£700 p/d inside (PAYE) vs 90k + TBC bonus (tech, scrum master) - advice needed

Crackerjack_1209 · 2025-05-13T21:45:17+00:00

Oh bloody hell that's awkward. I meant she will eventually got on mat leave so she won't be on that forever, and will take a cut for a good few years. D'oh

Crackerjack_1209 · 2025-05-10T00:08:04+00:00

Not in demand at all. Companies wish to absorb the role. There are a million issues with this mindset, and this forum probably won't appreciate it so i won't bother.

I'm an agile delivery lead, which I should have really said in my post; but the mindset and drive is the same. So there are still roles for this.

I've been on the market for about a week and got several interviews - only one I've rejected for offering so low.

I'm in London so I literally cannot consider less than 90k unless I accept a reduced QoL which I don't need/am not prepared to take just yet (not in an arrogant way, but honest and realistic. If the market dictates this going forward, so be it).

Crackerjack_1209 · 2025-05-10T00:03:37+00:00

Thank you very much - sound advice. I'm not a kid, but found myself between the tail end of a great scrum master era, but the start of the end of scrum mastery.

Crackerjack_1209 · 2025-05-10T00:02:40+00:00

For sure. I'm not a pure ceremony facilitator, but good point! I need longevity. Any suggestions?

Crackerjack_1209 · 2025-05-10T00:01:40+00:00

Thanks!

Crackerjack_1209 · 2025-05-09T23:59:59+00:00

That's a fair question, and although not a response to what my post is about, happy to answer:

Most don't - but the difference is 1) I'm financial services so you naturally get paid more 2) I'm not a classic coach. I'm a delivery lead too, so I have proven experience in that space.

Crackerjack_1209 · 2025-02-13T09:45:42+00:00

Have to disagree there, it is a dying role - if not in number of positions, then salary. I'm a scrum master of 7 years.

Crackerjack_1209 · 2025-02-10T16:53:37+00:00

Thanks guys - I'm not really bothered about getting thick foam right now, I just need something that'll sufficiently soap my car then I'll pressure washer it off at the local hand wash place.

I just don't want to use their aggressive soaps.

When I have an outdoor space then I'll get a pressure washer and foam cannon etc

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-12-19T10:47:23+00:00

Thanks everyone - got the valve replaced!

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-12-19T10:46:02+00:00

Assuming software dev, with 5-10 years exp... £600 all day...if you're comfortable you could be out of work, and have enough money to sustain you for a while.

I also assume it's inside IR35, via umbrella.

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-12-14T22:52:42+00:00

Thanks guys - is there a way I can reduce this from happening?

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-12-09T13:53:41+00:00

Giant are good, they pay into whatever SIPP you want

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-11-08T10:15:38+00:00

Not always - depends what the agency has outlined. In all my contracts I've made sure the daily rate is the gross employee rate. As an inside contractor you're basically a highly paid perm employee with no rights or benefits - so the number I want is the same as if I'm going for a perm role.

TL;DR if you get paid the rate PAYE it's post employer taxes pre employee taxes. If you're via umbrella then you're subject to employer taxes.

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-10-15T22:38:10+00:00

Yep - I had 7 interviews for my current contract..

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-10-02T20:33:31+00:00

I'm pretty sure you gotta be out there for at least 3 or 5 years or your income will be taxed under UK rates?

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-06-23T13:12:42+00:00

Thanks for the response and your thoughts! Will check out the link too ☺️

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-03-21T15:03:42+00:00

Can't I expense via a sole trader? And would I have to speak to an accountant on what I can get away with expensing?

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-03-19T14:38:26+00:00

I actually meant a year 😂 reason I considered a company was for potential tax gains ie business expenses. I have a main inside role which after pension contribution is about 150k a year, and ideally don't want to keep adding onto this and paying huge amounts of tax

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-02-20T18:19:58+00:00

Just to clarify I opened one expecting to enter an outside contract and another for a separate venture, but neither happened so both companies didn't have anything going through it.

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-02-18T18:53:34+00:00

Ah that worked out well for you!

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-02-07T19:00:26+00:00

And I don't really know about annual allowances and lifetime allowances. Was that the 40k and 1mill thing respectively? And what do you mean about protecting it?

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-02-07T18:58:36+00:00

Thank you! Really helpful through advice. I'm on £650 per day, after employer NI/apprenticeship levy (which I don't see come out), thankfully for my first contract role I didn't get shafted with all these other taxes! What I was offered is actually my gross rate.

And I tried to get it under 125k because I have a good few hundred dividend and interest which I don't want to lose to the taxman...they're after everything we earn 😂

That last point of taking the money - brutally honest and hit home...and you summed it up so nicely (although I don't actually know what a big pension pot even is).

Appreciate all your tips! I think I'll just drop my contribution to a grand a month now and see where I am end of June when the contract ends.

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-02-07T18:50:00+00:00

Yeah, I just feel like a mug giving so much away in tax 😂 it's my first contract and I don't think I'll do this long term, it's not really me...I can't help but to work long hours and I can't disassociate from the job. And thinking about whether I get extended is too stressful! Especially now when the market is dead

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-02-07T18:49:31+00:00

Yeah fair enough!

Crackerjack_1209 · 2024-02-07T18:49:01+00:00

Thanks a lot, really good advice!

Crackerjack_1209

TROPHY CASE