• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Americans stunned after learning what a good salary in the UK is

Home> Community

Updated 14:52 22 May 2025 GMT+1Published 14:29 22 May 2025 GMT+1

Americans stunned after learning what a good salary in the UK is

We all have our own take on what is 'good'

Jess Battison

Jess Battison

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: TikTok, Cost of Living, Money

Jess Battison
Jess Battison

Jess is a Senior Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include asking everyone in the office what they're having for tea, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021.

X

@jessbattison_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Americans have been left stunned after learning about what a ‘good’ salary is in the UK.

And it’s lead to a bit of a kick off between TikTok users of the two nations, as there’s a stark contrast in how each approach their living costs.

I mean, it’s already a given that there’s going to be differences, with us Brits having free healthcare on the NHS as well as other differing needs for spending money on.

But of course, the Americans love a chance to compare themselves to (and claim to be better than) us.

Advert

A TikToker who ‘reveals how people spend money’ was sent a ‘money chart’ by someone from the UK, dividing up their income and showing their outgoings.

The chart comes from someone who has an annual salary of £30,000.

Americans just love taking aim at us, don't they? (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Americans just love taking aim at us, don't they? (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Forbes previously put that as the average for the UK.

“This is a good salary in the UK?” limmy0705 exclaimed, pointing out that it works out at roughly $40,000 – saying people in the US would think of you as ‘broke’.

Advert

That £30,000 isn’t the Brit’s only income though, as they also earn £17,000 from a part-time job and another £14,400 as a landlord.

So, he ends up with a budget of £61,800, and the TikToker can’t believe he’s spending ‘more than half of your full-time income’ on rent at £18,000.

“People say over here that you’re doing a good job if you’re keeping the amount of money that you spend on rent less than 30 percent of your income,” he slams.

But as most people renting in many of UK’s cities will know, that’s not exactly an easy task.

British users in the comments were quick to say: “I’ll take my free health care, lower cost of living, free university and free prescriptions.”

Advert

And others said they don’t class £30,000 as a good salary but a ‘liveable’ one and just ‘average’.

Brits couldn't help but point out the difference in costs, while we deal with our own cost of living. (Getty Stock)
Brits couldn't help but point out the difference in costs, while we deal with our own cost of living. (Getty Stock)

Forbes adds that the top 10 percent of Britons earn £59,200 or more per year – quite the jump from what the Americans are slamming us for.

Meanwhile, Demandsage found that the average annual income in the US is $61,984 (£42,6000).

And a survey published by GoBankingRates.com found that the largest proportion of American adults said they believe it’s possible to live comfortably earning between $75,000 (£56,000) and $100,000 (£75,000) in 2025. So, it’s pretty understandable why they’re so shocked at this person’s £30,000 salary.

Advert

But, everyone’s idea of ‘comfortable’ can be pretty different, not to mention the different costs we have. One did point out: “Brits don’t pay $12 (£9) for 6 eggs.”

“You get paid more so you can pay your medical bills lmao,” another hit.

Over on Reddit, one also wrote: "But also, the US is a more competitive place and less worker friendly than the UK, some of that higher pay reflects longer working days, less holidays, at-will employment, less leave with respect to bereavement, parenthood, and general higher expectations of work."

Choose your content:

12 hours ago
13 hours ago
16 hours ago
19 hours ago
  • 12 hours ago

    What happened during ‘most gruesome death of all time’ that saw five divers instantly killed on oil rig

    The horrifying accident happened in 1983 in the Norwegian oil fields

    Community
  • 13 hours ago

    People left ‘unsettled’ after spotting terrifying face hidden in group photo

    One user said it's made them believe in ghosts

    Community
  • 16 hours ago

    People can't get over scarily 'accurate' simulation of an acid trip

    Social media users said the clip was 'spot on'

    Community
  • 19 hours ago

    Woman, 24, who plans to retire by 40 reveals strict rules she lives by that allow her to save an eye-watering £100,000

    Mia shares advice for other young people to start making bag

    Community
  • You can now book a Butlin’s holiday for as little as £51 per person
  • Millions of workers in the UK will get a pay rise today
  • Expert leaves Brits baffled after claiming £12,000 is the best wage to earn
  • Urgent warning to UK households with less than £20,000 in savings