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Salary opinions/advice
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[Deleted User]
Posts: 24 Forum Member
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Hi all,
I'm 19 years old and I'm in my first year of university studying Orthoptics.
I know that I'll be earning about 20,000 - 22,000 straight out the door when I graduate, and I know that this is fairly good for someone that has just graduated. However I know that Orthoptists only really earn up to around 60,000 max, maybe a bit more if you're lucky
I can't really gauge how good a salary this would be because I don't have enough experience, but if I had no kids and was living on my own or with a partner who was also earning would this be a good salary? and what about if I'm working and living in London or not?
thanks in advance
I'm 19 years old and I'm in my first year of university studying Orthoptics.
I know that I'll be earning about 20,000 - 22,000 straight out the door when I graduate, and I know that this is fairly good for someone that has just graduated. However I know that Orthoptists only really earn up to around 60,000 max, maybe a bit more if you're lucky
I can't really gauge how good a salary this would be because I don't have enough experience, but if I had no kids and was living on my own or with a partner who was also earning would this be a good salary? and what about if I'm working and living in London or not?
thanks in advance
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You can't expect to walk out of University into a job, As harsh as it sounds I can almost guarantee you that you won't. Chances are like me you'll be working an unpaid internship to gain experience or working somewhere as a "stop-gap" or even worse unemployed.
I know plenty of people that got a better degree than me in an area that is alot more conducive to getting a job that are desperately trying to find any form of work.
Harsh, but ultimately you need to lower your expectations.
In answer to your question, Yes 20,000 is a good salary for a new graduate, whatever the field, but seriously, you'll need to work your arse off and get a fair slice of luck along the way to get it.
If you genuinely don't know whether or not £60,000 is a 'good' salary then I'd question how you got into university as common sense is clearly lacking.
Unless you want to live in a millionaire's lifestyle, I'd say you could get by just fine on 'only' 60,000 a year, even in London. Especially as you're single and have no children.
20,000 - 22,000 is a salary most graduates would be thrilled to get as soon as they walk out of university. It's a bit of an insult to say that's a 'fairly good' salary when there are graduates working as interns and volunteering and stacking shelves on work placements who would kill for 20,000 a year jobs.
If you're asking if that's a good salary for your proposed line of work then again down to you. Surely you must know enough about the industry to be aware of salaries otherwise why bother going to university at all!
And good luck with walking straight out of uni into that job. I think £20k for any job right now isn't bad going.
Your biggest expense is almost always rent/mortgage unless you can stay with family. As a general rule, it shouldn't be more than 40% of your income and 30% is more comfortable.
The average London wage is £30k which gives you a take home pay of roughly £1675 a month.
If the top end of your pay scale is about £60K that would give you a take home pay of roughly £3400.
She has been at the same Clinic for years...there isn't really many promotion opportunities other than being head of the clinic. I can't imagine that my friend is anywhere close to a salary of £60K though.
I used to work in the city and at the highest point of my job there, I was earning £55K.
....eventually got made redundant and the company went under.
Now, I'm working in a totally different field and only getting £19K. If your questioning if £60K is 'a good salary' - I think you're not aiming high enough......:rolleyes:
20k should be fine for you - even on your own. Depending where you live you could probably rent somewhere for about £600 a month, bills of about £300 and the rest is your own. Not bad.