Your first wage.

[jdw100]

Just came up in conversation.

It was 1987 for me that I started work (took a summer job in a factory and didn't go back to college) earning the grand total of £4,200 a year.

As I recall that was c£80 a week take-home and I gave my mum £20 of that.

Doesn't sound like much now does it?

Can anyone come in lower than that?

[K50 DEL]

1994 washing dishes in my local pub, was paid the princely sum of £1.50 per hour.

The £40 or so a week that I got paid seemed like untold riches to a kid who had grown up in a house with no money.

In a funny way though that job got me to where I am today and I still count many of the people I worked with then amongst my friends today.

[CubanPete]

I was on 60p an hour in 1987, working for my dad's mate in the summer holidays. Mix of painting his house and a printing company startup.

[BigRusko]

Started my apprenticeship in 1997 on the grand sum of £75/week. I had to give £40/week to the parents.

[PurpleMoonlight]

1978
Prudential Assurance - London
£3000 pa


40 years in financial services next year.

[NormalWisdom]

1980 - Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) Reading

£3200 a year

Took home just over £200 a month and gave Mum £50

Worked there for 16 years before the ailing company made me redundant whilst I was working in Auckland

[mike74]

My first job was a paper round, £15 a week for a total 1.5 hours work, so £10 an hour... I'm not on much more than that now 30 years later!

[ROSSinHD]

Got my job just before A levels finished and was paid £916.66 per month

[Moominho]

£3.20 an hour. Happy days.

[jdw100]

I was thinking of proper job.

Had lots of part time jobs before - favourite was bottling up for the local pub and taking their two dogs for a walk. £1.20/hr.

The £4,200 was my first proper wage.

Not sure what's that worth it today's money... I'll have to find an inflation calculator.

[Sheetmaself]

I did it the wrong way, started at 17 years old in late 90's on £35/hour and steadily its come down ever since!

[jdw100]

PurpleMoonlight said:

1978
Prudential Assurance - London
£3000 pa


40 years in financial services next year.

I pretty much retired last year at 48. Started work at 17 - so thirty one years gone by either quickly or slowaly - I can't decide!

[jdw100]

Sheetmaself said:

I did it the wrong way, started at 17 years old in late 90's on £35/hour and steadily its come down ever since!

I presume you're joking?

[red_slr]

TIIB apprentice £6000 PA. 1997.
Thought I was living the dream LOL!

[anonymous-user]

£1.27 an hour flipping things for well known fast food restaurant back in 1983, realised I was never going to make any money doing that so went back to college.

[jdw100]

PurpleMoonlight said:

1978
Prudential Assurance - London
£3000 pa


40 years in financial services next year.

I pretty much retired last year at 48. Started work at 17 - so thirty one years gone by either quickly or slowly - I can't decide!

[jdw100]

NormalWisdom said:

1980 - Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) Reading

£3200 a year

Took home just over £200 a month and gave Mum £50

Worked there for 16 years before the ailing company made me redundant whilst I was working in Auckland

That was probably quite good money in 1980? For a first years salary.

[Johnspex]

In 1972 aged 19 I was getting £27 a week plus shift pay working for KLM.
My Dad started on 7/6d a week in 1922 aged 14.

[RC1807]

1986 - £45/week manufacturing PCBs
I was fired after 3 weeks. My foreman physically and verbally abused me (I'd just turned 16), so I lumped him and put him on his arse. Best thing I ever did or I'd have probably stayed in that fking horrible job.

I've been in financial services ever since.

[ETA: I had more money from P/T jobs when I was at school, probably £70-80/week!]

Edited by RC1807 on Saturday 4th March 07:58

[antspants]

1989 NatWest Bank £5500pa, I felt minted!