good salary for a mid 20's person

[vescaegg]

Onemcs said:

Plenty of construction jobs paying £40k+ easily... That's excluding any benefits!

That's nothing at the moment. QS's can get up to £80-100k in town now on some projects.

[stu1984]

I always think that London aside if you are earning your age with a salary than that is a comfortable wage. Anything more is a bonus

[okgo]

sparks_E39 said:

Yes. If you live beyond your means.

No. A normal flat in London is plenty of cash. You need household income of plenty to make it worthwhile.

[stuno1]

I am not sure if some of you are talking about mid 20's pay, especially for QS's (I know a number of them). I was on £34k in my mid 20's working at a bank in a project environment. The highest earner of my friends at the time was a recruitment consultant, the rest were on £30k-£45k with most on mid £30k. Late 20's early 30's is when most people see the big jumps to 40/60k as they gain promotions and move companies. I am now doing very well by virtue of the fact I went contracting in banking and as such shoulder a level of risk. We are all 29/32 and most are still on late £30k - £60k. We all work in different industries all in London.

So those saying it is easy to earn 6 figures in London at this age have a warped perception from my experience. Anything in the mid £30k areas at mid 20’s seems good to me. It is actually difficult to get above £50k-£70k unless you get in to a higher management role/work in sales/self-employed/have a niche skill set.

Stu

Edited by stuno1 on Monday 3rd November 10:10

[R11ysf]

Jewelly_Boy said:

When you're with someone daily, you get to know their real character but your statement is perfectly sensible, I see my client/past clients treat some staff differently depending on the position they hold.

Well I know a few on a personal level and I would disagree with you. The ones I know are very content and are actually doing a lot of philanthropic work as they get older. They are still hard professionally, but lifestyle wise they are happy.

[okgo]

stuno1 said:

I am not sure if some of you are talking about mid 20's pay, especially for QS's 9 know a number of them). I was on £34k in my mid 20's working at a back in a project environment. The highest earner of my friends at the time was a recruitment consultant, the rest were on £30k-£45k with most on mid £30k. Late 20's early 30's is when most people see the big jumps to 40/60k as they gain promotions and move companies. I am now doing very well by virtue of the fact I went contracting in banking and as such shoulder a level of risk. We are all 29/32 and most are still on late £30k - £60k. We all work in different industries all in London.

So those saying it is easy to earn 6 figures in London at this age have a warped perception from my experience. Anything in the mid £30k areas at mid 20’s seems good to me. It is actually difficult to get above £50k-£70k unless you get in to a higher management role/work in sales/self-employed/have a niche skill set.

Stu

Other than show you their payslips what will it take to convince you that its entireley possible? And many people are on the figures quoted in this thread.

[greggy50]

stuno1 said:

I am not sure if some of you are talking about mid 20's pay, especially for QS's 9 know a number of them). I was on £34k in my mid 20's working at a back in a project environment. The highest earner of my friends at the time was a recruitment consultant, the rest were on £30k-£45k with most on mid £30k. Late 20's early 30's is when most people see the big jumps to 40/60k as they gain promotions and move companies. I am now doing very well by virtue of the fact I went contracting in banking and as such shoulder a level of risk. We are all 29/32 and most are still on late £30k - £60k. We all work in different industries all in London.

So those saying it is easy to earn 6 figures in London at this age have a warped perception from my experience. Anything in the mid £30k areas at mid 20’s seems good to me. It is actually difficult to get above £50k-£70k unless you get in to a higher management role/work in sales/self-employed/have a niche skill set.

Stu

I used to work in construction and knew the pay that near enough everyone in the business was on. Most of the young QS were on around 26k - 35k then senior QS approx £40k - 55k.

Only young lad I knew on £50k worked out in Dubai and was approx 27 my Dad has been in construction a while and said while silly money is been offered I have not heard figures of £100k spouted or anywhere near for just a QS.

[stuno1]

okgo said:

Other than show you their payslips what will it take to convince you that its entireley possible? And many people are on the figures quoted in this thread.

My point is if a mid 20's person in london is on £60k + they are in the minority (from my experience) while some seem to suggest that is the norm in London.


Greggy - Thats is inline with what i have heard from people i know who do a QS role.

Stu

[stuno1]

swerni said:

I'd agree with you, it isn't easy, or everyone would be doing it.
People do get a warped view of reality from the environment they work in.
I live in a world where people earn substantial sums of money ( Sales in high tech) and very many in the industry both believe it's the norm and that they're worth it.
The reality is, it isn't the norm and they are only worth it because the market dictates they are.

Agree with that entirely. Yes, wages will be higher in London than elsewhere but not to the value that a lot seem to believe.

Stu
.

[mikerons88]

swerni said:

I'd agree with you, it isn't easy, or everyone would be doing it.
People do get a warped view of reality from the environment they work in.
I live in a world where people earn substantial sums of money ( Sales in high tech) and very many in the industry both believe it's the norm and that they're worth it.
The reality is, it isn't the norm and they are only worth it because the market dictates they are.

What sort of high tech? What is substantial? >100k?

[okgo]

mikerons88 said:

What sort of high tech? What is substantial? >100k?

I think he meant Hi Tec, trainers, you know?

[z4RRSchris99]

are you sure its not Hi-tec?

good money in those trainers,

http://www.shortlist.com/instant-improver/trainers...

[AyBee]

mikerons88 said:

okgo said:

I think he meant Hi Tec, trainers, you know?

