Highest Paying Jobs in UK

The UK has been an extremely popular study-abroad destination for international students. The country has got a rich academic heritage and a solid track record of research and innovation. We have earlier discussed the best courses to study in the UK for foreign students to get jobs (i.e. high availability of jobs). In this post, we will look at the highest-paying jobs in the UK. Hopefully, this article will give more insights about choosing the right course – both at the undergraduate and master’s levels.

Study in UK

The UK has many reputable educational institutions teaching a wide array of subjects and that drives students from across the globe to pursue higher education here. In addition, the UK is home to many established business houses as well as growing new-age companies. Together they offer opportunities to job seekers for building a satisfying professional career.

The UK is one of the best countries with generous stay-back and post-study work regulations. International students are allowed to stay (and look for jobs) for two years (under the new UK post-study work visa rules) after graduating.

When choosing a job career, personal motivations come first in the list of top lifetime priorities, but financial profits must also be taken into account. We don’t want to put all our efforts into our education and professional qualification to get a job that only pays the bills.

Salaries in the UK are generally high enough to meet one’s financial aspirations. But if you’re wondering which one might turn particularly profitable for you then read on.

Top 6 Highest-Paying Careers and Jobs in the UK

C-suite jobs offer fat pay packets but that’s excluded here for two reasons; first, they are not in abundance. Secondly, it requires substantial experience to get there.

We have also excluded a few extremely niche professions that get very high compensation like wine tester, cinema actor, etc. The entry-level and mid-level career options for those who have completed undergraduate and Master degrees are discussed.

There are six broad business categories comprising fifteen jobs where the professionals get higher than average salary and are discussed here.

1. Aeronautical & Aerospace Engineering

Two significant jobs in this area that command high salaries are (a) Aircraft Controllers and (b) Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers. The UK has one of the most developed aeronautical systems in terms of the extensive network of airlines and of its modern infrastructure.

Similarly, the UK aeronautical engineering industry is highly developed and engineers are much needed to routinely check the aircraft’s maintenance.

Although working in this industry is hard because you’re responsible for the lives of many people, plus there are strict schedules you need to meet on a daily basis, it is totally worth-seeking career regarding the financial profits.

Flight Engineers must at least have a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering and relevant experience to get hired, whereas Aircraft Pilots must need a specific education for pilots and a certain number of hours of flying practice to get a license. Pilots and Flight Engineers earn on an average 75,000 pounds a year.

Aircraft controllers carry a high responsibility on their shoulders as their work is essential for the safety of those people who use airplanes as the mean of transportation. To handle this job one individual must possess outstanding leadership skills and mental and professional preparation.

You don’t need a specific degree to qualify for this job, but there are a lot of examinations, tests, and training sessions to get qualified for working as an aircraft controller. Note that getting such qualifications is not an easy mission and the competition is as fierce as the goal is to choose the best candidates. The salary too is commensurate and they earn about 100,000 pounds a year. Read more about Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering Careers and Jobs.

2. Medicine

This profession is globally acclaimed as a noble one besides it is paying. Medical practitioners, especially Orthodontics, Nephrologists, Pediatricians, and Anesthesiologists are in great demand in the UK and are well paid too. This group of medical practitioners commands an average salary of 100,000 pounds a year.

Orthodontic

Abnormal alignment of the teeth and jaws is very common among the developed world population. An orthodontic treats a person with this dental problem. A survey conducted by AAO (American Orthodontics Association) found that patients with completed orthodontic treatment have reported a higher quality of life than that untreated patients.

The Britishers take their oral and dental health very seriously. High demand and low supply make the job of an orthodontic one of the high-paying jobs in the UK.

Nephrologist

Nephrology is a specialty of adult internal medicine that concerns the study of the kidneys, specifically normal kidney function and kidney disease. The preservation of kidney health and the treatment of kidney disease, from diet and medication to renal replacement therapy comprising dialysis and kidney transplantation is carried out by Nephrologists.

