sam123Unlock six figure salaries UK: discover high paying jobs UK that pay over £151,000, qualification paths, Skilled Worker visa UK guidance, top industries in London vs regional cities & expert job‑search tips.
Introduction
If you’re targeting six figure salaries UK, particularly roles exceeding £151,000 per year, you’re aiming high—and with good reason. Whether you’re a senior executive, a consultant, or a partner at a law firm, roles at this level come with prestige, responsibility, and rewards. But getting there involves strategy: the right qualifications, experience, often location (London tends to pay more), strong networks, and the proper immigration status if you’re not UK‑based.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore which careers regularly offer £151,000+, what salary data shows today, how to meet visa requirements like the Skilled Worker visa UK, what qualifications and certifications matter, where to find these jobs (especially in London vs regional UK), and how to make yourself competitive.
Understanding the Salary Landscape: What Jobs Actually Pay Over £151,000
To aim for roles over £151,000 in the UK, it helps to know which roles and sectors already offer this. Here are real examples, drawn from the NHS, legal firms, financial services, and executive leadership.
NHS and Medical Professions
- Consultant Doctors (NHS):
The basic salary range for NHS consultants is approximately £109,725 up to £145,478 for those with many years in grade (14+ years) in England. Nuffield Trust+2My HSN+2
But when you add non‑basic pay elements (Clinical Excellence Awards, London or high cost area allowances, on‑call, locum/private practice), many consultants reach or exceed £150,000‑£160,000+ as full‑time total earnings. Nuffield Trust+1 - General Practitioners (GPs):
GP partners (especially those with profitable practices or doing extra work) have average earnings (including non‑NHS income) in some reports around £160,000+, though this can vary substantially by location, patient numbers, and workload. Nuffield Trust
Legal Sector – Magic Circle and Top Law Firms
- Equity Partners in Magic Circle law firms regularly earn over £1 million per year. For example, Freshfields, Clifford Chance, Linklaters, and Allen & Overy frequently report partner payouts in the £1.8‑£2.2 million range. Telegraph+4Careerinlaw.net+4This Is Money+4
- Newly Qualified Lawyers at those firms are also moving into six figure base salaries. For example, several Magic Circle firms raised NQ salaries to about £150,000 in London. Non-Billable+2Global Legal Post+2
Executives, Finance & Tech
- C‑level and Senior Executives (e.g. CEO, CTO, CIO) in large corporations can command salaries well above £151,000, often with bonuses, stock options, and other benefits, especially in finance, tech, or international firms.
- Banking and Investment Banking / Private Equity: Senior finance roles (e.g. MDs, Partners) often exceed this threshold. Even though base may sometimes be lower, bonuses push total compensation well above six figures.
- Technology Leadership Roles: CIOs, CTOs, CISO roles in large organisations in London can reach or surpass £150,000 base salary. For example, some roles report up to ≈£170,000 base in IT leadership. Adria Solutions
Key Factors that Drive Salaries Over £151,000
Location – London vs Regional UK
- London premium: Many roles above £151,000 are concentrated in London (City of London, Canary Wharf, West End, tech hubs) and surrounding areas (e.g. Surrey, Hertfordshire). Cost of living, demand, and concentration of global firms push up salaries.
- Regional cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Bristol can offer high‑paying roles, but often require more experience or exceptional performance. Rare for many roles outside London to start above £151,000 unless truly senior or niche.
Experience & Specialisation
- Deep specialist knowledge (e.g. certain medical specialties, rare legal practice areas, AI/ML leadership, cybersecurity) often justify premium salaries.
- Leadership experience (managing large teams, P&L responsibilities, multi‑million budgets) is often a must for roles in that compensation bracket.
- Board‑level or partner‑level status, or senior consultant with private practice, gives access to earnings beyond what base pay alone offers.
Additional Pay Components
- Bonuses, profit sharing, equity stakes, commission, stock options: especially in law, finance, tech.
- Private practice or private sector work for medical consultants.
- On‑call, overtime, high cost area pay (e.g. London weighting) for public sector roles.
Certifications & Qualifications
- Medical qualifications: Full GMC registration, specialty accreditation, fellowships.
- Legal: Qualified solicitor/barrister, PQE (post‑qualification experience), partnership track credentials, possibly further specialism (e.g. tax law, corporate M&A, arbitration).
- Tech / Finance: Certified credentials (CFA, FRM, CISSP, etc.), master’s / PhD level work, evidence of leading large projects, product ownership.
- Business leadership / management qualifications, e.g. MBA, executive education, leadership or strategic certifications (CIPD for HR, CMI, etc.).
