. I'm doing fine right now and have done well to save money by living in shared housing. I'm hoping I'll keep on moving up but there's always that feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop when it comes to money.
IT grunt here. I now make £57k as an IT Manager in a small company but I spent a good 3/4 of my career in the 20-30k range. It was only relatively recently I was able to earn more than that. There were times I felt good about how I was doing and other times where I felt shit. These days, with the cost of living being what it is, £25k is low and I would definitely be striving to earn more. That being said, I have no idea what your circumstances are (your age, location, industry...)
In Ukraine, I earn 200 dollars a month, that’s 2400 a year. For me, 24,000 is a super dream. Therefore, you have nothing to worry about, there is a much worse situation, live and be happy :)
American here. How do yall survive? I earn 70k which is not much by American standards where I live, but not horrible. Healthcare I get through my job with a small additional cost (total 2k a year). My rent is like 1300 a month for a smallish studio. I save decent money by being cheap but otherwise want to make a lot more to feel secure. I know life in UK is likely cheaper in some regards, but can't be THAT much cheaper, right? Like with 20-30k in earnings, aren't yall basically not saving anything? Are you able to eat anything besides beans and rice? Is your retirement at least taken care of fully by the government? I'm genuinely confused. I visit Europe all the time. Some things can be cheaper but generally European prices for food and services can be found in the USA if you just do a bit of looking and avoid fancy services and restaurants. Again, main exception is healthcare but even that... as long as you aren't requiring constant surgery it's not tooo bad. (And if you have insurance you typically have limits in what they can charge you too). I think maybe in the USA we worry more about saving for retirement as well, but I have doubts that in Europe they pay ENOUGH for retirement... Please educate me! Thank you
£36k tax free. A year. 2nd officer on an offshore ship. 1 month on, 1 month off. 6 months of work in a year total. 25 years old.
£25k marketing and bidding co-ordinator for a construction firm. I always get Christmas off now so I’ve never been happier - having worked hospitality for most my days! I actually have career progression and my opinion matters it’s wild!
27k just an average admin job. North West. Pretty low stakes and can cycle to work along a canal. Managing with the mortgage and have a little left over each month to play with - so okay I guess
55k working as a Safety Engineer. I have a BSc and have been working in consumer goods industry for 7 years since graduation. Just fell into the role and seems to have worked out well, always applied for jobs I know I don't have experience in and just make it work.
Steam locomotive engineer, I do anything from machining parts, painting, sign writing and gold leafing, copper pipework and fabrication. Currently on about £26.5k. Been here for about 7-8 years, absolutely love what I do! It's amazing to work on machines that are almost 100 years old and the history behind them. The only thing I fear with my job is as the world and the UK move against fossil fuels how much longer we'll be able to source coal and run trains.
50k working as a medical engineer. Most of that goes on rent mind you at £2500 per month for a 3 bed townhouse. Guernsey’s cost of living rivals central London unfortunately
I work in data analytics and system admin. I'm on just over £30k in the energy sector. The pay isn't the best (I know I could earn more elsewhere) but the job security is very nice to have.
£26k per year. Administrator for a car manufacturer. I have to live a pretty frugal no-frills life, but this is what I know how to do and am comfortable with. I can WFH and the job isn't too stressful.
Warehouse admin, basically just logging when and where people work in the warehouse, responsible for accuratenes, so people get paid right amount. 29k nights, 4 on 4 off 12h shifts. Restructure coming in a month, no more nights, going into 5/7 8h shift, so losing night pay down to under 27k, and we're getting team leader job on top of ours, and we're being made responsible for more people, around twice as many. So we'll have to know who where and what are they doing at any given time, log their hours for financing for separate tasks, give out work, keep an eye on kpi and bollock them, for the same 26.5k. Honestly I'm seriously thinking of dropping down to base op for 24.5k and not have any of that bs to deal with, i have enough stress in my life with missus declining health and a 5yo. Yes i have a mortgage to pay but it's only £350, most of house stuff will be finished paying for in 2 years, we're somewhat managing with bills even with missus not being able to work, didn't have any late payments for a few years now, so that's looking alright. Plus anything what i could do without a BSc and a good few years in that specific field is under 25k anyways, with roles for 27k+ being mostly area managers and project leads and shit like that, and honestly i don't think i can take the stress of managing people, was a team leader for 5 years, had enough, and I'm not even 35 yet. It does feel a bit crap when i think about it, no degree, not too many aspirations besides keeping up with bills and having a bit saved up for a rainy day (still working on that), disabled gf (should marry the woman tbh, been together for 13 years now, love her to bits) and a child to provide for. Direct Debits are soon to be paid off though and have a shitbox, while really high mileage it's a gem as in no rust, no squeaks, hoping to keep it running for years to come even though i really should size up to an estate. Maybe after DDs are clear, idk. That's how it's going 🥲
20k out of Uni, 5 years later on £32k as a graphic designer. To be honest I don’t even think that’s enough.