No.

Whoosh for one?

[fido]

stuno1 said:

Yes, wages will be higher in London than elsewhere but not to the value that a lot seem to believe.

Or the competition is immense nowadays. My first proper job was in a Hedge Fund - pretty unglamorous stuff involving shifts and working with people who barely got through A-levels - but we were earning twice as much as a blue-chip graduate trainee. I don't think those jobs exists nowadays(?) - you will be interviewed with 500 other international graduates with a 2:1 or 1st in a good university - and possibly even as an intern (so not on a full wage)!

Edited by fido on Monday 3rd November 11:21

[C.A.R.]

I'm also in that age bracket and living in North Herts.

By 22 I was earning really well (I think) for my age (no higher education) I was on £25k plus commission (which added around 5k).

The construction industry took a horrible turn back in 2010ish and the company went pop. I moved to a similar company, much further away (longer commute) and started on £20k. I had no option but to take it; as jobs were very hard to come by back then!

I'm now still not back to earning the nigh-on £30k I was when I was 22. In that time everything has gotten more expensive (rent, fuel, groceries etc) yet like many people you now have to make your money stretch further and further.

I'm always looking for something which pays more, but with a young family it pays to have job security.

[vescaegg]

C.A.R. said:

I'm also in that age bracket and living in North Herts.

By 22 I was earning really well (I think) for my age (no higher education) I was on £25k plus commission (which added around 5k).

The construction industry took a horrible turn back in 2010ish and the company went pop. I moved to a similar company, much further away (longer commute) and started on £20k. I had no option but to take it; as jobs were very hard to come by back then!

I'm now still not back to earning the nigh-on £30k I was when I was 22. In that time everything has gotten more expensive (rent, fuel, groceries etc) yet like many people you now have to make your money stretch further and further.

I'm always looking for something which pays more, but with a young family it pays to have job security.

Some companies are crying out for good estimators. I know for certain Wilmott Dixon are. Not sure what level you are but;

Entry Level (Bedfordshire);
http://careers.willmottdixon.co.uk/fe/tpl_willmott...

Mid Level (London);
http://careers.willmottdixon.co.uk/fe/tpl_willmott...

Senior (Herts);
http://careers.willmottdixon.co.uk/fe/tpl_willmott...

[Tonberry]

Darkslider said:

Reading through this thread has put a few things into perspective for me. Although I like to think I'm intelligent (don't we all?) I was never particularly academic during school. Partly due to a complete lack of motivation in my GCSE years (laziness?) and some serious trouble at home while I was 15-16 with two alcoholic parents, I left school having been withdrawn from most of my GCSE exams and scraping through with just a few low grades. Went back to night class at college a few years back as I was considering an apprenticeship with Scottish Power to be a linesman, however by the time I'd got the required grades and September had come around the economic situation had taken a downturn and jobs were scarce.

Rattled around a few employers since then and now at the ripe old age of 25 I find myself working for a local family owned business as part of a small site maintenance team on £17k a year. Have been there a few years but with it being such a small team there's no career path as such and prospects for advancement in the team are pretty much nil.

A chance check on the SP website reveals they're now taking on apprenticeships for the position I was interested in a few years ago, and I'm seriously considering applying as once qualified the wage of £23.5k a year with more benefits and better prospects than my current position is quite appealing. However I don't know if I can afford the pay drop to £10.5k a year that they're initially offering for the first year of training, now I'm renting a house with my partner and her two children it's not just myself I've got to think about.

Some food for thought there no doubt. Sorry I haven't got anything to contribute to the discussion I just fancied a waffle!

TL/DR: OP is doing great on £26k a year and I'm well jealous.

Really puts things into perspective.

I earn more than your 'doing great' figure and we're the same age.

Yet I feel almost hard done by.

I don't need anymore money and am pretty content with my lot.

I guess the problem is I feel I deserve more.

Interesting stuff. Probably why most brits shy away from discussing the topic - emotive, fuelled by greed, sometimes need, envy and an inflated self worth.

[stuno1]

Tonberry said:

Really puts things into perspective.

I earn more than your 'doing great' figure and we're the same age.

Yet I feel almost hard done by.

I don't need anymore money and am pretty content with my lot.

I guess the problem is I feel I deserve more.

Interesting stuff. Probably why most brits shy away from discussing the topic - emotive, fuelled by greed, sometimes need, envy and an inflated self worth.

Aspiring to earn more/progress your career is no bad thing and neither is being happy with what you earn/do for a living now. Everyone is different and there is no right or wrong answer. Do what feels right and you can't go wrong.

Stu

[iphonedyou]

greggy50 said:

I used to work in construction and knew the pay that near enough everyone in the business was on. Most of the young QS were on around 26k - 35k then senior QS approx £40k - 55k.

Only young lad I knew on £50k worked out in Dubai and was approx 27 my Dad has been in construction a while and said while silly money is been offered I have not heard figures of £100k spouted or anywhere near for just a QS.

Not long turned 28 here, QS. Just moved for 45k plus medical blah. Started 2 years ago at 25 though which was tough (central London).

My direct report in last role moved at 23 for a (contracting) role around 65.

[Mobile Chicane]

If you can a. get a mortgage, and b. afford property near(ish) to where you work, you're doing pretty well, regardless of your age.

I'm on the national average wage. To buy even the most modest property locally, I'd have to borrow 8 times my income.