Earning by age category

TJ99 said:
Which field?

Sure, some might be talented, even geniuses, but even getting a damn interview takes a degree plus experience. Unless you know someone. Scratch that, even if you do know someone.

Also, most fields where you do make decent money, you really do need a degree. Fancy going for surgery and the doctor tells you "I don't have a degree, but don't worry I'm naturally talented?"

How about before driving over a bridge someone tells you "don't worry brah, the engineers who designed this have never studied a day in their lives, but I hear they're pretty talented so it's all good".
Click to expand...

It's working for me so it must be a reality for some of us.
Maybe you should adjust your way of thinking?
 
semaphore said:
Well software development is easier than neuro surgery:P
Click to expand...

Ok, software then. I still see people complaining on the forums that they can't even get interviews without qualifications and x years experience though.

Electric said:
It's working for me so it must be a reality for some of us.
Maybe you should adjust your way of thinking?
Click to expand...

You let yourself get operated on by people who aren't qualified doctors? No thanks, I'll keep my "way of thinking" while I still can if that's the case.
 
Kinda makes you wonder how we wouldn't justify earning anything less than 30K for a comfortable lifestyle and yet the 40+ year old house-help is paid in the range of 1-4K p.m or roughly: around 25K p.a
 
TJ99 said:
Ok, software then. I still see people complaining on the forums that they can't even get interviews without qualifications and x years experience though.
Click to expand...

We have three developers without degree's working with us. They are excellent problem solvers. So much more than some developers i've worked with that have degrees.
 
noob_saibot said:
Kinda makes you wonder how we wouldn't justify earning anything less than 30K for a comfortable lifestyle and yet the 40+ year old house-help is paid in the range of 1-4K p.m or roughly: around 25K p.a
Click to expand...

Because the house help is picking up toys and cleaning, hardly solving business problems. But i don't employ domestic help, prefer cleaning myself i find it therapeutic.
 
semaphore said:
We have three developers without degree's working with us. They are excellent problem solvers. So much more than some developers i've worked with that have degrees.
Click to expand...
Well then it seems you're the exception. That certainly doesn't seem to be the normal case.

Electric said:
Really?
Is that what you got from what I said?
Click to expand...

Yes, because you said it works for you.
 
TJ99 said:
Well then it seems you're the exception. That certainly doesn't seem to be the normal case.



Yes, because you said it works for you.
Click to expand...

Mind me asking what your field of employment is?
 
TJ99 said:
Well then it seems you're the exception. That certainly doesn't seem to be the normal case.



Yes, because you said it works for you.
Click to expand...

I was just trying to give my current experience and saying that in your situation it may be beneficial to not think of a salary as always requiring an education.

I would naturally not like to have a doctor operate on me if they are not qualified.
Also note that when dealing with Engineers for example, I highly doubt you will find a bridge or road that has not been certified by a registered engineer.
The design can be done by an unqualified designer with all the knowledge but that design would still be signed off by a qualified Engineer.
 
Electric said:
I studied, don't get me wrong.
I just never finished.
I worked my way up in this field and showed natural ability to do the job faster and more proficiently than my counterparts.
I started at the bottom now I'm here ;)
Click to expand...

I also didn't study. Well much. I did a 6 month Java course, that led to sap development in ABAP and now I have a full on career. Technically speaking, I have Matric and a certificate/diploma.

In the UK, at my first job interview, my <now> current boss basically asked me how I got into the field without studying a full degree. The UK is far more worried about going to Uni than SA is. But honestly, I don't hold a degree (pre-career) as that much of a good thing. There are obviously some careers that require the studies at Uni. Like you couldn't learn to be a doctor, on the job.

The advice that I will give my children is this:
If you want to be a doctor or a lawyer or something that requires you pass postgrad Uni and some kind of board exams, then go to Uni first. For everything else. Get in on the ground level, work for a year or two and if you like what you do, study part time for any qualifications that might help you stand out. Because by the time you finish your degree at 25, you might have 6 years experience and a degree. Where others your age have 2 years experience tops, with their full time degree.

