MANY people think that you have to work long hours to rake in a top salary.
But there are plenty of roles that give workers a bulging pay packet and don’t mean slogging it out around the clock.
Jobs in education are well-paid but offer employees shorter working hours[/caption]
Work-life balance has become more important to many people in recent years.
Having plenty of time to enjoy time with family and friends is a priority for many of us.
Yet, the cost of living is squeezing family budgets meaning households need to earn as much cash as possible.
The average working week in the UK is 39.1 hours, according to jobs site CV Maker.
But there are jobs with shorter hours without workers having to compromise on salaries.
Top of the list is jobs in education with employees typically working just over 35 hours a week.
Teachers pull in an average salary of £45,561, according to data from job site CV Library.
Another added bonus of this job is that there is also plenty of holiday for workers.
Nicky Klaasse, chief executive CVMaker, said: “The education sector stands out with significantly shorter working hours than other industries, which may explain why it attracts so many people despite offering a lower salary.”
Financial and insurance jobs offer the next best work-life balance, with employees in this sector typically working 36 hours a week.
A finance manager can expect to earn a top salary of £53,639 or a management accountant earns an average £47, 310.
And in third place is the science and research sector with workers typically clocking up 37.6 hours a week.
A data scientist can expect to earn £58,775 a year.
The biggest average salary enjoyed by employees working less hours than the average is in the information and communication sector.
A software engineer earns a mighty £68,014 while an architect in the sector earns £68,246.
Sectors with the longest working hours
If shorter working weeks appeal to you, you’ll want to avoid, the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry which has the longest average working week at 42.7 hours, according to CV Maker.
That’s followed by the transportation and storage sector, with employees working an average of 42 hours per week.
Construction and water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities also have relatively long working weeks of 41.3 hours.
And workers in accommodation and food service activities clock an average of 40.4 hours weekly.
If you’re considering changing career, a jobs expert has revealed some of the mistakes to avoid on your CV.
How to ask for a pay rise
Asking for a pay rise can be daunting. Andrew Hunter, co-founder of job matching platform Adzuna shares his tips..
- Pick your timing
The end or the beginning of the financial years or quarters can mark an ideal time to schedule a quarterly performance review with your line manager.
This is when firms are often taking a look at budgets and presents an opportunity to present a compelling case for a pay rise.
- Give your value
Begin by gathering a list of your achievements and how you’ve added value to your team and company over the past year.
If possible, quantify your impact in numbers and percentages.
Next, find out what you’re worth by researching your market value. While there are plenty of salary benchmarking studies out there, AI tools like ValueMyCV provide real time, detailed estimates of your market value – go into the conversation armed with data.
- Share your reasons
The final step is to share your reasons and future goals. Focus on how a pay rise could benefit your line manager, the broader team and the business.
When it comes to negotiation, mentality is key. Be prepared to negotiate.
Find out what you are comfortable with and what’s your bottom line in terms of the percentage of salary increase or whether you are willing to take on extra tasks.
If a pay rise is not possible, consider negotiating for enhanced perks, for example, a bonus, work-from-home option, additional day offs, or professional development opportunities.