How does your salary compare to 3 years ago? Plus does anyone else feel that the salary scales are on a downward slide SBH

4 years ago £35k plus 3 years ago nothing (maternity leave) 1 1/2 year ago I returned to work, on a part time basis and am getting just below £20k. Relative to location and tasks. Looking back on it now, 4 years ago I was on too much (didnt complain at the time!!) for my task as site based safety officer. Now as sole H&S Advisor/ Manager doing a lot more with audits/ client and PC interaction, booking of training, developing SMS, site visits, presentations etc I am greatful that I have a job, and perhaps when I make my stamp in the company the pay will reflect, and I wanted to return to work to get back into my chosen profession rather than have gone to Uni all them years for nothing.

I started on £18K 5 years ago I am now on 24,400 still below the UK average,

Between 13% - 15% rise each year (over a five year cycle then capped).

I've got a job and for that I'm gratefull I think its a bit insensitive to people I know who are out of work to even think about this subject at the present. Lots of us will be joining them shortly.

No pay rise for two years but thanks to the government I now have higher pension contributions. So I have had a pay cut really. We have been told that all promotion is frozen for the foreseeable future so it looks like I’m stuck.

That makes two of us! I am also on £6K less than a colleague doing a comparable job, but have been told that grade/salary reviews have also been cancelled indefinitely. My only pay rise in 2 years has been since I have been press ganged into being on call from home out of hours (on weekday nights and weekends, every other week) for the enormous additional payment of around 62p an hour!!! (before tax!!!!!!!!)

No pay rise since 2009 (1%) and just been made redundant. Salaries on the jobs pages are looking between £25K and £42K though mainly around £30K

Same salary as i was on 4 yrs ago but getting battered with tax increases!!!!!!!!!

I think this a wee bit unfair walker. The question was asked. Its an open forum and people have the choice to reply openly. Likewise, if people think that the subject may be touching on a sensitive part of their particular circumstances, then they have the choice of not opening the link.

Hmm, I think it is a valid thread, but I am also acutely aware that many colleagues are out of work and therefore the question is not really valid. I would not say I'm on £50k but have taken a £10k pay cut from my last job as this would be insensitive. I think most practitioners are thick skinned enough (you have to be) to understand a genuine question from a dig. Back to the original point, I think the current recession has meant that many practitioners are on lower salaries than a few years ago - I know I am. Hopefully things will pick up in the near future. I am surprised that so many practitioners are on relatively low wages. It appears the kudos IOSH hoped for by gaining chartered status has not materialised.

Given that IOSH themselves have just issued the 2012 Salary Survey, it is interesting to see if people are better or worse these days and if employers "still" value their H&S employees.

Last year's ncrease 2%, year previous 3% so in real terms against inflation no increase, however you have to be thankful for small mercies. Luckily we still got our bonus despite making a loss. I dont actually believe Chartered status has influenced my salary scale since the day I received it, so perhaps IOSH needs to communicate this more clearly to forums so they understand that they are not just getting someone with a safety qualification.

I consider myself to be very, very lucky. 2009 - £50k staff job 2009 - Made redundant, got a new job within 1 week, but £10k less 2010 - Asked by another company to work for them, back to £50k 2011 - Took the gamble of going freelance/contracting in the energy/oil/gas sector. Excellent so far, nett (take home pay) is over 2.5x salaried / staff job. Given I work in the energy/power sector and the ever need for oil/gas and also looking like the announcement of new nuclear power stations and others nuclear related projects - I an pretty confident of having constant work. Might have to work away in some odd places but worth it. The years of study & exams were worth it. Redundancy, with hindsight, was good for me. Sympathies to those looking for work its tough going for too many at the moment.

Private sector, insurance. 3 years ago, £45k. Currently £50k + £10k pa bonus average. All the approaches I get for similar jobs (by headhunters) are offering less money so thankful to be where I am.

And look where listening to the so called financial 'experts' has got us...... of course you can afford a £300k house on a salary of £30k with no deposit. It was obvious 5-6 years ago the housing bubble was not sustainable - so why couldn't the bankers and estate agents see it? Guess they were too interested in their short term bonus rewards, to think of the long term

No doubt I will get shot down for this, however I must highlight the other side of the coin. Until 2 weeks ago I was employed by a major accreditation body and in regards to general industry statistics, the push towards gaining certification to 18001/14001 is vibrant to say the least. I have assessed almost every sector over the last 14 months and have found the world of HSEQ to be in relatively good health compared to other sectors. Indeed, statistics indicate that during recession many companies actually use the quieter periods to work towards certification to said standards so that they are in a better place to tender when things improve. Oh yes there is a 'however'. The most significant/savage cuts I have seen are in the Public Sector and Construction - many of the HSEQ departments in local authorities have simply vanished, just like entire construction companies. Every company I have assessed in regard to Oil & Gas is booming, not just in Aberdeenshire - also Central Scotland, East Midlands and London amongst others. People employed in this sector are doing well, however not to the point of being impervious to cuts, my company is currently in the throes of another 'review' so who knows whats next. Renewables doing well but that depends on continued support from the Government. In conclusion, there seems to be a lot of negativity about our sector - what I'm suggesting is that we are worse off than some and better off than others! No consolation to fellow practitioners who have taken a hit or been made redundant, but its not all bad news. As for Greece and the ongoing eurozone saga - irrespective of personnel politics we really must collectivley cross all our fingers! G

Last full time role 5 years ago £40k plus car, pension and allowances. Most of my fellow managers (construction, commercial, HR, etc) now made redundant or working at least 100 miles from home and staying away during the week. Worked in mainline construction then started my own Limited Company and jumped to Energy Sector. Rates in mainline construction down 20-30% but opportunities rare. Rates in energy/nuclear sector excellent. My friend tells me if you are not invoicing 2k a week it’s not worth getting out of bed!! You need to be flexible and not wait for the ideal job just down the road, in your comfort zone, working 9-5. Good luck.

About six years ago I decided to quit full time work and look for something two days a week, when I was in full time work my salary was 25k, the company advertised job and did not specify qualifications just working towards them at a salary of approx 28k, (so much for loyalty) I am happy with what I'm doing, the hours and at 63 in work that's priceless