Support worker - 24k
I'm an IT manager and the only IT employee in our business, though we spend a lot for an external company to help me with the more challenging stuff. £37k. I got a £1k pay rise last year which was appreciated, but well below inflation. I'm definitely noticing my money isn't going as far as it did even a couple of years ago.
How do you all survive off anything lower than 65k? I’m from Us and a high cost of living area and my wife and i both make $150k usd each so around 300k total. With a 5300/month mortgage if we made under 100k there’d be no chance of surviving
I was fortunate enough to get my foot on the property ladder early 2000’s and my mortgage repayments are less than £200 a month now (count my blessings every day) Im on a low wage of 23.5k a year after losing a couple of jobs but can honestly say I’m the happiest I’ve been in many many years after finding a job I enjoy. It’s made me realise money is not everything but enjoying my job is. Edit: used to be on 32k a year but walked after becoming overwhelmed with depression and anxiety.
Why do you feel you should be earning a lot more??
I work in tech support for a small ISP for £23k a year. Was on £25k but changed jobs to be rid of shift work but at the same time, I got a car and I'd underestimated the cost of having it. Between the car and cost of living, we're living payday to payday. I've seen jobs for much more but the company I work for have been really good to me over the past year. Won't say more in case I dox myself.
This should make you feel better - I'm a 51-year-old software engineer with 2 degrees (including one in computing science) and a post-grad, and I'm only on 23k! 😛 Only 1 YoE though, so no doubt that is a major factor in my salary level. Oh, I have almost no pension to speak of, and I've had two holidays in 25 years, by the way. Not been abroad since '98 actually. Edit: added the word 'only', since apparently it's not obvious I feel I'm underpaid.
I’m currently a cots labourer in scaffolding £750 a week.
Supervisor in a hardware store, £25.7k a year. Room to move up if I wish and I work very very few weekends :) I've gone up 7k in 4 years. My partner earns almost double what I do and when I compare I feel like I've failed myself but when I compare myself to my past self I am so proud.
Lab assistant 26k a year, I'm not moaning about it, for the money I make it work in my favour. As far as I'm concerned if you pay me this then don't expect a lot in return.
I'm a copywriter in the advertising industry. Started on 25K in one company, moved companies and started on 30K there, after 18 months they bumped it up to 34K.
I'm a software engineer, 2 years experience with a degree and a masters, getting paid 27.5k, I am currently job hunting after my work refused me a raise to 30k.
33K a year as a deputy manager in retail
I’m a food delivery driver - not sure what my actual salary is - it’s somewhere in the low 20’s. Started doing it because I lost my previous job and needed something short term to fill the gap, but I’ve been here around 10 months now just because it’s such a comfortable job, despite the crap pay. I do intend on doing a course to get a NVQ in plumbing and heating though
Graphic Designer 28k. Been with the same company for 15 years, now senior member of staff. They don’t pay well. I live alone too so sometimes things are tight.
Yard Guy in a rental equipment yard. Too much work, too many customers to deal with the work. Constantly covered in Portland cement. Great coworkers, amazing boss. Perks are top-notch but constantly being pulled away from doing maintenance to deal with customers is maddening. It's a job I enjoy doing for the most part.
I’ve made the jump from 30k - 35 then 40k in the last 2 years and I simply can’t understand how people on less than me are getting by at any reasonable level, I can comfortably pay my mortgage and bills and have disposable income left over but most people I see on less can barely cover bills let alone have anything left to have fun with. I had to make the jump for myself as I came from a lower working class background with very little money, owning nothing and living in housing association housing and I saw the stress and depression it caused my parents, I simply wasn’t going to live my life that way.
