Teenagers expect to earn triple the average salary by the time they turn 30

They also believe they'll have their dream job and be on the property ladder

Sarah Jones
Wednesday 13 February 2019 08:21 EST
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(Getty Images)

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Optimistic teenagers believe they will earn £70,000 by the time they reach 30, a survey has revealed.

The figure is almost three times the actual average salary of a 30-year-old and is earnt by just one in 20 adults in the UK during their entire career.

A survey of 2,098 13 to 19-year-olds, conducted by financial services provider OneFamily, has found that young people expect to be earning £70,000 by the time they turn 30.

The study also revealed that nearly half (45 per cent) of teenagers believe they will get their dream job by the same age, while one in five (21 per cent) think they will have set up their own business.

Despite approximately one in 10 (11 per cent) teens wanting to pursue modern jobs, like becoming a video game developer, blogger, or social media influencer, the survey found that the most desired careers among teenagers are still traditional professions.

The top three choices for occupations were found to be an engineer, teacher and psychologist, followed by scientist, lawyer and nurse.

While teenagers have high expectations when it comes to their future earnings, 62 per cent say they would prefer to have a job they are passionate about opposed to one that made came with a large salary (42 per cent).

Similarly, more than two in five (43 per cent) say working with nice people is important to them, while a quarter (25 per cent) think it is important to do something that they are good at.

Other milestones teens think they will reach before their 30th birthday include owning a house, travelling the world, having children and getting married.

“Many teens are expecting significantly higher than average salaries, which highlights the importance of helping them understand money,” says Steve Ferrari, managing director of children's savings at OneFamily.

“Parents can do this by encouraging their children to get a part-time job, or suggesting they save up their pocket money to afford bigger expenses.

“It’s great to see teens choosing careers based on factors like giving back to society, or working with nice people, but it’s also important for them to understand what different careers pay and parents can help educate them on this and ensure they make the right career choices, so they can follow their life dreams.“

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