Who earns more – surgeons, chief executives, IT directors or PR aficionados?
Telegraph Money has analysed provisional data from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, to create a list of highest paying jobs in the UK – ranking occupations based on their median annual gross pay for all full-time employees.
Note that because we’ve used median earnings, many people in these roles will earn significantly more than the figures we’ve quoted, and others will earn less.
Whether you’re about to start working life, fancy a lucrative change of career, or are just plain curious, take a look at the highest paying jobs in the UK – with advice on how to get one.
It comes as little surprise that heads of UK businesses are bringing in the highest salaries. Chief executives – who may also be referred to as managing directors – will have ultimate responsibility for the performance of the organisation they run.
For the UK’s largest companies the pay is much higher. The median pay of a FTSE 100 chief executive this year is £4.22m, according to the High Pay Center.
Coming in a very close second are those individuals that are charged with the growth and promotion of the businesses they work for.
In some roles pay will be closely correlated to performance, with their bonus based on results in addition to their base salary. While pay for marketing directors depends on a number of factors including the size and location of the company, salaries can reach up to £130,000.
Information technology systems are integral to the smooth running of any business or organisation. IT directors will have responsibility for maintaining and improving IT systems, managing servers, storage, security, networks and applications.
They will also likely be responsible for overseeing IT risk and ensuring the systems are adequately protected and maintained – and will likely be on the hook if anything goes wrong.
Logistics directors are in charge of ensuring the safe movement of goods from one place to another. This involves overseeing transport, distribution and warehousing.
Those trusted with keeping us safe in the skies are amongst the highest paid employees in the UK. Becoming a pilot requires significant training and can cost thousands of pounds to undertake, although many airlines have training schemes in conjunction with flying schools.
Becoming a pilot requires significant training and the training can cost thousands of pounds - Portra/E+
PR and communications directors are responsible for managing the reputation of their organisation to the outside world, as well as its wider communications strategy.
Financial directors are charged with overseeing company budgets and forecasting and financial plans, with a view to increasing overall profits.
From surgeons and anaesthetists to GPs and consultants, doctors with specialisms command the highest salaries. Within this average pay can vary significantly, with top consultants earning up to £140,000.
Doctors with specialisms command the highest salaries - Getty Images Contributor
This rather vague job title, is something of a cupboard under the stairs, comprised of managerial roles that don’t easily fall into other categories. Functional managers will have control over a specific part or department within a business or organisation.
While teaching in itself, won’t get you on to any highly paid lists – the average senior school teacher salary is around £48,000 – taking responsibility for the smooth running and academic success of a school, by becoming its headteacher or principal, can.
Honorable mentions
With only a few exceptions, the top 10 is focused on business and managerial roles. However, sitting just outside our list were senior police officers, with median earnings of £63,986. They’re closely followed by train and tram drivers, at £63,958.
Barristers and judges sat just below them with median earnings of £59,423 a year. The Government’s career service note salaries range from £21,000 at the start of a career all the way to £200,000 for senior practitioners.
Average pay in the UK
Wages are currently growing faster than inflation – the latest ONS figures show that earnings are rising by about 6pc a year – with the average annual pay in the UK now standing at £37,430 for full-time employees.
The highest earners, according to ONS, are likely to be aged between 40 and 49, working in managerial or professional roles or within the finance, insurance, information or communication sectors.
How to get a high-paying job
Median salaries in the top eight jobs in our list pay more than double the average UK wage, but securing them isn’t always easy and can take years of graft.
According to the latest ONS stats, only 10pc of full-time employees earn more than £64,800 a year
So how do you go about getting the best-paid jobs? Qualifications like the right undergraduate degree are important. Investment banking, private equity and law offer some of the best paid graduate roles.
However, the right degree isn’t always essential to end up in a high paying role. If you are thinking of moving into a different field your experience in your current role will likely be valuable, even if it isn’t directly related. What will also drive your chosen career is your attitude and ambition.
Keren Blackmore, founder of career coaching business Leap of Thought, adds that if you want to move into a higher-paying role, you need to be assertive and able to champion yourself. “Don’t be the best kept secret. If you want to progress, get used to advocating for yourself, your work and its impact. What do you want to be associated with in a professional capacity? If you don’t talk about the impact you are driving, how will people know?”
There are also opportunities to change careers mid-life. Telegraph columnist Helena Morrissey says that nowadays career paths are “less regimented” and can zig-zag. Those who make career changes may have to start further down the ladder but can lead to greater rewards further down the line.
Dina Grishin, a life and career coach, says: “The higher up you get, the less you’ll find your next job on a job board, and the more you’ll rely on finding it through your network. So build new relationships, reconnect with your network and tell them you’re looking for a change.”
However, it’s important to maintain some perspective and balance. Ms Grishin adds: “Remember to look beyond the pay cheque. Make sure the direction you’re heading in, as well as the company, is something that aligns with your strengths and interests. You want to grow in a job, not just maintain the status quo.
“The extra salary bump won’t feel worth it when you’re working late, burning out and missing family time. You might tell yourself you’re doing it for your family, but they are likely to prefer quality time over extra cash.”
