Interested in pursuing a higher paying job or starting a new, fruitful career?
The following are the highest paying jobs in the UK (in 2022)
Everyone wants their monthly pay packet to contain a lot of zeros. We work hard, and when it comes time to get paid, we want to see our effort reflected in our wages. But that’s not always the case! Sometimes our paycheques can feel a pittance in comparison to the amount of labour we put in on a daily basis.
Well, now’s your chance to have a look at the highest-paying jobs in the UK. Have a look at this list and find out if your dream career is on the list of lucrative jobs.
As you can see, some of these financially rewarding careers require some specialised training or additional education. Of course, if you don’t want to head to the classroom, you’ll want to head down to the bottom of this list. There you’ll find our top-paying jobs that require no degree.
If you see a position you’re not qualified for, have a peek at our home learning courses. You’ll be able to see if you can gain the required training from the comfort of your sofa. You’ll be raking in the cash in no time at all.
The Highest Paying Jobs in the UK (Degree)
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Remaining at the top of our list for another year is the job of a chief financial officer. CFOs manage a company or corporations finances, ensuring that everything is reported and balanced correctly.
How Much Do They Get Paid?
- Minimum wage £0 (for companies just starting out)
- Maximum wage – £1 million+
- Average wage – £114,964
What are the Entry Requirements?
As a CFO, you’ll need to have at least a BA level degree in maths, business, or economics. Shareholders in the business will expect you to have at least a decade of highly relevant experience, with a proven track record of profitability and success.
Vice President of Sales
Although the top entry for our highest paying jobs may have remained the same, the rest have changed drastically! The first new entry is the role of Vice President of Sales. The Vice President of Sales monitors the sales teams and operations of a corporation. Their main aim is to support their companies sales efforts and ensure that sales targets are met to boost the profitability of the company. To excel in this role, you must be good with numbers and able to run a team successfully.
How Much Do They Get Paid?
- Minimum wage £69,000
- Maximum wage – £198,000+
- Average wage – £125,837
What Are The Entry Requirements?
To become a successful Vice President of Sales, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in a related field – commonly, this is finance, economics or marketing. Additionally, you’ll need a visible record of success. Because of this, many sales professionals start off as sales reps to earn promotions and move up in the company.
Orthodontist
An orthodontist is a specialist dentist who focuses on problems with the jaw and straightening crooked teeth. Other problems you can expect to treat as an orthodontist include tooth crowding, palate expansion and the application of braces, retainers and orthodontic headgear. Although orthodontists can treat patients of any age, they often look after children and young adults whose jaws are still developing. As this job often requires working with children, you must be patient and able to deal with children in a calm manner.
How Much Do They Get Paid?
- Minimum wage £41,925
- Maximum wage – £160,000
- Average wage – £100,963
What Are The Entry Requirements?
A job in orthodontics requires an approved degree in dentistry, with high-grade GCSEs that must include chemistry and biology[i] . Following a successful degree, you will have to take a specialist course to become an orthodontist. Overall, this process can take around 10 years to complete.
Nephrologist
A nephrologist is a medical specialist that focuses on diagnosing and treating kidney diseases. The conditions they treat include kidney stones, kidney cancer and kidney failure. Additionally, nephrologists can also expect to treat patients with conditions that could lead to kidney failure, such as high blood pressure and autoimmune diseases.
How Much Do They Get Paid?
- Minimum wage £60,000
- Maximum wage – £101,000+
- Average wage – £97,720[ii]
What Are The Entry Requirements?
Becoming a nephrologist requires an in-depth knowledge of how kidney diseases can affect the rest of the body’s organs and functions, so you will have to complete medical school. However, in order to get to medical school, you must have a relevant bachelor’s degree. Some of the best subjects to take to nephrology include biology, chemistry, nursing and similar topics. Following a successful bachelor’s degree and the completion of medical school, you must complete a residency programme, until you are qualified to take the nephrology certificate exam.
Ophthalmologist
Medical specialists have taken our highest paying jobs list by storm – and here’s another one! Ophthalmologists are medical doctors that specialise in treating diseases of the eye. These doctors are qualified as both physicians and surgeons, meaning they can also perform surgical procedures. Ophthalmologists can deal with a wide range of issues, like cataracts, eye injuries and squints, and surgical procedures, like oculoplastic surgery and corneal transplants.
How Much Do They Get Paid?
- Minimum wage £45,124
- Maximum wage – £114,000+
- Average wage – £77,519
What Are The Entry Requirements?
Becoming an ophthalmologist first requires going through medical school, which you need at least A or A* passes at A level to enrol in. Following medical school, which typically takes between 4-5 years to complete, you’ll have to join a two-year foundation programme. This course requires you to work in six placements across different settings. Finally, after your foundation programme, you can apply for specialist training in ophthalmology.
The Highest Paying Jobs in the UK (No degree)
Not everyone has the resources, time, or desire to go to Uni and earn a degree. Instead, these well-paid jobs don’t require a degree – you can often gain the experience needed on the job or in vocational training programmes.
Member of Parliament
MP’s may have rather a bad reputation depending on their constituency. But, maybe, you could be the one to change that! A member of parliament is a representative of the people living in their area, and they must act in the nation’s interest. To become an MP, you must belong to a political party and act in their interest.
How Much Do They Get Paid?
- Average wage: £84,144[iii]
The wage of a member of parliament remains the same no matter their constituency. Naturally, should you aim to move up higher in the government, this wage will increase.