Every 1 in 10 people in the UK suffers from a kidney stone and 4% of cancers in the UK are caused by the kidney. These unfortunate facts make the job of a Nephrologist in high demand. To become a Nephrologist in the UK, you have to undergo a 5-year training program which includes 2 years of training in General Internal Medicine and 3 years of Clinical Nephrology.

Pediatrician

Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. In the UK, doctors who are specialized to treat persons until the age of 18 are called Pediatricians.

It takes almost 8 years of education and training to become a Pediatrician in the UK. In the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for Pediatricians is going to grow by 10% globally by 2024 which will increase the demand for the same in the UK as well.

Anesthesiologist

Anesthesiology is the medical specialty concerned with the total perioperative care of patients before, during, and after surgery. In the UK, 5 years of general medicine, 2 years of general training, and 8 years of specialist training are required to become an Anesthesiologist.

Specialist doctors earn a basic salary of £80,693 to £91,584 per annum. Read more about Studying Medicine in the UK.

3. Law

A degree in law opens up countless job opportunities in several sectors. In addition to the variety of job opportunities, such a degree will also help you to land a highly rewarding job career.

Job title ‘Of Counsel’ refers to an attorney in the legal profession who often has a relationship with a law firm or an organization but is neither an associate nor a partner. Some firms use titles such as “counsel”, “special counsel”, and “senior counsel” for the same concept.

To qualify you will typically need a bachelor’s degree in law and 3-5 years of work experience in a similar role. Some common skills that help professionals in this role are legal expertise, negotiation, commercial awareness, and oral and written communication. The average salary is 75,000 pounds a year.

4. IT, Computer Science, Big Data & Analytics

The past three decades or so have seen a revolution in information technology in the business world.

25 years ago, the top 10 in Fortune-500 listed companies had major representations from product-based companies like General Motors, Ford, Exxon, GEC, AT&T, etc.

The recent one has names like Amazon, Apple, Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, etc.

The point to note here is that information technology had been driving business for the past couple of decades and that explains the strong demand for IT Professionals across the world including in the UK.

In general, IT professionals command decent salaries but among them, Enterprise Architects, Software Architects, and Database Architects carry a premium.

An Enterprise Architect gets an average salary of GBP 80,000 per annum while Software Architect and Database Architect get an average annual salary of GBP 75,000.

Enterprise Architect

An Enterprise Architect plays a crucial role in an organization’s IT team. They are responsible for maintaining IT infrastructure, and operating systems, and integrating information applications and programs. They maintain and update key enterprise architecture deliverables and serve as advisors to senior management on business-related IT strategies.

To be an Enterprise Architect, one should have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in IT, computer engineering, or a related field. Companies also look for 5-7 years of experience in a similar role for such jobs.

Software Architect

A Software Architect enables software development. They build relevant product specifications, communicate them to the development team, oversee the progress, and ensure software meets all the requirements. In short, they plan, track, and schedule software deliverables.

To be a Software Architect, you may need experience in coding various languages such as Python, Java, C++, etc. Familiarity with HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and UI/UX design is essential, and a degree in software development or related fields may be required. Problem-solving, creativity, innovation, and teamwork are some traits essential with around 7 years of relevant work experience for a Software Architect.

Database Architect

A Database Architect builds and maintains a company’s database, designing effective solutions and models to store company data. They assess and improve implementation procedures to ensure these align with internal and external regulations. Moreover, they monitor system performance by conducting regular tests and integrating new features.

To be a Database Architect, one can start with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. Companies usually prefer 3-5 years of experience in a related domain with strong technical expertise, communication skills, data analysis, data innovation and modeling, and problem resolution skills.

5. Finance, Investment Banking & Risk Management

The growth of industry and business is directly correlated to the growth of capital. The world economy is growing for nearly a century and thereby accentuating the growth of capital throughout the world.

Finance is the study and discipline of money, currency, and capital assets. It is related to, but not synonymous with economics, the study of production, distribution, and consumption of money, assets, goods, and services.

