The United Kingdom has the fifth largest economy in the world and is a dream country for many aspiring employees. Being one of the prime developed countries, the United Kingdom is home to several Fortune companies and is a land of dreams and opportunities. Apart from that, the nation is rich in ethnic diversity as different groups of people migrate and fly to the UK to start a living.
Job structure in the UK
If you are looking for high-paying jobs in the UK, it’s best to know about the job structure breakdown in the UK. Jobs in the UK are classified into four categories. They are:
- Primary
- Secondary
- Tertiary
- Quaternary
In the UK, you will find most jobs from the tertiary sector (which includes usage of human resources). These include sectors like hospitals, schools, corporate offices, finance institutes, etc. The number of primary and secondary jobs in the UK has drastically reduced due to machines replacing manpower.
Minimum wages in the UK
When you’re doing a job search in the UK, you must look out for the minimum guaranteed wage amount. Like every other country, the UK also has a national minimum wage rate enforced by the UK government. However, the minimum wage varies depending on the age of the employee. Have a look:
| AGE | NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE |
|---|---|
| AGE 23 or above | NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE £10.42 |
| AGE 21-22 | NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE £10.18 |
| AGE 18-20 | NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE £7.49 |
| AGE Under 18 | NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE £5.28 |
This National minimum wage rate applies to all employees in the UK whether they work full-time, part-time or even under training for an essential job. Exceptions include self-employed people, volunteers, company directors, people undergoing work experience as a part of their course, and people in the armed forces.
Working hours
The standard working hours in the UK are 8 or 9 am to 4 or 5 pm. On that note, the average daily working hours are 8 hours, and weekly working hours are around 40 hours. The maximum working hour is 48 hours per week on average. If you are aged below 18, the maximum working hours are not more than 40 hours per week. Exceptions include employees in the armed forces, emergency services, police, domestic servant in private households, etc.
Work culture
When you’re looking for the highest-paying jobs in the UK, it is equally important to know and understand the work culture they follow so that you fit in appropriately. Some of the most important work ethics and traits required in the UK include punctuality, negotiation, relationship building, politeness, skillfulness, and so on.
When it comes to languages, English is the official language at work. So, ensure that you are proficient in English as it helps to make business dealings and conversations at work. Nextly, dress code is crucial in the UK at workspaces. Men typically dress up in a suit or formal shirt with pants, and women usually wear a suit or formal dresses.
Socializing is another non-negotiable part of the work culture in the UK. Though personal and professional lives are well-defined and separate, most employees prefer socializing with their colleagues out of work and catching up for a coffee sometime. Affection, empathy, and friendliness are some traits you must build.
Salary standard VS Cost of living in the UK
The average salary of an employee in the UK is around £26,394. However, the salary standard can vary within the different regions in the UK. For instance, London offers the highest average salary in the UK, which is £34,200. Similarly, the North-east part of the UK has the lowest average salary standard, which is £24,450.
Payscale for the most popular jobs
Here is a list of the most popular and high-demand jobs in the next 10 years in the UK:
| JOB TITLE | PAY (PER YEAR) |
|---|---|
| JOB TITLE Solution Architect | PAY (PER YEAR) £72,150 |
| JOB TITLE Project Engineer | PAY (PER YEAR) £42,500 |
| JOB TITLE Finance Manager | PAY (PER YEAR) £47,413 |
| JOB TITLE Technical Consultant | PAY (PER YEAR) £46,543 |
| JOB TITLE Operations Manager | PAY (PER YEAR) £45,000 |
| JOB TITLE Sales & Marketing Director | PAY (PER YEAR) £65,485 |
| JOB TITLE Medical Director | PAY (PER YEAR) £1,03,637 |
| JOB TITLE Professor | PAY (PER YEAR) £57,588 |
| JOB TITLE Neurosurgeon | PAY (PER YEAR) £94,434 |
| JOB TITLE Surveyor | PAY (PER YEAR) £45,000 |
Cost of living
The Cost of living in the UK depends on whether you are alone or are moving with your family. On average, the cost of living for students in the UK ranges between £1,000 and £1,600. Whereas the cost of living for two individuals sharing a living space would range near £2,500, and for a family of four, it is £4,000.
The average rent rate in the UK is £1,007, which is highly variable based on the location. However, the average for a single resident is £725, and for a couple, it ranges near £800 per month. The cost of basic utilities ranges up to £160, and transportation per month costs nearly £65.
