Where is the money these days?
Posted by Secret_End_6839@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 331 comments
Hi Everyone,
Thinking of a career change, unfortunately I am ultimately driven by money in this current economic climate.
If you were to retrain into an area with decent starting wages and good potential for growth, what would you get into?
reggie196561@reddit
If I were retraining today and money was a major driver, I wouldn’t optimise for what pays well now — I’d optimise for what sits on the strongest long-term growth curves.
The big shift underway is that we’re moving into an exponential cycle driven by AI, energy expansion, automation, and digital infrastructure. The people who do well financially over the next 10–15 years will mostly be those working alongside these trends rather than outside them.
Some areas I’d seriously look at:
• AI-adjacent roles (not just coding — implementation, integration, workflow automation, data ops)
• Cybersecurity (demand massively exceeds supply and will only increase)
• Cloud / platform engineering
• Energy transition infrastructure (grid tech, storage, electrification)
• Robotics / industrial automation support roles
• Technical project delivery in any of the above sectors
The key insight is this: you don’t necessarily need to be the person inventing the technology — you want to be part of the system deploying it.
Historically, the biggest career earnings don’t come from chasing high-paying jobs. They come from positioning yourself inside sectors where capital is accelerating.
Right now, capital is accelerating into compute, energy, automation and defence resilience. If you align with those, wage growth tends to follow naturally.
reggie196561@outlook.com
Specialist-Spend3526@reddit
https://youtube.com/shorts/aTHVuHYIRKM?si=Qruc08aGNTsXXUca
the-holy-one23@reddit
I stopped chasing money about 4 years ago. I now have a job I absolutely love, I'm infinitely happier and I don't make fantastic money but I can pay my bills, enjoy my hobbies and save a bit. That's enough for me!
pk8887@reddit
What do you do?
Tea_oat_milk_54@reddit
The nuclear sector is really growing. They provide excellent training, the culture is really good, generally well paid, good work life balance, and they require all sorts of skills (all STEM, finance, project management, HR, admin, operators, technicians….)
IslooForever@reddit
Some company names would be good
Tea_oat_milk_54@reddit
In the UK? EDF, Rolls Royce (both SMR and nuclear subs), NRS, lots of consultancies - Atkins, Amentum, Assystem, cavendish nuclear.
ORLPullPrint@reddit
In the hands of the ultra rich.
Serious answer - my company is crying out for surveyors and their average salary is around 75k. If you have a building or engineering background it's a relatively easy skill to learn, and there's plenty of opportunity.
LobCatchPassThrow@reddit
Literally 5 minutes after I qualify for that job, I bet that they’ll be telling me that I could earn up to £25k a year!
Glittering_Diver2235@reddit
I do feel bad for all the people that followed the advice and retrained in cyber security in 2018, lorry driving in 2020 and coding in 2022. Never wise to base a 40 year career around this season's skills shortage. It never lasts.
IMHO we're gonna have a bunch of people piling into the trades now, depressing the salaries and defeating the purpose.
EarlyFox217@reddit
5 minutes after qualifying you’ll be worth £25k. 5 years later 50-60, 5 years further 75-120 depending on attitude, aptitude and economy. Assuming we are talking quantity surveyor. Piss easy job too if rather stressful.
Usual_Cryptographer3@reddit
Why stressful?
EarlyFox217@reddit
It’s basically conflict. You work against an opposing surveyor and everything’s a battle often for millions, amounts that may sink your company. Often it comes down to a battle of terms and contract minutae. Arbitration is common and prep for arbitration needs to be pretty perfect. Then there’s measuring thousand of items without mistake and pricing accurately for all of them. Reading thousands of documents and missing nothing. All mundane skills but not much room for error.
Savings-Long6274@reddit
What’s the name of the company and do you they would be interested in students for internships or work experience?
Routine-Barber5545@reddit
Where are they based? Would they take part time? Got an engineering degree an have been an Estimator/Surveyor for years
Iforgotmypassword126@reddit
In the northwest, in big big companies
Graham, Vinci, kier, Balfour … were struggling for estimators.
Professional-Fee326@reddit
What would be the best route in to this? I have my HNC level 4 in construction management and have been accepted in to Salford Uni for quantity surveying in September. I also have 8/9 years experience bricklaying and pricing my own jobs etc but because I have 0 commercial experience I am having no luck!
Do you have any advice?
Iforgotmypassword126@reddit
Are you already employed?
If not ….
I would go on linked in, pic some of the bigger companies in your industry in your area, then I’d search “social value” in the search bar of linked in. I’d find people who were in social value roles in those businesses and ask for a 1-2 week unpaid internship in a commercial, QS or estimating team, or work experience placement over summer, explain about yourself and where your at in your career. The company gets points for every placement they have in bidding and tendering and it’s the SV managers role to facilitate them.
This usually gets you in the door and they like the initiative. It means they get to vet you for free and you get to look at what the company does and see if you want to work there.
Typically they companies are hiring and putting the staff through the qualification themselves as a degree apprenticeship.
You’re following the same route that they normally put staff on.
If you are employed my advice differs
Professional-Fee326@reddit
I am employed, however I'm currently at Vistry but in the manufacturing part. I'm making timber framed houses in a factory. My plan was to get a full time contract which should be in the next 8 weeks and then go from there and see if I can get in!
Would you have any advice in this situation?
Thank you for replying 😊
Iforgotmypassword126@reddit
Side note
You could still reach out to the SV teams and the estimatin teams and present it as upskilling the supply chain,miles ring and understanding your processes and see what positive impact that can have for your company… they’ll give you a placement and really it’s just 2 weeks to make your BEST impression
Professional-Fee326@reddit
Thank you for taking the time to reply!
Iforgotmypassword126@reddit
I would stay with your company for as long as you don’t have to pay the degree back (assuming they’re paid for it?)
DM me for some more specific advice and I know some timber frame contractors
Routine-Barber5545@reddit
Interesting as I am W Yorks. I’ll see whether I can apply
Iforgotmypassword126@reddit
Did you write them down? I don’t want to fox myself as i currently work at one of these.
I’d say the order I listed them is how keen they are for estimator
I’m going to delete once you’ve written them down
Routine-Barber5545@reddit
Screenshot as I’m on vacation atm, much appreciated dude. Is it worth contacting directly rather than through a job site?
Iforgotmypassword126@reddit
Also…. How are you at writing
I’m on the brink of doxing myself but have you looked into technical bid writing? Or bid management?? It pays VERY WELL and they can never find any technical /engineers who want to move into that role
Iforgotmypassword126@reddit
Personally i always message the internal recruiters (aka employed at the company) on linked in with an explanation of what makes me a good candidate and why I want to work at the company
elouise93@reddit
Someone told me they just lied about their experience, became a surveyor and now earns a fortune. Works three days a week and is never ever short of cash.
sgst@reddit
Again, what kind of surveyor though?
abiw119@reddit
I am guessing this is as a quantity surveyor. I am a surveyor, but my specialty is in lifting machinery and their accessories . What salary does your surveyors make ?
Sszaj@reddit
Do you also laugh at the acronym LOLER?
