Doctors should earn more than footballers according to kids
Primary school children may dream of being popstars or footballers but when it comes to who they think should earn the highest wages their money is on medical professionals.
More than a third (34%) of five to 12 year olds surveyed said doctors and nurses should earn the most, followed closely by almost a quarter (23%) of kids who believe that soldiers should earn the most.
The research by Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks revealed a gender divide when it comes to who primary school aged children think should earn the highest salaries. Some 37 per cent of girls think doctors and nurses should earn the most, compared to 28 per cent of boys. Instead more young boys (30%) than girls (19%) think soldiers should earn more.
Surprisingly, just two per cent think that footballers should take home the biggest pay packets. A mere one per cent of respondents thought popstars should be paid the most. And just seven per cent of girls and only three per cent of boys think that parents do a job that deserves to be paid the most.
Primary kids perception is at odds with the reality that premiership footballers earn an average of over £28,000 per week* compared to health professionals who take home an average of £1,067 per week**.
Primary aged boys are more positive than girls about their earning potential after leaving school with 29 per cent believing they will earn between £100 and £1,000 per week compared to 22 per cent of girls.
Higher earnings aspirations may be due to the fact more boys of primary school age earn their pocket money through working. The survey revealed 13 per cent of boys have jobs to earn spending money. This compares with just eight per cent of girls.
Despite being able to see the value in professional jobs such as doctors and nurses, primary school kids do not realise their own earning potential. More than half (56%) of kids estimate they will only earn up to £50 per week in their first job when they leave school. An optimistic two per cent, however, think they will earn between £1,000 and £2,000 per week.
Steve Reid, Retail Director for Clydesdale Bank, said: "It is encouraging that so many primary pupils believe that medical professionals should earn the highest wages. However, the expectations on after school earnings suggest that children this age could be better educated when it comes to finances and the future.
"This survey highlights the need for numeracy and financial capability and awareness within schools which is something we aim to achieve through our ‘Count and Grow' and 'Count Me In' programmes. We also have a range of savings accounts for kids to help them manage their money for the future."
For more information on the wide range of children's savings accounts offered by Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks, visit cbonline.co.uk or ybonline.co.uk.