Average graduate salaries in the UK 2026

When it comes to choosing your degree, should you follow your heart or the money? Our guide to average graduate starting salaries can help you make the call...

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There are many factors that affect how big your graduate starting salary will be. The four biggies are: the employer, the industry, the location, and job market competition.

If you're a recent graduate looking for work, employers increasingly want to know how much you think you're worth. It's a common question during job interviews, so it's best to be prepared with an answer. This guide will give you the ballpark figures for degree subjects so you don't sell yourself short.

Graduate salaries in 2026

The current average graduate salary in the UK five years after graduation is £33,300*, according to the Department for Education Official Statistics.

However, these graduate salaries can vary widely, and you could find yourself earning anywhere between £24,000 and £90,000.

As you'd expect (and as we'll cover in more detail below), the lower end of this scale is representative of graduate salaries in professions like Journalism and the Arts. Meanwhile, you're more likely to find graduate salaries at the top end of this scale in areas like Banking or Computer Science.

Ultimately, the average figure is just that: an average. Depending on the subject you study, the industry you want to work in, plus a whole range of other factors, you could end up earning significantly higher or lower than the average.

Average graduate salaries in each industry

These are the typical starting salaries for UK graduates** based on the industries they choose to work in:

Art (creative, visual and performance)

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As you probably already know, if you're interested in the field, the graduate job market for art students isn't the most flush with cash.

For those wanting to get into Creative Arts (design, music, and performing or visual arts), salaries vary vastly. But keep in mind that the industry you work in could make a considerable difference.

A typical starting salary for a curatorial position (e.g. Assistant Curator) is usually around £25,000. But there's the potential to earn upwards of £50,000 later in your career if and when you progress to a more senior position.

Despite the rise in the use of AI tools, a career in the digital arts still has the potential to offer you a decent salary. Graphic and digital designers are still in demand, and although a graduate salary could start at around £25,000, it can rise to £40,000+ later in your career.

Banking and Accountancy

Salaries for Accountancy vary considerably depending on location, size of company and specialisation.

If you're a graduate looking for a Chartered Accountant role and have already passed the majority of your professional exams, you can expect a salary anywhere from £28,000 to £40,000.

Those who enter Banking (unsurprisingly) get the big bucks. Though trainee positions such as Graduate Analysts may start around £28,000, the average graduate salary in Operational Investment Banking can reach up to £52,000 in London. This can quickly rise, with many Operational Investment Bankers earning well over £100,000 a year plus bonuses.

Business, Marketing and Management

Business and Management degrees can open up doors to some seriously well-paid careers in Accountancy or Investment Banking. You've also got options in Marketing, Media, Human Resources (HR) and Retail Management.

A starting salary in Retail Management will likely be in the range of £23,000 – £30,000, but some graduate training schemes pay handsomely for impressive candidates. For example, Aldi's go-to Area Manager grad scheme pays £52,020 in the first year. If that doesn't quite do it for you, they'll throw in a car, too.

A career in HR will see you start on something between £29,000 – £35,000 (rising rapidly with more experience and qualifications).

On the other hand, Digital Marketers can expect a starting salary between £27,000 – £49,000, again increasing substantially with experience.

Computer Science

Your career path will depend on what you specialise in, but the IT industry is on the up. They offer heaps of choice: programming, front- and back-end development, systems analysis, web design, UX design, online security, games and apps. The list really is endless.

Starting salaries vary a lot for this type of work depending on the role, but a starting salary for a Software Developer will be around £30,000. It's worth mentioning that despite this average, graduates have reported receiving up to £70,000 in IT roles.

Education

There are tonnes of ways to get into teaching right now, many of which are generously funded.

Currently, the minimum starting salary for qualified teachers in England (outside of London) is £34,069, depending on where you live. In Scotland, you'll start on £36,159 in your probation year. Newly qualified teachers start on a £34,912 salary in Wales. In Northern Ireland, you'll be looking at £32,916.

Engineering

An Engineering degree is another which can lead to a wide range of career paths. Again, the resulting salary will vary depending on what subject specialism you take.