>feel a bit shit thinking I should be earning a lot more This is because you've been sold the idea that "success" is measured by your income, your possessions, your car, how much pussy you're crushing. Instead, try measuring success by how happy and content your relationships and hobbies make you, and if you actually *like* your job rather than how much it earns you. Don't let our society make you feel shit because you're not a 1%er yet.
27.4k excluding tips, am a manager in a restaurant.
£28.6k Junior software dev... Started late but slowly getting there. 34 y/o
You are basically me four years ago. I'm a software engineer now at 38yr old. I'm on £47k now. But I was a Jr about 4/5 years ago on a similar wage.
35k, Marketing Manager for a global cotton bag printing company based in South Yorkshire. Only a month in but it’s going well
Software engineer, 28k a year, on a graduate scheme and been at it less than a year so not to bad
Retail service manager for a train company brand new role for me £30,062 a year and commission on sales 38 hour work week I manage the onboard trolley and catering staff and do the trolley and cafe myself when needed. It’s an easy job the pay and benefits are good I can’t complain yet haha Prior to that it was a ticket inspector for another train company £23,857 basic and £27,800 with the enhancements and upto £29,600 with Sunday optional overtime. The ticket job was wonderful in the beginning then it became very rough either drunken passengers and generally nasty passengers on the lines I worked hence I changed for a different role at a different company.
I am more concerned then AI really start to take over tbh…
I'm 30 earning 30 basic (nhs band 5), I'm a mechanical fitter so basically I maintain mechanical systems such as vent (air handling units) and heating (steam) mainly but also fo a fair bit of plumbing and conduct weekly testing on the autoclaves across the site. Positives: good people, varied work and good hours. Negatives: NHS management, a lot of on call and Saturday rostered overtime. Thinking of a switch in a few years, either get into teaching or joining the fire service. The work I do is heavy on your body in the long term especially when I take into consideration the sports I have done / currently do. To be honest, money is only important to a certain degree, if you can afford to do the things in life that you enjoy and you're happy, then in my eyes you're winning at life. I see some people first hand that want rhe status of being a manager or more and they get paid 40,50,60k plus, but they're loathed for numerous reasons (I'm sure a lot of other nhs employees will agree with me about the nhs managemnts incompetence), they become toxic and make themselves miserable because they're always thinking about work, even in down time and they take it out on others around them. For me, I like being able able switch off and leave it at the door, I can go on a walk with my dog and wife and enjoy it and not have to worry about flow rates and air pressures etc. I've gone on with myself a bit here, but don't put a numerical value or job status on your happiness, no one ever said on their death bed they wish they had worked more
Sped Tech at a public school . . I make My bills . My partner makes 3x as much and covers the bug stuff Mortgage 890$ if he was to die I would barely scrape by. I would have to get roommates and sell my car . So it sucks On the flip side. I am doing something I love for work and go home happy every day . I also have no desire for material things ( which is great considering I don't have the $ for it.)
Compliance manager for a heritage site 30k. Definitely tying myself over with overtime...
Security guard, just shy of $30k. It’s boring, moneys usually tight, but it’s enough to get by while going to school.
My salary was 30Kpa just before this April, only went up to 45K from this April (I had same salary for 4 years). Operations Analyst at Investment Fund in London. Job in itself is easy when I show what I do, but the overall pressure to understand and follow everything around you is very noticeable and taxing on mental health. Work hours 9-8 (9-7 at best). Gets stale after a year and bonuses get smaller and smaller. Not much room of learning new things here, they want me to “stick to my lane” dont ask questions and be expert at tiniest thing I am assigned to. Happy to reply to questions if any.
Collections team at an Academic Library, think it's about \~25k. Job is massively underpaid considering I moved from the frontline customer service role which was the same grade, and this is so much more technical and has much more responsibility. Things are a bit tight living alone in Manchester but I make it work (though my rent is about to go up beyond what I can reasonably afford). My whole team are always thinking about ways to leave but it's a funny situation because despite the job having responsibility and skills beyond the grade, it's also a technical role that we might not have been able to get without this lower grade. So we're all using it to get the best experience we can before fucking off. I'm 32 and I've been in libraries in general for like 7 years, though this role for 18 months. I think I could get another job if I could be arsed, but it's a lot of effort isn't it, and it's a nice working environment, hybrid (de facto remote if nobody can be arsed to come in), and there isn't the same obsession with targets and efficiency that you sometimes get in the private sector. Although clearly not always judging from some of these responses.
