Average wage ? !
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I understand your not trying to offend and fair point.
If you do a manual job or a office one, it still depends on the basic factors on how much you get paid.
i) How high up the food chain you are, for example, a builder will not get as much as a a property developer.
ii) If you have any special skills that are in demand, or not. The majority of admin staff in offices will get less than the average wage. For example, my Mrs is an admin assistant for the home office and spends the day tracking in, tracking out, ordering, and repairing files and making sure paperwork goes to the right place, and she ears less than the average wage. Where as I work on a specialist team within a bank dealing with new lending deals writing up reports making recomendations to our main office on lending decisions and analysing businesses I ear more.
iii) How nich your business is. If you have a sector to yourselves you can charge the earth for it because not many people can do it. For example, its quite easy to find builders to help build houses or flats or redevelop properties. But you cant find people who can build off shore wind turbines that easily.
You will find that most office work doesn't pay to well. A telephony operator or processing center amin where I work will earn 18k in london. 15k out of it.
While I earn nearly double that, my job in comparison is a lot harder work. I have deadlines to meet, pressure from managers and customers to do certain bits of work within a certain amount of time while also adhearing to very strict rules and regulations on how to do things. Christ I go home to sleep and night and I dream about my job and customers calling to complain about things!!! Not to mention I might pull the odd 12hour day if I have a deadline to meet.
I could make one mistake and it could end up costing my employers a lot of money. For example a mistake I sorted out last week, we lent a property developer one million and everything on our end was done spot on, but the person who actually opened the loan account, keyed the info and transfered the money over read the estimates and not the loan agreement. So the estimates which was just a calculation said the rate on the loan was 6.5%. But the loan documents stated it was actually 1.5% above base! So when we opened the loan, yes 1.5% + base was 6.5%, but with the base rate drops is down to 2% now. As a result we have overcharged the customer 22k interest after less than on year!
Needless to say I had to refund it no questions asked. But if I haden't picked it up and the loan was to run for a few years it could have easily ended up costing 100's of thousands.
People who work in high stress or unique jobs are paid the money to keep them there. Otherwise we would all be working for Tescos so we wouldn't have to deal with the stress.
No I am not saying that people in the labour industry know less or deserve less money, because a joiner will know a lot about putting things together where I would think some super glue will do. But to earn more money you need to go by rules i, ii and iii above. Otherwise you will always earn less money.
Its taken me 8 years in the finance industry to get to the level i am at the moment, and a lot of hard work and proving myself to managers.
If you do a manual job or a office one, it still depends on the basic factors on how much you get paid.
i) How high up the food chain you are, for example, a builder will not get as much as a a property developer.
ii) If you have any special skills that are in demand, or not. The majority of admin staff in offices will get less than the average wage. For example, my Mrs is an admin assistant for the home office and spends the day tracking in, tracking out, ordering, and repairing files and making sure paperwork goes to the right place, and she ears less than the average wage. Where as I work on a specialist team within a bank dealing with new lending deals writing up reports making recomendations to our main office on lending decisions and analysing businesses I ear more.
iii) How nich your business is. If you have a sector to yourselves you can charge the earth for it because not many people can do it. For example, its quite easy to find builders to help build houses or flats or redevelop properties. But you cant find people who can build off shore wind turbines that easily.
You will find that most office work doesn't pay to well. A telephony operator or processing center amin where I work will earn 18k in london. 15k out of it.
While I earn nearly double that, my job in comparison is a lot harder work. I have deadlines to meet, pressure from managers and customers to do certain bits of work within a certain amount of time while also adhearing to very strict rules and regulations on how to do things. Christ I go home to sleep and night and I dream about my job and customers calling to complain about things!!! Not to mention I might pull the odd 12hour day if I have a deadline to meet.
I could make one mistake and it could end up costing my employers a lot of money. For example a mistake I sorted out last week, we lent a property developer one million and everything on our end was done spot on, but the person who actually opened the loan account, keyed the info and transfered the money over read the estimates and not the loan agreement. So the estimates which was just a calculation said the rate on the loan was 6.5%. But the loan documents stated it was actually 1.5% above base! So when we opened the loan, yes 1.5% + base was 6.5%, but with the base rate drops is down to 2% now. As a result we have overcharged the customer 22k interest after less than on year!