Different-Parfait311@reddit
Hahaha
ORLPullPrint@reddit
I'm in insurance, our surveyors do risk management and audit inspections of all sorts of stuff, from new build homes, to mech and elec in high rises and data centres, to lifting machinery on site. Starting salary outside of London is about 45+ depending on experience. The specialists and team managers are breaking six figures, particularly if they're chartered or equivalent.
thebetter0ne@reddit
Do you mind sharing the actual job title of your surveyors? I’m currently studying surveying and researching different roles within the industry
abiw119@reddit
I also work for an insurance company. I have been trying to transition to a role in Risk Management, but they will have no vacancies for the foreseeable future. Any advice to make me a competitive candidate to future employers would be welcome . My employers are great , best I have had so far , but I have started to think about what next. I currently work in London
Successful_Buy3825@reddit
I work in commercial construction.
Every QS I meet is stressed out of their mind.
Longjumping-One2600@reddit
It's very well paid but also lots of responsibility and stressful. There's a tax on everything in life unfortunately.
fr1234@reddit
On the flip side, my brother in law has been a surveyor for 25 years and has never seen it this quiet
ComprehensiveNet878@reddit
I have some project engineering experience in buildings, could do with a new job lol
Theres3ofMe@reddit
You need to be more specific as to what type of Surveyor mate - Residential, Quantity, Building, Land - as per RICS.
Eggrolls1990@reddit
Could someone transition to that line of work from being a self employed joiner? Would they need to study first?
1i3to@reddit
Hedge funds and investment banks are still swimming in money.
hoppyhannis@reddit
Software engineering.
While there are many corners freaking out about AI, tech is a vast industry, and you can either become an AI specialist, or find a company that can't use AI for whatever reason (compliance, don't know what they're doing). Especially in startup/scale up fields there are many, many of these who still need engineering skill and AI won't be replacing it anytime soon.
If you're not high level technical but know how to code and can sell, Saas/tech sales or sales engineering. My last company you'd clear £200k a year easily if you had a tech background with the sales ability (and by tech background I pretty much mean did a boot camp)
FlatWhiteAndWork@reddit
Would definitely say learn to leverage AI in some way rather than learning a skill the "old school" way! Future proofing and makes you valuable when AI eventually takes jobs
King-Bricky@reddit
Not sure why everyone’s saying construction lol, I’ve done it for 8 years and it’s crap and I’m just getting out of it now
Historical_Owl_1635@reddit
Reddit has started to glamourise manual labour jobs for some reason when the money is still very much in tech.
It’s just that you can’t do a 4 week course and guarantee a tech job anymore.
Browntown-magician@reddit
Depends on industry really, I work in composites specifically F1.
I’m ‘on the tools’ and can assure you I earn more than every designer bar 2 here.
They start on 70k, I’m on 104. Don’t get me wrong head of design and similar roles make me look like a peasant though.
Throwaway-28218129@reddit
Always wanted a job in F1 but sadly never see jobs in my specialty advertised
LikeReallyOMG@reddit
There can be a lot of money in it, but nobody considers the toll on the body. They only see how much they charge, but their bodies will give in well before retirement age and they will have to keep going no matter how much it hurts etc so they won't be able to make as much anymore but won’t really be able to do anything else either.
The man who laid our floor tiles was like 46 when he did our home and he struggled a lot with his back and knees. 8 years later he said he didn’t really work anymore but agreed to tile the balcony. he nearly cried by the end and told me he was sorry but would never again do anything. He obviously has to work, he teaches how to do it, but that is shit money.
hallerz87@reddit
Seen as more AI proof than tech
tommygunner91@reddit
Not age proof, a problem exiating long before AI. Most tradesmen are knackered as early as their early 30s.
Lugging materials in the Winter and being roast by the sun in the Summer is bad on your body
Iforgotmypassword126@reddit
Working in construction doesn’t equal manual labour. I’m 33, a woman, have an English degree and I earn 72k plus benefits in the construction industry.
It pays a lot better than the other industries that have my role.
Primary-Scheme2513@reddit
Position, company size, place. Don’t forget it matters when bringing up your salary
Iforgotmypassword126@reddit
Bid manager, all kind of company sizes range from 70m turnover to 70billion group turnover, all construction.
Saintly-NightSoil@reddit
Yep, dead giveaway of your actual, real, on Reddit more than 10 hours a day would be them having never done a daysa our in their life! As in full day of construction labour (which I haven't btw, self-hypocrisy check and NO I'm not on 10 hours a day! 9 and a bit is my limit)
Iforgotmypassword126@reddit
Why does everyone on this post think that to work on constriction you have to do manual labour on site?
There’s hundreds of roles, all the same roles that exist in healthcare, finance, retail etc. they just pay better in construction, defence and finance. Healthcare, charity, retail and hospitality pay less.
TheWholeOfTheAss@reddit
I agree. General Reddit has so much bad advice! I just saw a video featuring a man violently throwing a toddler around and all the comments were positive. “Oh he likes it. It’s actually good for his spatial development.” like a snapped neck is good for any kid!?
OldGodsAndNew@reddit
What type of construction
I wouldn't even look at a house building scheme or "normal" tradie type work
Energy is exploding ATM. Get in as a linesperson, HV electrical fitter, cable jointer, commissioning tech and companies will be biting your hand off
Chopsticks_Charlie@reddit
Innit, I've been a chippy for 15 years, debating calling it a day soon
NrthnLd75@reddit
People aren't really eating fish anymore, figures.
Chopsticks_Charlie@reddit
All these vegans man
unablenarcissist@reddit
Plasterer here, I mainly do site work and pull in average of around 60 a year. I’m expecting it to rise in the next 10 years with lack of young people coming in to the trades and the high need of housing only means high demand and high wages.
Business-Kitchen-177@reddit
How much you getting per m2 on site pal? And what part of the country are you in ?
unablenarcissist@reddit
I’m getting £4 a meter at the moment, in Manchester, but the average around here seems to be 3-3.50
yunome301@reddit
Or the converse could happen with people losing jobs to AI, which floods the trades…
classic123456@reddit
Almost certain
EyeAware3519@reddit
I have friends who are in construction, they are all taking home 6 figures, one is a millionaire. There is a difference between being a subbie labourer up north on a large site and running your own renovation company in somewhere like the Cotswolds, do the latter and you'll be shitting money if you're any good.
King-Bricky@reddit
Fair play to them, takes a lot of hard work! Tbh I’m the type of guy that just wants a normal job, not having to spend the whole day every day working on a business being stressed about it, been there done that lol. I’m actually a police officer part time rn and I enjoy but also part time PT in the gym, feel much better this way
EyeAware3519@reddit
Yeah not pretending it's not hard work but there's plenty of money to be made for those that want it. Doing what makes you happy though is more important, money isn't that important.
CaffeinatedT@reddit
Because "everyone" is various newspaper pundits and people on reddit who never worked in construction.
King-Bricky@reddit
Exactly this lol, most people on here probably don’t know the meaning of a proper days graft🤣🤣
CaffeinatedT@reddit
Plenty of brits in construction wouldn't either in fairness.
