Highest Paying UK Jobs

We all dream of earning a little more, especially when our salaries don’t match the blood, sweat and tears we invest into our jobs.

Yet, what is interesting about salaries is that some of the UK’s highest paying jobs don’t actually require you to have an arsenal of training or qualifications. In fact, there are many that are more interested in you having experience or particular character/personality traits.

So if you are interested in moving careers and getting the salary you deserve, then you may find that some of the jobs below are more accessible than you think.

Let’s first take a look at the careers that require a degree or professional qualification:

1. Marketing/Sales Directors – marketing and sales directors are in charge of promoting products or the company’s brand, and are often in charge of a marketing team. Through analysing their target audiences reactions and engagement with campaigns, they can help to strategize new plans and use them to boost the firm’s sales.

Salary: £40,000 (min.) – £1 million (max.)

Entry Requirements: whilst a degree in business or communications can help you to gain this role, you also need to have prowess in intrapersonal communication. Similarly, experience in managing teams and campaigns can give you a lot of head way.

2. Brokers – responsible for buying and selling the stocks and assets of others; brokers can earn commissions by helping their clients to manage their money and investments. They can also lend their advice on the best financial products currently on the market.

Salary: £28,000 (min.) – up to £1 million (max.)

Entry Requirements: a degree in maths and/or business can be useful; however, having them is not essential for getting this job. In fact, if you are interested in exploring this route, there are numerous opportunities to train in-house or gain mentorships and experience.

3. Financial Managers and Directors – common in both the public and private sectors, Financial Managers provide financial guidance and support to their clients in order to help their organisation make wise business choices with their money.

Salary: £40,000 (min.) – up to £1 million (max.)

Entry Requirements: a degree in finance, accountancy, economics or business is required for this job, as well as experience, as you will be expected to work your way up the ladder. For more information on how to boost your financial knowledge or experience, take a look at our online courses.

4. Chief Executives – typically you are expected to have a degree, postgraduate or professional qualification that is related to your field, in order to become a chief executive. Similarly, a strong history of making good business decisions and experience (at least a few years) working in a senior management role is required.

Chief executives can be found across a number of industries including: medicine, technology and finance.

Salary: £75,000 (min.) – £1 million+ (max.)

Entry Requirements: as mentioned before, you will need a degree, postgraduate qualification or a professional diploma related to your field to help you get this role. Saying that, there have been a number of inventors and entrepreneurs who have become chief executives within their own companies.

5. Doctors and Surgeons – to become a doctor, anaesthetist, consultant, surgeon or an advanced medical practitioner you will need at least 7 years of higher education. Those within specialist fields – i.e. surgeons, psychiatrists etc. – tend to earn the most within this professional career route.

Salary: £45,000 (min.) – £500,000+ (max.)

Entry requirements: if you wish to pursue this route you will need at least 7 years of higher education combined with internships and on the job training.

6. IT and Telecommunications Directors – this is an in-demand job as practically every business uses computers and needs someone to manage them. Within this role, you’d be expected to manage and improve IT systems, assist employees with their IT problems and install new updates.

Salary: £70,000 (min.) – £500,000+ (max.)

Entry requirements: there are a number of routes into this role. Most in this profession have degrees in computer science, maths or other technical fields; however, it is possible to have an unrelated degree (or no degree at all) and to work your way up. For more information on how to boost your IT skills, check out our online IT courses.

7. Financial Institution Managers and Directors – it is possible to work your way up in the bank from a Teller up to a Financial Institution Manager, and earn good money (as you gain more experience). Within this role you’d be expected to lead a team and motivate them towards achieving their targets and resolving client problems.

Salary: £17,500 (min. when you start as a Teller) – £250,000+ (max.)

Entry Requirements: whilst a degree in maths or finance can help you move up this career ladder faster; it is possible to become a financial institution manager by starting as a teller with a degree in something else.

High Paying Jobs that Don’t Require a Degree

Okay, we’ve talked about the top 7 paying jobs in the UK that require a degree, but what about the ones that don’t need one?

As I mentioned before, you don’t have to have a long list of qualifications in order to be paid well, as I’ll now prove below:

1. Police Constable – if you are interested in pursuing a career within law enforcement, then the first role you may encounter is working as a police constable. Comprised of walking the streets, doing training and completing paperwork and office tasks; as your career progresses you can rise up the ranks to Sargent and Inspector.

Salary: £20,000 (min.) – £50,000 (max.)

Entry Requirements: starting out as a constable you will need a GCSE qualification in English Language (C or above) and will need to pass the Certificate in Knowledge of Policing.

2. Firefighter – this career role has the potential to pay really well as you move up the ranks, as long as you meet their fitness criteria.

Salary: £17,500 (min.) – £40,000+ (max. station manager salary)

Entry Requirements: during recruitment you will need to pass a series of written exams, aptitude tests and physical examinations.

3. Train and Tram Drivers – this is another role where you can benefit from a number of bonuses/perks as you gather experience. This role is also ideal for those who love to travel and help people.

Salary: £25,000 (min.) – £50,000 (max.)

Entry Requirements: all you need to do is pass their driving assessments and have a natural passion for driving.

4. Air Traffic Controllers – I won’t lie. Working as an air traffic controller can be stressful as you are responsible for the safety and wellbeing for those both on the ground and in the air. Alongside helping to guide and advise pilots on when it is safe to take off and land (on time), you will be expected to work to a strict schedule, and have advanced organisational and time management skills.

Salary: £38,000 (min.) – £120,000+ (max.)

Entry Requirements: whilst you don’t need a degree to apply for this role, you will need at least 5 GCSE’s and an air traffic controllers licence (where you will need to pass the NATS vocational course – which can take 3 years).

5. Construction Manager – to work in this role you will need strong communication and leadership skills, and will need to be good at coordinating and supervising projects. You will also be expected to roll up your sleeves and actually work on-site (when the occasion calls for it).

Salary: £20,000 (min.) – £50,000+ (max.)

Entry Requirements: alongside working your way up and becoming an expert in the trade, you will also need a trade certificate.

6. Human Resources Manager – there are a number of roles and careers routes within this sector, making it perfect for anyone who enjoys working with people, helping others and solving intrapersonal issues. Senior roles you can explore include: HR Specialists, HR Officers and HR Advisors.

Salary: £28,000 (min.) – £50,000+

Entry Requirements: whilst a degree in business, communications, marketing or HR can help you to climb the ladder faster; you can become a HR Manager through experience and on the job training. For more information on the specialities within HR, take a look at our online HR course.

As you can see, with or without a degree, you can make a difference to your career and your earnings. So if you are looking for a change, why not consider exploring one of the careers above? You might be surprised by where these job choices take you…