If you’re living in the UK and looking to make some more money, one of the easiest ways to do so is to find a great job in your area. Of course, that’s easier said than done, but with the right attitude and approach you can find one quickly enough.
Start by asking yourself what sort of salary you want and then go from there, making sure to do your research on different industries and their pay structures before deciding where you want to work. Then, it’s all about going out there and getting the position!
Top-paying industries
While there are still a number of industries dominated by male workers, women are making their mark. The top-paying industries for women include management, law, health care and education.
While men still dominate employment in engineering, construction and computer science fields, those industries didn’t make it into our list of highest paying jobs for women—but that doesn’t mean you can’t earn a good salary working as an engineer or software developer.
A study by Dice found that female engineers earned over 20% more than their male counterparts.
Computer programming
According to a 2019 report by CompTIA, tech-related jobs tend to pay well and offer a lot of opportunity for workers. The top three most lucrative positions were all computer-oriented, including software developers, who earned an average of £92,080 per year.
Web developers followed with an average salary of £70,420 and computer systems analysts brought home an average yearly income of £68,280.
Finally, network and computer systems administrators took home an average salary of £66,950 each year.
Employers looking to hire workers in these fields should take note that some IT roles require extensive training, so applicants may need a college degree or other certification before they can get hired. For example, while many entry-level web developer positions don't require any formal education beyond high school, it's not uncommon for companies to seek out candidates with associate's degrees or even bachelor's degrees from accredited universities.
Sales and retail
No matter how dire economic times get, people still need to eat and wear clothes. That's why many of Britain's highest-paid jobs are in sales and retail, according to new research from Glassdoor .
The site just released its list of the best paid jobs in Britain. Based on data from more than 6,500 salaries shared anonymously by employees, here are some of their top picks
- Software engineer: £42,000 ($65,000)
- Research analyst: £40,200 ($62,000)
- Marketing manager: £39,600 ($60,000)
- IT manager: £38,900 ($59,000)
Logistics and transportation
If you want to work with your hands and earn a good wage, logistic and transportation might be for you. Demand for qualified truck drivers is high and pay averages about £20 an hour.
Skilled forklift drivers are paid up to £25 per hour. Salary ranges from around £15,000 to more than £50,000 a year as an apprentice fitter or welder.
You can also become a pilot: starting salaries can be as high as £80,000 depending on seniority, location, and qualifications of plane flown.
The first step is gaining Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL), which is required by all commercial airlines before trainees go on to become pilots.
Customer service
Despite recent reports, customer service jobs aren’t dying. These are some of the best paid in terms of salary and benefits and offer a more structured day than some other fields.
The main benefit of a job as a customer service representative is that you can find work with less experience and knowledge than many other jobs on our list. On average, these positions pay between £20-30k per year, depending on your education level and location.
If you’re looking for something flexible with friendly co-workers who appreciate your skills—and are willing to pay for them—this could be a good option for you.
Human resources
HR professionals are a rare breed. They’re analytical, have great communication skills and possess a fine understanding of business management—all without losing sight of people’s needs.
If you’re interested in pursuing an HR career path but aren’t sure what an HR professional does or how to make it happen, then take a look at this link of an accredited HR course.
Be sure to ask and consider the following key questions:
What qualifications do I need to be successful as an HR professional?
What is my earning potential as an HR specialist?
Where should I focus my studies and experience to best prepare for my desired field?
What Are the Best Paid Jobs in the UK - The Bottom Line
It’s hard to beat a salary that has you earning £100,000 (or more) annually, but these take time to earn via education, experience or both.
While the jobs listed don’t represent every well-paid position, they are among some of the best paychecks in both traditional and non-traditional industries that you could consider.
You may want to also consider making money by an alternative means to employment.
Related Content