The world has gone too far away from the apprenticeship style of knowledge transfer. The problem with the University model, is that when you come out with your degree, most companies just think that you must know your stuff and hardly give you any mentoring.
 
Don't be afraid of contracting if you don't have a family yet.

You will get access to opportunities that are 10 years ahead of your experience level.

Contract for 5 years to get 15 years ahead of your career path.

Risky stuff, but if you have the ballsack to do it, you will reap the benefit forever.
 
Komodo said:
Don't be afraid of contracting if you don't have a family yet.

You will get access to opportunities that are 10 years ahead of your experience level.

Contract for 5 years to get 15 years ahead of your career path.

Risky stuff, but if you have the ballsack to do it, you will reap the benefit forever.
Click to expand...

Totally agree. A few things people don't tend take advantage of:

* Coming out of university with a degree and not going back for honours/masters until it's too late ... many people have this sentiment
* Contracting work before marriage/family ... you can make bucket loads with lesser risk (dare I say zero risk) when you're single because generally you can fall back onto your family. Some people won't have this benefit depending on certain circumstances (orphans/broken homes kind of thing)
* Travelling around for work before marriage ... same kind of point as the previous point ... but overlooked by many as something "regrettable"
 
Really depends entirely on the industry.

Some of my friends who do freelance art (like storyboarding or concept art) will earn like 10k per job, but that's like a week's work with no sleep. And then sometimes another job won't pitch up for a while.

Another friend of mine who works with cameras in the film/ad industry was earning some ridiculous amount. A normal day was like 3k, but he could easily earn up to 10/15k per day. But he basically destroys himself for 6 months in the year and then needs the next 6 months to recover. The last I heard he was having health issues so it's probably not for everyone...

I have a BA Honours in Media, 30 years old, working as a technical writer. The starting salary for most people in this industry is about 10-15k. Realistically I should be earning closer to 20-30k, but I work less hours so I take home less pay. The company I work for also took a massive knock after the recession hit us and cut everyone's pay. Some people lost up to 50% of their income, and that's if they were lucky.

I did originally try to get into film, but I got tired of being ****ed over by people who loved my writing, would make a lot of promises and fail to deliver every single time. I could live a far more stressful life with potentially a lot more money, but I really don't think it's worth it. I have a reasonably comfortable life so I don't see any reason to work more than I am at the moment.

Edit. Oh yeah, forgot to add that a friend of mine does animation and design work full time, and he earns less than I do with much longer hours.
 
Last edited:
The IT Salary survey is probably a better place to look for this kind of info. It is so dependant on qualification, industry, etc. For instance I work in investment banking and my salary is double what the average is for my age, qualification, and job title last I checked. Different industries and different company sizes and geographic location all play a part. Also one of the biggest factors is promotions. Some get promoted rapidly early in their career and so get to the 80K+ level fast but then stay there for the next 30 years. Others only get promoted once every 10-15 years and then the salary will jump more incrementally. Personally I started right out of varsity at 15K per month 8 years back but that has moved a long way in just 8 years.
 
My 2c

How many kids you have and your aspirations for them play a big part.

In your 30s this becomes relevant.
Budget R120k pa gross per child.
 
You guys earn well. I am a bank teller and doing bcom through unisa quantitative management. You guys earn more then the average people out there. especially people in software development.
 
ratedmsod said:
You guys earn well. I am a bank teller and doing bcom through unisa quantitative management. You guys earn more then the average people out there. especially people in software development.
Click to expand...

What is the salary of average people? Including years of experience and age.
 
CamiKaze said:
What is the salary of average people? Including years of experience and age.
Click to expand...


You want the figure of working 18-55 year olds or the average of all 18-55 year olds in South Africa?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X