Teens think they can make fortunes in sectors such as music or the arts

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A fifth of youngsters put hope in arts jobs, where median salary is £22k
Sector with highest earnings is gas, steam and air conditioning supply
93% of parents did not know how lucrative mining and quarrying are

Published: 20:18 EST, 27 January 2015 | Updated: 04:43 EST, 28 January 2015

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TV talent shows and celebrity culture have distorted teenagers’ views on the skills they would need to earn a decent living, it has been claimed.

A growing number believe they can make their fortune in glamorous sectors such as the music industry, research has found.

A survey found a fifth of youngsters thought the arts, entertainment and recreation sectors were among the highest paid – when in reality the opposite is true.

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The median salary for these industries was just £21,603 last year, making them among the lowest-paid.

In 2014, the sector with the highest annual earnings was electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply – but only a sixth of teenagers guessed it was in the top three.

Those polled said they believed average earnings for that sector are £23,000, almost £15,000 lower than the actual median of £37,922.

Overall, they miscalculated the actual earnings in certain skilled and practical sectors by up to 38 per cent.

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This is despite 60 per cent of the young people polled citing money and future salary as the most important factor in their career decisions.

The research, commissioned by the Edge Foundation, found teenagers lacked the right information on earnings to make informed career choices.

Chief executive Jan Hodges said: ‘With high profile celebrities and talent shows dominating our screens, it is not surprising that young people believe that they could earn big bucks working in the arts and entertainment industry when in reality it is one of the lowest paid sectors.

‘There is a small minority of highly paid individuals but this is by no means representative of the sector as a whole and highlights the lack of knowledge around the earning potential of certain careers.

The researchers also found parents were the biggest influence on their child’s education and future career choice.

But 93 per cent of parents failed to recognise that mining and quarrying ranks third highest for potential earnings, with a median full-time salary of £37,539.

Parents also underestimated average earnings in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by over a third.

Electricians, for example, earn an average of £29,000 per year which is nearly 25 per cent more than the national average wage.

Ms Hodges added: ‘A skilled workforce is essential to the UK economy and high quality vocational routes need to be encouraged – not just for the personal fulfilment they bring but also the lucrative financial opportunities they offer.'

It comes after a survey by the Association of Colleges found that only half of pupils aged 11 to 16 felt well informed about the jobs that are available.

Richard Atkins, president of the AoC, said: ‘It is not surprising that there is a lack of understanding around salaries.

‘Careers guidance and advice is currently failing young people in this country.

‘It is imperative that young people receive independent high-quality careers advice to help them make some of the most important decisions of their life in choosing a future career path.’