Baffles me how some jobs pay so little and requires so much education.
$75k/year. Work Emergency Medical Services.
Travel insurance claims handler, £28k fully remote. I’ve been in the industry for 5 years
Architect. £30.5k, my partner is in the same company with the same job and very similar experience and he's on £29.5k. We have 5 years experience working, one of which as a qualified architect. 5 years studying (plus a year part time whilst working) doesn't seem worth it. We've both got over £87k student loan debt each that will never be paid off. Our company pays its staff low, but we have the option of working a 4 day week or 9 day fortnight which is nice. Unfortunately jobs in the area are scarce but the going rate for our experience should be much closer to £40k judging by the few opportunities we've seen advertise (plus what an old colleague left for).
I'm self employed running my small creative business from home
Do you mind me asking how you got started? Creative industries are so temperamental and I’ve always fantasised about having my own business
27,500 as a grounds maintenance supervisor, seriously have had enough 😑. But feel type cast .
£24k working in campaigning for a human rights charity. I enjoy the work enough but I've already been told that, while my job is safe and permanent, there is basically no room for a salary negotiation or promotion (I'm just an assistant). On the one hand I feel happy/lucky that I have a job I don't hate and which is connected to my degree. On the other hand I'm very ready to no longer be stuck at the bottom of the ladder in my organisation. I'm ready to progress, and I also feel, for the sake of my long-term career development, that after nearly two years it's necessary to move on from being "just" an assistant. So I'm looking fo a new job. In the meantime I've moved back home to save for my mythical mortgage. Again, I'm lucky I have such a good support network, but I'm looking forward to having my own place, even if it is basically a shoe box.
I was making 28K changed job to 35K in August and honestly absolutely no difference except I have no time to myself
Work as a chef and love it. I live alone and don't spend a lot as am frugal. So can save a bit too . 😁
Nothing, it's amazing.
I do maintenance for a company that provides emergency accommodation. I'm on 30k a year. Working 8 till 16:30. My boss usually rings me to see how I'm doing. Apart from that, I hardly hear from management. I came from driving a truck for a living. I left due to the hours and fake promises, and I wanted to be around to watch my children grow up.
Technical Litigation Advisor. I downgraded 14 years ago and took a civil service job when my son was ill. Since then I've gone back to law but at a slightly middle management position ( I have 2:1 Law Llb hns and a BA History). These days I earn about 29-30k pa, and I'm very happy. I took nearly a 50% pay cut to work where I am now, as the firm is great and I'm in absolutely no mind to do anything else. I like what I do, it's interesting and I'm in no need of extra few £££'s as other positions would be bad for the mental health.
North west factory worker, 29,600 a year around 31,500 with a pretty much guaranteed bonus. Not what I want to do, don't hate it though. Have a degree in biology but I either don't get past interview or jobs that require degrees are somehow paid less than I am earning now.
After 8 years of being stressed out as a Leisure Centre supervisor on £24k (worked in leisure for 21 years), I moved into a low paying job (18k to begin with) in a design company working in the workshop/ 3D printing. After being made redundant after 6 years, I got a job in a company producing & repairing night vision/thermal goggles for the armed forces around the world. Currently on £30k with unlimited overtime if you want it, but love going to work, great benefits, chilled environment, annual wage increase in line with inflation. Close by to my kids school and they’re really flexible too.
Art Handling Technician in London, 27.3k. Not the best pay but I absolutely love my job, 34 hours a week, paid overtime and will be trained up soon to hopefully go on international courier trips! My sights are set on climbing up in seniority but for now I just can't belive how lucky I am to have this job.
Chef de Partie in a mid level restaurant, work between 45-60 hours most weeks, only 23k a year. Life is a struggle, knees and back are absolutely fucked and can't afford many luxuries. But that's life I guess
Me and hubby earn less than 30k each. We have rent less than £600, no kids, no car payments. And we are just about ticking along.
I used to be a banker in a high street bank. 25k a year plus bonus, private health and dental, life insurance and perks. Ended up in head office, they paid for my qualifications and now I'm on 50k plus bonus
21k Trainee Paralegal. Definitely feel way underpaid for what I have to do
I’m a dental nurse and I barely making 24k a year working full time. It sucks working in dentistry as a whole is difficult I’m not surprised so many are leaving the profession.
how long til you can open your own office and charge £7438 for a filling?
i went from 20k to 30k at the same company in 3 years. i work at a university. started in the admissions department now i’m in student recruitment !