Standard of living based on the wages
The cost of living in the UK is slightly higher than most other countries in the world. In the UK, it is sad to see that a significant part of the salary has to be spent on paying the rent. However, with a decent average salary, individuals can experience a good living standard in the UK. For families of more than 3, salaries in the higher range assist in living a hassle-free personal and social life.
Top 10 in-demand jobs
The UK is one of the most rapidly evolving countries in the world, making its economic status surging over time. On that note, the UK has several job openings. In May 2022, the number of job vacancies in the UK was around 1.3 million, which is the highest to date. Here is a list of the top ten in-demand jobs in the UK with the average salary:
| JOB TITLE | AVERAGE SALARY |
|---|---|
| JOB TITLE Business Analyst | AVERAGE SALARY £42,000 |
| JOB TITLE Operations Manager | AVERAGE SALARY £42,500 |
| JOB TITLE Programmers and Software Developers | AVERAGE SALARY £26,000 |
| JOB TITLE Cyber Security Specialists | AVERAGE SALARY £25,000 |
| JOB TITLE Architects | AVERAGE SALARY £28,000 |
| JOB TITLE Health Services and Residential Care | AVERAGE SALARY £21,000 - £30,000 |
| JOB TITLE Graphic Designers | AVERAGE SALARY £18,800 |
| JOB TITLE Physical Scientists | AVERAGE SALARY £29,000 |
| JOB TITLE Sales Assistant | AVERAGE SALARY £16,977 |
| JOB TITLE Customer Service Advisor | AVERAGE SALARY £18,801 |
Popular part-time jobs for students in the UK
As a student in the UK, it is pretty daunting to manage expenses at the university and the personal end. The average study cost for students in the UK is nearly £9,250 per year. Thus, to help manage expenses, students mostly tend to look out for part-time jobs in the UK. Here is a list of some popular and high-paying part-time job titles in the UK for students:
| JOB TITLE | AVERAGE PAY (PER HOUR) |
|---|---|
| JOB TITLE Server | AVERAGE PAY (PER HOUR) £9 |
| JOB TITLE Teaching Assistant | AVERAGE PAY (PER HOUR) £9.85 |
| JOB TITLE Retail worker | AVERAGE PAY (PER HOUR) £9.34 |
| JOB TITLE Tutor | AVERAGE PAY (PER HOUR) £24.50 |
| JOB TITLE Dog walker | AVERAGE PAY (PER HOUR) £11.03 |
| JOB TITLE Research Assistant | AVERAGE PAY (PER HOUR) £14.49 |
| JOB TITLE Translator | AVERAGE PAY (PER HOUR) £12.58 |
| JOB TITLE Barista | AVERAGE PAY (PER HOUR) £8.72 |
| JOB TITLE Hotel Receptionist | AVERAGE PAY (PER HOUR) £8.97 |
| JOB TITLE Prep cook | AVERAGE PAY (PER HOUR) £9.75 |
What jobs are on the UK shortage list
The UK Immigration Rules' Appendix Skilled Occupations contains a thorough list of the shortage occupations. It consists of positions that the UK government has identified as being in low supply on the market for workers who are citizens of the UK and for which more lenient eligibility requirements of sponsored work visa requests are in place. So, here is a list of jobs that are on the UK job shortage list:
| JOB TITLE | SALARY | AREA IN WHICH SHORTAGE IS OBSERVED |
|---|---|---|
| JOB TITLE Health Managers/Directors | SALARY £30,720 | AREA IN WHICH SHORTAGE IS OBSERVED Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Wales |
| JOB TITLE Daycare & Domiciliary managers | SALARY £21,360 | AREA IN WHICH SHORTAGE IS OBSERVED Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Wales |
| JOB TITLE Biochemists and Biological Scientists | SALARY £23,760 | AREA IN WHICH SHORTAGE IS OBSERVED Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Wales |
| JOB TITLE Engineering geologist/ Hydrogeologist/Geophysicist | SALARY £29,300 | AREA IN WHICH SHORTAGE IS OBSERVED Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Wales |
| JOB TITLE Chemical Scientists (Nuclear Industry) | SALARY £21,360 | AREA IN WHICH SHORTAGE IS OBSERVED Scotland |
| JOB TITLE Archaeologists | SALARY £20,720 | AREA IN WHICH SHORTAGE IS OBSERVED Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Wales |
| JOB TITLE Civil Engineers | SALARY £28,000 | AREA IN WHICH SHORTAGE IS OBSERVED Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Wales |
| JOB TITLE Electrical Engineers | SALARY £29,600 | AREA IN WHICH SHORTAGE IS OBSERVED Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Wales |
| JOB TITLE Design & Development Engineers | SALARY £27,280 | AREA IN WHICH SHORTAGE IS OBSERVED Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Wales |
Highest-paying jobs in the UK
The best jobs in the UK offer an exceptional work culture and a competitive salary. Such jobs come from a variety of sectors and domains, offering every candidate an equal chance of working in a high-paying job. Here is a list of the highest-paid jobs in the UK:
