Do any well-paid jobs exist in the UK?

[captain dilbert]

Myself - qualified civil engineer (design [permanent & temporary works) and setting out on site), first class degree; highest salary I've earned was 33k (gross). After tax it left me with little more than a living wage - certainly not enough money to live, purchase a home and start a pension. In fact after paying for business car insurance it left me just about breaking even after a period of intense work and saving - bear in mind I live a very frugal lifestyle and rent a small room in 10 person house share. Came to the conclusion the job wasn't worth the stress for such remuneration, handed in my notice in in July and I'm off the the job centre today. No intention of practising in that line of work again.

If a civil engineer with a first class degree can't earn a good net salary - who can? Conclude 95% of the population's earning nothing more than a paltry living wage?

 

[captain dilbert]

To answer a few recurring (yet irrelevant to the thread title) questions:

I'm leaving rented accommodation and will be residing full-time in a converted van - 'avoiding homelessness' essentially.

33k after deductions (income tax and student tax) is less than a few grand a month. Don't know what job, lifestyle / salary responding posters are partaking / earning, but for the job I was doing on a daily basis - setting out permanent works on building sites which entails a great deal of responsibility, being outdoors in every type of weather (inclement / hot & humid [every day last summer]), daily commuting to alternating locations on heavily gridlocked roads, red-tape and highly pressured site work: <2k per month is not close to a worthwhile income, completely negating the physical/mental health implications. Baring in mind my skills, qualifications, house prices and future provisions; I'd value such a job at 70k net to make it feasible (~138000k gross FYI). So not even close. I'd define a living wage as 1.5k net per month; just covering the basics, there's not much left after living existing on that.

As someone correctly indicated - I quit my job without any lineups, as no jobs pay reasonable salaries - hence this thread to seek out 'well paid jobs' or confirm my belief that 95% of the population are existing on paltry living wages. The UK is not a prosperous country; I never participate in rigged games. Anyway from the few responses it seems as though the majority are content with their small salaries - which is why salaries will remain that way.

 

[captain dilbert]

I think I've found your problem....

Firstly, you chose Civils. The UK is among THE lowest paid and the lowest paying in that general industry. As an Engineering Technician, I'm nowhere near even 30K and about 75% of the world pays more than £48k for my role.
Secondly, it sounds like you're not even Chartered... If you want to get anywhere as an actual Engineer in Civils, you want that... and then, that's just the starting point.

Secondly, just to give you an idea - In our little corner of the water industry, a senior Chartered Engineer over 55 and working 40+ hours a week, gets £42k, including London Weighting. A field-based Chartered Engineer gets £28k.

If you want the big bucks in Civils, you either become a spit-hot consultant or get a job with the works contractors. If you don't mind the variable pattern shifts, even a basic Back Boy on a survey rig earns £31k... and it'll be £34k once he gets his HGV licence.

Point of the thread is one should be able to earn a very good income as a civil engineer - given the technical background and importance of civil engineering work - and if one cannot, predictably a very high percentage of the population is existing on an unacceptably low income. Second point being that the UK has serious issues with undervaluing work - an issue that needs addressing (I won't play the game otherwise).

FYI your response devalues the discipline of civil engineering which is a mistake. Qualifying as a civil engineer is equally as challenging as other engineering disciplines and is equally important. You erroneously imply that becoming a chartered engineer is somewhat easy - gaining chartership is a very onerous process taking many years of practice, dedication, experience, evidence and personal financial cost - for (as you correctly point out in the case of your colleague) not a great deal of financial gain. As the situation stands I've no intention to even practice in the field any more, never mind become chartered.

Enough internet for today.

 

[captain dilbert]

Surely at 33k you’re closer to 1900/2000 a month net, unless your pension contributions are huge?

Thats 30% more than your ‘living wage’, so I dunno what you’re moaning about

LOL - guess I should have been happy with my 30PC 'extra' for busting my balls everyday. Guess I should completely ignore the fact that the average UK home costs 223000GBP as well.

 

[captain dilbert]

What are your next steps now then OP?

As mentioned I'll be vacating bricks and mortar and moving into a converted motor-home panel van (I'll be doing the conversion myself) with a bid to cutting housing costs immediately and long term - I can live off the proverbial shoestring then plus I'm drawn to the nomadic lifestyle.

Work plans? Can't ditch the day job just yet - in all honesty it will come in useful for generating quick bouts of funds (self employed contract work) and the motor-home will enable me to travel to the most lucrative contracts and act as a base - I'll not have to commute to a particular place of work which has been a particular bane in recent times. Long-term work plans? Exit the rat-race and aim for true self-employment: PC repair business, photography business for example; whatever I'm destined to do.

 

[captain dilbert]

Don't you like washing yourself?

I struggle without a daily shower... drives me nuts... can't even handle a low pressure shower.

There's an abundance of leisure centres and gyms for that purpose - or a simple bowl full of hot water. I can't recall ever using a high pressure shower.

 

[captain dilbert]

I earn a tad more than that, but only due to current bonuses and I live a bloody good life. Expensive mountain bikes, expensive holidays (normally twice a year) and only share with one other.

You can't independently finance the average UK home, you can't build a pension, hence other than for sustaining yourself your efforts and salary are worthless. Seems the majority are more than happy with that - jizz up the wall on holidays, mandatory BMW PCP car on the drive, live for today.

 

[captain dilbert]

good idea

at least they aren't 2 oversaturated markets where you would struggle to make much at all

Exactly.

 

[captain dilbert]

Wants £138k so decides photography is the way forward...

No comment RE the PC repair business?

 

[captain dilbert]

I'm 28 no degree and earn more than you do OP. Live in a 3 bed semi in the South East of England.

So yes there are decent paying jobs out there.

Wouldn't of been so blunt but the entitlement coming from you stinks.

LOL you'll be earning a paltry wage since you're based in the UK; even a 20k gross yearly increase amounts to pennies/month. I'm living off the tax payer free of charge - thanks for the free beer and rent. In fact I don't intend to change that until wages increase to my satisfaction or I come up with a lucrative money making idea.

Enjoy your day of slavery tomorrow.

 

[captain dilbert]

give up your job security and go contracting, £45ph hour being the normal or I would suggest a 400 day rate or similar. Then again if you don’t have family or mind working away try the middle east $14k per month tax free out there .

I set up a limited company last year and undertook a number of contracts but never got anywhere near the 45GBP / hour rate - in fact that would make my efforts worthwhile. Consistent hourly rates are 24GBP / hour for the provision of site engineering services; which taking into account tax, very expensive insurance (business + business vehicle) and fuel, it leaves me with an average income. Eager to learn where to find those 45 / hr rates.