What are the highest paying degrees?
Discover which subject areas lead to the highest paying degrees in the UK, according to graduate earning data.
With rising living costs, UK university tuition fees of up to £9,250 per year (or higher for international students) and the future burden of student debt, you may – understandably – be considering the return on investment when choosing what to study.
There are certain degrees that lead to certain jobs that, on average, offer higher salaries than others. The list below shows the subject areas with the highest earning potential.
But remember: it’s not all about the money. Make sure you consider other factors when making your university decisions, such as what you’re interested in and what you might want to do as a career. Also, no subject area guarantees a particular job or salary.
Top 10 highest paying degrees in the UK
We put this list together by looking at the highest figures and corresponding subject areas on our What do graduates earn table. The table shows the average salaries for graduates who have completed undergraduate studies in the subject and then entered employment.
Note that the average overall income in the UK for people in all jobs and from all backgrounds is just above £31,000.
= 10. Aeronautical & Aerospace Engineering – £28,000
The aircraft and spacecraft industries are huge, where graduates with the necessary skills are always in high demand. With a degree in Aeronautical & Aerospace Engineering, you could be designing tools or vehicles for a company like Rolls Royce or Airbus, for example, and potentially receive a starting salary of £28,000.
If you progress in your career, land a senior consultant role and gain chartered status, you could receive a salary upwards of £60,000.
= 10. Building – £28,000
Building graduates go into roles such as developers, surveyors, risk assessors, consultants and engineers. There tends to be a lot of jobs going around for those with building-related skills – 84% of graduates find employment within six months of completing their studies.
Graduates start on an average salary of £28,000, with pay exceeding £50,000 per year for those more established in their careers. Building surveyors with chartered status usually earn a fair amount more than those without, too.
= 10. Mathematics – £28,000
With a degree in Mathematics, you have numerous job options at your fingertips, from accountant to data analyst, market researcher to logistics consultant. Companies of all sizes need people to crunch numbers, so Mathematics graduates are highly employable.
The average starting salary is £28,000, and mathematicians with lots of experience can earn £50,000 per year or more.
= 10. Mechanical Engineering – £28,000
Study for a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and you might land a graduate job with a salary of £28,000. Graduates often go into roles such as contractors, aerospace engineers, CAD technicians and instrumentation engineers.
There will always be jobs for mechanical engineers. Their skills will forever be needed in a world where new devices are built every day. Therefore, the majority of students find work within six months of graduating. With career progression, it’s possible to have a salary of £60,000 and above.
= 10. Physics & Astronomy – £28,000
After graduating with a degree in Physics & Astronomy, you could find yourself in a role such as a researcher, mathematician, engineer or technician in almost any kind of industry. You could also be earning a starting salary of £28,000. Many students continue into PhD study, and postdoctoral roles often pay above this amount.
Salaries for physicists and astrophysicists can increase at an impressive rate, where professionals with 20 years of experience can earn over £50,000. High-level researchers and lecturers can make even more.
9. Social Work – £29,000
Social Work stands out as it’s the only social science on this list among health and physical science-based subjects. The role of a social worker is a challenging one but hugely important for the wellbeing of society, and the graduate starting salary of £29,000 reflects that.
If you start as a social worker within the NHS, you’ll usually be on Band 6 of the NHS pay scale. This pays a salary of over £31,000 per year. If you decide not to work as a social worker, other roles you can go into include counsellor, careers advisor, probation officer and youth worker.
8. General Engineering – £29,000
Gain a degree in General Engineering, and you can expect a starting salary of £29,000. The pay is so high because skilled engineers are in demand by almost all industries and sectors, with many employers finding it difficult to fill vacancies.
Throughout your career as an engineer, you may be lucky enough to earn a salary of £75,000 and above, especially if you have chartered status and a senior role.
7. Electrical & Electronic Engineering – £29,000
The graduate prospects look good for students of Electrical & Electronic Engineering. According to our What do graduates do data, there’s a high demand for particularly skilled graduates: 73% of Electrical & Electronic Engineering students find employment soon after graduating.
You could find yourself, for example, in an analyst, consultant or management role, in industries such as aerospace, network engineering or broadcasting. You can expect to earn a starting salary of £29,000, too.
6. Economics – £29,700
Economics graduates start with an average salary of £29,700, as well as a high chance of securing a graduate job; our graduate data shows that within six months of finishing their studies, 75% of graduates find employment, and 11% go onto further study.
With career progression, those in senior roles in banking, insurance or consultancy, for instance, may even earn a salary of £75,000 or above.
= 5. Pharmacology & Pharmacy – £30,000
Graduates with a Pharmacology & Pharmacy degree typically become pharmacists, chemists, researchers, teachers and technicians.
They enjoy a higher starting salary than most other subject areas, at an average of £30,000. This is because graduates with skills from related courses are high in demand, especially with the continuous increase of research into new medicinal drugs.
= 5. Chemical Engineering – £30,000
Out of all the engineering-related degrees, Chemical Engineering is the one that offers the highest earning potential. Graduates of the subject area have the skills that employers across many industries and sectors are after, so much so that companies pay an average starting salary of £30,000.
Over time, experienced chemical engineers can earn a lot more. Gain chartered status, land yourself a senior role and work in a high-paying industry such as oil or finance, and you could earn over £80,000 per year.
4. Veterinary Medicine – £31,000
This subject area is highly vocational, pays generously and offers excellent employment prospects. Veterinary Medicine graduates enjoy a starting salary of £31,000 as well as a 94% chance of landing a job after graduating.
It’s tough being a vet, however. Working with sick animals can be challenging, exhausting and emotional. But this is reflected in the salary potential – experienced and specialist professionals can earn £70,000 per year or higher.
3. Medicine – £33,500
Reap the financial rewards with Medicine, one of the highest-earning degrees you can choose. A job as a medical professional is so well paid because it tends to be difficult and highly specialised. For example, you could be a doctor, surgeon, anaesthetist, or neurologist, and within these roles, you have a lot of influence and responsibility for people’s health and wellbeing.
A starting salary in a medical career can give you around £33,500. As you grow in confidence and experience, this will increase year on year. Many medical professionals earn a six-figure salary before they retire.
2. Computer science – £34,000
Computer science graduates have a range of careers to choose from given the growth of IT industries. According to Pay Scale, an entry level role in computer science can pay around £34,000. The average salary for computer scientists is around the £40,000 mark, with some top jobs offering salaries of up to £80,000.
1. Dentistry – £38,000
The highest-paying degree you can get – according to our graduate data – is one in Dentistry. It’s a specialised and vocational subject area, where most graduates find professional work in a dental-related role soon after completing their studies.
The average starting salary for Dentistry graduates is £38,000. With time and experience, you can expect to be earning a lot more. Many dentists in the NHS earn up to £80,000 per year, and private consultants can even make six figures. If you’re looking to choose a degree based purely on salary potential, this is the one for you.
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- What do graduates do and earn
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