While it’s vital to consider your interests and what you want to do in life, it’s also crucial to ensure that your chosen career can give you a comfortable life. However, the United Kingdom is a great place to work because of the good salary and abundant job opportunities.
An average of £35,000 to £40,000 is considered a good salary in the UK. This is because it is more than the average cost of living, and the country also affords people some perks that make them spend less, such as free education and the availability of state-funded schools.
If you decide to invest in your chosen career, the last thing you would want is to spend years developing your skills in a career that won’t meet your financial goals. In this regard, we have teamed up with experts from Job aggregator Jooble to enlighten you on the top 15 highest-paying jobs in the UK to help you decide the most suitable career to explore.
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There is no standard pay for all the jobs in a sector. However, the pay in different sectors may differ due to their relevance and the demand for the sector. Some industries pay only a couple thousand pounds even to their executives. At the same time, you can earn six figures annual salary in the middle of some career ladders.
For instance, the oil industry is the highest paid in the UK, followed by finance. Technology also pays well, and so does healthcare. Other industries that pay handsomely are advertising, public relations, education, retail, etc.
The reason for the high pay in the oil industry is not far-fetched; oil is money. It remains one of the things that are highly demanded and pays equally well. Although oil exploration is done from different parts of the world, the United Kingdom headquarters many oil companies.
The finance industry also pays well because money makes the world move. And finance experts are needed to manage money and use it.
Although the highest-paid industry is oil, different jobs still pay quite well. Some positions can pay up to six figures annual salary, even if not in the oil industry. However, many well-paying positions usually require extensive education and years of experience.
Below are the top 15 highest-paying jobs in the UK:
Chief Executive Officers are the brain of the organisation. Their job is to manage the company’s overall operations. They think of new strategies, improve on old ones and implement ongoing ones.
You need to be well-educated and have enough experience to be a CEO. The least educational qualification that is allowed is a Bachelor’s degree. Some companies can even require as much as a PhD.
CEOs are well-paid in every organisation. An average CEO in the UK earns over £100,000 annually. CEOs in some industries can earn six figures.
Just like the CEOs hold the top executive position in a company, the Chief Finance Officer holds the top finance position. They track the company’s fund flow and analyse the financial performance. In addition, they supervise the finance department’s activities, prevent liabilities and build up assets.
A CFO has to be well-educated with at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, economics, or related courses. They must also be certified accountants licensed in the state where they work.
Do not forget that we already discussed that finance is a top-paying industry. A CFO is a well-paid position where you can earn over £100,000 per annum. Some CFOs’ annual salaries gross six figures.
Pilots do not only fly planes; some pilots perform tasks by flying planes. For example, there are fighter pilots who fly planes to fight. Aircraft pilots direct and operate the aircraft, while aircraft engineers direct the routine check-up, repairs, and maintenance.
Both jobs require you to be educated and extensively trained. They both pay well, with an approximate median salary of £75,000 and can pay up to £150,000 annually.
Legal professionals include lawyers and judges. Lawyers represent people in court and help clients interpret legal matters. They also advise clients on legal issues and prepare documents. In addition, they do research and gather information as well as evidence.
Judges, on the other hand, primarily hear cases and pass judgments. They also manage and maintain the court. To do their job effectively, they instruct the juries beforehand and listen to the litigation process. In addition, they ensure that the lawyers, plaintiffs, and defendants give the best and truest account to the court.
Lawyers must have gotten a law degree for a start. Also, they should have completed law school, passed the bar examination, and been registered. On the other hand, judges must have completed the process required to be a lawyer and more. They need to have been practising for at least five to seven years, depending on the type of judge they want to be.
Legal professionals can earn between £73,000 to £270,000 per annum. Their salaries depend on their roles and experience level.
An entrepreneur is a person that creates a new business. Although entrepreneurship can be hectic, it allows you to earn according to how you work. This can mean that you do not have a stable salary. It also means that your earnings are not restricted as long as you work for it.
Entrepreneurs do not need to look for a job but look for clients, so the availability of the market can vary. They can earn an average of £71,000 and can earn up to £118,000 per year.
Brokers act as the intermediary between a buyer and seller when a deal is made. They majorly act as intermediaries for buying security exchanges. They exist in different industries, including finance, real estate, trade, etc.
Their income depends on what they broker for. Their average annual income is £104,000.
Air traffic controllers are personnel that organises aircraft traffic. They monitor takeoff and organise the runway to prevent collisions and accidents. They also monitor aircraft while on air to ensure they are okay.
Air traffic controllers communicate with the pilots through radios, advising them on the best route. They earn an average of £92,000 per annum.
Advertising and public relations put a company out to the people. Advertising popularises the company, while public relations builds and maintains the company’s image. These two careers are important for a company’s growth. Therefore, they are well rewarded.
Advertising and public relations managers earn an average of £90,000 per annum.
Information technology has made communication better and faster since its innovation. Better communication, in turn, enhances time management. It also leads to better productivity. It has also led to more job opportunities and easier access to information.
Due to the usefulness of Information technology and communication, people that work in the industry are well-rewarded. Information Technology and telecommunications directors earn an average of £90,000.
Sport is one of the most important industries in society. It helps with relaxation and entertainment. It also boosts the tourism and hospitality industry of the country. The demand for professional sports players is at an all-time high, so they earn well.
Sports players don’t just earn from playing; they also earn from advertising and merchandise. The average annual income of a professional sports player in the UK is £70,000.
Medical professionals include physicians, nurses, optometrists, surgeons, and radiologists. They help people maintain their health and treat sick people. They also diagnose and prevent diseases.
The government controls the medical sector in the UK, so medical professionals don’t earn as much as their counterparts in the US. However, they are highly paid and earn above £100,000 per annum on average.
Professors are one of the most senior academic staff in most universities. Professors can specialise in making research or teaching careers, or a combination of the two. However, the average base salary for a professor is around £64,427 per annum in the United Kingdom. It varies depending on the location. For instance, the average annual salary of a professor in London is £85,326, and the total salary can be between £56,000 to £100,000 depending on experience.
One of the high-paying jobs that you can do without having much education is driving the train. However, you must have been trained as a train driver and certified before you can get the job. The average annual pay is £65,000.
The tons of high-paying jobs in the nuclear and oil industries have made geology highly-demanded. This high demand has, in turn, opened the part for a great salary. In fact, Geology is considered the most lucrative degree in the UK, with an average job pay starting from £70,000. You can earn as much as £150,000 working as a geologist in the UK.
Another job that can pay you well in the UK is in sales. People in sales make an average of £80,000 per year. People in sales include enterprise account managers and portfolio managers.
Earning more improves the quality of life and can increase the things you can afford. Most high-paying jobs in the UK require you to have at least a Bachelor’s degree. However, some jobs can pay you above £50,000 without a bachelor’s degree. You can also improve your chances by getting more advanced degrees and better certifications.