Finance activities take place in financial systems at various scopes; thus, the field can be roughly divided into personal, corporate, and public finance. In a financial system, assets are bought, sold, or traded as financial instruments, such as currencies, loans, bonds, shares, stocks, options, futures, etc.

Assets can also be banked, invested, and insured to maximize value and minimize loss. In practice, risks are always present in any financial activities and entities.

A broad range of subfields within finance exists due to its wide scope. The UK and London, in particular, are one of the most important financial services centers in the world, Hence, there is a huge demand for finance professionals.

Like IT professionals, finance professionals too get paid well across the spectrum but three jobs carry premium salaries among all and they are Equity Research Analyst, Portfolio Manager, and Risk Manager. The average salary of these three professionals is in the region of GBP 75,000 per annum.

Equity Research Analyst

An Equity Research Analyst provides investment recommendations to buy, sell, or hold financial securities. This may include performing company valuations, industry analysis, financial modeling, financial statement analysis, and reporting. They assist in company IPOs, working on stock valuation and capitalization.

To work as an Equity Research Analyst, a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, statistics, or a related field is required. Relevant experience of 3-5 years in a related industry strengthens your candidature and may be a must depending on seniority. Some skills that can help you in this role include analytical thinking, communication and presentation skills, and financial planning.

Portfolio Manager

A Portfolio Manager is responsible to oversee financial portfolios including equities, fixed income, capital investments, and more. They work directly with clients, managing their investment accounts. Based on clients’ goals, portfolio managers provide recommendations to enhance investment performance. Additionally, they develop reports on investment activities & performance and communicate them to their clients.

Most Portfolio Managers usually hold a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics, or economics. Pursuing some online courses on capital markets, portfolio management, international economics and trade, and equity strategies also strengthen an applicant’s position. Some skills needed to be an efficient portfolio manager are decision-making, attention to detail, and relationship building.

Risk Manager

A Risk Manager manages risk in all forms for a business. Some of these risks include financial, environmental, enterprise, information & security, tech, and market & credit risks. Risk Managers develop, manage, and execute an overall risk management process. Their core responsibilities include assessing and evaluating risks in the company and working on reducing or nullifying their impact.

Most employers look for a bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, or analytics. However, a master’s degree can be a great addition to support your application too.

Of course, Risk management experience may be a must for senior roles. Some skills required in this role are in-depth industry knowledge, communications, strategic thinking, and problem-solving.

6. Sales and Marketing

Sales are activities related to selling or the number of goods sold in a given targeted time period. The delivery of service for a cost is also considered a sale.

Marketing is the process of any one of the following

• exploring, creating, and delivering value to meet the needs of a target market in terms of goods and services
• potentially including a selection of a target audience; selection of certain attributes or themes to emphasize in advertising
• operating (or optimizing) advertising campaigns
• attendance at trade shows and public events
• design of products and packaging attractive to buyers
• defining the terms of sale, such as price, discounts, warranty, and return policy

Every business requires these two critical activities to survive and thrive. Needless to say, the UK, being a front-line business center has a huge demand for sales and marketing professionals.

The two jobs in this domain that command high salaries are Enterprise Account Manager and Advertising & Public Relations Directors. The average annual salary of these professionals is GBP 60,000.

Enterprise Account Manager

An Enterprise Account Manager is a professional who manages customer accounts and plays a key role in generating revenue through sales for a company. They develop, manage, and nurture relationships with customers while bringing new business to the firm. Additionally, they also serve as a link between customers and internal departments.

In most cases, Enterprise Account Managers should have a bachelor’s degree along with a strong experience in Sales. Some key skills required are communications, negotiations, and project management.

Advertising & Public Relations Manager

The way a company presents itself in the market plays a major role in reaching its business objectives. Thus, Advertising and Public Relations agents are in charge of targeting the company’s audience and use different advertising means to create a proper image of their company. Advertising and Public Relations is one of the most glamorous highest-paid jobs in the UK.

A Bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, or communications can be typically required to succeed in finding a well-paid job in the Advertising and Public Relations sector.

Featured Image Source: University of Greenwich