£16,271 Below Average wage?

[InvaderGIR]

I've had to fib about my current salary when I've spoken to agencies, though, so that THEY don't try to undervalue me. No one is going to give me an effective £6K pay rise. An increase of £2-3K is a lot more palatable.

Yes they are, that's exactly what I've just gotten with no lying about my current salary.
Why would the agency want to place you in a lower paying position when their fee is usually based on the salary you receive.

Indeed. I never lied when applying for my current role and got a 5k rise which I actually believe was underselling as it was, due to my previous salary. I'm now applying elsewhere and have told the recruiter I'm dealing with what my current salary is and to go in for 10k more but not to settle for anything less than 5k more. I explained that I feel I was undersold for my current position and I refuse to have that happen again so enforced the point that really, I'm after the 10k rise or very close to it, he's fine with it, I just need to ace an interview.


E: As for the OP, I left uni after doing a Computing Bsc Hons with a 3rd in 2011, did various jobs and landed (via a friend) an IT support role on around 20k in Surrey, I then moved elsewhere for software and better money / living arrangements. It's often who you know for fairly basic level jobs like IT support really.

 

[D.P.]

Everyone is insured now, or you get fined.

Average HOUSEHOLD wage in Florida is $53k... which is actually slightly less than I'm on myself (kind of chuffed about that). Varies state by state though.

I'd be extremely upset if I was on 16k gbp after getting out of university, I have no qualifications and was on 25k before I came over here, now I'm even higher than that.

<Debate> is it worth going to University? </Debate>

Indeed you do get fiend if you are not insured which is why it really is an incredibly small minority if people that try there hardest not to get insured.

A lot of the horror cases you hear about are people who simply gambled and didn't bother buying insurance, or lied about per-existing conditions on their application, or have some terminal disease where even in the UK the NHS wouldn't treat due to expected outcomes vs costs.

 

[jsmoke]

Lets donate to get you a sleeping bag!

 

[ebilcake]

The average wage is a bit of a joke, most people are not on 26k, it's just massively inflated by places like London and people who are filthy rich.

 

[Uther]

Quite stunned at the low average wage these days.I stopped work over ten years ago and was on 25k a year then working nights in a factory!

 

[dowie]

Wow, Your right. Such a vague name.

Computing covers a MASSIVE subject, did you not specialise?

My Degree was in Computing, More specifically Artificial Intelligence & Robotics. I didn't know they did Degree's with names that cover the ENTIRE subject :/

eh?

You've never seen courses titled say 'Computer Science' or 'Computing'? Tis basically the same thing. I don't see it as necessarily any different to other subjects - most undergrad degrees are broad and cover entire subject areas i.e. 'Mathematics', 'Physics' etc...

@OP - just keep applying and while you're waiting for a job that you can make use of your degree in then keep up to date with personal projects, free online courses etc.. looks good on your CV too and at interview when you're still showing interest in the area despite having a non-relevant day job to pay the bills

 

[ants83]

more responsibility more crap.
I will settle for 25k.

 

[acemastr]

Indeed you do get fiend if you are not insured which is why it really is an incredibly small minority if people that try there hardest not to get insured.

A lot of the horror cases you hear about are people who simply gambled and didn't bother buying insurance, or lied about per-existing conditions on their application, or have some terminal disease where even in the UK the NHS wouldn't treat due to expected outcomes vs costs.

I still don't want to get ill/have an accident here, luckily my max out of pocket is $2500, an MRI alone costs that amount.

 

[Nelly]

You're all in the wrong job, should have become platers / welders - £22 / hour working on the Prince of Wales Aircraft carrier, virtually everyone on the rosta's are from Eastern Europe though no joke lol.

 

[Lima]

surely those figures on there are a bit low?

I would have thought doctors - airline pilots etc would be earning more than that article states...

Can't speak for all of it but my job is on there and it the article is a fair bit lower than the typical intermediate/senior person would get in that role. A few other jobs on there are wrong also.

Some jobs on there on the other hand are too high.

 

[mrbazmondo]

Id recommend becoming a software engineer rather than IT Technician.
I finished a Computer Science degree in 1999 and started out in my first software engineering job on £18k. Comfortably above average now without having to live/commute to London.

 

[D.P.]

I still don't want to get ill/have an accident here, luckily my max out of pocket is $2500, an MRI alone costs that amount.

Setup an FSA and then the co-pays and so on are tax free.


health insurance is incredible cheap compared to things like day, 2500 is like 6 weeks of day care!

 

[Schlong&Stable]

..and yet I'm on 2/3 of that and get by just fine, even allowing a good chunk of disposable income each month.

I'm not one to judge peoples lifestyles but you could probably be a bit more sensible.

My budget is very sensible. It allows me the usual mods cons: Home, Car, Bills paid and some cash in my pocket. But my point is, the north east is not that cheap. I doubt someone in 16k could have their own home, car etc.

 

[zegna]

Everyone starts off earning dog****.. just deal with it

At the start of your career don't worry about money and worry about being exposed to the right environment where it is possible to earn big money

I did this, and after 3 years my gross monthly is the same at your net yearly salary

 

[Spook187]

The wages in this country is a joke for many, doesn't even cover the cost of living, Great bloody Britain

 

[Strife212]

That's very much below the national average wage which is more like £24k

I thought it was nearer 30k?

(Which always seemed way too high to me...)

 

[drumlegend]

My budget is very sensible. It allows me the usual mods cons: Home, Car, Bills paid and some cash in my pocket. But my point is, the north east is not that cheap. I doubt someone in 16k could have their own home, car etc.

The North East is very cheap compared to other areas. I can rent for £400 if I wanted to. I live in a very nice apartment at the moment and can easily afford that, even without my partner.

Plus... Mortgages are a lot cheaper than renting a lot of the time if you have a decent deposit.

 

[Bear]

People think the UK is a very wealthy country, and don't get me wrong, it is compared to many countries but when you see income distribution across the country you really see the vast majority don't earn that much at all. When you look at the average wage for instance of £24k 60% of the population earn that or less. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/399041/Table_3_1_a_13.xls

 

[Electroshadow]

If you want to earn more early on I suggest go contracting you should easily double your wage and once you have a couple 6 month contracts under your belt you can up your charge rate.

Take civils. My last contract paid 25k to perm employees but contractors got 30quid plus and hour.

I know it people that earn 400 to 500 day rates albeit in or around London.

 

[Destination]

That's very much below the national average wage which is more like £24k

Is this the average for those working, the average household income, the average individual income as a mean of all income over those adults of working age in the country.
I have heard figures of 24-26K said for quite a while, but I had yet to find exactly what the figure represented.