Thinking about a career move? You’re not alone — over a third of UK workers are considering changing jobs in 2025. But while many are looking for new opportunities, the job market itself has been cooling, with fewer vacancies and slower wage growth.
However, some industries are still seeing strong demand for specialised skills, pushing salaries higher even as the market lags.
In this article, we’ll highlight the top 10 jobs in the UK that have seen the fastest pay growth over the past 3 years.
2025 Jobs with the fastest growing salaries
| Job | 2022 Median Salary | 2024 Median Salary | Average Pay Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers | £67,672 | £96,415 | 17% |
| Transport associate professionals | £61,857 | £86,361 | 16% |
| IT project managers | £47,619 | £57,878 | 10% |
| Corporate managers and directors | £46,000 | £54,424 | 8% |
| Programmers and software development professionals | £44,128 | £53,501 | 9% |
| Actuaries, economists and statisticians | £42,654 | £53,344 | 11% |
| Aerospace engineers | £42,539 | £51,618 | 10% |
| Finance and investment analysts and advisers | £36,790 | £43,533 | 9% |
| Education advisers and school inspectors | £29,625 | £38,382 | 14% |
| Groundworkers | £31,515 | £38,311 | 10% |
1. Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers
- Median earnings in 2024: £96,415
- Average pay increase 2022–2024: 17%
- Industry vacancies: 2.1 per 100 jobs
Pilots
Aircraft pilots operate airplanes and helicopters. They check the planes before take-off, and are responsible for navigation. Pilots may also work as flight instructors, training student pilots.
Apply directly or enter through a trainee programme or specialist course. You’ll need a Commercial Pilot License and a Class 1 medical certificate.
Air traffic controllers
Air traffic controllers manage aircraft movement from the ground. They guide planes by planning flight paths, approving take-offs and landings, and communicating with pilots via radio and radar to keep everyone safe.
To become an air traffic controller in the UK, you’ll need to complete a 74-week training programme. You must be at least 18 to apply for a Student Licence and 21 for a full licence from the Civil Aviation Authority.
2. Transport associate professionals
- Median earnings in 2024: £86,361
- Average pay increase 2022–2024: 16%
- Industry vacancies: 2.1 per 100 jobs
Transport associate professionals manage transportation services, ensuring schedules run smoothly and safety regulations are met.
To become a transport associate professional, complete your GCSEs and consider further qualifications, such as a BTEC, NVQ, or a T Level in logistics, transportation, or supply chain management.
3. IT project managers
- Median earnings in 2024: £57,878
- Average pay increase 2022–2024: 10%
- Industry vacancies: 2.6 per 100 jobs
IT project managers oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of technology-focused projects. They coordinate teams, manage resources, and ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.
To become an IT project manager, complete a university degree in computing, information systems, or project/business management.
4. Corporate managers and directors
- Median earnings in 2024: £54,424
- Average pay increase 2022–2024: 8%
- Industry vacancies: 3.0 per 100 jobs
Corporate managers and directors are responsible for setting goals for their organization and overseeing operations to and ensuring these goals are achieved. They lead teams, manage resources, and make high-level decisions to drive growth and profitability.
To become a corporate manager/director, earn a degree in business, management, or a related field, or gain hands-on leadership experience to build your expertise. Consider pursuing an MBA or qualifications from CMI or ILM.
5. Programmers and software development professionals
- Median earnings in 2024: £53,501
- Average pay increase 2022–2024: 9%
- Industry vacancies: 2.6 per 100 jobs
Programmers and software development professionals design, build, and maintain software applications. They write, test, and debug code while collaborating with teams.
To become a programmer, earn a degree in computer science, software engineering, or complete a coding bootcamp. Consider obtaining certifications like Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer or AWS Certified Developer to strengthen your credentials.
6. Actuaries, economists, and statisticians
- Median earnings in 2024: £53,344
- Average pay increase 2022–2024: 11%
- Industry vacancies: 3.0 per 100 jobs
Actuaries
Actuaries assess financial risk using mathematical models.
To become an actuary, earn a degree in mathematics and pursue professional qualifications such as the IFoA.
Economists
Economists study economic systems to predict trends and inform policy.
To become an economist, earn a degree in economics and pursue Chartered Economist (Ch.Econ.) status through the Society of Professional Economists (SPE).
Statisticians
Statisticians collect, analyse, and interpret data to uncover patterns and support decision-making in fields like healthcare, finance, and research.
To become a statistician, earn a degree in statistics and pursue Chartered Statistician (CStat) status through the Royal Statistical Society (RSS).
7. Aerospace engineers
- Median earnings in 2024: £51,618
- Average pay increase 2022–2024: 10%
- Industry vacancies: 2.5 per 100 jobs
Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft related systems and equipment. They use advanced physics, mathematics, and engineering to solve problems in aviation and space exploration.
To become an aerospace engineer, earn a degree in aerospace engineering or a related field such as mechanical or electrical engineering, accredited by a professional body like the RAeS (Royal Aeronautical Society).
8. Finance and investment analysts and advisers
- Median earnings in 2024: £43,533
- Average pay increase 2022–2024: 9%
- Industry vacancies: 3.1 per 100 jobs
Finance analysts assess the financial performance, budgeting, and forecasting of companies to support business decisions, while investment analysts research market trends and evaluate investment opportunities to help maximise returns.
Financial advisers provide personalised financial planning and investment advice tailored to individual clients, and investment advisers specialise in guiding clients on investment decisions and portfolio management to optimise financial growth.
To become a finance or investment analyst or adviser, earn a degree in finance, economics, or a related field, and gain professional qualifications such as the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) or CISI (Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment) certifications.
9. Education advisers and school inspectors
- Median earnings in 2024: £38,382
- Average pay increase 2022–2024: 14%
- Industry vacancies: 2.2 per 100 jobs
Education advisers and school inspectors evaluate and improve the quality of educational institutions and teaching practices.
To become an education advisor or school inspector, earn a degree in education (or a related field), and pursue advanced qualifications, such as a master’s in education leadership.
10. Groundworkers
- Median earnings in 2024: £38,311
- Average pay increase 2022–2024: 10%
- Industry vacancies: 2.4 per 100 jobs
Groundworkers prepare and maintain construction sites, ensuring they are ready for building and infrastructure projects.
To become a groundworker, gain practical experience through an apprenticeship or entry-level construction role. Obtain relevant certifications such as a CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card and training in health and safety or specific machinery operations to advance in the field.
Methodology
The primary data for this study was sourced from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), specifically data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) throughout 2022–2024, and their job vacancy data. The focus was gathering data on the changes in median annual income for all occupations listed within ONS to identify pay wage increases and job vacancy patterns to predict job growth.
Our selection for the top 10 list was based on two key criteria: a minimum UK median annual salary of £37,430 and an increase in pay equal to or higher than 5%. The occupations were then sorted in descending order of their average pay increase over 2021–2023, and the average percentage of vacancy in the occupation’s industry in 2024. Finally, we ordered the occupations in descending order of their median wage and selected the top 10 of our detailed analysis.
Our researchers used the most recent data available when writing to ensure that the analysis reflects the current labor market trends as closely as possible. However, the research doesn’t account for factors such as inflation and other external factors affecting pay raises.
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