King-Bricky@reddit
Hahaha probably
King-Bricky@reddit
Im a site bricklayer and wouldn’t recommend anyone getting into the trade. I haven’t had full week since November due to weather, broken down forklift, waiting for scaffold, materials etc. I used to be on price work and earned ok-ish but now im on day rate which sounds really appealing when it’s £220 a day but when you take in account of all the time off you have it’s really crap money. Not only that you’re self employed so not holiday pay, sick pay or company benefits. This year I broke my ankle and had an operation, so lost about 3 months of money just from that. On top of all of that when you can actually work, the conditions you work in are awful and back breaking, it’s not one of these jobs where you can turn up doss about and get paid, you need to put the graft in. Other trades will be better than this due to the nature of bricklaying but I’m getting off the tools for good now had enough of it.
Also everyone saying they earn decent in construction but just sit at a desk please don’t compare yourselves to the hard working self employed tradesmen, it really is a tough game lol.
Spiritual-Rip1253@reddit
"crap" is subjective. How much is your take home monthly pay after taxes?
Due-Adhesiveness-744@reddit
Yea, I went into construction at 16. They said there was a lot of money in it. stayed in for a few years, didn't see said money. So they told me to become an engineer - there's money it they said. Became an engineer, studied whilst working. Then the engineer's tell me there's no money in engineering, become an architect if you want money.
Then I meet a subcontractor that does absolutely no work, makes more than the senior engineers and clocks off at 4pm. There's money somewhere, I think you just have to know the right people.
NrthnLd75@reddit
Architects are really badly paid unless you're a director/owner. Compared to the 7 year qualification etc.
Fried-froggy@reddit
I work in construction management. The subs rake it in . Example, Get a company , get a connection with a big guy (everything is collusion) and your set. The guy that rents out the construction fencing … making insane money. Just has lackeys drop it off : install it - picks up after the job or kid lets it sit onsite until he needs it elsewhere to save construction cost.
komgk@reddit
Grass is greener on the other side
So maybe landscaping is the way to go
TheClnl@reddit
If the grass is always greener on the other side wouldn't that indicate that you're a pretty shit gardener?
komgk@reddit
No I did that side, now I'm doing this side...
Why would a gardener care for the greener grass? If you broke your arm would you treat your leg? 🤔
FormerDonkey4886@reddit
Did the arm break as you fell because your leg was broken first? In which case i’d start with my head.
InnocentInvasion@reddit
You do need a solid foundation and it's always better to work your way uo
Gauntlets28@reddit
At least that way you get to pick the grass
WGSMA@reddit
People see the headline pay per day and then forget the costs of working those jobs in transport, your own van, tools, insurance ect.
Iforgotmypassword126@reddit
The construction industry is massive and isn’t just small companies driving all their tools to site and doing a days labour.
There’s thousands of people employed in the construction sector who have never picked up a tool in their life (I’m one of them).
Kieran293@reddit
Renewables side is flying, construction is a wide spectrum.
PercentageNo3843@reddit
Money in Renewables is shite compared to oil and gas
JCHotwire@reddit
Getting same if not better rates going to offshore wind farms as you are oil and gas platforms at the minute, actually a few scopes I’ve looked at recently the rates higher on the wind farms
PercentageNo3843@reddit
What roles?
JCHotwire@reddit
Air con, electrical and mech guys all getting the same or higher on job I’ll be going to in a few weeks Dogger Bank, I’m a/c and I’m on a slightly higher rate than I could charge Apache for example.
PercentageNo3843@reddit
Nice they must be a good rate, since covid I’ve never seen sparks or mechs get under 80k for working 161 days a year and that’s at a service company like petrofac with about 750 a day OT rate and 500ish onshore training/day rate these are not staff positions as they get even more. Are you talking about actual mechs or pipefitters?
Not sure how much the HVAC guys earn though.
Kieran293@reddit
What new oil and gas construction projects are going on? (serious question)
PercentageNo3843@reddit
In our latest town hall most major investment on hold till 2029 when the levy ends and reinvest the tax in region (also depending on next election)
Biggest project ongoing is Rosebank, they are currently installing subsea infrastructure and the FPSO currently being done in Dubai I think it is.
Why do you want a project they are difficult to get into and normally a job for the boys. There is plenty other platforms in many stages of life.
jerry-jay@reddit
Barely anything in the uk as thanks to gov policy it's the most expensive place in the world to extract hydrocarbons.
PartyPoison98@reddit
Pay looks good on the surface before people consider overheads, working conditions, as well as longevity.
People with little hands on experience unable tl distinguish between "manual jobs" that are highly skilled and less skilled. A top tier welder is gonna make much more than a bottom tier landscaper.
More perceived job security due to lack of threat from AI. At least until the robots arrive.
blackhood0@reddit
It's also the same as every other job; if you have the right mindset, that your time is valuable and your skills are superior to everyone else, you can charge higher rates.
I'm working marketing, which is not a highly paid field by any means, but I make £100,000 per year by only applying for those jobs, and practicing my patter. I'm no better than the marketer on minimum wage with the same company for 15 years - I just job hop and make sure I know just a bit more than my boss.
I know builders who retired broke and broken, and I know builders with a firm and a crew that have more money than I'll ever earn. The majority of the difference is that when faced with a job that was a bit too big for them, instead of turning it down, they bumped their quote by 10%, put it on thick headed paper, and hired two labourers to cover the extra work.
In this world 95% of people don't know the details of anyone else's profession, and 99% don't know what you do or don't know.
It's all about shamelessly demanding more money than you think you're worth.
Ok-Tangerine-6705@reddit
Yeah, then there’s the types of construction, is it for some big firm who might at least do most things by the book? Or is it the local cowboy builders who pay cash in hand in exchange for no health and safety?
bsnimunf@reddit
Also often feast or famine in construction. Recessions tend to hit construction first and they hit it hard.
Theres3ofMe@reddit
Ops or commercial? Subbie MC?
OneCheesecake1516@reddit
In MP's pockets
Bearing1991@reddit
Sales and account management in basically anything. >£40k basic. Bonuses from £10-30k. When in Management stick another £20k on top for the basic salary and another £10k on top for bonus. Company car etc. All good.
Familiar_Site_2658@reddit
Are you on crack?
Bearing1991@reddit
Nope, why?
BigFaithlessness618@reddit
I run an Etsy shop, My taxable income was £98k last year.
RnR_Star@reddit
What do you sell?
BigFaithlessness618@reddit
Got to find your niche man.
I sell geeky ornaments.
Round_Hospital_654@reddit
What sell do you?
BrokenIvor@reddit
Not bad! Can I ask what you sell on Etsy?
Familiar-Woodpecker5@reddit
What do you sell?
Secret_End_6839@reddit (OP)
What do you sell?
tuta_user@reddit
Do you want me to show it to you?
mikesheard88@reddit
Defence - engineers, network security, cyber, project managers, sales, finance, HR, developers, managed services….the list is endless.
Let’s face it, the next 10 years will be drastically different to the last when it comes to national security.
