# What the nation thinks different professions earn
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2017-03-15
Category: FINANCE
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/finance
Meta Title: New UK Poll Reveals Perceptions of Professions and Salaries
Meta Description: Solicitors, journalists, and headmasters are among those perceived to earn significantly more than their actual salaries, according to a recent poll.
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Tag URLs: featured (https://financedigest.com/tag/featured)
URL: https://financedigest.com/what-the-nation-thinks-different-professions-earnhtml

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- New research reveals people think solicitors earn 20% more than their actual salary
- Brits think teachers earn 7% more than they actually do
- The nation are most accurate at guessing the salaries of nurses, administrators and chief executives
- 68% of [British workers](https://www.financedigest.com/british-port-workers-plan-two-week-strike-from-sept-19.html "British port workers plan two-week strike from Sept. 19") say an increased salary is the most important factor for changing careers

Brits on average think solicitors earn 20% more than they actually do and journalists are perceived to earn over a quarter (28%) more than their average salary, according to a new poll by Oxford Open Learning.

The nation also underestimated the pay of other professions in some cases, with Brits thinking train [drivers earn](https://www.financedigest.com/french-uber-drivers-to-earn-more-than-8-per-ride-after-union-deal.html "French Uber drivers to earn more than  per ride after union deal") 32% less than they actually do. Headmasters of secondary state schools are perceived to [earn £26,192 less than their actual salary](https://www.financedigest.com/billionaires-salary-how-long-does-it-take-for-them-to-earn-your-wage.html "‘Billionaires Salary: How long does it take for them to earn your wage?’").

Distance learning provider Oxford Open Learning Trust carried out the YouGov survey of over 2,000 adults to discover people’s perceptions of the salaries different professions earn.

Of the fifteen professions surveyed, ten of their annual salaries were over-estimated.

ProfessionActual SalaryPerceived Salary% Salary overestimated/underestimatedJournalist£23,500£30,00027.66%Plumber£24,746£30,00021.23%Solicitor£50,000£60,00020.00%Hairdresser£15,473£18,00016.33%Retail Assistant£13,122£15,00014.31%Florist£15,926£18,00013.02%Teacher£27,813£30,0007.86%Chief Executive£94,884£100,0005.39%Administration£17,351£18,0003.74%NHS Nurse£24,936£25,0000.26%NHS GP£69,514£65,000-6.49%MP£74,962£70,000-6.62%HR Manager£38,127£35,000-8.20%Train driver (not including London underground)£47,000£32,000-31.91%Headmaster of secondary state school£76,192£50,000-34.38%

Dr Nick Smith, Courses Director and founder of Oxford Open Learning Trust, said: “A previous study we carried out found that money is the biggest motivator behind changing careers, [followed by better working hours and personal interest](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-sunak-followed-conflict-of-interest-rules-independent-advisor.html "UK’s Sunak followed conflict of interest rules -independent advisor"). However, the results of this survey show Brits are overestimating the salaries earned by many professions.

“Among British workers, over half (52%) said that salary was an important [factor when they chose their current](https://www.financedigest.com/egg-incubator-market-extensive-analysis-of-key-segments-of-the-industry-and-emerging-growth-factors-with-current-trends-and-future-estimations.html "Egg Incubator Market: Extensive Analysis Of Key Segments Of The Industry And Emerging Growth Factors With Current Trends And Future Estimations") job role. When it came to choosing a new career or job role, this figure increased to 68% – suggesting that monetary incentives are key for choosing a new career.

“Changing careers seems to pay off; over a third of British workers polled (34%) that had moved to a new job role said they had an increase in salary after the first year of their new career.”

Distance learning provider Oxford Open Learning Trust created the Profession Picker tool to help adults thinking about a career change. Each year, the Trust serves learners that might need an extra qualification such as a GCSE or A Level in order to get their desired job and start a new career.


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