UK Salary Guide 2025: 275,000 Jobs Analyzed | Jobwise.ai
What We Found Will Surprise You
Ever wondered which jobs really pay the most? Or whether moving to London is worth the cost? We’ve done the hard
work for you.
Our team analyzed over 275,000 actual job postings to reveal the truth about UK salaries in
2025. The results? Some industries are paying way more than you’d expect, while others might surprise you with
their earning potential.
The Industries Paying Big Money
The Clear Winner: Consulting
Consulting jobs are the highest paid on average, with typical maximum salaries of
£53,824. That’s nearly £54k at the top end! This isn’t just for big-name firms either – we
found 622 consulting positions across the UK paying these premium rates.
Why so high? Companies are paying top dollar for experts who can help them navigate digital
transformation and solve complex business problems.
The Top 5 Best-Paying Industries
- Consulting – £53,824 average max salary
- Legal – £45,920 average max salary
- Information Technology – £43,617 average max salary
- Management – £43,577 average max salary
- Sales – £42,382 average max salary
The Hidden Gem: Engineering
Here’s where it gets interesting. Engineering doesn’t crack the top 5 for average salary, but it
offers something even better: nearly 12,000 available jobs. That’s more opportunities than any
other field.
Even better? The typical engineering job pays around £43,000 – solid money with massive choice.
Perfect if you’re looking for job security and decent pay.
The London Pay Mystery Solved
Central London vs. Greater London: A £18,000 Difference!
We uncovered something remarkable: jobs listed in “London” pay an average of
£42,102, while jobs in “Greater London” only average £23,741.
That’s a whopping £18,361 difference!
What this means for you:
- Be specific when searching – target “London” not “Greater London”
- That daily commute might be worth an extra £18k per year
- Remote work could let you earn London salaries from anywhere
The North is Rising: Best Value Outside London
Don’t write off life outside the capital. Three northern regions are offering excellent value:
- Manchester area: 4,094 jobs averaging £26,726
- Birmingham area: 4,233 jobs averaging £26,078
- Leeds area: 3,026 jobs averaging £26,369
When you factor in lower living costs, these could offer better value than London jobs.
When to Apply: The Million-Pound Timing Secret
The “Premium Season” Nobody Talks About
April is the golden month for job applications. Companies are making strategic hires with fresh
budgets, paying an average of £45,627 – that’s 93% more than busy hiring
periods.
The Premium Months:
- April: £45,627 average (best salaries of the year)
- May: £41,793 average (still excellent)
- June: £35,400 average (good opportunities)
The Volume Months:
- September: 45,233 jobs available (but lower pay at £23,663)
- August: 34,750 jobs available (moderate pay at £26,253)
Smart Job Search Strategy
If you want the highest salary: Apply in March for April start dates. Companies make their
biggest hiring decisions in Q2.
If you want the most choice: Focus on August and September when employers are hiring in volume.
Fresh graduate? Late summer hiring aligns perfectly with finishing university.
Your Career Journey: How Much More Can You Earn?
The Senior Jump: Nearly 5x Your Salary
The jump from junior to senior roles is dramatic. Senior positions (team leaders, managers,
directors) pay nearly 5 times more than junior roles.
The lesson? Investing in skills and experience to reach senior levels is one of the best career
moves you can make.
The £100k+ Club: Who’s Really Earning Six Figures?
193 jobs in our database are paying six figures or more. The leaders might surprise you:
- Social Care Leadership: £273,000 average (senior healthcare roles)
- Medical & Science: £194,568 average (life sciences boom)
- Manufacturing: £197,500 average (specialized technical roles)
- Engineering Leadership: £168,942 average (tech company executives)
The takeaway? Healthcare and specialized technical fields are where the real money is for senior
professionals.
Your Action Plan: How to Use This Data
For Maximum Salary:
- ✅ Target consulting and legal for highest average pay
- ✅ Look for “London” specifically for the geographic premium
- ✅ Apply in March-April for premium hiring season
- ✅ Develop senior-level skills for the 5x salary multiplier
For Most Opportunities:
- ✅ Consider engineering for the biggest job market (12k positions)
- ✅ Look at Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds for great regional opportunities
- ✅ Plan applications for August-September for highest choice
- ✅ Focus on IT and sales for good volume plus competitive pay
How We Did This Analysis
We analyzed 275,613 job postings from real UK employers, focusing on the 144,708
positions with complete salary information. Our data covers:
- ✓ 15+ industries across the UK economy
- ✓ All major regions from London to Scotland
- ✓ 12 months of current job market data
- ✓ Only verified positions with confirmed salary ranges
Ready to Find Your Perfect Role?
These insights come from the same database that powers JobWise.ai – the UK’s smartest job
matching platform. Instead of scrolling through hundreds of irrelevant jobs, our AI matches you with
opportunities that fit your skills, location, and salary expectations.
Discover roles from this same database of 275,000+ opportunities, matched specifically to your
profile.