Needless to say I had to refund it no questions asked. But if I haden't picked it up and the loan was to run for a few years it could have easily ended up costing 100's of thousands.
People who work in high stress or unique jobs are paid the money to keep them there. Otherwise we would all be working for Tescos so we wouldn't have to deal with the stress.
No I am not saying that people in the labour industry know less or deserve less money, because a joiner will know a lot about putting things together where I would think some super glue will do. But to earn more money you need to go by rules i, ii and iii above. Otherwise you will always earn less money.
Its taken me 8 years in the finance industry to get to the level i am at the moment, and a lot of hard work and proving myself to managers.
Agree with that, I work in the finance department for a US owned pharmacuetical company and specialise in Sarbannes Oxley auditing. As this is fairly specalised work I earn a fair bit, am classed as a manager, even though there is only me and report into the Finance Director.
The basic admin wage is rubbish but when you move up the ladder and gain skills then the salary increases. It is the same throughtout any work.
The tax you pay is also an indication of how well you are doping. I pay more in tax and NI now than I actually earnt when I first started work 20 years ago.
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From: barry-south wales
thing is with averages, it can be a bit mis-leading..
par example, if you average 3 peoples wages
2 of them earn 20k a year
and the third person happens to earn 65k a year..
the average wage woudl be 35k....
so equate that to all the people in britain and you could see how its possibly a bit misleading.
par example, if you average 3 peoples wages
2 of them earn 20k a year
and the third person happens to earn 65k a year..
the average wage woudl be 35k....
so equate that to all the people in britain and you could see how its possibly a bit misleading.
I came straight out of university on an above average wage, and Ive been on above average wages ever since (some points ive been over 100K above average some times ive only been 10-20K above it, depending on the state of the economy, my motivation and luck)
Im of the opinion that if you want to earn above average wages, you need to offer an employee above average skills is my view, if I didnt go to uni I am sure I would earn less.
Ive never been a forklift driver, but I would imagine its something that most people could do with a fairly minimal amount of training (compared to say an engineer or doctor or other professional with 2 years of a levels and 4 years of degree or whatever) so for that reason you would expect the wages to be pretty poor.
Like Alistair Olsen says though, Uni is a mass of debt and not earning for 4 years or so, so its quite a few years before you even break even, so no point doing it unless you are going to do a course that will increase your earnings.
Im of the opinion that if you want to earn above average wages, you need to offer an employee above average skills is my view, if I didnt go to uni I am sure I would earn less.
Ive never been a forklift driver, but I would imagine its something that most people could do with a fairly minimal amount of training (compared to say an engineer or doctor or other professional with 2 years of a levels and 4 years of degree or whatever) so for that reason you would expect the wages to be pretty poor.
Like Alistair Olsen says though, Uni is a mass of debt and not earning for 4 years or so, so its quite a few years before you even break even, so no point doing it unless you are going to do a course that will increase your earnings.
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From: Blackpool, UK Destination: Rev limiter
thing is with averages, it can be a bit mis-leading..
par example, if you average 3 peoples wages
2 of them earn 20k a year
and the third person happens to earn 65k a year..
the average wage woudl be 35k....
so equate that to all the people in britain and you could see how its possibly a bit misleading.
par example, if you average 3 peoples wages
2 of them earn 20k a year
and the third person happens to earn 65k a year..
the average wage woudl be 35k....
so equate that to all the people in britain and you could see how its possibly a bit misleading.
The average wage calculation would look far more realistic if it didnt include people like MP's, footballers and Porkie.
PassionFord Post Troll
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From: Nr Ipswich
He is a partner (1 of 3) in a well known hedge fund company. No one famous. Mind you he was in the sunday times rich list.
Went for a party at theirs last weekend. They hired a whole casino in and a well known 80s band. It was amazing and romour has it cost £120k.
Went for a party at theirs last weekend. They hired a whole casino in and a well known 80s band. It was amazing and romour has it cost £120k.
