They are averages, and gross figures at that - and the salary of a chief executive and a couple of senior managers tends to bring the average up! Averages don't tell you a huge amount unless you can also see the distribution curves. Bear in mind also that the figures aren't adjusted for age, so if you're younger, then perhaps your friends are still at the lower end of the spectrum.These seem to be way over what i know people working in these sectors earn.