Top 20 Highest Paying Jobs in Manchester
By the end of 2022, experts estimate that the GDP per capita in Manchester will be $66,765. The economy is improving in Manchester, and so is the job market, especially for high-paying jobs.
Are you looking for work in Manchester? Do you want to maximize your earnings and find a job that provides a great salary?
It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned professional interested in a career change or a student planning for the future. There are lots of well-paid jobs for you to consider in this area.
In this guide, you’ll find a list of the highest-paying jobs in Manchester, as well as the highest-paying industries in Manchester and the highest-paying jobs in Manchester for fresh graduates. You’ll learn about the degrees you’ll need to earn to land these jobs, too.
What Salary Is Considered Rich in Manchester?
The average salary for a worker in Manchester is $61,176 per year, which works out to an hourly rate of about $29.
The cost of living in Manchester is a bit higher than average for the United States, but it is much more affordable than a lot of other major cities, which helps to balance everything out. For example, San Francisco, California is 131.7 percent more expensive than Manchester, and Brooklyn, New York is a little more than 75 percent more expensive.
Of course, the term “rich” is relative. A single person might be able to live very comfortably on a sub-$100,000 salary, but someone with a family of four might need to earn quite a bit more than that to manage all their expenses and have a good amount of disposable income leftover.
Based on the information above regarding the cost of living in Manchester, for someone to be considered “rich” in this city, they would need to earn well over $60,000 per year. If you can exceed the $150,000-$200,000 per year range, you would almost certainly fall into the “rich” or “wealthy” category.
What Is the #1 Highest-Paid Position in Manchester?
Of all the best-paid jobs in Manchester, the number 1 highest-paid position is a physician or surgeon.
Both types of professionals earn an average salary of $236,830 per year, which is nearly 4 times the salary the average Manchester resident earns. Even entry-level physicians and surgeons earn above-average salaries at $158,400 per year.
It makes sense that physicians and surgeons are some of the highest-paid professionals in Manchester because they put a lot of time and effort into developing their skills and obtaining the education needed to practice in their field.
If a career as a physician or surgeon doesn’t seem like a good option for you, that’s okay. There are plenty of other high-paying jobs in Manchester, including the 20 careers listed below (in order from lowest to highest salary):
20. Nurse Practitioner: Average Salary $105,510 per year
19. Software Developer: Average Salary $108,400 per year
18. Physician Assistant: Average Salary $109,700 per year
17. Industrial Production Manager: Average Salary $111,950 per year
16. Medical and Health Services Manager: Average Salary $112,820 per year
15. Marketing Manager: Average Salary $115,950 per year
14. Other Managers: Average Salary $121,370 per year
13. Personal Financial Advisor: Average Salary $123,550 per year
12. Pharmacist: Average Salary $124,080 per year
11. Computer and Information Systems Manager: Average Salary $124,850 per year
10. Financial Manager: Average Salary $124,870 per year
9. General and Operations Manager: Average Salary $125,760 per year
8. Sales Manager: Average Salary $133,020 per year
7. Architectural and Engineering Manager: Average Salary $135,940 per year
6. Lawyer: Average Salary $137,940 per year
5. Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agent: Average Salary $147,070 per year
4. Chief Executive Officer: Average Salary $165,680 per year
3. General Pediatrician: Average Salary $193,070 per year
2. Family and General Practitioners: Average Salary $213,500 per year
1. Physicians and Surgeons: Average Salary $236,830 per year
Top 5 Highest-Paying Industries in Manchester
It’s good to know about the highest-paying jobs in Manchester, but it’s also helpful to be aware of the highest-paying industries in Manchester.
There are plenty of industries in this area that offers good jobs and plenty of job security. The following are 5 of the best ones to consider if you want to find a well-paid job:
The healthcare industry is easily one of the highest-paying industries in the Manchester area. From doctors and surgeons to nurse practitioners and nurses, there are tons of well-paid positions here for medical professionals.
