The Most Well-paid Jobs Of 2016: How To Get Your Foot In The Door

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Everyone wants to be rich. Of course you can become a world-class footballer or Hollywood actor, but these are niche professions. What about the occupations out there that are in demand? Here are some of the top paying jobs of 2016 that are always looking for new recruits. Of course, many of them take a lot of brains, a lot of responsibility and some gruelling training. Those who like a challenge may be up for it. You have to work hard to play hard after all.

Broker

Brokers help other people save money by shopping around for the best deals on financial investments such as loans, insurance, mortgage, foreign exchange and stocks. This kind of job requires quite a bit of financial know-how, but can be extremely well-paid – the average pay before tax being £133,868.

Of all brokers, stockbrokers earn the most amount of money, generally working with bigger business and high paying investors (the risks can also be much greater). Brokers have to constantly have their eye on fluctuating prices, know exactly when to invest to get the best profit and exactly when to pull out before making a loss. Many of the techniques of this trade are left a secret – you’ll either have to pursue in-house training or learn the ropes yourself. Some employers will require a degree, whilst others will desire no formal academic qualifications.

Aircraft Pilot

With the rise of budget airlines, wages are going down, although you’re looking at a minimum of £50,000 a year (the average is £86,950).

Becoming a commercial airline pilot is no easy feat. Education-wise, you’ll need good GCSE passes in maths, English and science as well as a second language, plus two good A Levels. You’ll then need a Class 1 medical certificate – which means being free of any ailments. Next you’ll need to take 170 hours of flight time to get your commercial pilot’s license (which costs more than £100,000 and takes two years). Only after 1,500 flying hours sharing the cockpit with another pilot can you then become a fully qualified commercial airline pilot.

Air Traffic Controller

Often said to be the most stressful job in the world, air traffic controllers are responsible individually for thousands of lives at a time. They help plan flight paths, control air traffic and make sure that all planes take off and land safely. Due to the responsibility, average pay is £81,132 a year – an attractive to salary to many brave applicants.

You only need five GCSEs to apply. However, you do need to then pass a NATS vocational course -of which less than 0.5% of applicants are successful. This job takes a lot of concentration and the ability to free one’s mind under pressure. There is absolutely no room for error, which is why the training process is so strict. That said, air traffic controllers are given regular breaks (2 hours on position maximum) and there are many safety precautions in place.

Digital Marketing Executive

Digital marketing is still new territory. The internet has become an increasingly more crowded place with more and more information constantly being added every second adding to the scale. The need to stand out from the crowd has led to an increase in demand for all forms of digital marketing. There are many different types of marketing techniques from web design to search engine optimisation to social media assistance. Some marketing ventures have proved extremely lucrative such as data science (which pulls in an average salary of £96,000) and affiliate marketing (which does not result in an average income but can earn hundreds of thousands).

Requirements can vary widely depending on the area that you specify in, but generally taking a few courses in aspects such as web analytics and pay-per-click advertising can advantageous (for more details of such courses go online at Simplilearn.com/digital-marketing/pay-per-click-ppc-certification-training.

In-house Lawyer

Being a lawyer is still an esteemed and highly paid job. You are a bastion of justice and help to ensure everyone is given a fair trial. Average pay before tax is roughly £80,000, although many will start their career as a lawyer nearer £30,000.

Many who study law make the position of barrister their goal, although it can be a long and arduous road. A law degree or postgraduate diploma is almost always required. You must then complete a legal practice course and win a two-year training contract. Many will have to make their way up the ranks before getting into the higher levels of court. This may include sitting in on courtrooms as a clerk or working as a solicitor for a firm. It is possible to reach high-paid positions even with these roles.

Financial Director

Financial directors are essentially financial advisors for big businesses or wealthy individuals, managing accounting and coming up with strategies to increase the long-term growth of the business. This can also include bank managers and insurance company directors. Average pay if £75,000 a year before tax (although this encompasses both big and small businesses).

Becoming a financial director generally requires moving your way up the chain. Whilst qualifications aren’t necessary to all businesses, most employers will look for some maths or accountancy skills, as you will be dealing wholly in figures. Many will start as a junior accountant or a clerk in a bank and then get promoted over the years. To become a bank manager you must become an approved person, which means passing a ‘fit and proper’ test set by The Financial Conduct Authority.

Banks are constantly making cuts, which has led to the average wage of this job decreasing. Low interest rates, political uncertainty and new technology has all had a knock-on effect. That said, the demand for such a position is still high. Financial jobs also have some of the highest starting salaries, so even if you do have to work your way from the bottom, you’ll still be making enough money for it seem worthwhile.