Are you a recent graduate looking to kickstart your career? The cost of living crisis has left many UK graduates concerned for their future. As a result, more people than ever are searching for the highest-paying graduate jobs.
Scoring a well-paying graduate job or graduate scheme can give you financial stability and secure your future. What’s more, you have the opportunity to get your foot in the door in a thriving industry with plenty of career prospects.
To help you with your search, we’ve put together a list of the five highest-paying graduate jobs in the UK in 2023.
Top 5 Highest-Paying Graduate Jobs UK
While most graduates resign themselves to earning their stripes in a low-paying entry-level job, that doesn’t have to be the case. There are plenty of industries that pay graduates well above the national average.
So, what are the highest-paying graduate jobs in the UK? Read on to find out.
We’ve rounded up five of the best-paid graduate jobs in 2023.
1. Investment Banker
Investment banking is the highest-paying job for graduates in the UK. Salaries for graduate investment bankers vary depending on the firm and the area, but the average salary is usually between £35,000 and £60,000.
Although investment banking is an industry that’s highly impacted by financial crises, graduates in this field can expect a steady salary increase every year in the sector. In large firms, high-performing investment banking graduates have the potential to hit a six-figure salary in as little as six years.
Of course, high compensation comes with a heavy workload and a stringent recruitment process. Graduates usually undergo rigorous assessments and multiple interviews to earn a role in investment banking. Once hired, you can expect to work long hours.
Some of the UK’s top investment banking graduate schemes include HSBC, ING, and Barclays. Within these organisations, graduates have a clear career path, starting as an Analyst and then moving to Associate level and finally Vice President and above. This career trajectory typically takes high-performers around ten to fifteen years.
Average starting salary:
£35,000–£60,000
Search for Graduate Business Analyst jobs →
2. Management Consultant
Professional services is a very popular career path amongst graduates for a number of reasons. On top of excellent career development opportunities and the chance to work in top-tier firms, professional services roles are some of the highest-paying graduate jobs.
The most notable consultancy firms in the UK include KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, and Accenture, all of which offer highly-recognised graduate schemes. Naturally, there’s a lot of competition for these graduate training programmes, so you will need to invest time and effort into your application. You will need to obtain a 2:1 or above in your degree to be eligible to apply.
Most of these firms will accept exceptional candidates from any field. That said, graduates with an undergraduate degree in business are often best suited for the role.
Management consultant graduates can expect a clear career path, starting as a Business Analyst, working their way up to Senior Consultant, and eventually making Partner.
Average starting salary:
£45,000–£50,000
Search for graduate Management jobs →
3. Trainee Solicitor
Training as a solicitor is another one of the highest-paying jobs for graduates in the UK. The Law Society recommends a minimum salary of £20,217 (£22,794 in London) for trainee solicitors. However, most firms pay well above this minimum.
Graduates in large firms can expect to earn over £30,000 as a starting salary, with plenty of earning potential as they progress through their careers. That said, salaries for trainee solicitors vary depending on the location.
Solicitors are known for recruiting small numbers of well-paid graduates, making it a fairly competitive role to get. Therefore, we recommend reaching out to solicitors firms in your final year of study to enquire about their graduate training schemes and hiring process.
You will need a degree in Law and the LPC or CPQ to train as a solicitor in the UK. Alternatively, graduates from a different field of study can take the CPE/PGDL conversion course to become eligible to apply,
Once you embark on your career as a trainee solicitor, you will continue your training to become a professional lawyer. Most graduates will choose to specialise in a particular area of law.
Average starting salary:
£26,500–£50,000
4. Graduate Sales Manager (Retail)
Retail is an excellent sector for graduates. Some of the big players, such as Tesco, Aldi, and Asda, provide top-tier graduate training schemes with very competitive starting salaries.
A career as a retail sales manager is fast-paced and varied, with huge earning potential. For instance, Aldi’s graduate retail management scheme pays £44,000. Other big players typically pay anywhere between £24,000 and £37,000.
On top of a competitive salary, most leading retail employers offer comprehensive staff training and development opportunities. For example, Aldi provides high-performing graduates with an extensive 12-month training programme to train as Area Managers. Most retailers will also offer staff the chance to choose a career pathway after two years of training (buying, sales, logistics, etc.).
Graduates from any field of study are welcome to apply for retail management schemes. However, business-related degrees are most relevant. You will typically need a 2:1 or above to apply.
Average starting salary:
£24,000-£44,000
Search for Graduate Sales Jobs →
5. Software Developer
Software development is one of the highest-paying graduate jobs, it’s also amongst the best sectors for graduate employability.
The IT sector has been facing severe skills shortages in the UK, leading to a hike in salaries within the industry. As a result, graduates can enjoy higher-than-average starting salaries with excellent earning potential.
Due to these widespread skills shortages, the sector is experiencing high volumes of job vacancies. This makes it a very promising career path for graduates with a background in IT.
Whether you opt for a tech start-up or a giant like Amazon, you can expect a starting salary of anywhere between £31,500 and £45,000
The typical career trajectory for graduate software developers is to cut your teeth as a Junior Developer, move your way up to Lead Developer, and finally into management.
Average starting salary:
£31,500–£45,000
Search for Graduate Software Developer jobs →
How To Find The Highest-Paying Graduate Jobs UK
Despite a predicted slight rise in unemployment rates in 2023, the UK is home to a broad selection of graduate jobs. Whether looking for your first graduate job or a graduate scheme to kickstart your career, remuneration and earning potential are important factors.
With the cost of living skyrocketing in recent years, searching for the highest-paying graduate jobs will give you the peace of mind that your future is secure.
Graduating is an incredible achievement, but deciding what’s next can be daunting. At Developing a Student, our goal is to support graduates as they start their career journey. We work with the top graduate employers to connect the finest new talent with the best graduate jobs.
Check out our Graduate Jobs Board for the latest opportunities near you.
Looking for career advice? Our resource hub is packed with up-to-date information on graduate jobs, industry trends, and advice for graduate job seekers. We cover everything from working abroad to the best UK cities for graduate jobs.
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