HESA Graduate Outcomes data puts the average salary for Engineering and Technology graduates at £32,478.

Possible roles include a Chemical Engineer or Civil Engineer, which have starting salaries of around £29,000.

Humanities

Humanities degrees are fairly flexible when it comes to job hunting. On one hand, you may not be sure quite what you're going to do when you graduate. On the other hand, having a bank of transferable skills means that Media, Marketing, Teaching and other industries are great options too.

The average graduate salary in Publishing and Journalism can start from £24,000. You're typically expected to start at the bottom and work your way through the ranks.

Unpaid internships are sadly common in writing roles (although it's definitely possible to make money writing), but postgrad or in-house training could help you bag a better starting position. You can also make money freelancing, especially in writing and editing. Check out the National Union of Journalists to get an idea of rates.

The bottom rung in Film and Television work is as a Runner. Sadly, as competition is so fierce, the pay is minimal (if you get any, that is). Guidance from BECTU, the UK's media union, states that due to the infrequency of work, runners should strive to negotiate a salary above the real Living Wage.

Have a look at BECTU (the UK's media union) or big players such as the BBC for training and apprenticeship opportunities.

Law

You might think of Law as a quick win for your pay packet, but the reality is that starting salaries vary massively depending on the size of the firm and the location.

Smaller firms may pay a Trainee Solicitor around £25,000 as a starting salary, but bigger firms could pay up to £60,000. And after your second year of training, there's usually a big salary hike of over 100% in some cases.

As for Pupil Barristers? The Bar Standards Board says that from January 2027 you must be paid at least £24,640 (£26,999 in London) for a full 12-month pupillage in England and Wales. However, some pay up to £100,000, depending on who you work for.

Life Sciences

Trainee Clinical Scientists typically start on band 6 of the NHS' pay scale, which equates to £39,959 a year.

Podiatrists, meanwhile, enter on band 5, where the salary for those with less than two years of experience is £32,073.

And remember, in the NHS it's always possible to go up a pay band as your skills and experience increase.

Medicine and Nursing

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If you think Medicine is always the fast track to a fat wallet, you may be in for a shock. Starting salaries are often no greater than for Humanities careers. However, you'll likely be able to earn more money in less time, plus have access to better leave, sick pay and other job benefits.

The big money comes in when you start specialising. Either way, the further training required can be hard-going and only worth it if you're prepared to stick with it for the long haul.

Graduates going into Adult Nursing start at band 5 on the NHS pay scale, giving them a starting salary of £32,073.

Resident doctors in postgrad foundation training earn a basic salary of £41,226 – £47,610. Once you've started training for a speciality, you can earn between £55,355 – £77,348.

Newly qualified Dentists can expect to earn £42,408 a year during their dental foundation training, while in Veterinary Medicine, the average starting salary is around £35,000.

Graduate salary by degree

Below is a list detailing the average starting salaries of UK graduates by subject area of degree, regardless of which industry they ended up in.

Don't forget that your earnings will increase with experience. It also depends a lot on what career path you take. Make the most of your degree and scope out further training requirements and grad schemes early on.

Data sourced from the Higher Education Graduate Outcomes Statistics: UK, 2023/24.

How to choose a career

It's true that some degree disciplines lead to big money faster than others. But don't get too hung up on it.

There's no point in striving for a high salary if it means you end up savouring loo breaks as an escape from the mindless monotony. Choose something that you're passionate about (or at least vaguely enjoy), and you'll be more likely to stick at it, work harder, and be open to new opportunities. There are tons of routes to a healthy salary.

Don't judge your future career (or any of your choices, for that matter!) on money alone. Success could be owning your own business, travelling the world or anything in between. Keep your eyes on the prize, not just the paycheque, and you'll find the right route for you. Good luck!

Can't wait to start earning the big bucks? Check out the best-paid part-time jobs for students and make some serious cash.

* Based on data from DfE.
** This data represents average figures collated from multiple sources, including HESA, DfE, National Careers Service, NASUWT, Teach In Scotland, Glassdoor, targetjobs, NHS Careers, The Law Society, Bar Standards Board, Bectu, Reed and The Museum Society.