Richie8520@reddit
I'd say it's actually dropped in the past 2-3 years. I was looking to join BAE in 2023 and the salaries for my area were very competitive. I checked again recently as I'd like to relocate to one of the areas they're based and the salaries are a good 5-10k below for the same roles now. Might not be across the entire industry but they're the biggest defence employer in the UK.
mikesheard88@reddit
I work for a defence company and only comment on what I see. We have doubled the size of our global team in 3 years, with an order backlog of 6 years, and almost everyone in my team have received pay rises since joining the company 4 years ago.
Personally I work in sales and my salary is substantially more than a typical NHS doctor in the UK with plenty if opportunities to progress in the near future.
I’m no expert but seems like a pretty good gig to me.
superioso@reddit
We've just had a few years of record high inflation. If they didn't get pay rises after 4 years of that and whist gaining professional experience I'd be very very surprised.
mikesheard88@reddit
Although you make a valid point, it doesn’t really apply because I can almost guarantee there isn’t a single industry in the UK that offered a higher than inflation pay rise. This is a different conversation and linked to the UK pay being chronically under served for years when it comes to pay rises in comparison to other EU and WW countries.
My point is that opportunities lie within strong verticals and right now, Defence is booming and almost recession proof alongside the public sector and health services.
As mentioned above, I have no education in terms of a degree and I’m paid more than a consultant in the NHS. The technical guys and engineers are paid well in comparison to other industries.
Iforgotmypassword126@reddit
I also work adjacent to defence and I agree with this
eufemiapiccio77@reddit
Electricians
Used-Let7134@reddit
AI product sales
thedeadenddolls@reddit
If and when the bubble bursts this may be the absolute worst idea.
Used-Let7134@reddit
I totally agree but that wasn't the question. Right now, this is where the money is
kbrown05515@reddit
Train driver.
Guilty_Pen_8270@reddit
Got to know someone to get a look in with that. Train driver jobs are notoriously inaccessible unless you know the right people (generally union linked individuals).
ystffn@reddit
That isn’t how it works at all
Guilty_Pen_8270@reddit
Funny .. I never see the train driver jobs being advertised openly like other jobs.
ystffn@reddit
Given most of the large operators and several freight operators have had external trainee applications within the last year, unfortunately that’s simply not true. And having recently dealt with an intake of trainees at my company, who were all external, which was exactly the same when I joined
Guilty_Pen_8270@reddit
Post a link
Street-Persimmon8492@reddit
Google it yourself. Put in any operating company and driver recruitment as a search in news. My wife got a job when I saw an advertising campaign a few years ago. She trained with 20 people, none of them even worked on the railway, and that's just one class.
TrumpsPissSoakedPant@reddit
He's too busy with his spreadsheets
f1boogie@reddit
I see them quite frequently being advertised.
TrumpsPissSoakedPant@reddit
Don't worry, he works in spreadsheets and sees lots of people's salaries so I'm sure he's best place to advise.
Sheps7755@reddit
Nope. TfL I think only recruit tube drivers from existing staff. But any normal TOC recruits from off the street.
dancing-lula@reddit
This used to be the case. Not anymore. Just need to get through the assessment centres.
MtSnowden@reddit
Nah my cousin started as a ticket inspector.
Guilty_Pen_8270@reddit
Yup. And did they join the union?
Perfect_Field_4092@reddit
Any new train driver is likely to be automated out of existence before retiring. Same as taxi drivers.
dancing-lula@reddit
Not in this lifetime.
Perfect_Field_4092@reddit
We’ll see. Trains will continue to have more cars, so positions may remain the same instead of growing with demand, and probably more remote piloting of freight. Passenger trains might continue to have drivers but I see their role being merged with others on the train, like checking tickets, as trains become more automated with better automatic safety controls.
Taxis are already getting there. And even if not fully automated the job of remote piloting will be offshored to somewhere they can pay legal slave wages.
Sheps7755@reddit
Nowhere near.
MountainMuffin1980@reddit
The Fire Risk Assessment industry is about to see a massive boom if you wanted to get ahead of the curve...
MR_STX@reddit
Can vouch for this. Anything in the fire/life safety system industry pays well (if you’re any good). The uk is crying out for good engineer due to the massive decline and majority of experienced engineers nearing retirement age.
Massive push on legislation/compliance
Unique_Hour_791@reddit
Why?
MountainMuffin1980@reddit
There will be legislation coming in soon to make it a mandatory requirement in more building types to have regular assessments done by competent assessors. All part of post-Grenfell changes
Isgortio@reddit
That would explain the generic letter from my leaseholder informing me that they're going to be making changes to the fire safety equipment in my shared lobby and my lift. I don't have a shared lobby or lift lol.
VdubKid_94@reddit
Pretty sure I literally read a couple hours ago about council flats in Ipswich hiring fire assessors that cost 85k!
SpinningHedgehog311@reddit
Gateway 2 was implemented poorly and the government refuses to roll it back, so the only way to push through construction now is to get a fire engineer's very expensive signature.
Contract-Spirit@reddit
Surprised no one has mentioned fire engineers. Once you move up the rank you're easily into 6 figures
MountainMuffin1980@reddit
Yeah that's true. Government is having a pig of a time convincing Unis to run degrees for it though!
Contract-Spirit@reddit
That is true but you can do Mechanical Engineering or similar and still get in.
Or alternatively I know you can work within the passive fire industry, get the relevant qualifications and start at grad or just basic fire engineer.
Something I'll be looking into.
MountainMuffin1980@reddit
100% worth it. It's going to fucking huge in the coming years. It will always be in demand and u like many technical jobs or jobs where you are "on site" it won't take a huge toll on your body
Contract-Spirit@reddit
Yeah definitely I work for a cavity barrier/firestop manufacturer and we can tell how big this is getting/will get.
Few of our senior engineers have been poached by fire engineering firms.
Napier_1@reddit
I've always been intrigued to get into the risk assessment industry but never know where to start without zero experience
goingnowherespecial@reddit
"risk assessment industry" is too broad a term. You need to narrow what area of risk you want to get into. It's obviously going to be easier if you have a background in that area. I tell people I work in IT, but more specifically it's third party risk management within information security.
Bobinthegarden@reddit
Would running a brewery be useful towards it? I do all risk assess, allergens, chemical inclusion etc…our industry is dying.
Scottygriff@reddit
I moved from brewing to health and safety, the health and safety pathway is pretty clear as there’s only really 2 companies that dominate the space. Start with IOSH managing safely (online takes a few weeks part time or intensive course for 3 days) Then Nebosh General Certificate can get you H&S jobs starting around £40k which was around brewery manager job lol
Bobinthegarden@reddit
Dude I appreciate the reply so much. Definitely need an out at some point and that may be it. Thanks!
saltlampsandphotos@reddit
What do you have to do qualifications wise?
MountainMuffin1980@reddit
It's unclear exactly what will be needed to be xonsidered "competent" just now, but formal accreditation by UKAS would be the best first step.
Acrylic_Starshine@reddit
I noticed a lot of fire assessment jobs going on indeed the other day and was wondering why everyone was employing for then
Due-Draw9306@reddit
same here, major crackdown in my local high street implementing and encouraging all sorts of change: locks, doors, clear corridors, child safety windows locks etc
Avon_gent@reddit
I went into accounting at 22 and I'd do it again now.
