What’s a “good” salary to live in the uk?
Posted by Single_Tree3488@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 62 comments
I’m a respiratory therapist and I make around 84k a year after taxes in the US. I’ve been thinking about moving to the UK for some time now and was wondering what’s a good salary to live comfortably over there. Also when I looked up how much I would make in the UK as a respiratory therapist it says I’ll make around £37,000-£48,000. I just wanted to know if this is good or not?
Moving4Motion@reddit
What is a respiratory therapist? Are you a nurse? Physio? We don't have respiratory therapists here.
Sweaty-Possession-19@reddit
We do have respiratory therapists in the UK
Moving4Motion@reddit
No they're respiratory physios. It's a similar role in places but having done some googling, it's not the same thing as they have in the USA at all.
It seems in the UK ICU nurses/CNS's and physios fill the roles that a respiratory therapist would fill in the states. Op's profession doesn't exist here.
Sweaty-Possession-19@reddit
Yes I was thinking respiratory therapists as being short for a respiratory physiotherapist (which we have) seems like a respiratory therapist in the US is a very different role.
ParPuttGIR@reddit
What is a respiratory therapist exactly? The other difficulty you'll have is how job titles move over borders, I can't say I've ever heard of one.
There are respiratory physiotherapists which would align with the salary range you've mentioned. Roles require certain degrees and registration with a national regulator
WHawkeW@reddit
I cannot remember what subreddit I saw it on, but I saw a post recently where a respiratory therapist was trying to move over here, and the conclusion was that the job didn't exist in the UK in the same way as the US. So check very carefully that you would be qualified for the jobs you are seeing OP!
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
I have a respiratory therapist on the NHS basically a specialist physio or nurse practioner i think
WHawkeW@reddit
Yeah I think in the UK you have a core profession, like physio, whereas in the US you don't, so you can't guarantee you would be eligible for accreditation in another country. I'm badly trying to recall other people's answers on this though in an attempt to be helpful, so please correct me if anyone knows more!
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
That seems a very specialised role to only be able to do right from day 1 of training.
Low_Stress_9180@reddit
While stroking my white cat with a Dr Evil smile... one million pounds! A month.
Define "good".
I know vs my current pay and savings in UK I would want 150k. Looking at price increases make that 180k. I went overseas as pay low, COL less, tax less, electricity way less....
My wife made a dental appointment for a wisdom tooth. Made it in morning all done in an hour. In UK try finding a flipping dentist ! And way cheaper
Tough-Cheetah5679@reddit
OP - if your qualifications and experience are transferable, you would end up either working for either the NHS (National Health Service, public sector) or for private companies. Have a look if equivalent job roles exist in the UK, what the salary ranges are and if there are job openings. If you find job ads, look at "essential" and "desirable" criteria in particular.
Link to some respiratory roles within the NHS: "Respiratory physiology and sleep sciences | Health Careers" https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-science/roles-healthcare-science/physiological-sciences/respiratory-physiology-and-sleep-sciences
NorthernMonk3y@reddit
Are you making an assumption that whatever American qualifications you have will mean you can immediately get a similar role in the UK? If so, you may be surprised to find that you need to take significant steps before you can work (and may fall down even at the visa stage because eof this).
The most similar role seems to be a respiratory physiotherapist which requires a general physiotherapy degree and registration with regulatory bodies etc.
It's not a simple process to move to the UK and practice any form of medicine without training and qualifying there.
Opposite_Radio9388@reddit
Where in the UK are you planning to live? This will make a big difference.
TwoPlyDreams@reddit
And where in the US is the 84k standard of living you want comparison to?
Single_Tree3488@reddit (OP)
I live in NC, and I’m living more than comfortably. I’ve just always dreamed of living in London, but looking at the replies I feel like that’s a no go. Ik it also wouldn’t be an issue on how I would move there since i know someone who has a moving company.
SeesawOk1776@reddit
You'll also have to qualify for and fund a visa or successfully apply for a position that offers sponsorship, you can't just rock up here and start work.
Alternative-Emu2000@reddit
Just to clarify, people asking "How would you move here?" don't mean "How would you physically move your possessions to the UK?". They mean "Have you checked if you'd actually be allowed to legally live and work here?" You can't just turn up on a tourist visa and start looking for work.
Winston_Carbuncle@reddit
A word of advice for communicating with non Americans. Most people have no idea what state abbreviations are, where cities that aren't new York are etc.
You're not talking to Americans.
Single_Tree3488@reddit (OP)
Oh right sorry. So should I say North Carolina next time?
The_39th_Step@reddit
Yeah that would be better
Deepborders@reddit
You can live pretty comfortably in most areas of Scotland on 35k a year.
In London, you're going to be flat sharing on that.
Comfortable-Fall1419@reddit
A cardboard box under a London Bridge would cost more than that.
BuckfastAndHairballs@reddit
Most areas in scotland outside of big cities and if you don't have any dependants or like to have any fun money.
hazbaz1984@reddit
At best.
Single_Tree3488@reddit (OP)
Sorry, I forgot to mention that I would like to live in London.
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
Can you afford to live in LA or NYC?
take_01@reddit
£37k will give you a takehome salary of around £30k. Living on your own for a one bed flat in a decent area you be looking at around £20k /yr minimum, £1.5k /yr council tax, £1200 /yr energy bills, £4k /yr food bills, £5k /yr commuting. So not accounting for anything else you're already in the red.
jay19903562@reddit
I'm London even with a dual income household both on £48k you'd find the cost of housing eye watering imo.
hazbaz1984@reddit
Ohhhhh.