PassionFord Post Troll
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From: Nr Ipswich
I swear there was a programme on the other day about finding the most average person. They said the average wage for a 29 year old was 23k.
I'm of the opinion that anyone can earn more if they want to. You just have to work for it.
I'm of the opinion that anyone can earn more if they want to. You just have to work for it.
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From: Killie
I think that sums it all up. I hate people who moan about there jobs, or that theres no jobs etc.
I've never been out of work since leaving school. I've done jobs that haven't been impressive but I put in the hours and made the cash whilst putting myself through education. I regularly would work 2 jobs doing 15 hours a day.
Now, at 27, I have a career. I'm making double the average wage, I'm never too hard pushed, I work 8 hours a day mostly and I live a comfortable life.
I used to cut grass for a living. I could quite easily have stuck at that making £300 a week and moaned that its not fair etc. But I didnt. I did what I needed to, to get where I am today.
And for some people who said earlier about manual labour and office work.
I now work at a computer all day. One wrong key press and half a mill of someone elses money is gone. I used to do manual labour and the worst I could have done was dig a hole in the wrong place. Thats why the money is different.
I've never been out of work since leaving school. I've done jobs that haven't been impressive but I put in the hours and made the cash whilst putting myself through education. I regularly would work 2 jobs doing 15 hours a day.
Now, at 27, I have a career. I'm making double the average wage, I'm never too hard pushed, I work 8 hours a day mostly and I live a comfortable life.
I used to cut grass for a living. I could quite easily have stuck at that making £300 a week and moaned that its not fair etc. But I didnt. I did what I needed to, to get where I am today.
And for some people who said earlier about manual labour and office work.
I now work at a computer all day. One wrong key press and half a mill of someone elses money is gone. I used to do manual labour and the worst I could have done was dig a hole in the wrong place. Thats why the money is different.
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From: Glasgow/Oban
Quite amazing how long in some cases, especially if you compare apprentiships and suchlike. Im on a 'good' graduate wage in todays climate, lots of my mates are starting on a lot less and I reckon ill be 30+ before I break even with guys who left school to work in a garage at 16.
Quite amazing how long in some cases, especially if you compare apprentiships and suchlike. Im on a 'good' graduate wage in todays climate, lots of my mates are starting on a lot less and I reckon ill be 30+ before I break even with guys who left school to work in a garage at 16.
Uni isnt always the answer, but its certainly one possible way to decent wages.
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From: Glasgow/Oban
On a slight tangent, I bet an average (median or mode not mean) footballer doesnt earn a lot.
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From: Glasgow/Oban
Take one fella working for min wage in a agarage on small raises to the age of 30
11+11+12+12+12+13+13+14+15+16+17+18+18+18 = 200k by the age of 30.
now consider someone at uni, working 4k a year in a summer job and taking 3k a year in loan to be paid off later, so net annual income is 1k for 5 years and nothing significant between 16 and 18
1+1+1+1+1+25+25+25+25+25+25+25+25 = 204k
I wont see a pay rise for the first 4 years while training, after that Im unsure, depends what I do. Working on a good graduate wage ill break even with mates of mine by age 30 if theyre on labouring wages and I dont get a promotion.
A lot fo the guys I left school with are the same age as me, and on 3-4k less now, but have been making 10-20k for the last 6 years. they take a long time to catch!
AMG C32
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From: Blackpool
Also, a lot of people on here are quite young - 17-21, we have all been there on shite wages, you cannot expect to leave school and land your dream money... but work hard and it will come to you. Very little is handed to you on a silver spoon, it has to be earnt.
Im 27, and an assistant engineer learning a new trade, but with my past employment and qualifications, Ill still pull 22k+ on an average 49-52 hour week. In two to three years, if I work hard and train, Ill be a qualified engineer and can add around £3.50 per hour to that wage. Im paid a lot higher than all the other assistants, as they are all 17-21yr olds, with no real ambition, who see their assistant job as footing the ladders all day and pulling in the beer tokens at the end of the week, with no ambition. On the other hand, in the 8 weeks i have been there, I work with my engineer, splitting the work 50/50 or even more like 70/30 towards me, in order to swallow up experience, knowldge and skill, and I would feel confident already, to go out on jobs alone if i was required to.