3 years to qualify and then you should be comfortably 60k+ in most of the country, more in London.
The easy stuff has already been automated a long time ago, the hard stuff is years away from AI having any real impact on.
Due-Presentation4344@reddit
I work in ERP - some clients rely on accountant a lot and pay them good money.
As software is improving, I am seeing a lot of accountant focus purely on the advisory services as bookkeeping, digitalising accounts etc becomes seamless.
Avon_gent@reddit
I don't mean this in a snobby way but I think of bookkeeping as accounting adjacent rather than something you need a chartered accountant for.
It's also what I meant by the easy bits getting automated, worked at a couple of FTSEs and similar sized orgs, the AR/AP teams are a LOT smaller than they used to be. Overall finance deps not so much.
Due-Presentation4344@reddit
It isn’t snobby, it’s accurate.
CDHmajora@reddit
And here i am at level 3 on just above 25k :( (hope to complete the business management module though by June and start level 4 for July)
I will say though, early levels (AAT for me) can supposedly be partially skipped and you can jump directly on to ACCA/CIMA if you feel you have a good understanding of the principles. Though doing AAT to its completion does give you exemptions on the higher level qualifications, it will take longer.
Odds are though, for most, skipping AAT will probably be unwise. Despite its length i found that it’s done an excellent job teaching me the fundamentals, and higher knowledge is much easier to retain as a result. Plus i got level 4 included in my study package for a good discount (I’m self funded. Employer wont help. Which is fine because as soon as i’m qualified in leaving for better pay and wont owe them anything). From what i know, ACA and CIMA can be expensive without employer support. And very few jobs will offer to help you with it unless you already have plenty of experience in the field, and/or prior level qualifications anyway (AAT).
Once you get there, it’s absolutely a fulfilling and well paying career :) my higher level colleagues alone prove that to me. But it will take a few years and some low paying menial work for experience before you’re hitting those 50k wages.
Avon_gent@reddit
Depends what you get into, most FTSE grad schemes run CIMA with no assumed knowledge, you just don't get any exemptions on the certificate levels.
espionage64@reddit
I think this depends on your qualification, geographical area and department if in practice, in my experience in Devon atleast, £60k + required quite a few more years experience. Newly qualified ACA is £30-40k depending on previous experience :(
Any-Tangerine-8659@reddit
Or you could just go into finance...don't need years to qualify, just a (very good) undergrad will do with min 70k base at top IBs.
Avon_gent@reddit
IB is obscenely competitive though. It's hard enough coming out of a top uni when they're looking for people, doing it as a career change must be orders of magnitude harder. For most people you might as well recommend they become a pro golfer because the money's good.
Accounting is accessible by comparison.
Any-Tangerine-8659@reddit
I know it is. I worked in front office at an IB. I was only really answering the title rather than the post's context tbf.
Insomniacbychoice90@reddit
I've been thinking about a career change into this sector, which qualifications would be best for me to aim for?
rislafah@reddit
Level 2/3 AAT would be a good foundation, you can find fully remote combined courses which makes it’s more affordable. I did exactly this through ICS Learn and would recommend it.
Insomniacbychoice90@reddit
Cheers I'm gonna have a dig into this now
No-Employer-1172@reddit
Perhaps starts on AAT. However the qualification that opens doors is ACCA and CIMA.
Agile_Reindeer5596@reddit
Agree with this advice
Guardofdonner@reddit
Honestly, I wouldn't reccomend this. It's not Chartered and though it gets you out of some of the ACA etc exams, it's more efficient to go straight in for one of those.
Whatsupdoc_______@reddit
Ultimately ACA would be the one to go for but depending on your circumstances it may be difficult to get a training contract so you could always do ACCA or CIMA instead.
Beautiful_Manager137@reddit
Unless your aspiration is to get into private practice, ACA, ACCA or CIMA are all good enough to be an accountant in industry.
BigMagic88@reddit
I was considering bookkeeping cos I helped someone once and quite liked it but don’t want to be a full blown accountant. Would you say that’s worth it or not so much?
Avon_gent@reddit
Bookkeeping isn't the same as being a chartered accountant and is one of the areas that is being automated now (or has been). There'll always be a tail end of small businesses who need bookkeepers because they can't/won't adopt new tech, but the scope for it will definitely decrease in coming years.
BigMagic88@reddit
Yes the whole thing was never an aim. The woman I helped, was on her last year of physical papers and wanted to go digital. Well, she has to now.
I’d like to do the smaller jobs for the bigger people. Like a little financial assistant if you will. But in my own right. I’ve had to do my own bookkeeping for my stuff and then I know how it ever gets done and it’s always a rush at the end. But people are still too busy/lazy/uninterested in doing it themselves. And it’s a legal necessity not a luxury.
Avon_gent@reddit
This kind of thing will always exist I think.
My mum is semi-retired and does maybe a day or two a week bookkeeping for people with micro businesses like air BnB hosts and tradies who've scaled up a bit etc.
BigMagic88@reddit
Love that. Just keeping her hand in.
I’m going to see what I need to do. My own is a start 😂
Agile_Reindeer5596@reddit
AAT qualification is relatively affordable and not too time consuming so it's perhaps low regrets. Being more numerical would help in many jobs when if you didn't work in accounting
Due-Presentation4344@reddit
Software is replacing bookkeeping. You will still get old schoolers who are happy to pay a bookkeeper but honestly it’s a dead end.
TooRedditFamous@reddit
Nah thats exaggerating. Or possibly if you go through practice/ grad scheme but the majority of people who are changing career from something else won't be doing that. I'm in bristol and its 30k for a finance assistant, 35kish for part qualified and 45-50k for newly qualified. 3 years post quali seems to be the next step where salaries are 60k+
Avon_gent@reddit
I have two 1 yearish qualified employees in my team in Bristol and both are over 60k. One came through sales administration before qualifying, the other swapped from a product role.
I hire a lot and wouldn't expect to get a qualified accountant for sub 60k regardless of experience in Bristol.
Also check this out:
2026 UK Finance and Accounting Salary Guide and Survey | Robert Half https://share.google/Q07pUfRPa8dSAjLhD
HellPigeon1912@reddit
I'd say this is exaggerating. I've been qualified for 1.5 years and I'm on 45k and despite looking for other roles can't get it any higher
Avon_gent@reddit
I was 60k + bonus 1 year post qualification over a decade ago - if you're at the same company you need to move, it's rare you get a true qualification bump internally.
HellPigeon1912@reddit
I've moved company twice since qualifiying
Avon_gent@reddit
As an ACA/ACCA/CIMA?
HellPigeon1912@reddit
Yes ACA
Avon_gent@reddit
Oof sorry to hear that.
UnIntelligent-Idea@reddit
Been an accountant for 20 years (yikes) and you just need a few more years of experience under your belt. 5 years plus experience and you'll be doing better.
sammyglumdrops@reddit
Are accounting adjacent jobs well paid? Say, something like a financial control manager at a bank? Any idea what kind of salary that would attract?
Avon_gent@reddit
Financial control is an accounting job in my book, I can't imagine a job and not having chartered as a requirement.