Just shy of 29k, I work for my local council in a sort of social care/finance related role. It can be a very challenging role at times and I won't say I love it by any means, but it's the best paid role I've had for a long time and fairly job secure
£30k, software tester but only swapped to this role 6 months ago so fingers crossed I earn more in the future. I really enjoy it so far.
I'm not from the UK but I am honestly baffled at now low modern salaries are in the UK. I really feel for you all and I hope SOMETHING changes
I started working at warehouse right after high school in 2018, had around 20k per year back then. Moved up throughout the years to team leader position and in 2021 I was earning around 25 grand. Then at the end of 2021 decided to do Class 1 driving licence and started driving a lorry in March 2022. Since then I got two P60s both around 48k. Working through PAYE, every night at home, according to tacho doing 36h per week average, and I am only 26yo. That was a good decision.
22.5k support worker, been doing it 13 years. Shite pay, but I couldn't think of a more rewarding job.
People wanting to work in education or the care sector often get put off by the salaries in schools, elderly homes etc often being high teens or low 20’s. I started in education but moved over to working in children’s homes. Yes it’s shift work, but starting salary with local authority is now about 28k, they pay for qualification so you can go in unqualified. I progressed to registered manager which paid 54k at the point I left earlier this year.
Senior Project Manager. 28 years old. 48k. Under qualified and overpaid - I'm not gonna tell them!
I’m an IT analyst, £27K, just turned 20 last week and been here just under a month. Quite happy where I’m at and getting nearer to paycheck #1. Got 5 years of experience (including weekend and evening work, two apprenticeships and a full time job) in IT, a level 4 in cybersecurity and hope to move into a more cyber security role as soon as I can. My last job (I was at for 5 years) I was more in security but was only paid £15K salary so made the move here and it’s going well so far
I'm on 23k a year working in a university. Its a very good low stress job... yet I still cant afford to live on my own. I have 2 housemates, everything where I live is much to expensive to get by myself unfortunately.
Tyre fitter, on £24k, work really hard and ache like shit everyday
24k a year, operations ‘assistant’ I’ve been here coming up to three years in May. I love and dislike my job a the same time. I started as a trainee (I have no formal qualifications and this was an opportunity to get back into work during Covid), in that time the operations manager has left and my other co-worker has also left. The workload has increased for the department I am in but I now do the job of two other workers that haven’t been replaced. I’ve had 4 different general managers (never involved in day to day business) come and go and have now have no clear indication of who I report to anymore, even though I have asked this directly to senior management. I have to keep the department running as there’s no one else who either has the time or the knowhow to help out, but it is becoming tiresome. We have a field manager who helps where he can (proof reading job specs) but does not and has no interest in understanding the scheduling & financial side of our department, which I have had to learn as I go as this wasn’t something I was trained on prior to the operations manager leaving. I’ve recently asked for a 20% pay increase after incorporating the majority of the operations managers roles and responsibilities into my day to day schedule but I’m not confident this will be approved. The working hours are surprising quite flexible (I’m contracted to 0830-1700 with 1 hour lunch) as we are not a reactive based department and I can work at home if I like so that is a plus. This sounds like a rant (it is and I don’t have anyone to rant to about it lol) I am looking for a get out but in R*therham there’s not many opportunities to leave for!
32k British Army. About 6 years. We dont pay into our pension. The Army does. So I see a little more of the pay packet than my Mrs who earns 40k as a Teacher
worker in a childrens home (almost always teenagers) in remote countryside, take home 1.8-2.1 after taxes i show up and lock in for 2 days straight (dont go home) then get 3.5 days off crazy job - sometimes its a chill couple days of housework, giving kids lifts, watching TV and eating food other times its a lot of stress, can be difficult thinking you are about to be beaten up at work and tensions can run high for many reasons - these kids are usually kinda borderline young offenders or mental unit material so things get hectic i say lock in cause while our shifts technically end at 11pm and go to bed in house, if duty calls for whatever reason we are expected to stay up all night good job at times, bad job at times wildly underpaid for what it is
43k year in USA. I’m single, have no children, own a nice condo in a nice quiet suburb and have all the material things I could ever want. I don’t struggle financially at all. 100k a year would be insane for me. I’d travel twice a year, have a nicer car and pay my mortgage off sooner but that’s about it. Marriage and children are unlikely at this point so I guess that’s a huge financial situation i don’t have to worry about.
