Want to know which degrees have the highest salaries in the UK? These are dentistry, medicine, law, computer science, engineering, and economics. Dentistry graduates earn the highest starting salary, at around £39,467, followed by medicine at £37,924, and both subjects also offer strong long-term earning potential.
- Dentists out-earn everyone. Doctors and vets are not too far away.
- Fees are £9,535 this year and £9,790 from 2026–27.
- Half of all graduates earn under £28,500 fifteen months after finishing.
- Architecture starts low and earns more over time.
- Petroleum engineering is one of the world’s top earners, just not in Britain.
These high-paying degrees consistently deliver strong graduate salaries because of high employer demand and specialised skills. In the UK, the highest-paid career paths are mainly found in healthcare, technology, law, and quantitative fields.
1. Dentistry: £39,467, And The NHS Is Desperate
Nobody enjoys the dentist. Everyone should consider becoming one.
NHS foundation training in the NHS starts at £40,776. Specialists hit £65,000 to £74,000 within a few years. Salaried NHS dentists earn around £100,000, like the private consultants. The Complete University Guide reckons high-skilled dentistry roles average £42,000 at entry.
According to WhatUNI, over 90% of dentistry graduates are employed within six months. The British Dental Association has reported a shortage of dentists across whole regions, especially rural ones.
2. Medicine: £37,924 Now, Six Figures Later
Medicine is a long-term commitment. Foundation doctors start on £38,000 to £40,000. Specialist training pushes you to somewhere between £52,656 and £73,992. Then it gets serious: Prospects UK puts GP salaries at £62,268, rising to £93,965. That’s triple the national average wage.
You have to do five or six years of study, then years more of training. But NHS England says Britain needs over 2,000 new GPs every year. The jobs aren’t going anywhere. Many students start planning their graduate careers while still at school.
3. Law: £43,508 (But Read The Small Print)
Law posts the biggest entry-level number of the lot: £43,508, says the Institute of Student Employers. But City firms drag that average sky-high. A Magic Circle trainee in London and a legal aid solicitor in Hull are not living the same life. Qualified salaries realistically run £27,000 to £60,000.
Stick with it, though. As per Edvoy, corporate lawyers with five years’ experience routinely clear £70,000 to £100,000, and some barristers pull in £200,000.
4. Computer Science And AI: £36,871
Tech pay has touched the sky. London graduates in computer science averaged £42,314 in April 2025. Nationally, entry-level roles sit near £34,000, and the best jobs reach £80,000.
Artificial intelligence is now its own degree, and it’s already elbowing the old guard aside. Salaries run £35,000 to £75,000, with top specialists on six figures. Tech Nation has recorded double-digit growth in demand for software, cybersecurity and AI roles.
Machine learning engineers and cloud architects begin on £45,000 to £60,000. Web developers get £25,000 to £30,000. IT support, £22,000. Same industry, very different bank balance.
ALSO READ: The AI Cheating Boom Has Reached Britain’s Top Universities
5. Economics: £36,492
Economics grads start on £33,200 to £36,492. Within a decade, the average is around £40,000, but 10% earn over £100,000. Prime Assignment Help states that senior roles in banking, insurance and consultancy reach £75,000.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies ranks economics among Britain’s top ten degrees for lifetime earnings. Around 74% find work within 15 months.
6. Engineering: £31,975
Chemical engineering leads at £33,000, and chartered chemical engineers in oil or finance can pass £85,000. General engineering starts at £30,809 and averages £47,000, with some roles hitting £75,000. Mechanical engineers begin on £20,000 to £28,000, but a chief engineer earns £45,000 or more.
Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and BP all run graduate schemes that pay between £29,000 and £48,000. The Institution of Engineering and Technology recently gave an update on the shortage of engineering graduates. Translation: they need you more than you need them.