Top 3 Careers
- Physicians and Surgeons: Average Salary $236,830 per year
- Family and General Practitioners: Average Salary $213,500 per year
- General Pediatrician: Average Salary $193,070 per year
Job Prospects: There are plenty of opportunities for healthcare workers to find good jobs in Manchester. The demand for medical professionals is high in this city (and throughout the country) right now, so most people can find work right away as long as they have the right training and credentials. If you’re looking for a job in an industry that provides a great deal of security, a healthcare job is definitely a good option to consider.
The business and sales sector also offers lots of high-paying jobs in Manchester. CEOs, of course, get paid very well for all the hard work they do and the responsibilities they hold, but there are plenty of other well-paid positions in this field, too.
Top 3 Careers
- Chief Executive Officer: Average Salary $165,680 per year
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents: Average Salary $147,070 per year
- Sales Manager: Average Salary $133,020 per year
Job Prospects: Lots of businesses operate out of Manchester, including well-known corporations like Target and The Home Depot. Because of this, there are plenty of job opportunities here for those who want to work in the business or sales sector. If you have training or experience in these fields, you’ll likely have an easy time finding work in Manchester and will be able to start earning a good salary right away.
Lawyers and other legal professionals can earn a good living in Manchester, too. This is a very good place for lawyers, judges, and legal experts to set up shop and start building their careers.
Top 3 Careers
- Judge: Average salary $175,691 per year
- Lawyer: Average Salary $137,940 per year
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators: Average Salary $98,410 per year
Job Prospects: The legal industry is a bit more competitive than some other professions in Manchester. Because of this, it can be hard to find a job (let alone a high-paying job) in this field. For those who are passionate about the law, though, and don’t mind waiting for the right position to open up, it’s worth it to pursue a career in the legal field.
For those who live in Manchester, the information technology (or IT) industry is another high-paying industry worth considering. The information technology sector is booming throughout the country right now and lots of jobs are opening up at businesses of all sizes. There are plenty of freelance opportunities and opportunities for people to start their own businesses in this industry, too.
Top 3 Careers
- Computer and Information Systems Managers: Average Salary $124,850 per year
- Software Developers, Systems Software: Average Salary $108,400 per year
- Computer Network Architects: Average Salary $93,260 per year
Job Prospects: The job prospects for people with experience and training in the information technology industry are very promising. There are lots of jobs available in Manchester for those who want to be part of this field, so it won’t take too long for you to find a (well-paying) job here.
The finance and banking industries in Manchester also offer lots of high-paying jobs. For those who are good with money and have experience in accounting, financial advisement, and other, related careers, there are plenty of job opportunities to consider in Manchester.
Top 3 Careers
- Financial Manager: Average Salary $124,870 per year
- Personal Financial Advisor: Average Salary $123,550 per year
- Loan Officers: Average Salary $86,800 per year
Job Prospects: If you want to work in the finance or banking industry, you’ll find lots of job openings in Manchester. There is always a demand for skilled professionals who can help people and businesses with their finances, so you likely won’t have to look to hard or for too long before you find a job in this area that lines up with your skill set and salary goals.
Top 5 Highest-Paying Jobs in Manchester for Fresh Graduates
The list of the highest-paying jobs in Manchester for fresh graduates is a bit different than the Top 20 list from above. If you’re a student looking for a job that will provide you with a good living right out of college, you may want to choose a different career than one of those mentioned in the previous section.
The following are 5 of the best jobs for fresh graduates that offer high entry-level salaries (and lots of room for growth as you progress in your field):
Physicians and surgeons in Manchester earn very high entry-level salaries ($158,400 per year on average). This is more than double what the average Manchester resident earns, so it’s not too shabby for a fresh graduate. This is especially true when you consider how much physicians and surgeons can earn as they progress in their careers ($236,830 per year on average).