My rough trajectory over the last 12 years or so.
26k 28k 32k 45k - qualified 60k - external move 65k - internal move 70k - mini promotion 80k - proper promotion 90k + shares (net >100k) - today
All of this excludes bonus, pension and other benefits.
Agile_Reindeer5596@reddit
Yes, well paid. If you work in a bank (using your example) accountancy qualifications allow you to do lots of roles outside of a Finance department as well. I did CIMA, helping you understand business performance drivers stands you ahead of many others
Live-Cut-5991@reddit
Sales.
I’ve been doing it 10 years now, some quarters are great, others terrible. But overall I’ll earn 60-70 plus each year and without any actual qualifications above A-Levels.
Get into an industry you know or enjoy and you’ll be off to a good start.
TrumpsPissSoakedPant@reddit
Construction or something related to civil engineering. Would advise doing some health and safety training courses as an 'in' - try an IOSH or NEBOSH certificate.
Guilty_Pen_8270@reddit
Civil and Structural Engineering jobs don’t seem amazingly paid (had worked in the finance team at such a company for 2 years). Both sets of engineers were generally on around £40k .. but it did improve if you gained experience and were promoted to ‘senior civil/structural engineer’ (they were on my £50k-ish).
There are opportunities to progress to ‘Associate’ level .. which means you’re expected to manage people, deliver presentations to the company and demonstrate leadership. They were on anything from £55k to £80k.
TrumpsPissSoakedPant@reddit
This is bollocks. You were in finance. Pipe down.
Guilty_Pen_8270@reddit
Yeah .. I was in the finance team. I saw ever single persons salary. Pipe down yourself. Melt.
TrumpsPissSoakedPant@reddit
For one shitty company, no doubt. Don't be dishing advice when you're experience is so insignificant. Anyway, back to your spreadsheet...
mr_napster1@reddit
I work as a structural engineer for a large global consultancy, and these quoted salaries are about right.
TrumpsPissSoakedPant@reddit
Get another job then 🤣.
mr_napster1@reddit
I am 😂 I bet you’re fun at parties
Benito_Banana@reddit
And all of these jobs would require a (usually) 4-year degree before getting chartered with the Institution of Civil Engineers (or equivalent) which usually takes 4 years more. Not really possible to switch mid-career.
TrumpsPissSoakedPant@reddit
Not true.
Due-Presentation4344@reddit
Pretty good if you leave for another country. That goes for most of the jobs on this list.
CharlemagneKidding@reddit
Civil and structural engineers are indeed woefully underpaid for the level of responsibility, education, talent, skills, hours and stress.
Bifanarama@reddit
Anything where you can sell stuff to public sector departments that don't know they're being seriously ripped off. Government, councils, universities etc.
Familiar-Woodpecker5@reddit
Is that you Michelle Mone?
HolidayWallaby@reddit
I scrolled a long way and didn't see anyone mention software engineering, or engineering manager, or project manager at tech companies. Anything to do with the software engineers (except qa) has money with it.
Appropriate-Rate-336@reddit
I’m a freelance paid b2b ads specialist and hitting around the 95k mark this year. AI not taking over the human input anytime soon. You can do all the certifications for platforms like LinkedIn and Reddit all online for free.
Latter-Weather5368@reddit
Hedge fund management
About_to_kms@reddit
I’m ACCA qualified. You’ll be paid peanuts for 3 years until you quality then you will jump to £60k when newly qualified
Mr_Jaybz@reddit
I’m onto my last 3 exams with the hope to finish later this year, so this is refreshing to hear!
EatingCoooolo@reddit
Start a business - little food truck with cheap food not sold everywhere.
PercentageNo3843@reddit
Oil and gas. We have painters on 60-80k a year probs easiest to retrain without a trade. Stewards 40-50k for cleaning and making beds
Minimum_Relative_568@reddit
Always been interested in offshore but don’t know where to start. Currently work in an engineering role with electrical background
PercentageNo3843@reddit
Hands on engineering or office based?
Domestic or industrial sparky or you mean elec engineer?
Minimum_Relative_568@reddit
Railway office based, more to do with technical electrical engineering
whatisthis010000@reddit
Where can these be found
PercentageNo3843@reddit
What do you do now, what do you want to do?
eat-real-chips@reddit
Don’t you have to work in remote places tho ?
PercentageNo3843@reddit
Yes. On the worst rota you will get 6 months of the year off though.
dbxp@reddit
Dentistry is good and private medical in general
summers_tilly@reddit
I say to every young person I know that doesn’t know what to do - if you’re slightly academic, go for dentistry. You dont even have to stay clinical. You could own your own practice, work for an insurance firm, go into aesthetics. It’s just a really solid base that will set you up.
IHeardOnAPodcast@reddit
My wife is a dentist, so I know the ins and outs, if it didn't take 5 years I'd be all over it! But don't think I'd come out ahead with that much lost earnings at this point (I'm 35 and in software, very wary of the AI takeover, hence my reading this thread).
helloseohee@reddit
Legit all same as you except a year younger🤣
summers_tilly@reddit
My friendship group at school all went into 'professional' jobs. Now we're nearing 40, the dentists definitely have the most security, easiest route to wealth, best work/life balance. They've all have the safety net to branch into different things too or specialise into certain niche areas. The medics who are private GPs/hospital consultants may have the same security and be on high salaries now, but the route get there was much more gruelling. Any of us that went into law/finance/tech/corporate jobs are worried about the future and I feel like we just have much less control of our careers in general. There's an element of never being able to switch off. Massive regrets that I didn't go down the dentistry route.
stig316@reddit
I assume the big money is in recommending toothpaste?
saltlampsandphotos@reddit
I'm not young but looking for a career change, what's an entry qualification?
Entire_Pen9097@reddit
Extremely difficult to get into
FoxesFan91@reddit
brilliant
summers_tilly@reddit
Depends on what your background is, how much money you have and how willing you are to relocate.
If you already have a good science degree, you can apply for a 4 year graduate dentistry, though it's competitive. If you don't, you'd have to have good A-levels (usually A*AA) in at least 2 science subjects to do undergraduate (5 years). I know someone who went into finance, hated it, redid his A-levels and became a dentist. Another (slightly extreme) option is to apply to an international programme, either as graduate or undergrad (e.g. Poland, Romania) which is easier to get into and recognised in the UK.
It can be a big financial investment, involves a lot of sacrifice and you have to be very committed and focused. The reward is a high-paying, flexible, secure job that will set you up for life.
Minimum-Mud-4613@reddit
As a dentist, hard agree.
upsidecustard@reddit
I used to be a doctor and quit, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Go for dentistry or pharmacy.
dbxp@reddit
NHS or private?
upsidecustard@reddit
NHS. But you have to do all your training to consultant level in the NHS to work in the private sector. And even then a lot of private doctors also work in the NHS.
cec91@reddit
Definitely don’t equate these two things. Private medicine not worth the work I would say
tmr89@reddit
Coding
Wiltix@reddit
Terrible time to start though, give it 3 years and the industry will be begging for people to start
Comfortable-Coat-176@reddit
Why?
