Top 12 Highest Paying Jobs in UK

Unsurprisingly, international graduates want to kick start their careers in the UK because of its diverse job sectors, good working conditions, and numerous employment opportunities. Although the UK has the fifth largest economy and is home to several key business hubs, there’s still a need for skilled workers.

Competition for graduate jobs is tough, but candidates with the right qualifications, skills, and experience have a good chance of landing a job.

UK's economy is dominated by banking, insurance, and business. Other industries include metals, chemicals, aerospace, shipbuilding, motor vehicles, food processing, textiles and clothing, design, the arts, electronics, and more.

Here are the top 12 highest paying jobs in the UK for 2023:

1. Chief Executives and Senior Officials
2. Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers
3. Marketing and Sales
4. Medical Practitioner
5. Financial Managers
6. Senior Police Officers
7. Health Services and Public Health Managers and Directors
8. Taxation Experts
9. Programmers and Software Development Professionals
10. Dental Practitioners
11. Architects
12. Psychologists

Chief Executives and Senior Officials

Average salary: £83,044

In the UK, Chief Executives and Senior Officials are typically the highest-ranking people in any organization and enjoy the highest average salary. CEOs can be found in the public and private sectors, where they manage the entire company and make essential decisions to maximize its value. The members of this unit group plan, direct, and coordinate the resources needed for the various functional and specialist activities of large enterprises and organizations. Most days, they plan and control the allocation of resources and the selection of senior team members.

Some of the skills CEOs should have are:

• Communication
• Management
• Leadership
• Finance
• Risk management

Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers

Average salary: £72,865

A flight deck officer controls, regulates, adjusts, and tests engines and other equipment before takeoff, navigates and pilots an aircraft, and instructs students on how to fly. In addition to accompanying pupils on training flights and demonstrating flying techniques, they perform specific tests to determine the aircraft, maintain radio contact, and discuss weather conditions with air traffic controllers.

Some of the skills needed to become an Aircraft Pilot include:

• Aviation
• Marketing
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Booking (Sales)
• Invoicing
• Communications
• Operations
• Management
• Costumer Service

Marketing and Sales

Average salary: £71,547

At different stages of a project, marketing and sales are primarily responsible for balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders. As they remain focused on the product, manage a team, and try to meet customer needs, they meet sales targets and other key deliverables. By increasing brand awareness and consumer demand, sales and marketing managers help businesses grow. Their responsibilities include managing campaigns to expand a brand's reach to new audiences, raising awareness of the company's products and services, and developing strategies to promote the company's products and services.

Some of the skills needed to become a Marketing Manager include:

• Sales
• Communication
• Management
• Marketing
• Business Development

Medical Practitioners

Average salary: £57,155

A medical practitioner diagnoses mental and physical injuries, disorders, and diseases, prescribes and administers treatment, recommends preventative action, and conducts medical research and education. A doctor may specialize in one area of modern medicine or work in general practice and refer patients to specialists as needed.

Some of the skills needed to become a Medical Practitioner include:

• Surgery
• Auditing
• Management
• Mental Health
• Teaching
• Communication
• Research
• Leadership

Financial Managers

Average salary: £57,087

The role of financial managers and directors is to plan, organize, direct, and coordinate financial information and to advise on the company's financial policy. In addition to assessing and advising on business performance factors, they plan and organize external and internal auditing programs, collect and analyze accounting, budgetary, and other information, and manage the company.

Some of the skills needed to become a Financial Manager include:

• Finance
• Accounting
• Management
• Communications
• Budgeting

Senior Police Officers

Average salary: £54,843

A senior police officer plans, organizes, directs, and coordinates the resources and activities of a specific geographical or functional area involved in general or specialized police work. A senior officer in the British Transport Police oversees the specialized police service that protects the railway network. Their duties include directing and co-ordinating the operation of record-keeping systems and the preparation of reports, establishing contacts and sources of information concerning crimes planned or committed.

Some of the skills needed to become a Senior Police Officer include:

• Communication
• Management
• Investigation
• Leadership
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Information Privacy

Health Services and Public Health Managers and Directors

Average salary: £48,101

On both a district and unit level, managers and directors in this unit group plan, organize, direct, and coordinate health care providers and purchasers' resources and activities. Their duties include monitoring and reporting upon the state of public health and wellbeing, managing staff, including recruitment, appraisal, and development, and negotiating and managing contracts with healthcare service providers and purchasers.

Some of the skills needed to become a Public Health Manager include:

• Management
• Leadership
• Communication
• Planning
• Mentorship
• Nursing
• Auditing

Taxation Experts

Average salary: £47,563

Experts in taxation advise on tax matters and assess tax liabilities. They represent the government, clients, or employers in contested claims before tax officials or independent tribunals. They maintain a thorough understanding of all tax law and precedent changes, including all problems pertaining to personal and company taxation. They also discuss disputed cases with accountants and other specialists.

Some of the skills needed to become a Tax Expert include:

• Corporate Tax
• Accounting
• Tax Management
• Tax Consulting
• Communication
• Management
• Planning
• Advising

Programmers and Software Development Professionals

Average salary: £44,154

Software developers and programmers design, develop, test, implement, and maintain software systems to achieve the information system's specifications and objectives. They may also design and develop specialized software such as computer games. They plan and maintain database structures, develop user interfaces, write and code individual programs according to specifications.

Some of the skills needed to become a Programmer include:

• Communication
• Management
• Problem Solving
• Agile Methodology
• Software Engineering
• JavaScript (Programming Language)

Dental Practitioners

Average salary: £46,386

Dental practitioners diagnose dental and oral diseases and disorders, prescribe and administer treatment, recommend preventative action, and, where necessary, refer the patient to a specialist. Their duties include preparing and delivering lectures, undertaking research, conduncting and participating in clinical trials, and educating patients on oral health care.

Some of the skills needed to become a Dental Practitioner include:

• Surgery
• Dentistry
• Communication
• Mentorship
• Management
• Teaching

Architects

Average salary: £40,541

Architects are responsible for planning, designing, and constructing buildings and land areas according to functional and aesthetic requirements. Duties include monitoring construction work in progress to ensure compliance with specifications, analyzing site surveys and advising clients on development and construction details as well as making sure the proposed design blends in with the surrounding environment.

Some of the skills needed to become an Architect include:

• Communication
• Management
• Planning
• Autodesk Revit
• AutoCAD
• Agile Methodology

Psychologists

Average salary: £37,254

Psychologists conduct research, study, and assess human and animal emotional, cognitive, and behavioral processes and abnormalities; and how genetic, physical, and social factors affect these processes. Psychologists' duties include studying psychological factors influencing mental illness, emotional disorders, and personality disorders. By utilizing a variety of therapy and counseling techniques, they develop treatment and guidance methods by utilizing various therapy and counseling techniques.

Some of the skills needed to become a Psychologist include:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Mental Health
• Research
• Management
• Teaching
• Communication