Top 20 Highest Paying Jobs in Birmingham
The GDP per capita in Birmingham is £27,966. However, the GDP per worker is much higher, at £61,385.
Birmingham is the second-fastest-growing city among the UK’s 10 core cities, but its GDP per capita is far below the national figure, which is £32,216.
Because Birmingham is experiencing rapid growth, there has been a significant increase recently in the number of available jobs. This includes highly-paid jobs.
Are you currently looking for a job in Birmingham? Are you unsure of which jobs provide the highest income? If so, you’ve come to the right place, whether you’re a professional interested in making a career change or are a student making plans for the future.
This guide breaks down the highest-paying jobs in Birmingham, the highest-paying industries in Birmingham, and the best-paid jobs for fresh graduates. You’ll also find out what kinds of degrees you’ll need to earn to qualify for these jobs.
What Salary Is Considered Rich in Birmingham?
Based on a survey of 10,000 salaries, the average salary in Birmingham is £35,084 per year. The average entry-level position starts at £25,043 per year, whereas the most experienced workers can earn up to £58,373 per year.
A salary that is at or above the £50,000 per year mark would likely be considered a high salary in Birmingham. Those who earn more than this would probably be seen as rich compared to others in the city.
Birmingham is a relatively affordable place to live in the UK, especially compared to other major cities like London.
For example, the consumer prices in Birmingham are 20.84 per cent lower than those in London not including rent, and 36.45 per cent lower when rent is included. Restaurant prices in Birmingham are 23.13 per cent lower than those in London, and grocery prices are 11.32 per cent lower.
Rental prices are over 50 per cent lower in Birmingham compared to London, too. Even though the average salary is lower here, it also aligns with the cost of living.
What Is the #1 Highest-Paid Position in Birmingham?
The number 1 highest-paid position in Birmingham is that of a surgeon. If you work as a surgeon in a hospital, you can earn an average salary of £316,000 per year. That’s almost 10 times the salary of the average Birmingham resident!
Your average annual salary may be even higher depending on the type of surgery you practise. For example, heart transplant surgeons are the highest-paid in Birmingham, earning an average of £379,000 per year. Pediatric surgeons have lower salaries, at £279,000 (which definitely isn’t anything to scoff at, as it’s still almost 8 times the salary of the average Birmingham resident).
If a career as a surgeon doesn’t seem like a good fit for you, there are plenty of other highly paid positions to consider in Birmingham. Listed below are the top 20 highest-paying jobs in Birmingham, from lowest to highest salary:
20. Advertising Manager: Average Salary £135,000 per year
19. Director of Manufacturing: Average Salary £141,000 per year
18. Advertising Sales Director: Average Salary £145,000 per year
17. Aircraft Pilot: Average Salary £145,000 per year
16. Production Director: Average Salary £145,000 per year
15. General Manager: Average Salary £147,000 per year
14. Director of Engineering: Average Salary £152,000 per year
13. Hospitality Director: Average Salary £158,000 per year
12. Investment Advisor: Average Salary £159,000 per year
11. Real Estate Portfolio Manager: Average Salary £164,000 per year
10. Orthodontist: Average Salary £171,000 per year
9. Chief Financial Officer: Average Salary £174,000 per year
8. Finance Director: Average Salary £176,000 per year
7. Chief Executive Officer: Average Salary £189,000 per year
6. General Counsel: Average Salary £202,000 per year
5. Administrative Law Judge: Average Salary £227,000 per year
4. Supreme Court Judge: Average Salary £253,000 per year
3. Internist: Average Salary £263,000 per year
2. Pediatric Surgeon: Average Salary £279,000 per year
1. Heart Transplant Surgeon: Average Salary £379,000 per year
Top 5 Highest-Paying Industries in Birmingham
Do you want to find a high-paying job in this city? If so, it also helps to know about the highest-paying industries in Birmingham.
