• Question: how much do you earn a day

    Asked by foxy the pirate fox to Christie, Dan, David, Dawn, Sian on 15 Jun 2016.
    • Photo: Dawn Lau

      Dawn Lau answered on 15 Jun 2016:

      Let’s take a typical job advertisement as an example of a research associate’s salary: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/ANV670/research-associate. That’s about £32,600 a year. Of the 365 days a year, only 253 count as working days (Mon-Fri, excluding bank holidays). So it’s a case of simple math: £32,600 / 253 = £128.85 earned per day.

      However, I do come in on weekends and work overtime during the week, so I’d say I earn slightly less than that per day! And don’t forget that you have to pay taxes as well! You don’t get rich by becoming a scientist 🙂

    • Photo: David Robertson

      David Robertson answered on 15 Jun 2016:

      Dawn has answered perfectly.
      If you are working in a University then unless you are a high up professor you will not be rich, but I certainly really enjoy what I do.

    • Photo: Sian Thomas

      Sian Thomas answered on 15 Jun 2016:

      And it you don’t work in a university or in research have a look on civil service jobs. This gives you a range of roles – starting salaries will depend on area of specialism and experience.

      Top salaries are less than in commercial organisations – but while you will not be a highest earner you will afford a good standard of living.

      I concur completely – if you want to be a scientist and have a good salary learn coding and do something at the tech end!

    • Photo: Christie Waddington

      Christie Waddington answered on 20 Jun 2016:

      I’m a student grant during my PhD, which means I don’t pay taxes but get a lump sum each month. Like Dawn, I don’t get extra for coming in on weekends or working late which is a bit annoying. But I love the work so its ok :-). Per year, I get £13,800 o take home. The grant also pays for tuition fees and chemicals that I will use during my project. Once you get a PhD though you earn more!

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