I think the emphasis of this, is that you only get out of something, what you put in. I am confident my effort will reap dividends.
Im 27, and an assistant engineer learning a new trade, but with my past employment and qualifications, Ill still pull 22k+ on an average 49-52 hour week. In two to three years, if I work hard and train, Ill be a qualified engineer and can add around £3.50 per hour to that wage. Im paid a lot higher than all the other assistants, as they are all 17-21yr olds, with no real ambition, who see their assistant job as footing the ladders all day and pulling in the beer tokens at the end of the week, with no ambition. On the other hand, in the 8 weeks i have been there, I work with my engineer, splitting the work 50/50 or even more like 70/30 towards me, in order to swallow up experience, knowldge and skill, and I would feel confident already, to go out on jobs alone if i was required to.
I think the emphasis of this, is that you only get out of something, what you put in. I am confident my effort will reap dividends.
I was on 34K within 2 years of leaving uni, then 80K in my thrid year and 120K in my 4th, so it depends on your occupation a bit I guess doctor stavros, as obviously my numbers were nothing like yours and I bet that lots of city people would consider what I was earning as chicken feed within an equivalent amount of time after their degree, especially if they are at somewhere like goldman sachs and on the bonus scheme!
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From: Blackpool
I was on 34K within 2 years of leaving uni, then 80K in my thrid year and 120K in my 4th, so it depends on your occupation a bit I guess doctor stavros, as obviously my numbers were nothing like yours and I bet that lots of city people would consider what I was earning as chicken feed within an equivalent amount of time after their degree, especially if they are at somewhere like goldman sachs and on the bonus scheme!
Relative to my wage, my c/tax is under 1k per year, my mortgage on 64k flat (admittedlty interest only) is only circa £310 per month, Child maintenance and all other bills take my monthly outgoings to around £780-800 per month, which leaves me comfy on my money.
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From: Glasgow/Oban
Too many posts.. I need a life!!
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From: Sydney
i must have missed a class at school somehow, i just did a google search on the average wage in the uk and apparently it's £22000 !!!! im lucky if i get 16k a year doing my job as a storeman / forklift driver here in southend !! wtf !!
i'm thinking about relocating to somewhere where the wages for the same job is higher !
i'm thinking about relocating to somewhere where the wages for the same job is higher !
I make 40% more than i would working locally in southend.
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From: Sydney
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From: Portland
In my experience you get paid for what you know, not the effort you put in.
I know loads of people who work much harder than me yet earn less.
Give me a broken server and I can have it running again in minimal time - however, I'll have spent that time sat in a warm office, drinking copious amounts of tea and probably sat on my arse.
Some chap who's called in to repaint the building will put his life in danger on ladders/platforms etc.. get dirty and spend all day in the cold working his arse off at the mercy of the British summer.
It doesnt take a genius to tell you which one of us worked hardest. Yet painter dude will probably go home with just over minimum wage for all his trouble.
The only way to get any cash is to get a skill, whether it be computing, plumbing, joinery..etc.. As soon as you've got the knowledge up there - you can charge for it.
btw, I never went to uni (or college) but went straight to work in the job I'm doing now. Its taken more than 10 years in the job to get where I am now. Nothing happens 'fast'.
I know loads of people who work much harder than me yet earn less.
Give me a broken server and I can have it running again in minimal time - however, I'll have spent that time sat in a warm office, drinking copious amounts of tea and probably sat on my arse.
Some chap who's called in to repaint the building will put his life in danger on ladders/platforms etc.. get dirty and spend all day in the cold working his arse off at the mercy of the British summer.
It doesnt take a genius to tell you which one of us worked hardest. Yet painter dude will probably go home with just over minimum wage for all his trouble.
The only way to get any cash is to get a skill, whether it be computing, plumbing, joinery..etc.. As soon as you've got the knowledge up there - you can charge for it.
btw, I never went to uni (or college) but went straight to work in the job I'm doing now. Its taken more than 10 years in the job to get where I am now. Nothing happens 'fast'.