On that salary you’d be house sharing or living in a one bed/one room shoe box.
Depends on what sort of experience of London you want.
Snoo_53312@reddit
It would get you a cardboard box and gruel in London I'm afraid.
Alternative-Emu2000@reddit
Unless you want to live in Central London, then you'd get a corner in a cardboard box that you shared with three other people; and some Aldi ownbrand 'grool'.
Alternative-Emu2000@reddit
That's the most expensive part of the UK, by a very large margin.
rbc02@reddit
Dual income you’d get by depending on kids. Single you’ll probably have to be a little frugal
spacehop@reddit
London is incredibly expensive. I would rethink this idea.
Bacchus_Bacchus@reddit
You can’t just move here without a good visa route.
mu5tbetheone@reddit
Depends where you want to live. For example; I sold my one bed flat in Essex (about 30 miles from London) and moved to a 3 bed house with a huge garden, massive garage and front garden in a little town in the West Midlands. I bought my 3 bedroom house for 10k more than I sold my flat in 2019.
The closer you are to the capitals the more you'll pay for everything.
jimmy011087@reddit
Are you coming for a while and hoping to set up roots here and buy a place? If so, I wouldn’t bother unless you can get a joint income of £100k per annum and come up with at least £25k deposit fairly soon. If you’re coming for a laugh for a couple of years then £50k would do, even in London but expect your flat to be a bit shit. You’d have a good time in London for a couple of years though at least.
Specialist-Opening69@reddit
Need to be around £50k I’d say for a decent quality of life in Scotland
Chris_M1991@reddit
I earn £38k and live in the midlands, it’s a liveable wage. I don’t have to worry about where my next meal is coming from or if I can afford my mortgage and I get to have a bit of a social life but it’s not exactly a extravagant lifestyle kind of money
oliviashrewtonbong@reddit
How would you move to the UK is the more important question.
Less_Cauliflower_OK@reddit
Either by aircraft or boat. It's a bit too far to swim.
oliviashrewtonbong@reddit
And then get promptly turned away for not having a visa
Jock-Stubbs@reddit
As a few have pointed out, up here in t'north then 30+ is enough to get by. Again it does depend which area but its more doable from the Midlands upwards. London... bit like new york for comparison. Stupid little flats and rooms for the price of a four bed here.
AJ_Stangerson@reddit
In London there are corporate receptionists on that kind of salary, and you will not be living the golden life on it, and you'll probably soon be inflated into the £50k tax bracket and be even worse off.
That said, it depends how old you are and what kind of lifestyle you want to lead. If you're young and happy to flat share, you might be ok, but you'd still be looking at £1k per month rent, and probably not have much disposable income. It also depends on where you live now and what you are used to.
TCristatus@reddit
Comfortable with another income, tight but livable on your own
nivlark@reddit
It's not generally as simple as "just move here". You need to consider things like whether your qualifications would be recognised or if you'd need to pay for equivalent UK ones, and whether you'd be eligible for a visa and what that would cost.
But if all that does check out, then 40k is a comfortable salary for a single person in all but the highest cost-of-living areas (and even in those you wouldn't starve, it just wouldn't feel like your money went very far). Nevertheless, it is still likely that it will provide a lower level of physical wealth than your current income in the US.
jay19903562@reddit
I'm on about £75 k in the north west. Save/invest a decent amount , few foreign holidays a year and a 3 bed semi with garage/driveway front and back garden.
In London I'd probably be poor.
hazbaz1984@reddit
You’d definitely be poor.
And living in a house share.
LateNightTalker98@reddit
Agreed, that’s a really good salary for north west.
fads1878@reddit
Depends where you live
Super-Craig@reddit
And how you live.
The bookworm and console gamer are practically spendthrifts compared to the jetsetter and fashionista.
Lucajames2309@reddit
In this economy a solid £250,000. That’s a month btw
/s
MrReadilyUnready@reddit
I sincerely doubt you'd earn anywhere near that wage as an entry-level worker in the NHS. You may rise to somewhere near that down the line if you also have private work.
DigitalStefan@reddit
If you earn £48k living in London, you will wish you'd stayed in the US earning $84k.
If you earn £48k living somewhere quiet in Wales, you can be reasonably comfortable.
If you're in London and you want to be comfortable, I would guess £70k would be a start point.
Snoo_53312@reddit
How long is a piece of string, really. In South East England, it won't get you far. In NE Scotland (where I live) you would be okay but do better with a roommate or partner. Between us, my husband and I make £66k and we live really well. But as an immigrant you would also have visa costs and the NHS surcharge to consider, so that would eat into your earnings.
YouCantArgueWithThis@reddit
Good in Scotand or Wales. Crappy in London and around.
Ambitious-Twist2512@reddit
In the UK, a salary of £37k–£48k is considered decent to comfortable, though it may feel a bit tight on the lower end in London compared to your $84k after tax in the US you would likely have a somewhat lower standard of living but with better work life balance and free healthcare.
Curious_Dot6854@reddit
It depends where you live and what other assets you have.
graeme_1988@reddit
I think that’s above average here. I imagine that would be a difficult salary to live off in London, but you could be more comfortable up North (it’s better up North anyway!). Good luck!
Astronaut_Level@reddit
It would be a good ish salary in the Midlands/North of England, it wouldn’t go far in the South/London.
ThrowRAkitty13@reddit
Depends where you live in the UK and/or if you're in a dual income household.
Where in the UK would you want to move to and would you be moving alone?
That salary alone is definitely not enough to live comfortably in London.
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