The landscape of employment is always evolving. Emerging fields are appearing, whereas some traditional occupations are fading away. Salaries differ substantially among various positions. This holds true for the UK as well. Certain jobs come with considerably larger compensation packages, whereas others remain far beneath typical income levels.
Therefore, which professions offer the highest—and lowest—pay in the UK? Also, could you tell me about the typical yearly earnings for these positions?
Based on data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the median gross yearly income for full-time workers was recorded at £37,430 (€40,514) in April 2024, up from £35,004 (€37,850) in April 2023, representing a rise of 6.9%.
The ONS’s yearly data on full-time gross earnings per occupation includes 381 roles. Although our emphasis is on the top 40 highest-paid and bottom 40 lowest-paid positions, you have the option to examine where other professions stand in our comprehensive list beneath this information.
The highest paychecks are mostly held by leaders and directors.
Out of the top 10 roles listed, seven fall under the category of director or C-suite level executives. This encompasses titles such as CEO, IT Director, Marketing Director, and Financial Manager. Positions with this level of leadership come with significant strategic responsibilities along with substantial compensation packages.
At the top of the list for median gross annual earnings among full-time employees was chief executives and senior officials at €88,056, closely followed by marketing, sales, and advertising directors at €87,309, and information technology directors at €86,033. These positions stand out as the sole roles surpassing €100,000 annually. The chart provides all salary details in euros.
Aircraft pilots, physicians, and school principals are among the top 10.
Aside from roles as directors, the remaining three occupations in the top 10 list include aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers with an average salary of £80,414, followed by specialist medical practitioners earning around £74,979, and finally head teachers and principals at approximately £71,064.
The ONS data indicates that both air and rail transportation jobs offer competitive salaries, with two positions landing within the range of ranks 11 to 20.
Locomotive operators receive higher salaries than magistrates.
For instance, train and tram operators ($63,958) have higher earnings compared to barristers and judges ($59,423).
Other positions within the highest-earning 20 include senior police officers at £63,986, electrical engineers at £58,734, IT project managers at £58,213, rail and rolling stock builders and repairers at £56,984, business, research, and administrative professionals at £56,605, as well as actuaries, economists, and statisticians earning £55,138.
With an earnings of £52,727, rail transport operatives secured the 32nd position, ranking as the third railway-related role within the top 40 highest-paid positions.
Other tendencies within high-paying jobs
Technology and IT positions are prominently featured amongst the top-earning careers. The growth of the digital sector maintains a high demand for IT experts across various specialties. These roles encompass: IT Managers ($54,997), IT Business Analysts, Architects & Systems Designers ($54,905), Programmers & Software Development Professionals ($54,669), and Information Technology Specialists ($52,305).
Substantial incomes for professionals such as medical practitioners, engineers, paramedics, scientists, and statisticians suggest that specialized and technical sectors offer significant financial rewards. To illustrate, paramedics can expect an annual salary of £54,638, aerospace engineers receive £52,432, and electronics engineers earn £52,012.
There is a significant pay disparity observed among top executive positions compared to others—even within the upper echelons of the top 40 rankings. The highest median salary stands at £88,056, whereas the position ranked 40th has a median income of £50,853.
Least-Paid Positions in the United Kingdom
The least paid occupation is school midday and crossing patrol jobs, with yearly income amounting to £19,860, closely trailed by café staff at £19,990. These positions stand as the sole ones garnering less than the £20,000 threshold—the minimum pay standing at merely 53% of the total median wage of £37,430.
Jobs in hospitality and food service provide some of the smallest salaries.
Apart from the least two positions mentioned earlier, roles within the hospitality and catering sector represent some of the lowest wages in the UK. They occupy the lower end of the spectrum as follows: bar staff at £20,837, waiters and waitresses at £21,588, kitchen and catering assistants at £21,716, leisure and theme park attendants at £22,386, cooks at £22,282, and finally, bar and catering supervisors at £23,421.
Jobs in childcare and early education are amongst the lowest-paid professions.
Although childcare and early education are crucial for moulding young minds, numerous roles in this sector often rank among the lowest earners. Childminders ($A35,680), early childhood educators and care workers ($A39,710), assistant childcarers ($A40,280), and owners of early learning centres ($A43,210) typically receive wages well beneath the national average income level.
Positions such as those in retail, at the forefront of service delivery, and within customer support often show up towards the lower end when it comes to compensation. These jobs include cashier and checkout positions in retail with an average salary of £22,600, along with sales and general retail assistance roles which typically earn around £23,878. Receptionist duties come next, usually fetching about £23,595 annually, followed closely by call center agents and workers from contact centers who make approximately £24,829 per year.
Roles in cleaning, crafting, and support situated within the lowest 40%
A number of manual jobs such as cleaning roles, along with various crafts, are found towards the lower end of the salary spectrum. This encompasses positions like florists at £22,426, cleaners and domestic workers at £22,961, laundry staff including dry cleaners and pressing specialists at £22,674, tailors and dressmakers at £24,797, and sewing machine operators at £24,149.
Various positions in health and well-being support, even though they demand specific training or certifications, continue to be underpaid. This encompasses roles such as pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants (£22,452), dental nurses (£23,727), and fitness and wellness instructors (£24,371).
Review all the compensation details here
The middle value of yearly income before deductions for full-time workers across all positions listed in the ONS can be found in the table below. Explore the roles that interest you.
Wondering which occupations are currently seeing high demand?
If you're considering more than just salaries and are looking at job security and future opportunities, make sure to check out our earlier piece:
What are the top positions in the UK for 2025?
This examines the current high-demand occupations as indicated by patterns in job listings and expanding markets.
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