Too many posts.. I need a life!!
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From: Sydney
Your original quote was based on other people lusting after London wages though, So why does it matter whether its acceptable for you?! Not everyone is a stuck up prick.
Last edited by Kris_23; Jul 20, 2009 at 02:44 PM.
London wages are higher for a reason basically!
Too many posts.. I need a life!!
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From: Sydney
My original quote was based on living near where I work, in central london, you were the one who started dragging southend into it, which isnt near where I work, its an hour plus each way of commuting, which most people from yorkshire or somerset or wherever wouldnt like, this is my whole point that you missed.
London wages are higher for a reason basically!
London wages are higher for a reason basically!
I brought Essex into it because you dont have to live in London to work in london as you suggested. 30mins each way from where I live in Essex to being in London which is probably about average commute for most people in the UK.
I was trying to give advice, you were not.
And if i had said Southend its because that's where the thread starter said he was from.
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From: rainham, essex
I brought Essex into it because you dont have to live in London to work in london as you suggested. 30mins each way from where I live in Essex to being in London which is probably about average commute for most people in the UK.
I was trying to give advice, you were not.
And if i had said Southend its because that's where the thread starter said he was from.
I was trying to give advice, you were not.
And if i had said Southend its because that's where the thread starter said he was from.
Its possible, I know this cause I am currently doing it (all be it that it takes me over an hour and a half) but its certainly not as nice as when I lived in somerset and drove 5 mins to where I worked and had free parking.
you also have to take into account not just all the hours of time you waste travelling but the cost of the train tickets too, which for me currently from just outside london is over 200 pounds a month (so you need 4K a year higher salary just to break even for the train fares based on that 200 a month)
Last edited by Chip; Jul 20, 2009 at 03:02 PM.
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From: Sydney
Very few people can get from their house to their actual office in 30 mins from essex to central london I suspect, typically there will be a train, a tube and a walk, and its all on crowded trains which if you are used to the countryside and fresh air is a bit of a culture shock, its not just a case of london life is like other life but better paid, its actually quite different.
Its possible, I know this cause I am currently doing it (all be it that it takes me over an hour and a half) but its certainly not as nice as when I lived in somerset and drove 5 mins to where I worked and had free parking.
you also have to take into account not just all the hours of time you waste travelling but the cost of the train tickets too, which for me currently from just outside london is over 200 pounds a month (so you need 4K a year higher salary just to break even for the train fares based on that 200 a month)
Its possible, I know this cause I am currently doing it (all be it that it takes me over an hour and a half) but its certainly not as nice as when I lived in somerset and drove 5 mins to where I worked and had free parking.
you also have to take into account not just all the hours of time you waste travelling but the cost of the train tickets too, which for me currently from just outside london is over 200 pounds a month (so you need 4K a year higher salary just to break even for the train fares based on that 200 a month)
If you want the extra money you have to deal with the commuting. I would guess that 80% of people working in London commute for more than an hour a day its part and parcel of working in London.
So thats why I would advise the thread starter to try working in the city.
Last edited by Kris_23; Jul 20, 2009 at 03:19 PM.
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From: Southampton
Agreed with a few on here you get out what you put in! I decided against the uni route and college, went for an apprentership at 16 with a big uk company!
finished that at 19 worked hard 50 hour weeks to earn 32k+ for the next 5 years. Now i've worked myself towards the next level in management managed to get the promotion jan this year.
That 32k+ only takes me 34hour weeks with an office company car and piddly bonus's. Point being its a means to an end, i have ambitions and i want to be earning double the uk ave by 30. But thats just how i think?!>!
Crowds
finished that at 19 worked hard 50 hour weeks to earn 32k+ for the next 5 years. Now i've worked myself towards the next level in management managed to get the promotion jan this year.
That 32k+ only takes me 34hour weeks with an office company car and piddly bonus's. Point being its a means to an end, i have ambitions and i want to be earning double the uk ave by 30. But thats just how i think?!>!
Crowds
Last edited by Crowder; Jul 20, 2009 at 03:23 PM. Reason: disgraceful grammar!