Earning a high salary ensures freedom in retirement and comfort for your family. But high salaries require a lot of hard work and often, many years of education. In this career salary guide UK, we look at some of the different earning potential UK careers can have. From lawyers to executives, we explore the top high salary positions the UK job market has to offer.
Lawyer
Lawyers include barristers, who advocate for clients in court, and solicitors, who generally work in an office setting. Legal sector salaries in the UK can vary and for solicitors sits at around £100K. Barristers on the other hand, can earn up to £200K. The highest earners are QCs, who can earn over £1 million per year, as well as partner solicitors who have potential earnings of £500-900K.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
A CEO has a lot of responsibility as they are the head decision maker of an organisation. The average UK chief executive earns around £170K, but CEOs of major companies can earn millions. CEO roles often come with generous bonuses too, making it one of the most lucrative UK careers.
Actuary
Actuary roles involve risk prediction and financial planning. Actuary salaries start modestly at around £30-40K, but can rise to £100K for Senior Actuaries and as high as £200K for Chief Actuaries.
Marketing Director
A Marketing Director is responsible for overseeing the entire marketing strategy and operations of an organisation. The average salary for a UK Marketing Director is £65-100K, but this can vary hugely according to company size and sector.
Managing Director
A Managing Director has the responsibility of overseeing the day-to-day activities of a company. Where a CEO may make the final decision in terms of strategic direction, the Managing Director will make important and timely decisions about operations as they happen. UK Managing Director salaries are typically in the region of £70-150K.
IT Director
A company’s IT director has overall responsibility for operating the IT systems and managing IT staff. Companies rely heavily on IT and this role has significant demands. Salaries for IT directors in the UK range from £90-120K. Find the best IT job salaries in the UK at Jobijoba.
Director of Engineering
A company’s Director of Engineering oversees the entire engineering arm of a company. To become a Director of Engineering, an engineer will typically have already progressed to Senior, then Managing Engineer. Salaries range from £80K-120K and at Jobijoba you'll find some of the UK's highest paying jobs in this sector.
Tax Director
This is a demanding role that requires accounting acumen, compliance knowledge and tax strategy skills. A Tax Director oversees the tax strategy of a company, mitigating risk and balancing tax efficiency with integrity. Being a Tax Director is one of the top-paid UK professions, with salaries averaging at £100K. Discover Tax Director roles and other finance jobs with high pay in the UK at Jobijoba.
Dermatologist
A Dermatologist has the responsibility of diagnosing and treating skin conditions. Those that work in the NHS can expect to earn around £40-50K. However specialising or offering cosmetic dermatology can increase earnings to £100K.
Plastic Surgeon
Plastic surgery covers a vast range of specialisms which fall into one of two main areas; reconstructive or cosmetic. The NHS employs plastic surgeons, who can earn in the realm of £100K, however salaries in the private cosmetic surgery industry can be significantly higher. Plastic surgeons who perform specialist, in-demand surgery can earn up to 400K per year, making it one of the most high-earning jobs in the UK
Paediatrician
A paediatrician is a medical doctor with the responsibility of diagnosing and treating conditions in children and infants. Up to 10 years of medical training pays off with average salaries of around £80-100K and up to £160K for consultant paediatricians. When it comes to medical salaries UK rates are not as high as the US, but paediatricians can find higher earnings in the private sector.
Anaesthetist
Anaesthetists play a vital role in surgery. It takes five years to complete the training, but many more years for those that specialise or become consultants. Anaesthetists earn around £45-95K, but Consultant Anaesthetists can earn up to £175K.
The best salaries in the UK are earned by those with a lot of responsibility and specialist knowledge, but the rewards speak for themselves. To secure professional or executive salaries UK job searchers should browse for relevant roles at Jobijoba.
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