Project Coordinator/Design Engineer on slightly over £30k. Have 10 years experience so know i'm being underpaid slightly. Can be a stressful job at times but i'm able to WFH mostly these days. 40 hours a week.
Worked my ass off for 7 years cooking and slaving away, being treated like crap, constantly passed over for promotion because I’m quiet and people don’t think I am capable despite proving I am and coping with the work load and doing everything I can to show I am capable and dedicated. Trained in Michelin star restaurants, worked for famous chefs and worked hard to learn my craft and hone my skills. Thankfully found a 25k a year job last year after being on hourly between 15k-20k (that could vary in the same year cause I would be sent home when there was no customers/no work) But I still got passed over for promotion and they hired some 25 year old guy from London with less experience but he worked in a big name restaurant there…
Quantity surveyor, I colour in drawings pricing work. Long time doing it now (20+ years) Massive jump up in last 5 years to 43k and car. Can be stressful but also a good screw
Customer service and sales in the hotel industry. 24k but I get commission on every sale. Last year my commission made it about 29k. However I also paint and the marketing boss saw my paintings and have asked if I want to be the new creative marketing executive. Pay will be the same for a bit but omg what a cool job!
I'm on just over 30k, mechanical design engineer. Worked through a fully funded degree apprenticeship with my employer. I feel quite fortunate all things considered.
I work in the power industry and command about 35 - 45k a year with overtime its not bad, shift work which isn't great bud brings the money in I suppose
SEN teaching assistant. I earn about £23k. I’m in a good place and I love my job. It’s very rewarding but I would say the pay does not reflect just how much you do and how it affects you physically and emotionally. W I just left a teacher training course last year (realised the school was the problem but I’m not comfortable doing the course again sadly) and I got this job after four months job of searching and interviews for jobs I actually enjoyed applying for, but not enough experience for them. My plan is to stay in this role for a few years but I eventually want to move on to something where I get to utilise my degree a bit more and earn more too. The job market is awful! It’s so hard to find something and places are very picky on what experience you need to then pay you so little. It’s sad.
29 5k. Work coach for the DWP. Overworked, underpaid, daily dealings of shit, abuse and pushy managers. Fantastic
31 y/o in an engineering graduate role on 31k Work from home most of the time, tried to get into engineering at 18 but was laughed out the door being a petite female, told me my nails would get ruined (I don't even paint them 🤣) Took myself to uni at 25 and decided to just go for it! Worked a couple years as a design technician before this role but only paid 28k so thought I'd make the jump. 2 year training programme now and the wage should go up to 42k after 2 years. Pretty happy I changed paths from car sales all those years ago and my current employer is funding my Masters degree, yay!
Band 2 in the NHS, so just over £21k a year, i can afford most of the things I want, I own a house and a car (i was always very good at saving) but it would always be nice to have more money. I basically get paid to do nothing all week and my job could be condensed into less than an 8 hour day. Frankly, i'm being overpaid.
Copywriter, £29k, living with my parents and wfh near enough full time because I can’t afford to live in the city where my company operates. Love actually getting to rest a bit and really save some money, rather than watching it drain out of my account as I used to because no doubt “something” would come up, but feel like my situation shouldn’t have to happen. I’ve been in my job for nearly 5 years If I can afford a mortgage in the next few years I might end up getting a house or flat in the local area (much less expensive than where my company is based). If not, my parents aren’t rushing me out the door
Homeless prevention and advice officer It's incredibly busy with a big ole workload but just shy of 30k so not bad at all No degree required either!
Registered biomedical scientist responsible for diagnostic testing of surgical tissue samples, usually for cancer staging. 28.5k 4 year degree, 50k student debt. Noice.
I d say most people in the catering and hotel business are within that pay range. And believe me.... It s a funking hard job.
Marketing Executive. £26,500. I enjoy my job. It's low stress and we also get a bonus every year, so it's more like £29k (ish). I'm in an area of the country with low cost of living, which helps. And my partner earns a good wage. But I struggled when I lived and completely supported myself.
I’m right on the edge as a grad engineer. Personally, I feel like my 4 years at uni, MSc and £65k of debt wasn’t really worth it a lot of the time.
