The highest paying degrees in the UK (2024)

As more students choose to go to university and competition increases for jobs, the idea that graduating with a degree will secure you a well-paying position isn’t as true as it once was.

Money shouldn’t be the only factor to consider when choosing a subject to study. However, it helps to know what the highest-paying degrees are as well as the starting salaries across different job industries, especially as the cost of going to university now stands at £9,250 a year for most UK students and even more for international students.

So, what are some of the highest-earning degrees in the UK?

CONTENTS:

• Dentistry: £45,000+
• Medicine: £29,000 – £90,000
• Veterinary medicine:£35,000– £70,000
• Chemical engineering: £30,000– £54,000
• Economics: £25,000– £75,000
• Physics and astronomy: £28,000– £45,000
• Law: £27,000– £200,000
• Architecture: £15,000– £45,000
• Mechanical engineering: £20,000– £60,000
• Computer science: £34,000–£80,000

1. Dentistry: £45,000+

In addition to paying well, dentistry isn’t regarded as an overly competitive job market. However, there’s some competition to study dentistry at university. Graduates tend to find employment roughly six months after graduation in either the NHS or private practices. For those who go into NHS employment, fully-qualified salaries start from around £45,000.

Some high-ranking unis for dentistry include...

• Queen's University Belfast
• Newcastle University
• University of Bristol

Search for dentistry courses now.

2. Medicine: £29,000 – £90,000

Salaries differ when it comes to the medical field. A junior doctor in foundation year one may be on a basic salary of £29,000. However, once you start to specialise this will go up quite quickly. You can expect your salary to be around the £40,000 mark in your first year of speciality core training, increasing as your career progresses. According to Prospects UK, GP salaries start at £62,268 and rise to up to £93,965. When you compare this to the average UK wage according to the ONS (£31,285 for 2020/21), you'll see that it can rise to triple the national average!

Some high-ranking unis for medicine include...

• University of Cambridge
• University of Oxford
• University of Glasgow

Search for medicine courses now.

3. Veterinary medicine: £35,000 – £70,000

A veterinary medicine degree can see you reap the financial rewards fairly quickly. Newly qualified vets tend to have starting salaries of £35,000, which then increases over time to as much as £70,000 as your experience grows. This career has one of the highest starting salaries, making it a desirable degree to study.

Some high-ranking unis for veterinary medicine include...

• University of Cambridge
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Surrey

Search for veterinary medicine courses now.

4. Chemical engineering: £30,000 –£54,000

This high-paying degree is also flexible in terms of job opportunities, making chemical engineering one of the most sought-after industries to join. Graduates can work in a lab but also out in the field, with roles varying from scientific research to working as a field engineer or having a senior management position. The median salary for chemical engineers under 25 when they’re first starting is about £30,000, rising to a median salary of £54,000 for more experienced engineers according to Prospects UK.

Some high-ranking unis for chemical engineering include...

• University of Cambridge
• Imperial College London
• University of Oxford

Search for chemical engineering courses now.

5. Economics: £25,000 – £75,000

Economics is another high-earning degree. Starting salaries as an economist can range from anywhere between £25,000 to £35,000, rising to an average of £40,000 after a few years of experience. Senior level salaries can rise to £75,000. This is one field where salaries do vary, with economists working in banking and financial services tending to earn more.

Some high-ranking unis for economics include...

• University of Cambridge
• University of Oxford
• London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Search for economics courses now.

6. Physics and astronomy: £28,000 – £45,000

You’d be surprised at the opportunities you have when studying for a physics or astronomy degree. Top universities offering this high-earning degree have really good graduate prospects, which means it’s likely you’ll go straight into professional-level employment. If you choose to continue studying and get a PhD, you could be looking at starting salaries between £28,000 and £39,000. In the first 10 years, physicists' and astrophysicists' salaries tend to increase to between £35,000 and £45,000.

Some high-ranking unis for physics and astronomy include...

• University of Cambridge
• University of St Andrews
• University of Oxford

Search for astronomy courses now.

7. Law: £27,000 – £200,000

There are multiple careers you can do with a law degree, making it an attractive subject to study. Trainee lawyer salaries vary across the UK. However, once you’re qualified, starting salaries can range from £27,000 to £60,000 depending on where you are in the UK and the type of firm you work for. City lawyers and international lawyers tend to earn more, and some barristers get salaries of up to £200,000.

Some high-ranking unis for law include...

• University of Oxford
• University of Cambridge
• University College London

Search for law courses now.

8. Architecture: £15,000 – £45,000

Did you know you must register with the statutory body, the Architects Registration Board before you’re allowed to use the title ‘architect’ in the UK? Starting salaries for these professionals can fall between £15,000 and £22,000 when first starting as an architectural assistant. Fully qualified architects (Part III) can earn between £32,000 and £45,000.

Some high-ranking unis for architecture include...

• University of Bath
• University of Cambridge
• University of Sheffield

Search for architecture courses now.

9. Mechanical engineering: £20,000 – £60,000

Most students studying mechanical engineering progress into professional-level careers or postgraduate studies. There are several fields you can get into, like aerospace and civil contracting. Starting salaries for mechanical engineers, and for those on graduate training schemes, are in the range of £20,000 to £28,000, while senior-level roles such as chief engineer can earn anywhere between £45,000 to £60,000+.

Some high-ranking unis for mechanical engineering include...

• University of Cambridge
• Imperial College London
• University of Oxford

Search for mechanical engineering courses now.

10. Computer science: £34,000 – £80,000

Computer science graduates will 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.

Some high-ranking unis for computer science include...

• University of Cambridge
• University of Oxford
• Imperial College London

Search for computer science courses now.

Sources: thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk, prospects.ac.uk, payscale.com

Future career on your mind?Try our Career Matcher.