Highest Paying Jobs UK 2026: Top Salaries, Careers & How to Get Them

In the competitive UK job market of 2026, high earners are flocking to sectors like healthcare, finance, and tech, where salaries can soar into the millions. Whether you're a student, career changer, or grad eyeing six-figure paychecks, this guide uncovers the top 10 highest paying jobs based on ONS projections, industry reports from OneEducation, TrainingExpress, and Lucam Consultancy. We'll break down exact salary ranges, entry paths, regional variations (London's 25% premium vs. Manchester), no-degree options, gender insights, tax realities, and future trends. Ready to aim for the top?

The Best Paid Job in the UK 2026: Quick Answer

The single highest paid job in the UK for 2026 is Chief Executive Officer (CEO), especially in FTSE 100 companies, where median total pay exceeds £4.58 million (including bonuses and shares). Average CEO salaries sit around £240,000–£4.58M+, dwarfing other roles due to performance incentives (OneEducation, ApexLearning). Neurosurgeons follow closely at up to £320,000, but CEOs dominate for sheer earning potential.

Here's a quick table of the top 3:

Rank	Job	Salary Range (2026)	Key Notes
1	CEO (FTSE 100)	£65K–£4.58M+	Bonuses drive totals; London-centric
2	Neurosurgeon/Surgeon	£150K–£320K	NHS/private mix; 8+ years training
3	Investment Banker	£100K–£600K+	London premium; bonuses key

Sources: OneEducation, TrainingExpress, ApexLearning, ONS projections.

Key Takeaways: Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs UK 2026

For quick skimmers, here's the ranked top 10 based on 2026 ONS projections and reports from OneEducation, TrainingExpress, and BusinessWestern. Salaries reflect averages with highs for seniors/London.

CEOs (£65K–£4.58M+; FTSE median £4.58M total pay)
Surgeons/Neurosurgeons (£120K–£320K; private boosts)
Investment Bankers (£100K+; up to £600K with bonuses)
IT Directors (£95K–£200K; London £200K+)
Pilots (Commercial) (£50K–£180K; seniors £160K–£180K)
Finance Directors (£90K–£200K)
Cardiologists (£120K–£200K)
Marketing Directors (£82K–£180K)
Oil & Gas Engineers (£50K–£70K; seniors higher)
Data Scientists (£62K–£150K; AI focus)

These cover 80% of high-earners in healthcare (32%), finance (25%), tech (20%), and energy (ONS 2026 stats).

Top Paying Sectors & Professions: Detailed Breakdown

Healthcare

Healthcare leads with stability and NHS demand (+68K jobs, JustDoers). Surgeons earn £150K–£320K (neurosurgeons top at £320K, ApexLearning/Lucam), Cardiologists £120K–£200K, and locum GPs £100–£150/hour (£70K–£150K yearly, TrainingExpress). Path: Medical degree + 5–8 years specialty training. NHS base £94K–£200K for consultants; private practice adds 50%+.

Finance

London's premium (10–25% higher, BusinessWestern) powers Investment Bankers (£100K+ base, £600K total) and Finance Directors (£90K–£200K). CFA certification key; bonuses 100%+ of base.

Tech

IT Directors hit £95K–£200K (TrainingExpress), Data Scientists £62K–£150K in AI. Growth: +21K AI jobs (JustDoers).

Other

Pilots £160K–£180K seniors (TrainingExpress vs. broader £50K–£600K, OneEducation); Oil/Gas £50K–£70K (Reed); Marketing Directors £82K–£180K. Pilots reconciled: Seniors/international routes top end.

Highest Paid Jobs by City: London vs Manchester & Others 2026

London dominates with 10–25% premiums (Empleyo): Tech execs £200K+, finance £130K vs. national £100K. Manchester/North: £100K finance (20% less). South East (Reading/Oxford) £600+/week senior roles (Henlee).

Case Study: Finance Director--London £130K (high COL) vs. Manchester £100K (lower housing). ONS-adjusted: London net take-home edges out after COL.

Best Paid Jobs for Women & Without a Degree UK 2026

For Women: Gender gap 5–14% (Empleyo/Startups.co.uk). Top: Surgeons/chiropractors equiv. £98K+ (Upgrad). Women CEOs earn 5.25% less but rising.

No Degree: Aircraft Engineers (£40K–£100K via NVQ Level 3 + EASA license, CVGenius); Paramedics (Level 6 apprenticeship); Pilots (commercial license). Checklist:

Apprenticeships (e.g., engineering Level 3)
Certifications (EASA for pilots)
Case: NVQ Level 3 aircraft maintenance → £60K+ mid-career (MyPerfectCV).

Pros & Cons: Healthcare vs Finance vs Tech High-Pay Careers

Sector	Pros	Cons	Avg High Salary
Healthcare	Stability, NHS pension, demand	8+ yrs training, high stress	£200K
Finance	Bonuses, fast track	London-centric, 80hr weeks	£200K+
Tech	Remote, AI growth, flexibility	Skill churn, less job security	£150K+

Surgeons: £150K–£320K consistent across Lucam/OneEducation.

How to Land a Top Paying Job UK 2026: Step-by-Step Guide

Assess Skills: Match to demand (AI/healthcare via ONS).
Certifications: CFA (finance), EASA (pilots), NHS training.
Target Hotspots: London/tech hubs; apprenticeships for no-degree.
Network: LinkedIn + industry events.
Negotiate: Use tax knowledge (e.g., £200K net calc).

Case: GP locum--NHS training → £100–£150/hr flexible shifts (Lucam).

UK Income Tax for High Earners 2026 & Cost of Living Reality

2026/27 bands (E-Accounts): Personal allowance £12,570; basic 20% to £50,270; higher 40% £50,271–£125,140; additional 45% over £125,140. Dividend allowance £500. £200K gross nets ~£120K after tax/NI (London COL eats 40%). Vs. average: Top 1% threshold. Projections: Healthcare/AI growth offsets inflation (JustDoers).