| JOB TITLE | AVERAGE SALARY |
|---|---|
| JOB TITLE Chief Executives and Senior Officials | AVERAGE SALARY £79,835 |
| JOB TITLE Marketing, Sales, and Advertising Directors | AVERAGE SALARY £77,695 |
| JOB TITLE Specialist Medical Practitioners | AVERAGE SALARY £68,614 |
| JOB TITLE Public Relations and Communications Directors | AVERAGE SALARY £66,510 |
| JOB TITLE Information Technology Directors | AVERAGE SALARY £73,571 |
| JOB TITLE Financial Managers and Directors | AVERAGE SALARY £64,193 |
| JOB TITLE Functional Managers and Directors | AVERAGE SALARY £61,139 |
| JOB TITLE IT Business Analysts | AVERAGE SALARY £50,396 |
| JOB TITLE Electrical Engineers | AVERAGE SALARY £50,487 |
| JOB TITLE Research and Development (R&D) Managers | AVERAGE SALARY £50,027 |
In which profession are there more job openings in the UK?
The number of current job openings in the UK falls near 11,61,000. Though the job vacancies in the UK are seasonal and depend upon a variety of factors, there are some of the best jobs in the UK which have more openings than the rest. Here is a list of professions in the UK that always are in demand and have more vacancies compared to others:
| JOB TITLE | AVERAGE PAY |
|---|---|
| JOB TITLE Human Resource Director | AVERAGE PAY £1,20,000 |
| JOB TITLE Software Engineer | AVERAGE PAY £60,000 |
| JOB TITLE Business Analyst | AVERAGE PAY £42,000 |
| JOB TITLE Project Manager | AVERAGE PAY £45,000 |
| JOB TITLE Store Manager | AVERAGE PAY £30,000 |
| JOB TITLE Digital marketing consultant | AVERAGE PAY £45,000 |
| JOB TITLE Operations Manager | AVERAGE PAY £50,000 |
| JOB TITLE Accounts Manager | AVERAGE PAY £35,000 |
| JOB TITLE Delivery Driver | AVERAGE PAY £25,000 |
| JOB TITLE Customer Assistant | AVERAGE PAY £20,000 |
How can you get a UK work visa?
The UK provides a wide range of visas for people who want to immigrate for employment. The UK provides different types of visas to people from the EU and people from non-EU nations as a result of its former membership in the European Union. There are three types of UK work visas offered to non-EU country citizens. They are listed below:
- Skilled worker Visa
- Innovator visa
- Startup visa
If you are only looking for a full-time/part-time job in the UK, the skilled worker visa is the one you must apply for. You can apply for this work visa 90 days before you start work at the company in the UK. The application package must be uploaded electronically and include all necessary paperwork, including:
- Sponsorship letter from your employer
- Evidence of sufficient funds to meet your living expenses
- Your current passport
- Invitation for a visa
- Data biometrics
- Travel background
- Other substantiating records
Note that the UK visa approval does not require IELTS. However, you have to be able to provide proof of your command of the English language in another kind of documentation.
What are the qualifications to get a job in the UK?
The academic qualifications to get a job in the UK are highly variable and depend on the job profile and sector you are looking to find a job. However, to get a job in the UK, you will have to meet several eligibility criteria and documents.
If you have a lawful immigration status that enables you to perform the job such as a Skilled Worker visa, or if you are a person with settled status in the UK, such as ILR or EU settled status, you are qualified to work in the UK.
However, a work permit is mandatory to continue working in the company according to UK law. For authorization to work in the UK, typically through a visa or other work immigration route, employees must apply to the Home Office. The skilled worker visa, medical and care worker visa, and global talent visa are examples of frequent work visas. Different sorts of work are permitted under different visas, and each has particular qualifying conditions that the applicant must meet.
FAQs
What is the percentage of international students who get jobs in the UK after graduation?
As of the current status, only 7% of all international students in the UK succeed and get a job in the country after graduation.
Can international students work in the UK after their master's?
Yes. Graduates can first gain some work experience by opting for an internship or working freelance, after which they can easily find a job in their respective fields. However, a post-study work visa helps during the job search and work period.