What Are The Entry Requirements?
Although you don’t need any specific qualifications or degrees to become a member of parliament, the appointment process can be tiresome. First, you must ensure that you meet the correct requirements. Then, you can declare your candidacy and submit the required nomination forms and deposit. However, once you’re up for election, the hard work is just beginning. You must show your community that you will stand for their rights and pledge promises that you are sure you’ll be able to deliver.
Air Traffic Controller
Another comeback on our list, albeit lower than last year, is the air traffic controller. If you’ve ever flown in an aeroplane, your life has been in an air traffic controller’s hands. This is one of the world’s most stressful careers, as they keep everyone in the skies and on the ground safe and sound. You’ll monitor the traffic in the skies, and guide and advise pilots on how to land safely and on schedule. It’s a big responsibility, but it pays extremely well.
How Much Do They Get Paid?
- Minimum wage £37,000+
- Maximum wage – £103,000+
- Average wage – £51,000+
What Are The Entry Requirements?
Surprisingly, air traffic controllers are not required to have a degree. However, they need to have five GCSEs and a valid air traffic controller’s licence. To earn this license, you must pass the 3-year NATS vocational course. It’s an elite field – only 0.5% of applicants (that’s 15 out of 3,300) pass the course and get hired each year. Do you have what it takes?
Estate Agent
Estate agents stand as a buffer between buyers and sellers, arranging negotiations for the purchasing and renting of property. If you consider yourself a people person with a good personality for sales, the role of an estate agent could be perfect for you. And, with one of the highest salaries you can achieve without a degree, you certainly might think so!
How Much Do They Get Paid?
- Minimum wage £33,043
- Maximum wage – £43,532
- Average wage – £36,484[iv]
What Are The Entry Requirements?
Although it isn’t essential to obtain a degree in a relevant subject, you do have the advantageous option. For example, you could complete a degree in business studies or estate management. However, it’s not essential. A non-degree approach to becoming an estate agent is to simply apply! By applying to become a trainee sales negotiator, an administrator in an estate agents company or a similar role, you can learn on the job and work your way up through the company. Alternatively, you may be able to go through an apprenticeship as a junior estate agent.
Firefighter
Children often dream of becoming a firefighter – no other job seems as heroic and exciting! Protecting your community while helping to prevent and put fires is certainly a noble occupation. It’s also a well-compensated career – station managers can earn more than £40,000 per year. However, a regular firefighter’s salary naturally starts a little lower than this! But, as you rise through the ranks, so too will your salary.
How Much Do They Get Paid?
- Minimum wage £23,000
- Maximum wage – £37,000+
- Average wage – £27,681
What Are The Entry Requirements?
Every fire service sets its own entry requirements. Most will require you to have at least 4 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths. You’ll then need to undertake a number of written and physical exams. Make sure you’re in good shape!
Personal Trainer
If you love sports and fitness, then you could turn that passion into quite a high paying career through personal training. The job of a personal trainer is to use their knowledge and skills to advise clients on achieving their fitness goals. In some gyms, particularly those in and around London, you can expect to earn up to £60,000 a year through personal training! However, if you live outside of the capital, don’t worry – the career of a personal trainer is still a relatively high paying one.
How Much Do They Get Paid?
- Minimum wage £15,000
- Maximum wage – £28,000+
- Average wage – £25,000
What Are The Entry Requirements?
Although you don’t necessarily need a degree to become a personal trainer, there are several college or online sports coaching courses you can take to get ahead. In order to enrol in these courses, you’ll need at least 2 GCSEs above a pass level. Alternatively, you could also enrol on an apprenticeship. However, if you want to get stuck straight in, you can apply to become a personal trainer straight away[v].
Which of these well-paid careers is right for you?
Now that you’ve checked out the highest paid jobs in the UK both with a degree and without a degree, are you ready to get started on your new path?
Reference list
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McKeever, V. (2020). These are the UK’s best paid jobs in 2020, says Indeed. [online] CNBC. Available at: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/08/these-are-the-uks-best-paid-jobs-in-2020-says-indeed.html [Accessed 16 Dec. 2020].
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Payscale (2020). General Surgeon Salary in United Kingdom | PayScale. [online] www.payscale.com. Available at: https://www.payscale.com/research/UK/Job=General_Surgeon/Salary [Accessed 16 Dec. 2020].
Prospects (2018). Air traffic controller job profile | Prospects.ac.uk. [online] Prospects.ac.uk. Available at: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/air-traffic-controller [Accessed 16 Dec. 2020].
Prospects (2020). Police officer job profile | Prospects.ac.uk. [online] www.prospects.ac.uk. Available at: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/police-officer#:~:text=The%20starting%20salary%20for%20police.
Robert Half (2019). Average finance director salaries in the UK. [online] www.roberthalf.co.uk. Available at: https://www.roberthalf.co.uk/salary-guide/accounting-finance/finance-director-salaries#:~:text=A%20finance%20director%20average%20salary [Accessed 16 Dec. 2020].
Thompson, S. (2020). What’s the Difference Between a Marketing Manager and a Marketing Director? [online] Work – Chron.com. Available at: https://work.chron.com/whats-difference-between-marketing-manager-marketing-director-7509.html [Accessed 16 Dec. 2020].
Sources
[i] https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/dentist
[iii] https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/pay-mps/
[iv] https://www.reed.co.uk/average-salary/average-estate-agent-salary
[v] https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/personal-trainer