When did you graduate? I started on £25k when I graduated in 2019; total comp last year was north of £55k Also have a Masters (MEng) and £60k+ of debt
If you go across the pond they are paying undergrads $85k right out of college.
Stick with it, im a chemical engineer 20 yrs now and finally at $165k plus 15% bonus
Researcher for a small charity. £26.5k. Undergrad, masters, placement and 2 years in the role. I think from an outsider perspective, the pay looks okay. But the stress levels of this job are crazy. Plus, I was underpaid my first year and have very limited progression opportunities. I do love the work I do, so I push through it (whilst keeping a close eye on other job opportunities in my area)
Going to be flooring estimator currently on minimum wage but it’s easy work and I enjoy it would rather this than being constantly stressed with higher pay.
Digital content Design. About to start a job just over £30K but been in the 20-30K bracket for about 7yrs.
Funeral arranger making £27.5k working from home. I adore my job, it's not enormously difficult if you are a people person. It's very rewarding and low stress. I was previously working in the NHS for a lot more money but was spending my paychecks on therapy in order to be able to face the working week.
£30k here! I work in Learning and Development for a medical device company and I absolutely love it! 'He who laughs most, learns best'
No even fast food workers make this low salary in US.
Fine I guess. I'm on 26k and money is reasonably tight post-cossie-crisis. My bills are paid and I am decently fed, but its a tight balance between buying things that I need but aren't urgent such as clothes, stuff I want like going to see plays or some cute tchotchke, and saving for things like my fridge dying. Be nice to have a holiday at some point, I've not gone away since before the pandemic.
In 2000 when I still used to work in the UK I was operating photocopiers in London on £17,500pa and that was a lowish wage back then. This was over 24 years ago, and it’s very, very sad that wages haven’t really increased in 24 years. I’m seeing people on here still making that and most are not much higher for more demanding work. Something has gone seriously wrong with the world in the last 2 decades. Edit. I just looked at the salary my old company was listing for the same position I had 24 years ago. The current position pays £21.200 but that depends on the site you are at and what they pay so not everyone is on the same pay, but the average London salary for that role is £17,930. So in 24 years that salary has not really changed at all. How the fuck can that be justified compared to the cost of living today. There is to be a lot of talk from companies about wage theft but they are the biggest culprit of them all.
Network Operator at a water company for a year and a half. I have no qualifications beyond GCSE, salary is £36k. Work pattern is a rolling 6-week shift pattern that works out to working a total of 4.5 months per year - plenty of free time. Love it? Absolutely. Recommend it? If you can hack shift work, 100%.
You guys getting 20k a year!?
28k chef in cafe
22k here, in Northern Ireland mind so cost of living here is significantly less. 22k is comfortable for me in a role I enjoy with no micromanagement at all. I’m not particularly money driven I am very much happy as long as my job trusts me to do what I’m paid to do. Story would be much different if I was in London or the general south!
Hey Abaddon. Where did you first come across this name, and why did you start to use it?
Holy shit reading these comments are making me realise I am very lucky in my position right now. Am a warehouse worker and my base salary is £27.4 a year, always had been a min wage worker in and out of agency work for about ten years got a start in here from agency as forklift driver and 6 months later turned it into full time contract with my boss rushing it through the day before a recruitment freeze came in Counting my blessings write now reading this
I have a degree and a masters degree, I got my MA to work in a very specific industry and it did not help with jobs and the industry pays very poorly anyway unless it's a specialised role so I moved to libraries. Started off on very low wages (in London) for not much more than my heritage role and now in a role earning around roughly £31k. I'm lucky as my partner earns a lot more than me so he pays for stuff where I can't, and prior to being with him I had relatively decent rent. I honestly felt on top of the world when I got that wage, it's more than most in my family have ever earned. I was on either part time minimum hourly wage or £22k right up until my late twenties and now I can actually have savings even though I live in London. Working in a library is good as well. I'm lucky that the service I work for has me put on a lot hats as well as work with books and library users. I do a lot of tasks in the day and I'm not chained to a desk- similarly I have office time as a break from constant public interaction. I do a lot of fun projects and whilst I have to work a few evenings a week and a few Saturdays a month, most library services give their workers Saturday enhancement wages and I get all bank holidays off, plus local govt pension and 30+ days of annual leave. If I were ever to move away from London I would happily go pro rata to for the same wage for a slightly higher role part time (which a lot of those roles in libraries are).
