Cadetship: the figures!

[gadget123]

ouch, well at least it'll buy more in their country than it would here. Still, glad I'm British

Yeah definitely goes further in their country. I sailed with one absolutely awful cook who told me his wife was a lawyer and that he learnt a lot more than her. So this guy was getting paid a lot more than a lawyer for barely being able to cook, so decent officers must do pretty well.

[HarmlessWeasel]

Maybe not captains, but nearly all ratings and many junior officers are working for less than that.

ouch, well at least it'll buy more in their country than it would here. Still, glad I'm British

[gadget123]

well still, assuming you worked every day for 6 months of the year (typical for a British sailor I hear) that's only ?27,637.80 but that's if you worked every single hour of every day. Assuming you stick to 14 hours a day then minimum wage would give you ?16,122.05. Now I imagine that even captains from other countries earn more than that?

Maybe not captains, but nearly all ratings and many junior officers are working for less than that.

[HarmlessWeasel]

I think he's saying captains from other countries may earn less than our minimum wage.

well still, assuming you worked every day for 6 months of the year (typical for a British sailor I hear) that's only ?27,637.80 but that's if you worked every single hour of every day. Assuming you stick to 14 hours a day then minimum wage would give you ?16,122.05. Now I imagine that even captains from other countries earn more than that?

[Lewis]

I hate when people make these commparisions you need to look at purchasing power parity in other countries not exchange rates.

[hotnspicy]

Really? Even if you worked every single hour of every day for a year at minimum wage, you'd earn ?55,275.60; I'm pretty sure most Captains earn a little more than that. If I've missed something please feel free to point it out.

The maths by the way is 24(hrs in a day) x 365(days in a year) x 6.31(minimum wage for over 21s) = 55275.6

I think he's saying captains from other countries may earn less than our minimum wage.

[HarmlessWeasel]

Considering that even if cadets were being paid the UK minimum wage, it would be more that what a lot of the Captains are taking home on many of the vessels sponsor companies put cadets onto, it is probably part of their logic.

It wouldn't create a very conducive atmosphere on board the vessel if the cadets were on more than the captain. Hence it is probably a good idea to have the cadets on a salary similar to the nationalities they are being placed with.

Really? Even if you worked every single hour of every day for a year at minimum wage, you'd earn ?55,275.60; I'm pretty sure most Captains earn a little more than that. If I've missed something please feel free to point it out.

The maths by the way is 24(hrs in a day) x 365(days in a year) x 6.31(minimum wage for over 21s) = 55275.6

[pignutpilot]

Considering that even if cadets were being paid the UK minimum wage, it would be more that what a lot of the Captains are taking home on many of the vessels sponsor companies put cadets onto, it is probably part of their logic.

It wouldn't create a very conducive atmosphere on board the vessel if the cadets were on more than the captain. Hence it is probably a good idea to have the cadets on a salary similar to the nationalities they are being placed with.

[jonnylambert]

im on an average cadet wage of ?700 a month (?8400 a year) which you can get by on. it all depends on how you work your money, if you dont waste money you will have enough to get you by the month, although living costs at STC are ?480 every 4 weeks which doesnt feed and water you preoperly you still have to spend money at asda etc. not giving you much spare cash to have a good time and relax with. once at sea it is a different matter. the hardest part of the cadetship financial wise is phase 1, after that it should be hunky dorey.

[chris]

cant complain really, I do all right on my cadet wage which I think is a pretty average one.

[HolyNougat]

I can't say I have much time for people who complain about cadet wages when you consider the alternative available in higher education...

[Steve]

Out if interest does the RFA pay accommodation costs and food too at college?

Neither.

[Midge]

If cadets had to fund studies and accommodation it would cost 3 years at 9000 plus 4500 approx accommodation.
?31500 for three years. Any other cost food travel on top of that. Less any 'pay' they may receive as a cadet whilst at sea.
Airline pilot for a complete beginner ?70,000 to 100,000 to get to the same level.
Uk apprenticeship schemes pay ?2.65 per hour if under 18 national min wage if over 18.
Should you need a student loan? No, you should be able to manage easily. Different if you are older with dependants or other costs. Just left home ? You are getting a lot more than most students even on the lower figures

[moose]

Just to add my 2p worth...

As having just accepted my cadetship offer, the finalized training allowance I will receive far exceeds the funding I received when doing my undergrad degree.

Per year I received a loan of approximately ?4500. With this it was expected you paid rent, food, transport, all education related items (books etc).
Even with the lowest paid cadetship of around ?600 a month, that still equates to ?7200 p/a. In my eyes, a shed load more than any normal student financing option.
It isn't all about the pay, it's the training you are there for. The education fees are paid for, the allowance allows you to live well, with a bit spare for beer tokens.

Also, there will be a time when you go away on sea phase and have no accommodation to pay for, amassing a fair bit of wonga!

So for those thinking the lowest paid training allowances are a bit 'stingy', consider your situation if you had to apply for student finance;
1: it's a ballache.
2: you will be poor and scraping the barrel.
3: most students need a part time job to keep them going.

At the end of it, when you're qualified and employed, you will be earning a fair bit more, and have no student debt!!!!

[GuinnessMan]

but you are all missing the point it is not a salary, it is a training grant / funding.

Finally, think I was starting to get a bit fed up repeating that....