Which professions do you think are overworked/underpaid? Similarly which are well paid?

Gavin83 wrote: »

You could argue that no job is over or under paid, every job is paid exactly what it's worth. Market forces and all that.

The fact that the Nhs recruits so many doctors from 3rd world countries would suggest that the rates arent attractive enough to many potential medics in the UK. Its one area where i would be happy to pay more tax to increase funding.

scaredofdebt wrote: »

This is true, the vast majority of people do earn under £30k but there's a few earning a lot more who push up the "average" figure.

Yes, the median figure is a better indicator for that reason. The ONS site will quote it (but i cba to look it up).

The average must also be skewed the other way though by high earners who put their pay through limited companies and ostensibly pay themselves NME, taking the rest as dividends. Anyway.

OP when does your loan get written off? Is it 30 years after the end of the degree?

PhDs are normally paid aren’t they?

coffeehound wrote: »

The fact that the Nhs recruits so many doctors from 3rd world countries would suggest that the rates arent attractive enough to many potential medics in the UK.

No shortage of quality applicants to medical school - just a chronic lack of available training places. There was a time when the BMA actually rejected increasing the number of places - perhaps wanting to keep shortages to keep up their pay!

I know a few civil engineers and they'd be doing well to be on £45k for 40-hour weeks three years post grad. More like £30k. I know one civil engineer who is well into his fifties and only on about £38k. Possible to earn more by working long hours of course. The few mechanical and electrical engineers I've come across seem to be on a bit more but not by much and again, to earn a lot they have to work very long hours. I also know a few quantity surveyors and there is no way on earth a typical QS is on £950 per day. The last freelance QS we had was on £300 per day, which is equivalent to about £45k all things considered, and he was in his fifties.

Very interesting thread, which I can relate to on a personal and professional level.

1. I used to manage Doctors and Nurses for an international Private Healthcare company as a Regional Ops Manager.
2. 2 of my awesome sisters are doctors, 1 in Medicine and the other in Marine Biology. Medical doctor is first year and the latter is 5+ years into her career.

In my experience of working with Doctors and Nurses, I was shocked at the attitudes of some regarding these professionals putting money before everything, we paid the doctors to work 4 shifts per week, 2 days/2 nights (on call) at £75,000, plus OT rates, 6-8 weeks holidays and 10% pension (NHS is 13% if I remember correctly from my TUPE data).

NHS doctors are not paid well considering the effort/dedication to earn that title and should be looked as a stepping stone to gaining experience and going private. This is if your outlook is for financial gain. I will add, I love our NHS, it kept my partner alive and delivered our "miracle" baby so I am VERY grateful for these doctors.

I work with Wealthy Families who use Medical Agencies and for a 5 minute visit/"consultation" in London is £300. This is common for people with the cash to use these options. I can only imagine what these doctors earn, albeit a small percentage of doctors.

On a side note, my medical sister has a partner who is an IT brain box, zero Uni debt, is 22 years old on around £50-55k a year and will highly likely be on 6 figures before he is 30. As mentioned, the world is focused on IT/IT Security at the moment as our modern world relies on it. I think the average wage for IT Security is around £75k and rose by 16% last year.

As always, educated or not, hard work, focus and determination will generally see you ok in life.