The following are 5 of the best-paying industries that you might want to consider working in if a high salary is important to you:
The healthcare industry is easily one of the highest-paying industries in Birmingham (and in the UK and in most other parts of the world). From working as a surgeon to working as a nurse, there are tons of well-paid jobs available in this field.
Top 3 Jobs
- Heart Transplant Surgeon: Average Salary £379,000 per year
- Pediatric Surgeon: Average Salary £279,000 per year
- Internist: Average Salary £263,000 per year
Job Prospects: The job prospects look very promising for those who work in or want to work in the healthcare industry. There’s a high demand for qualified healthcare professionals in Birmingham right now, and there will always be a need for workers who can treat patients and provide them with the care they need to recover and thrive. Those who have a medical background will not have any trouble finding work here.
The legal industry is another high-paying industry. From a career as a solicitor to a career as a jduge, many of the positions available in this field are highly lucrative. This is especially true for those who have a great deal of education and experience.
Top 3 Jobs
- Supreme Court Judge: Average Salary £253,000 per year
- Administrative Law Judge: Average Salary £227,000 per year
- General Counsel: Average Salary £202,000 per year
Job Prospects: The legal industry is highly competitive, and it can be challenging for some people to find jobs in this field after they finish school. Prospects for this industry are not as good as they are for some other industries on this list. However, if you are able to find a job after graduating, you will likely start earning a high salary right away, so it can be worth the effort you have to put in initially.
There are plenty of high-paying jobs available in Birmingham in the business administration industry. From a careers as a CEO to a career as a marketing director, there are lots of ways to earn a good living being part of this field.
Top 3 Jobs
- Chief Executive Officer: Average Salary £189,000 per year
- Finance Director: Average Salary £176,000 per year
- Chief Financial Officer: Average Salary £174,000 per year
Job Prospects: Because the city of Birmingham is growing so rapidly, there are lots of businesses that are starting and expanding here. With this in mind, it makes sense that job prospects look promising for those who want to work in the business administration industry. Along with the high-ranking CEO and CFO positions, there are also plenty of other positions available that still come with impressive salaries.
The real estate industry is another fast-growing, profitable industry in Birmingham. Because the city is growing so quickly, there are lots of high-paying real estate jobs here, from estate agents to managerial positions.
Top 3 Jobs
- Real Estate Portfolio Manager: Average Salary £164,000 per year
- Director of Real Estate: Average Salary £158,000 per year
- Real Estate General Manager: Average Salary £145,000 per year
Job Prospects: Thanks to the rapid growth in the Birmingham area, there’s also a growing demand for real estate professionals. This means that job prospects look very promising for people who want to break into this industry.
The engineering industry is another high-paying industry with lots of different, profitable career options to consider. From director and manager positions to entry-level engineering roles, there are plenty of jobs available for skilled professionals in this field.
Top 3 Jobs
- Director of Engineering: Average Salary £152,000 per year
- Engineering Production Manager: Average Salary £133,000 per year
- Field Engineering Manager: Average Salary £126,000 per year
Job Prospects: There will always be a demand for skilled engineering professionals in Birmingham and throughout the world. Because of this ongoing demand, the job prospects and earning potential both look very promising for those who want to be part of this industry, no matter what kind of engineering they study.
Top 5 Highest-Paying Jobs in Birmingham for Fresh Graduates
The list of the top 5 highest-paying jobs in Birmingham for fresh graduates is slightly different than the list of the city’s top 5 highest-paying jobs across the board.
When you think about it, this makes sense since most people don’t get right out of university and start earning impressive salaries. It takes time and expeirence to work your way up, increase your income, and start building wealth.
If you’re a student getting ready for the future, it’s important to think about which careers will help you earn the most money fresh from university. Here are 5 of the highest-paying options to consider:
Once you start working as a surgeon, you’re automatically working one of the best-paid jobs in Birmingham. Surgeons earn well over £200,000 per year, and some highly skilled surgeons earn over £300,000 per year.
You may not earn this exact salary right when you graduate, but you will still be earning more than the average Birmingham resident. Surgeons and other healthcare professionals are in high demand right now, and because they are such skilled professionals, they are paid well for their work.