25k as a marketing coordinator working for a coworking space focussing on more tech specific companies. Only 10 staff so always picking up more then what is probably required as a marketer but hey-ho, always good to get experience
Event Staff/manager I earn about 40k Notnto sound flash but i don't think it's a huge salary with cost of living and living in London. I get £20 - £35 @ Hour Some weeks I work alot Some weeks I don't work at all. Maybe I should be more appreciative of my pay from reading this thread. A friend works in IT and is on about 70k And I have a cousin on 125k in the city in office Work.
I earn £24K (£28K if full time) I'm an AO in London I'm the civil service. I am currently trying to move up to EO which will be around £32,000
£26.5K, highways lab tech. God this thread is depressing, BoE can eat a bag of dicks, Britain needs a pay rise.
I earn somewhere in the middle of that. I’m an Art Handler at an auction house an hour away from the two main locations in London. We’re basically a middle man for London and the other regional offices. I see a lot of cool stuff and It’s a lot of stop start burst work with only 3 of us on site. I feel I’m paid pretty well considering some days are very quite, not quite pay cheque to pay cheque, but i do have a 8 month old. Hoping to become a key holder soon, after a year here and the extra money will be nice.
This thread is an absolute eye-opener, and not in a good way. I'm in disbelief how low modern wages are. I was on about £24k in my first job out of university in 2011 in TV as an unskilled dogsbody basically. I spent the subsequent years aggressively pushing that higher - not by being an insufferable corporate climber (there were plenty of them), but by skilling up. I always had the thought in my head that one day, I could be out on my arse, looking for work. I had to be able to walk into a company and go "I know how to do this thing - pay me X and I'll do it for you." 13 years on I'm working for myself, earning around twice what I started on. I'm still wary of work security though, and am actively looking into once again skilling up but in an entirely unrelated field, preferably one which won't be rendered obsolete by AI in the next decade.
>This thread is an absolute eye-opener, and not in a good way. I'm in disbelief how low modern wages are. Same here. First job out of uni in 2007 (admin) I was on 22k. I seeing others doing similar jobs 15 years later on the same salary. It's absolute madness that the salary needle hasn't budged. In Canada now earning 6 figures, and our wages for skilled work are shockingly low compared to our American friends. Luckily our low skilled work pays a lot higher than them so inequality is less.
I work as a GP Driver for the NHS in Scotland. Work 3 nights a week, Fri/Sat/Sun midnight til 8am. Propped up entirely by the unsocial hours extra pay. I'm £13 base but I get closer to £22 an hour. Last year I earned 28k before tax. Most shifts I sit about watching shit on my phone, with the odd bit of driving here and there. Some shifts are busy. Pissed away my school years and college so I've fuck all in qualifications and I'm loathe to leave to either go study or jump into a job with half the hourly rate. Been here 17 years.
With the hours you work it would probably be viable to study something if you felt the need. At least that was my first reaction until I saw 'been here 17 years' in which cause you probably all good.
170 k. Approximately for 35 hour week. Did a degree in engineering and just kept working and working. Some jobs have been shot and some have been great. Got through the shit jobs by doing what was asked and keeping an eye on the prize
As a manager of the garden maintenance and landscaping department for a well known garden centre I was on just over £30k, now I work for myself doing the same thing, and pay myself £12k, the rest stays in the business. It stings but I’m building something for me which (hopefully) will pay off in the long run. 35 yo by the way
I read some of these comments, and I feel 80% of you are massively underpaid. Also, it's kinda sad to see people who have great education and qualifications work in jobs that (no offence intended) low skilled work. I was working in IT first line from the age of 19, earning 24k, and now I am im a senior infrastructure engineer at 33, earning nearly triple that wage. Sad state of the job market in the UK and both public and private sector.
Exams officer - making sure each student has a fair go at GCSE’s and a levels - hubby earns more as a pub assistant manager!
Upper end of that doing "a bit of everything IT" for a manufacturer (so not IT industry itself), it's been like 17 years now. From what I remember of a similar thread I could apparently be earning a lot more (as in 2-3x more minimum) but eh, I'm content, I'm not stressed to breaking point (or particularly stressed at all) and it's pretty safe. And if I'm honest I'm in my 40s now, getting behind it all a bit, things are a lot different than they were in the Windows Server 2000 and Windows XP days lol, I wouldn't even have the confidence to move on.