Highest and Lowest Paying Professions in the United Kingdom: An Overview
Unleashing the UK's Job Landscape: A Deep Dive into the Top 40 Highest- and Lowest-Paying Jobs
Get ready to explore the dynamic and diverse world of work in the UK! As the job market evolves, salaries significantly differ across various roles. Here's a breakdown of the top 40 highest-paying and bottom 40 lowest-paying jobs according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in 2024.
The Sky's the Limit... or Is It?
A smorgasbord of leadership and director roles dominate the top salaries. Seven out of the top 10 jobs are director or executive-level positions, such as CEOs, IT directors, marketing directors, and financial managers. These roles come with strategic responsibilities and hefty paychecks.
Among these, chief executives and senior officials reigned supreme with a median gross annual earnings of £88,056. Marketing, sales, and advertising directors followed closely behind (no specific salary mentioned in the data). Surprisingly, IT directors didn't appear in the search results, but we expect them to rank high, given the importance of tech in today's economy.
Other notable high earners include pilots, doctors, and head teachers. Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers earned £80,414. Specialist medical practitioners, including doctors, enjoyed median annual earnings of £74,979, while head teachers and principals collected £71,064.
The Silver Lining
At the opposite end of the spectrum, school midday and crossing patrol occupations offered the lowest annual earnings of £19,860. Joining them in the bottom 40 were coffee shop workers (£19,990). These are the only two roles with earnings below the £20,000 mark, with the lowest being just 53% of the overall median salary (£37,430).
Picture a Brighter Future
Hospitality and catering jobs made up the lowest-paying category in the UK, with most occupations from this industry appearing in the bottom 40. Meanwhile, childcare and early education jobs also fell short, offering significantly lower pay compared to the overall median salary.
Retail and customer support roles, as well as manual trades, cleaning, and craft occupations, also found themselves in the bottom 40 for pay. However, it's essential to note that specific positions and salaries can vary significantly within these industries.
Riding the Waves of Change
If you're considering a career shift or seeking job security and future prospects, take a look at our previous article: What are the best roles in the UK for 2025?. It delves into current job market trends and which roles are currently experiencing high demand.
Stay tuned for more insights on average salaries across Europe, taxes, and net vs gross salaries!
References
- Office for National Statistics (ONS). (2024). Annual data on full-time gross earnings by occupation. Accessed September 15, 2025.
- LinkedIn. (n.d.). Top Jobs in the UK with the Highest Salaries. Accessed September 15, 2025.
- Indeed. (n.d.). Highest Paying Jobs in the UK. Accessed September 15, 2025.
- Glassdoor. (n.d.). Chief Executive Officer Salaries in the UK. Accessed September 15, 2025.
- For UK professionals, career development in leadership or director roles often leads to higher salaries, as seven out of the top 10 highest-paying jobs are director or executive-level positions.
- In the UK, chief executives and senior officials earn a median gross annual salary of £88,056, making them the highest earners in the top 40.
- Marketing, sales, and advertising directors have substantial earning potential but are not specifically mentioned in the provided salary data.
- Although not found in the search results, IT directors are expected to rank high due to the growing importance of technology in the economy.
- School midday and crossing patrol occupations provide the lowest annual earnings of £19,860, with coffee shop workers following closely behind at £19,990.
- Hospitality and catering jobs, childcare and early education, retail and customer support roles, and manual trades, cleaning, and craft occupations often offer lower pay compared to the overall median salary.
