(33M) – Hi,hope u all good! I’m looking for a bit of a reality check on my situation. I’m 33, originally from SL, and moved to the UK in early 2024. I’ve got a bit of a “bumpy” CV—I finished my degree back in 2015 but didn’t get “proper” QS experience right away. I did some audit work and fit-out take-offs in Qatar, then had a 2-year gap before moving to London. When I got here, I was just happy to get my foot in the door. I took an Assistant role but on a Trainee salary of £25k because I didn’t have UK experience yet. My mindset was: “Just learn the ropes, get the experience, and the money will follow.” 18 months later, they’ve bumped me up to £32k.( Including my car allowance)I’m grateful for the raise, but looking around London, it feels like most Assistants are on £40k–£50k. I’d love your honest thoughts on a few things:
Am I being underpaid for London? I now have 1.5 years of solid UK experience under my belt.
Does it look “bad” to be an Assistant at 33? I sometimes feel like I’m behind where I should be.
Should I stick it out here for another year to show loyalty, or is it time to move on and find a role that pays closer to the market rate?