What Are The Best Paid Graduate Jobs In The UK?
The best paid graduate jobs in the UK are lawyers, analysts and bankers.
Graduating is a euphoric feeling. After years of hard work, late-night study sessions, and endless exams, you’ve finally got that degree in hand.
But now comes the tricky part - finding a job that makes all that effort worthwhile. It's time to put that student job to one side and focus on the real money making opportunities.
So, what are the best-paid graduate jobs in the UK?
If you’re on the hunt for a graduate job, Prograd’s platform has hundreds of roles to kickstart your career. Check them out here.
In this article, we’re diving into some of the highest-paying graduate jobs in the UK. You’ll get an idea of starting salary expectations, key responsibilities and what qualifications you need to get started. Let’s go!
The 10 Best Paid Graduate Jobs in the UK
1. Trainee Recruiter
- Average salary: £26,449 per year
A trainee recruiter plays an important role in helping companies find the best talent. Your job? Finding and screening candidates before presenting them to hiring managers.
As a trainee recruiter, you might work in-house in a company’s HR department or for an external recruitment agency. Either way, it’s a great entry point into the world of hiring, networking, and career development.
Key Responsibilities:
- Looking through CVs and applications
- Conducting initial interviews
- Matching candidates with job opportunities
- Building candidate relationships throughout the hiring process
2. Graduate Sales Engineer
- Average salary: £34,576 per year
The title might sound technical, but this job is all about understanding customer needs and connecting them with the right products or services. It’s a mix of engineering knowledge and sales expertise.
Sales engineers work with businesses to improve their sales strategies. Whether it's securing a big deal or refining a product to suit a client’s needs, it’s a dynamic and rewarding role.
Key Responsibilities:
- Understanding customers
- Pitching and closing sales deals
- Working with engineering teams to improve what the company does
3. Trainee Accountant
- Average salary: £35,000 per year
A trainee accountant plays an important role in managing a company’s financial records. You’ll be crunching numbers, auditing accounts, and learning the ins and outs of financial management.
This role provides a fantastic stepping stone to more senior positions, such as Chartered Accountant, which can come with six-figure salaries.
Key Responsibilities:
- Preparing and auditing financial statements
- Analysing expenses and revenue
- Making sure companies stay compliant with tax laws
- Helping with financial reporting
4. Software Developer
- Average salary: £37,000 per year
Tech is booming, and the demand for software developers has never been higher. With over 100,000 vacancies in the UK’s IT sector, this is one of the fastest-growing and best-paid graduate jobs out there.
Most graduates start as Junior Developers, but career progression happens fast. Some roles even begin at £45,000 or higher, depending on the company.
Key Responsibilities:
- Writing and testing code
- Developing software apps
- Fixing bugs
- Working with designers and engineers
5. Petroleum Engineer
- Average salary: £38,239 per year
Petroleum engineers specialise in extracting oil and gas resources. While the industry is evolving due to renewable energy growth, there’s still a strong demand for skilled graduates in this field.
If you have a degree in engineering, geology, or chemistry, you’re well-placed for a high-paying role in this sector.
Key Responsibilities:
- Finding and evaluating oil and gas reserves
- Designing extraction and drilling processes
- Making sure extraction is safe and efficient
6. Trainee Solicitor
- Average salary: £43,907 per year
For law graduates, a trainee solicitor position is the first step towards becoming a fully qualified solicitor. In this role, you’ll provide legal advice, research case law, and help senior solicitors in legal proceedings.
To qualify, you’ll need to complete your law degree, pass the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE), and complete two years of qualifying work experience.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conducting legal research
- Drafting contracts and legal documents
- Advising clients on legal matters
- Helping with negotiations and case management
7. Investment Banking Analyst
- Average salary: £50,000 - £60,000 per year (plus bonuses)
Investment banking is one of the highest-paying industries for graduates. Analysts help with financial modelling, valuations, and market research to help businesses make major financial decisions.
The long hours can be intense, but the pay and career prospects make it highly rewarding.
Key Responsibilities:
- Doing financial analysis and valuations
- Supporting mergers, acquisitions, and investment strategies
- Creating pitch books and client presentations
- Monitoring market trends and financial news
8. Data Scientist
- Average salary: £40,000 - £50,000 per year
With companies relying more on data-driven decision-making, data science has become one of the most in-demand and lucrative graduate careers.
A strong background in maths, statistics, or computer science is important.
Key Responsibilities:
- Analysing large datasets to find trends
- Building models and machine learning algorithms
- Communicating insights to help businesses make better decisions
- Working with programming languages like Python, R, or SQL
9. Actuary
- Average salary: £35,000 - £50,000 per year
Actuaries assess financial risks using mathematics, statistics, and financial theory. This is a high-paying career, especially in insurance and pensions, with salaries increasing significantly as you gain qualifications (some actuaries earn six figures).
Key Responsibilities:
- Analysing data to identify financial risk
- Designing and implementing insurance policies or pension schemes
- Predicting financial trends
- Advising businesses on risk management strategies
10. Commercial Pilot
- Average salary: £40,000 - £60,000 per year (higher with experience)
A commercial pilot’s salary starts high and only gets better. The training is intensive, and you’ll need to complete flight school and get an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL), but once you're qualified, salaries can quickly rise.
Key Responsibilities:
- Operating and navigating airplanes safely
- Communicating with air traffic control
- Performing pre-flight checks and planning routes
- Making sure passengers are safe and leading aircraft maintenance checks
Finding The Best Graduate Job
If there’s one takeaway from this list, it’s that there are plenty of great job opportunities out there for graduates.
These are some of the best-paid graduate jobs in the UK, but they’re not the only ones available.
Be sure to explore job platforms like Prograd, LinkedIn and Indeed to find opportunities that match your skills. It’s time to put that degree to good use and secure your future!
