Top 10 Highest Paying STEM Degrees in the UK
Study International Staff
30 Aug 2018
Analysis of over one million job ads by Adzuna has revealed which Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) degrees lead to the highest salaries after graduation.
Engineering graduates receive the biggest paychecks
The research, conducted in August 2018, considered the average salaries of job ads seeking applicants with a specific STEM degree. Aeronautical engineers topped the results table, with an average salary of £51,448 offered to those who hold a bachelors or masters in the subject. Those with civil or chemical engineering degrees didn’t trail too far behind, landing in second and fourth place with salaries of £47,503 and £45,527 respectively.
Bruh just got a job offer as a mechanical engineer. Blesssssed. pic.twitter.com/ouzE8XCrxU
— izi ike (@izi_ike) 29 August 2018
In contrast, Chemistry and Physics degrees were valued far below the UK average salary of £33,111, taking home between £27,795 and £26,617. Lab technician and teaching assistant roles made up the bulk of job ads seeking people with these degrees, which explains the surprisingly low salaries.
The Highest Paying STEM degrees
| Degree Title | Average Salary | No. of UK Jobs |
| Aeronautical Engineering | £51,448.00 | 26 |
| Civil Engineering | £47,503.00 | 1,505 |
| Computer Science | £47,197.00 | 4,236 |
| Chemical Engineering | £45,527.00 | 194 |
| Life Science | £43,872.00 | 1,362 |
| Statistics | £43,731.00 | 438 |
| Electrical Engineering | £43,412.00 | 831 |
| Pharmacy | £42,984.00 | 407 |
| Mechanical Engineering | £38,752.00 | 1,435 |
| Mathematics | £38,125.00 | 1,100 |
Technology graduates have the most job opportunities
Although job-seekers with aeronautical and chemical engineering degrees see the highest salary potential, they are far from the most in demand. Due to their niche nature, only 220 job ads across the UK mention either of these subjects as a requirement to apply for the role.
For those in search of a high salary and an abundance of career opportunities, a technology degree is your best bet. The rise of AI, in both business and society, has caused demand for employees with tech knowledge to sky rocket in recent years. Applicants with a Computer Science degree were the most sought after with a huge 4,236 job vacancies followed by Information Technology (IT) with 1,847.
STEM degrees with the most job vacancies available
| Degree Title | No. of UK Jobs | Average Salary |
| Computer Science | 4,236 | £47,197.00 |
| IT | 1,847 | £36,542.00 |
| Civil Engineering | 1,505 | £47,503.00 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 1,435 | £38,752.00 |
| Life Science | 1,362 | £43,872.00 |
| Mathematics | 1,100 | £38,125.00 |
| Physics | 1,046 | £26,617.00 |
| Chemistry | 923 | £27,795.00 |
| Electrical Engineering | 831 | £43,412.00 |
| Statistics | 438 | £43,731.00 |
Maths and Science Degrees Still Hold Their Own
With almost all UK universities charging maximum tuition fees of £9,000 a year, students are rightly concerned with getting the best bang for their buck. Engineering and technology degrees may appear most appealing due to promises of high salaries and job opportunities but that shouldn’t lead to the maths and sciences being undervalued.
What Data Scientists Really Do, According to 35 Data Scientists https://t.co/AzAwkruMQJ pic.twitter.com/UKAd2vOTWo
— Dr. Vukosi Marivate (@vukosi) 26 August 2018
Life science degrees made the top five for both salary potential and number of job vacancies, making it a good choice all round. For undergraduates still uncertain about their future in STEM, maths degrees are a great option, providing a gateway to a host of industries, including finance, engineering and data science.
Written by Nisa Ismail
Liked this? Then you’ll love…
STEM graduates have the edge as we rise through the digital age
Why it’s time North American colleges change how they teach STEM
