10 jobs that got the biggest pay rises in 2024 as wages jump by up to 9.5 per cent have been revealed. According to research conducted by the recruitment firm Hays, businesses operating within the engineering and manufacturing, technology, legal, and finance sectors saw the biggest pay rises in 2024.
Pam Lindsay-Dunn, chief operating officer of Hays UK and Ireland, said: “Despite a tough labour market, the UK is still grappling with a critical skills shortage. Our top ten salary increases from 2024 highlight the areas most in need of talent.
“While these roles may not be the highest paying, they clearly show where skilled professionals are in high demand. Engineering roles continue to dominate our salary increase lists, driven by an ageing workforce and a lack of new entrants to the workplace.
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“In the tech sector, cyber roles are more crucial than ever as organisations strive to protect themselves from risk. Traditional finance and accounting skills remain sought after, with salaries for part-qualified accountants steadily rising.”
Harry Gooding, director of skills and learning at Hays, said: “Many of these core skills tend to cross paths and complement each other. This is part of what makes these skillsets so valuable; they’re highly transferable.”
Jobs with the biggest pay rises in 2024
- Fabricator/welder – Industry: engineering/ manufacturing – average salary: £33,500 – salary increase: 9.5% (£3,015).
- Risk surveyor/consultant – Industry: Insurance – average salary: £55,400 – 9.2%
- Industrial engineer – Industry: Engineering/manufacturing – average salary: £44,000 – 8.6%
- Technology cyber manager (operational) – Industry: Technology – average salary: £100,500 – 8.5%
- Site Supervisor – Industry: Engineering/ manufacturing – average salary: £45,000 – 8%
- In-house lawyer (7-10 Years PQE – commerce and industry) – Industry: Legal – average salary: £87,625 – 7.6%
- Part-qualified accountant (finalist) – Industry: finance – average salary: £41,375- 7.6%
- In-house lawyer (one year PQE) – Industry: Legal – average salary: £54,000 – 7.2%
- Software architect (Microsoft Stack) – Industry: Technology – average salary: £83,444 – 7.2%
- Contracts manager – Industry: Procurement – average salary: £53,667 – 6.8%
Highest paying jobs in 2024, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in October.
- Chief executives and senior officials – £88,050 a year
- Marketing, sales and advertising directors – £87,309 a year
- IT directors – £86,033 a year
- Directors in logistics, warehousing and transport – £81,422 a year
- Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers – £80,414 a year
- Public relations and communications directors – £77,186 a year
- Financial managers and directors – £75,093 a year
- Specialist medical professionals – £74,979 a year
- Functional managers and directors – £74,666 a year
- Headteachers and principals – £71,064 a year