Visa Options & Immigration: If You’re Non‑UK or Overseas
If you’re aiming for a six figure salary UK and need authorization to work, understanding visa options, especially the Skilled Worker visa UK, is essential.
Skilled Worker Visa UK
- What it is: A visa route that allows non‑UK nationals to come to or remain in the UK and do a job with an approved employer. GOV.UK+1
- Requirement – job eligibility: The job must be on the eligible occupation list (or high skilled), the employer must be an approved sponsor. GOV.UK+1
- Salary minimums: You must be paid at least the higher of £41,700 per year or the “going rate” for that job. For many high‑paying roles, going rates will vastly exceed these thresholds. GOV.UK+1
- If you are switching employer or role, similar conditions apply. You’ll need a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) from the employer. GOV.UK+1
- Duration & settlement: Typically, the visa lasts up to 5 years. After 5 years, provided you meet other criteria (continuous residence, etc.), you may apply for indefinite leave to remain. GOV.UK
Other Visas & Routes
- Global Talent Visa: For those with recognized achievement in arts, science, engineering, medicine, humanities, etc. This route can allow more flexibility, sometimes without needing a sponsor.
- High Potential Individual Visa: For graduates of top universities internationally (subject to eligibility).
- Health & Care Worker Visa: If you’re in eligible health or care roles, with different conditions (lower fees, exemption of health surcharge).
- Intra‑Company Transfer Visa, Investor / Innovator visas may apply in some cases depending on your role and employer.
Implications for Salary & Offers
- Employers must typically justify the salary, especially high salaries, through experience and role definition. If you’re negotiating over £151,000, they’ll expect evidence of leadership, results, or unique value.
- Visa status may also influence offers (sponsorship cost, tax, relocation).
How to Position Yourself for £151,000+ Roles
Here are practical strategies you can adopt to increase your chances of landing a high paying job UK in the six‑figure bracket.
Education & Certification
- Pursue advanced qualifications (Master’s, PhD, or specialist medical qualifications).
- Acquire professional certifications in your field (for finance: CFA, ACA/ACCA; for tech: CISSP, AWS certified, etc; for law: specialist practice accreditations).
- Build a record of continuing professional development (CPD), leadership courses, management or business education (e.g. executive MBA).
Gain Specialized and Leadership Experience
- Seek roles managing large teams, budgets, or having P&L responsibilities.
- Specialize in niche areas in high demand (AI/ML, cybersecurity, data governance, certain medical subspecialties, complex corporate law, private equity).
- For doctors, excelling via clinical excellence awards, private practice, research, management roles.
Leverage Network & Mentoring
- Use professional bodies: Royal Colleges (for medicine), Law Society / Bar Council / specific specialisms, CISSP / ISACA / tech bodies, finance associations.
- Attend industry conferences, join specialist groups. Be visible.
- Seek mentors who are already in those roles (senior consultants, partners, C‑suite) to understand what differentiates them.
Negotiate Smartly
- Know market salary benchmarks: know what similar roles in London pay, vs regional locations.
- Be ready to articulate your value: what revenue you bring, cost savings, efficiency, innovation.
- When negotiating, consider total compensation (bonus, stock options, private practice / consultative income) not just base.
Search Strategically
- Use top job boards and executive recruiters: e.g. LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, Exec‑appointments, CityJobs, Otta (for tech), LegalRecruiter, TopMedicalJobs.
- Also specialised boards for medical, legal, finance: BMJ Careers, NHS Jobs, Law Gazette, eFinancialCareers.
- Consider searching through headhunters or boutique firms for executive or partner roles.
- Be open to relocation ‒ sometimes roles paying £200,000+ are in London or internationally focused but require moving.
Industries Most Likely To Offer Salaries Over £151,000
Based on recent data and salary surveys, here are the sectors and roles where £151,000+ is often realistic.
| Industry | Role Examples | Salary Ranges / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Legal / Corporate Law | Equity partners, senior associates in M&A, corporate law, arbitration | Partner payouts in Magic Circle firms often > £1.5‑£2 million. Newly qualified lawyers at some firms now starting in the £140‑£180k range. This Is Money+3Non-Billable+3Global Legal Post+3 |
| Medicine / Health | Senior consultants, private practice specialists, clinical leads | Average total NHS consultant earnings ~£161,600 for full time, with extras pushing higher. GPs with partner roles also in the £150‑£170k ballpark depending on location and extra work. Nuffield Trust |
| Finance & Banking / Investment Management | Managing Directors, Partners, Heads of divisions | Including bonuses and performance pay, such roles in London often exceed six figure salaries by a wide margin. |
| Technology & Cybersecurity | CTO, CIO, Chief Security Officer, AI / Machine Learning heads | Base salaries in senior leadership often approach or exceed £150,000 plus stock / equity and bonuses. Roles in cloud architecture, cybersecurity, AI have premium. Adria Solutions |
| Executive Leadership / C‑Suite | CEOs, CFOs, COOs of large or international companies | Base plus performance linked bonuses, benefits, can total well toward several hundred thousand. |
Job Search Tips & Where to Find These Roles
High‑Visibility Job Boards & Recruiters
- Executive Search Firms / Headhunters: Eg. Korn Ferry, Odgers Berndtson, Russell Reynolds, Egon Zehnder. These firms often hire for CXO and partner roles.