Of course, it does take quite a while to gain the qualifications necessary to become a physician or surgeon. You’re looking at 8-12 years of additional schooling after finishing high school, so it’s not for those who are impatient or uninterested in education. If you’re willing to put the time in, though, you’ll be handsomely rewarded and can look forward to a very nice salary.
Another high-paying medical career for fresh graduates is a career as a pharmacist. Pharmacists are responsible for dispensing medications and making recommendations/providing advice to patients who come to the pharmacy. To become a pharmacist, you will need to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, which takes about 8 years post-high school.
As is the case for physicians, it takes quite a while to become a pharmacist, but the trade-off is a very high salary right when you graduate. The entry-level salary for a pharmacist in Manchester is $103,680 per year. Once you’ve spent a few years in your career, you can earn even more (over $124,000 per year).
If you want to pursue a high-paying healthcare career but don’t want to spend as much time in school as it takes to become a pharmacist, physician, or surgeon, consider a career as a nurse practitioner.
Nurse practitioners only need a master’s degree to start practicing. However, they’re able to carry out many of the same responsibilities as physicians, including diagnosing and treating patients and writing prescriptions.
Nurse practitioners can earn an average salary of $81,220 per year after graduating from school. Over time, they can earn quite a bit more ($105,510 per year on average). If you want to work in the healthcare field but want to start your career sooner (and start earning a high salary sooner), this is a great path to take.
Of course, the legal industry is more competitive than it once was. However, freshly graduated lawyers can still earn a lot of money once they start practicing.
The average entry-level salary for a new lawyer is $70,740 per year. After practicing for a few years, they can also earn quite a bit more ($137,940 per year on average).
The path to becoming a lawyer is not an easy one. It takes about 8 years, the same as it does to become a physician or a pharmacist. However, the path will be worth it if you are passionate about the law and are eager to join a firm and advise others.
If you’re looking for another one of the best-paid jobs in Manchester that doesn’t require nearly a decade (or more) of school, a career as a software developer is an excellent choice.
Software developers design and write code for a variety of software programs. Some of them work independently as freelancers or entrepreneurs, and others work for large businesses as part of the in-house development team.
To become a software developer, you need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. Some people are also able to find work after earning a certificate and completing a shorter program.
The average entry-level salary for a new software developer is $79,430 per year. Once you’ve put in some work and progressed in your career, you can earn a lot more ($108,400 per year on average). Both of these salaries are well above average for the Manchester area, so they’re great options for those who are technology-oriented and have an interest in the IT field.
What Degree Pays Most in Manchester?
If you want to qualify for one of the best-paid jobs in Manchester, you’ll need to earn a degree first. The average income for a college graduate is higher than a non-college graduate, but certain degrees will provide a higher potential salary compared to others.
In the table below, you’ll find a breakdown of some of the top degree types, plus the potential salary you can earn after you’ve obtained them:
Degree Type | Potential Salary |
Medical | $236,830 per year |
Law | $137,940 per year |
Pharmaceutical | $124,080 per year |
Nursing | $105,510 per year |
Computer Science | $108,400 per year |
It’s important to note that these potential salaries are estimates, not guarantees. If you’re trying to plan for your future and want to choose a good career path, though, any of these degrees will likely set you up for a lucrative future.
Are you a student? If so, remember this list so you can start choosing classes accordingly and begin working toward your preferred career.
Find One of the Highest-Paying Jobs in Manchester Today
If you’re getting ready to start your job search and want to find one of the highest-paying jobs in Manchester, you now have a detailed guide to help. Keep the information discussed above in mind so you can choose a well-paid position and seek out a degree that sets you up for long-term success.
GrabJobs offers tons of tools to help you with your job search, too. It doesn’t matter if you’re ready to start looking for open positions or need help learning about your options for expanding your skills. Either way, the GrabJobs platform has got you covered. Check it out today to learn more and see what it has to offer you.
Photo by Henry Dixon on Unsplash