Median Graduate Starting vs. 5-Year Graduate Salaries by Degree Comparison Table
| Degree Subject | Median Starting Salary | Median Salary (5 Years Post-Grad) | 5-Year Salary Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine & Dentistry | £38,500 | £52,000 | +35% |
| Economics | £35,000 | £42,500 | +21% |
| Computer Science & IT | £34,000 | £38,500 | +13% |
| Engineering | £31,000 | £37,500 | +21% |
| Law | £27,500 | £36,500 | +33% |
| Business & Management | £28,000 | £32,500 | +16% |
| Creative Arts & Design | £21,500 | £24,000 | +12% |
Table Source: UK Department for Education (DfE) Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset & HESA Graduate Outcomes data.
The Rest Of The Degrees
Veterinary Medicine (£33,000–£34,890):
Rises to £70,000 with experience, with a 91% employment rate. The British Veterinary Association reports a vet shortage in rural and farming areas.
Pharmacy (£31,049–£35,000):
Band 6 NHS pharmacists start above £37,000 after the pre-reg year. Near-guaranteed employment.
Statistics And Chinese (Both £33,500):
Yes, Chinese. Speak Mandarin, and doors open in commerce and the civil service. A director-level government statistician can earn £91,000.
Maths (£28,498):
Actuarial work, quant finance and data science push five-year earnings past £44,000.
ALSO READ: IGCSE Physics Study: Essential Advice For UK Students
Physics And Astronomy (£28,125):
Climbs to £35,000–£45,000 within ten years. PhD postdocs earn £28,000–£39,000; lecturers up to £60,000.
Materials Technology (£32,900):
A quarter of grads go straight into postgraduate study.
Architecture (£25,500):
Assistants earn £15,000–£22,000. Once you’re Part III qualified and registered with the Architects Registration Board, it’s £32,000 to £60,000. The Royal Institute of British Architects says sustainable design and BIM skills are in hot demand.
Business (£27,998) And Politics (£24,945):
It is one of the most common degrees. They do not have the money at the start.
Facts Nobody Wants To Hear
HESA Graduate Outcomes puts the median UK graduate on £28,500 after 15 months. Medicine and dentistry top that median at £37,924. Media and journalism are at the bottom, earning £24,925. Roughly 76% of working graduates land high-skilled roles.
The average graduate scheme pays £36,335, while ONS figures put the average UK wage across all jobs at about £37,500.
Government LEO data shows earnings swing wildly even inside the same subject. As earnings increase, long-term financial planning becomes increasingly important. Where you live, which firm hires you, and what class of degree you get all matter. No subject guarantees anything. Choose one that you can stomach for three years. The money follows the effort.
FAQs About Which Degrees Have The Highest Salaries?
Q1. Which Degree Pays The Most In The UK?
Ans: Dentistry pays the most, about £39,467 at entry. Medicine is a close second, though commercial law posts a higher headline figure.
Q2. Which Degree Pays The Most In The World?
Ans: It is petroleum engineering. It’s dangerous, it’s remote, and it pays accordingly.
Q3. Is University Still Worth The Money?
Ans: For most, yes. Graduates earn more and get better jobs, but the subject matters far more than the certificate.
Q4. What’s A Decent Graduate Salary In 2026?
Ans: Beat £28,500 and you’re above the median. Big employer schemes average £36,335.
Q5. Do Arts Degrees Pay Badly?
Ans: Arts degrees start lower. Media grads average £24,925, but advertising, PR and tech close the gap fast.
Q6. Which Degrees Do Employers Actually Want?
Ans: Tech, healthcare, engineering and finance degrees. Funny how that’s the same list.
Sources & References
- The Complete University Guide. (2026). Highest paying degrees: Career advice for students. The Complete University Guide – Student Advice.
- What UNI. (2026). Highest paying degrees: Graduate employment outcomes. What UNI Career Advice.
- Edvoy. (2026). Highest paying degrees in the UK: Corporate law salaries. Edvoy Blog.
- Prime Assignment Help. (2026). Highest paying degrees in the UK: Senior roles in banking and consultancy. Prime Assignment Help Blog.
Disclaimer: This article is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. The information presented should not be interpreted as financial, educational, career, or professional advice, nor as an endorsement or promotion of any institution, organisation, or service. Readers should verify information from official sources and seek professional guidance before making any decisions based on the content.