- Specialist Boards:
• NHS Jobs / BMJ Careers (for medical roles)
• LegalRecruiter, Law Gazette, Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 (legal roles)
• CityJobs, Financial Times Jobs, eFinancialCareers (finance)
• LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Dice (tech), Otta (tech startups) - Company Websites: Big tech firms, banks, law firms often list senior leadership roles directly.
Tailoring Your CV & Personal Branding
- Emphasize leadership, high‑impact projects, revenue or cost impact, scale of responsibility.
- Include metrics wherever possible (e.g. “managed teams of 100+, delivered €50m in revenue growth”, “led acquisition worth £2bn”, etc.).
- Keep LinkedIn profile polished; recommendations and endorsements matter.
- Public speaking, publications, research, participation in boards or professional bodies can differentiate.
Timing and Patience
- Roles at this level don’t open frequently. Be ready to spend months searching.
- Momentum often comes via promotion within your organisation or switching roles.
- In some sectors (medicine, law), prep takes years (speciality training, partnership track, publications).
Qualification Bodies & Professional Associations
These bodies lend credibility, provide networking, and sometimes are prerequisites:
- Medicine / NHS: General Medical Council (GMC), Royal Colleges (e.g. Royal College of Surgeons, Physicians, etc.)
- Law: Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), Bar Standards Board, Law Societies, specialist accreditation bodies for arbitration, tax etc.
- Finance: Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Chartered Accountant (ACA, ACCA), Financial Risk Manager (FRM), Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI).
- Technology / Cybersecurity: CISSP, CISM, AWS, Microsoft, Google, etc.; membership in bodies like BCS, ISACA, (ISC)².
- Leadership / Management: Chartered Management Institute (CMI), MBA programmes accredited by AMBA, AACSB, etc.
Conclusion
Attaining a role in the UK with six figure salaries UK of £151,000 or more is ambitious, but absolutely within reach for those who plan intentionally. The sectors that most reliably pay at this level include top legal firms, senior medical roles, executive leadership in finance or technology, especially in London or other high‑cost areas. It depends heavily on your qualifications, experience, leadership skills, specialization, and sometimes visa status.
If you’re starting out or mid‑career, map backwards: identify a role you want that pays over £151,000, list all the gaps you have (skills, qualifications, leadership experience, network), and build a plan to fill them. Use professional bodies, target the right companies, leverage top recruiters, and always keep market data front of mind when negotiating. For non‑UK nationals, ensure your visa route (such as the Skilled Worker visa UK, or Global Talent) supports your goals.
FAQ
Q1: Do I need to live in London to get a high paying job UK above £151,000?
A1: Not necessarily, but London and South East England offer more roles that pay at or above £151,000. Regional cities can also offer such roles for very senior positions, niche specialisms, or where cost of living is lower. Many high paying firms have offices elsewhere too.
Q2: Will having overseas qualifications help or hinder me?
A2: It depends. If qualifications are recognised (e.g. GMC for doctors, legal qualifications that allow transfer or accreditation, recognised university degrees for tech/finance), they can help. Sometimes you’ll need to supplement with UK‑specific certifications. What matters most is your track record and ability to demonstrate that your qualifications translate into impact.
Q3: How does the Skilled Worker visa UK affect salary expectations?
A3: The visa has minimum salary thresholds and going rates by occupation. For very high paying roles, the salary will usually be well above those minimums. Employers sponsoring skilled workers will consider visa costs, relocation, etc. When negotiating, make sure that the offered salary reflects both market value and any extra costs/risks employers take on.
Q4: How important are bonuses and non‑salary components when aiming for £151,000+?
A4: Very important. Base salary gets you part way; bonuses, profit sharing, equity, private practice (for doctors), consulting, stock options etc., can make the difference between a £130‑£140k base and a total compensation package well above £200,000. Always assess full compensation.
Q5: What is a realistic timeline to reach this salary level?
A5: It depends on your starting point. If you’re already mid‑senior level with good credentials, perhaps 2‑5 years with targeted moves and specialist development. If you’re entering from more junior roles, it could take longer (5‑10+ years). But having a clear career plan, mentorship, and consistent upskilling accelerates the path.
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