Wiltix@reddit
The AI solved all bollocks should be over, the industry will remember that you need to train new people up. Things are just a bit silly thanks to ai at the moment.
Ai is not going anywhere but how people expect it to be used will change.
By the time that happens, the industry will realise it’s created a gap in the work force and will over correct it by hiring more juniors and training them up.
But right now trying to get into the industry is apparently very difficult. It won’t be forever though.
Spiritual-Rip1253@reddit
We can't know that. There's no guarantee that the industry will need all those juniors in 5 or 10 years.
Wiltix@reddit
The alternative is we don’t train new people, we need developers with their own critical thinking and reasoning skills not prompt engineers.
Anthropic / OpenAi would love for us to shift to a world of prompt engineering they would make a fortune and have us by the balls.
Any rational company should be looking to use ai along side developers not replacing them.
The industry is slowly shifting away from ai replacing engineers and coming around to the idea it’s there to help. AI should be used to assist not replace.
Spiritual-Rip1253@reddit
I work in a non tech industry, and I built complex Python apps at work (no tech industry) with GUI without prior coding experience. I'm just a regular tech savvy guy who's played around with Linux distros and stuff like that. I have multiple tools (VBA macros for Outlook, PowerQuery scripts) that I use daily. Without Claude - it would've potentially taken me years of studying. I've put everything on my CV last year and applied to hundreds of jobs, starting from basic roles at MSPs, to business analyst roles and had zero feedback. That's with 15 years of experience.
The industry will adapt. There are millions of people in their 30s who have good experience and know how to use AI. We have at least 2 decades before things might start to go shit due to people retiring.
Comfortable-Coat-176@reddit
I'm a software engineer myself. The problem with this though is its difficult to orchestrate Claude without knowing if what its doing is good or not.
I would argue it's best to view it as a power tool for software engineers. But I don't think the inexperienced layman will be replacing the need for people able to architect software.
tb5841@reddit
I did this quite recently. Had to take a 17k paycut to make the switch. Pay for new developers is not that good, and finding jobs is not easy right now. Bad time for the industry.
Euphoric_Second9464@reddit
Think of an idea outside of the box /niche and try to build a business in line with that -- people are scared to say it but working a salary job here isn't the way to make money the system on salary jobs is too leveraged towards losing more the more you make than a lot of western countries so ya need to make something and sell it for a nice big fat return .
I sold a business so maybe my thought pattern is different to people working typical jobs .
AdPuzzled3517@reddit
Private Mental Health Sector. I’m currently taking courses to enhance my counsellor diploma through Somatic Experiencing International as well as EMDR UK. You gotta be willing to put the work in though and not expect a payout for the first 3-5 years.
HairyPrick@reddit
Following since only getting £36k after nearly seven years Mechanical Engineering (after doing a 5-year MEng degree).
Working_Square5950@reddit
Don’t get me wrong, would love a better pay packet but a lot has to be said by doing a job you actually enjoy.
By all means chase the paper but do consider what your end goal is / what your priorities are. Is it work life balance is it comfortable living etc.
Regardless good luck on your new career path :)
Curious-Resort4743@reddit
Generally anything that requires lots of training and certificates, as many people don't invest in themselves anymore, there won't be much competition.
Strangely__Brown@reddit
In the UK.
Finance, Law & Tech.
Usually in that order.
You can get £200k+ entry level roles at places like Jane Street. You do need to be a genius tho.
NrthnLd75@reddit
Finance
Back-Proud@reddit
Mining, I got Very lucky and am currently working on a project in the UK, but there's work all over the world if you have the right qualis/skills
stig316@reddit
And all you need is a pickaxe a can-do attitude?
Bobinthegarden@reddit
I love mining. You can then smith the bars for smithing XP, make them into platebodies and high alch them. Great for ironmen
Cheap-Studio-2491@reddit
Doubt it’s afk irl…
Kiteslut@reddit
Consultancy, sell your knowledge.
Worth-Emphasis-9619@reddit
Trading and stocks
Low-Associate-8853@reddit
Oil
RunningCrow_@reddit
Everyone I know who works in oil or is retired is absolutely rolling cash. I definitely agree. Not the industry for me personally but if it is, crack on.
rockandrollmark@reddit
This is absolutely the way.
endeesr3alm@reddit
I’m not sure what qualifications you need, but it’s worth looking into a career as a trust fund nepo-baby. Life style looks awesome, but you do need to be a spineless simpering daddies-boy or girl.
Willing_Coconut4364@reddit
The ceiling is always around 60k. Unless you get lucky. So do what makes you feel happy.
Any-Tangerine-8659@reddit
Not heard of banking, law, consulting and top tech jobs?
Willing_Coconut4364@reddit
of course, I'm in tech and I make over 100k. But I still think you have to be lucky.
Frosty_Leg4438@reddit
A lot of people seem to be making fortunes in drop ship product creation using AI.
I think there’s serious money in this for the next 5 years or so if you’re ambitious and almost zero cost.
The rough summary is you set agents to scan for emerging trends (people start taking about a niche anime character that has just done something on a series, or a world politician has just done something ridiculous etc)
You use AI to create a relevant product eg funny joke about it on a T-shirt.
List it on a drop ship just-in-time T-shirt printing company
Sell thousands.
Repeat.
Wiltix@reddit
I’m not sure what guides you have been watching about drop shipping but it’s a saturated market, it’s next to impossible to make a living without serious hard work and willingness to make no money for a while.
Most drop shippers get fucked on returns and cancellations, returns are incredibly expensive and damaging because you can’t guarantee your cash flow, people also expect free returns a lot of the time and postage is expensive unless you are a big player negotiating good prices with a courier.
Drop shipping is not easy, most people fail having lost a lot of money doing it.
Source: worked for a distributor who allowed drop shipping. People doing it out their lounge always failed.
Frosty_Leg4438@reddit
I am not talking about drop shipping as the key differentiator/profit maker (have added an edit to the original post to clarify)
4321zxcvb@reddit
For real ?
Any-Tangerine-8659@reddit
Literally no mention of finance (hedge fund PM roles, front office roles in IB, quant etc) n this thread, or top corporate law jobs or tech and consulting. Shocking.
Reeelfantasy@reddit
Only fan
Born_Price6063@reddit
manufacturing. good money and loads of apprenticeships and stuff. very easy work, union representation etc.
its like the holy grail of work for stupid people so if you are even remotely competent you’ll have a good chance of getting in,
U1traNecrozma@reddit
Any type of industry job that offers overtime. Someone at my dad's work did 1400 hours overtime and earned 85k last year. This isn't long term but lets you max out an ISA for as long as you want to do the work, which allows you to slow down once you have that initial lot saved up
lufcwill@reddit
Product Owner/Manager
jack_watson97@reddit
Process improvement/management
Altruistic-Judge-911@reddit
Data engineers with two years experience are earning £60k+ in the UK rn. Anything in tech gets you a good salary after 5 years experience (product, program, sales, customer success, client delivery or whatever) - but it’s stressful. It’s manageable but I won’t be working in tech in 10 years time.
Spiritual-Rip1253@reddit
Getting a tech job without years of experience nowadays is almost impossible. No-one cares about your github or your side projects anymore.