It takes time to become a surgeon, though. On average, most people spend close to 12 years in university and medical school before they’re qualified to start working. The time and effort are worthwhile, though, for a chance to save lives and earn a very high salary.
You might not be able to become a judge as soon as you obtain a law degree. However, you can still earn a high salary right after finishing school by working in a general counsel position.
The legal industry is very competitive currently, but there are still plenty of high-paying positions to be found in Birmingham and throughout the UK.
This is a high-paying career with opportunity for growth. However, it will take time to obtain your degree and start practicing.
Most people spend about 5-6 years in school before graduating, which explains why general counsel (and other legal professionals) earn such high salaries. They put a lot of time and effort into refining their skills, and they are paid accordingly.
Orthodontists help people straighten their teeth, correct jaw alignment issues, and improve the appearance of their smiles. They’re also some of the highest-paid professionals in Birmingham, earning well over £100,000 per year.
There’s a high demand in the UK (and throughout the world) for professionals who can help people improve their smiles and improve their oral health, so it makes sense that orthodontists can earn such good livings right after graduating.
It takes about 3 years of additional schooling (beyond dental school) to become an orthodontist. It’s not a short road, but once you finish, you can start earning a great living (much higher than the average person in Birmingham.
The aviation industry is another highly paid industry in Birmingham, and a career as an airline pilot allows you to start earning a high salary right after you graduate. Airline pilots earn an average salary of £145,000 per year, and you can earn a lot more than this once you gain some work experience and move up into management positions.
It also does not take as long to become a pilot in the UK compared to some of the other professionals on this list. Most people take 16 to 18 months to qualify (if they don’t have previous flying experience). They can also participate in a two-year modular route that allows them to work while they receive their training.
Although it doesn’t take years and years of schooling to become a pilot, this is still a highly skilled position, and you’ll be paid accordingly. If you want to start earning a good living right after graduating and have a chance to travel the world, working as a pilot may be the right fit for you.
Another one of the highest-paying jobs in Birmingham for fresh graduates is a career as an investment advisor. Investment advisors work for banks and financial institutions to help people make wise financial investments and plan for their futures.
The average investment advisor earns £159,000 per year, and this is a very promising career path with great prospects. After all, there is always a need for financial experts who can guide others and offer recommendations, whether they’re looking for individual advice or advice for their business.
Another great thing about working as an investment advisor is that you don’t have to spend as much time in school as some of the other professionals listed above. You can either earn a 4-year degree in finance or a related field, or you can complete an apprenticeship by working under a practicing investment advisor.
What Degree Pays Most in Birmingham?
If you want to qualify for the best-paid jobs in Birmingham, you will most likely need to earn a degree first. The table below breaks down some of the degrees that pay the most in Birmingham, as well as the potential salaries you can earn once you’ve obtained these degrees and started your career:
Degree Type | Potential Salary |
Medical | £379,000 per year |
Legal | £253,000 per year |
Orthodontics | £171,000 per year |
Finance | £159,000 per year |
Aviation | £145,000 per year |
We should note that the potential salaries listed above for these degrees are just estimates based on average salaries in Birmingham for people working in specific professions.
There’s no guarantee that you’ll earn this exact salary once you earn a medical degree or law degree. However, as you’re making plans for the future, you can use this table as a guide to help you decide which degree you want to pursue if a high salary is near the top of your priority list.
Apply for the Highest-Paying Jobs in Birmingham Today
Are you ready to land one of the best-paid jobs in Birmingham?
It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a highly skilled managerial position or a high-paying job for fresh graduates. There are plenty of great options in this city for you to choose from.
If you need help searching for a high-paying job in Birmingham, check out GrabJobs today. Our search tool makes it easy for you to find positions based on a variety of factors, including salary, experience requirements, and job type.
For extra help planning for your future, visit the GrabJobs Career Resources center, too. We have lots of guides that help with resume writing, interview prep, and everything in between.
Photo by Ethan Thompson on Unsplash
