Britain’s 50 highest-paid jobs revealed

Chief executives, surgeons and anaesthetists have been named among Britain’s highest-paid professionals in a new careers guide.

Research published by LiveCareer lists the 50 best-paying jobs in the UK in 2026, covering occupations in healthcare, technology, finance, law and engineering.

Chief executive officer takes first place, with salaries ranging from £58,000 to £143,000 a year. The role involves setting the direction of an organisation and taking responsibility for its overall performance.

Surgeons are placed second, followed by anaesthetists, investment bankers and corporate lawyers.

Orthodontists, airline pilots, IT directors, artificial intelligence engineers and marketing directors complete the top ten.

However, some positions further down the ranking have higher potential salaries than those at the top. Medical directors can earn between £81,000 and £153,000, while chief technology officers are reported to receive between £80,000 and £152,000.

Consulting partners have one of the widest salary ranges, from £46,000 to £146,000. Corporate lawyers can earn as much as £110,000, while orthodontists command salaries of up to £116,000.

Artificial intelligence and machine-learning careers have also emerged as some of the most lucrative opportunities. Data scientists typically earn between £39,000 and £63,000, rising to between £80,000 and £130,000 for senior machine-learning specialists and AI leaders.

The top 20 also includes software engineers, risk managers, actuaries, pharmacists, petroleum engineers, quantitative analysts, psychiatrists, chartered accountants, consulting partners and dentists.

Other professions included in the top 50 range from architects, civil engineers and biomedical scientists to environmental consultants, sales directors and public relations directors.

LiveCareer said the highest salaries were generally attached to roles requiring advanced qualifications, specialist expertise or significant leadership responsibilities.

The research comes as workers continue to face pressure from the cost of living. Official figures cited in the report show total UK earnings, including bonuses, increased by 3.8 per cent between December 2025 and February 2026. Once inflation was taken into account, real pay grew by just 0.7 per cent.

Separate research from recruitment company Hays found that 84 per cent of employers raised salaries during 2025, with 80 per cent planning further increases in 2026.

The strongest wage growth was reported in the legal sector at 4.6 per cent, followed by sustainability at 4.1 per cent, business support at 3.8 per cent and accountancy and finance at 3.4 per cent.

The complete ranking and salary ranges are available in the LiveCareer careers guide.