No_Echo2745@reddit
Apprenticeships are a solid way in, but you've got to seriously put the effort in to get to senior level as soon as possible. Lower level roles are dying out. With all the AI tooling, one good senior engineer can do the work of five regular engineers.
Altruistic-Judge-911@reddit
Yeah I just fell into it at the right time. I wouldn’t even recommend it tbh I feel stuck haha. Working on an exit strategy and trying to save as much as I can whilst I’m still in it.
skkkrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr@reddit
Not anything in tech pays well.
Money-Association150@reddit
Ultimately due to growth of social media, online courses, AI, every field these days is absolutely crowded. Tech, construction, to content creator. It’s about finding the niche and being the middle man. How to do that? That’s the challenge 😂
Brilliant-Win-3381@reddit
From what I've seen, the best paid careers right now are still the ones that combine technical skill with business understanding. Quantity surveyors are absolutely minted if you can get chartered - starting around 30-35k but hitting 70k+ within 5-7 years if you're competent. The demand is insane because not enough people are training for it. Software development is still solid despite what people say, but you need to specialize - cybersecurity, cloud architecture, or AI/ML rather than general web dev. Healthcare professions like radiography or physiotherapy start lower but have incredible job security and clear progression. The real trick isn't just picking a high-paying field - it's finding something where demand consistently outpaces supply. That's where the money actually is.
Crazycrossing@reddit
Use agentic workflows to build a business that disrupts larger, slower to move businesses.
Queendevonia@reddit
I'm a senior quantity surveyor in civils. Good money and starts off okay if you can transfer to an intermediate role. But I am also dying of burnout and exhaustion so maybe not recommended 😂
anaughtybeagle@reddit
I'm the same but in construction. I think it's a good job but you have to be incredibly good at knowing where to use your very limited time, and navigating through all the bullshit. I also think it takes at least 5 years to get any good at it, and for me about 8.
(Talking about main contracting. Subbie QSing can be easier depending on the trade)
Own-Buddy5735@reddit
QSing killed me off. Taking time off didn't help either because the work is all there waiting for you once you get back. Decided to walk away from the sector.
Dizzy-Abroad323@reddit
Glad I wasn’t the only QS suffering burnout. I took a six-months out because it was getting too much 😩
Queendevonia@reddit
Sorry to hear, I have had to do the same in the past. It's a high pressure role for performance measures and also companies tend to not hire enough of us, so we end up exhausted! I've woken up for work this morning and the brain fog is already starting 😔
WatchIll4478@reddit
Can you leverage your existing skills for more money?
My better paid work at the moment is expert witness reporting for the courts. One day a week of work on that matches the pay per month of doing the work I write reports about. You do need to do the crap work though to be able to court stuff.
asuka_rice@reddit
Be a slimy politician.
Spiritual_Extreme138@reddit
I think the greasy politicians get a better end of year bonus
asuka_rice@reddit
There’s never a poor U.K. politician. Just Google to look at the net worth of some of the famous ones.
PM_ME_VAPORWAVE@reddit
There isn’t one
kanobbk@reddit
Any job that’s in a small town. Every person in these small towns earns an absolute fortune according to them. Their small town is in its own economic microcosm.
Move to any of these small towns and you’ll immediately be earning £50-60k+ for any trivial job.
Spiritual_Extreme138@reddit
Cliche and useless for me to say but... I'd rather take a smaller salary than be a frickin... office jockey... an accountant or something. Blegh. I wouldn't do it for 200k, crisis or not
West_Technology7573@reddit
Rare fish
Ok_Willingness4497@reddit
F
skrew86@reddit
Joiner. May not be the best paid trade in the world but its decent and will always be needed.
cari-strat@reddit
Environmental type stuff maybe, as there's so much emphasis on being greener these days and firms are wanting people to advise and implement strategies to reduce their impact. I also heard that the forestry industry was desperate for skilled workers and paying big money as people aren't going into it much, don't know how true it is but my husband worked with a tree surgeon who worked his way up from the bottom and recently sold his business for several million.
Bojangle_your_wangle@reddit
This is absolute bollocks to the point I think you're being facetious. Environmental work is criminally underpaid and underfunded, where on earth are you getting this idea from?
Ok_Shirt983@reddit
Didn't you read their comment? Their husband once knew a guy who was a millionaire.
Gillzy18@reddit
This^ I work in the conservation sector and love my job but if you’re after good pay, think again.
PartyPoison98@reddit
Mixed bag. Firms want to be green when times are good, but when times are tough ESG stuff is often first on the chopping block.
Narrow-Incident-2489@reddit
It’s pretty competitive though. So many biology, environmental, geography degree holders underemployed. If you have an engineering or trades adjacent skill to move into these areas it’s good money
rocket9904@reddit
Not sure the moneys anywhere but the already wealthy. Sadly I think the answer is to get a job you enjoy, it’s a lot safer bet than chasing money, even if you end up a bit less happy in the end
tren_god_@reddit
Electrician and trains
BigFloofRabbit@reddit
Construction. Even if you just start as a labourer, provided you are in decent physical condition then you will make a reasonable wage.
Best if you can get a role at a big company because they will train you in plant or civils then you will make really good money
Sea-Still5427@reddit
Also AI-proof.
Revolutionary-Mode75@reddit
not really, see robot brick layers for example.
eques_99@reddit
he's portrayed in the film as a loveable, harmless dope, so I can imagine a lot of the crew would be uncomfortable with seeing someone like that get whacked.
I don't particularly remember the film showing any sort of friendship between him and Henry.
bcscroller@reddit
Train drivers make bank
FlatsInDagenham@reddit
Plumbing
Technical-Nebula-250@reddit
Software company owner.
At the moment specifically AI backed software.
BeanKhan@reddit
Invest in knee pads
Time-Cow-3364@reddit
The arms trade
This-Risk-3737@reddit
It depends on what you're good at and what you enjoy. There's money in most lines of work if you can find your way to the top few %.
Machopsdontcry@reddit
Imheritance or euromillions
ImperialTrooper4Life@reddit
If you're attractive, in a good location and "tough skinned", escorts are raking it in these days. Often earning around £100-£150 per hour.
From what im given to understand.
Paradroid808@reddit
There's online stuff like cam/phone that can probably make good money if you're an attractive female, and less risk / ick than escorting.
HeWhoScares@reddit
Cam and phone sex work can pay but much less and the work isn't guaranteed
Onlyfans and similar are mainly hype, with something like 0.0004% of the 'content creators' making over £100 per month. The vast majority being made by a small percentage
O_C_Demon@reddit
"Tough skinned" you say? Mine has, in the past, been compared to that of a rhinoceros (but hairier and less grey I might add).
£150 per hour sounds extremely tempting.
Turbofox_89@reddit
Engineering again, or construction. £50k basic working within machine tools, OTE around £75-80k with company car, pension, usual benefits.
FarAd8547@reddit
F
FeatureObjective2194@reddit
The only functional businesses in London are drug sales. On the street in the open in the middle of the day. Visit Electric Avenue and take it higher. Get yourself a machete and get hustling. “Your satisfaction is our top priority.” ❤️
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