According to a recent evaluation of job opportunities in the world, the United Kingdom ranks among the top five countries with the highest employment rate for foreigners.
The share of workers employed in the UK who were born abroad has steadily increased over the past two decades, rising from 9% of the employed workforce in the first quarter of 2004 (2.6 million to 21% in the first quarter of 2024 (6.8 million). Thereby, making it one of the top nations for foreigners to live and work in. Not just that, the United Kingdom also offers some of the highest-paying jobs in the world.
In this article, we will be discussing the top 10 highest-paying and most-in-demand jobs for foreigners in UK.
WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WORKING IN UK
The UK has one of the world’s largest economies, with over 904,000 job vacancies available in the country. The weekly working hours in the UK are 38 hours, thereby making it easier to secure a job in the UK.
Also, there are several opportunities to acquire a permanent visa within 2 to 5 years. Also, the average annual income in the UK is £40,000.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF UK WORK VISAS?
There are several types of work visas for the UK; they are given below.
1. TEMPORARY WORK VISA
- Creative Worker Visa
- Seasonal Worker Visa
- International Agreement Worker Visa
- Charity Worker Visa
- Government Authorizer Exchange Visa
2. OTHER WORK VISAS AND PERMITS
- Scale-up worker visa
- Frontier Worker Permit
- Minister of Religion Visa
- International Sportsperson Visa
- Skilled Worker Visa
- Graduate Trainee Visas
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A UK WORK VISA?
To qualify for any UK work visa, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Valid Passport
- You must be over the age of 18.
- Some visas require you to have a confirmed job offer before you apply for the visa.
- You must have a job listed in the eligible occupations.
- You must have enough money to support yourself in the UK.
WHAT ARE THE BEST JOBS IN UK FOR FOREIGNERS
Detailed information about the best jobs in UK for foreigners is given below:
1. ENGINEERING
Jobs in the engineering sector remain in demand in many countries in the United Kingdom. The UK market size, judged by revenue, of the engineering industry will be 5.7 million in 2021. It is one of the best jobs in the UK for foreigners.
According to the industry’s regulatory body, the Engineering Council, 18% of the UK’s working population is involved with engineering, working out to around six million people.
There are currently 180,000 job vacancies for engineering roles in the UK; this number is expected to grow by an 11.7% growth rate by 2032.
Average Annual Salary: £39,185
Highest-paying cities: London, Cambridge, Bristol, Manchester, and Biggin Hill
Minimum Education: a bachelor’s degree in engineering or technology. Plus an accredited Master’s degree. Or an Engineering Doctorate
2. HEALTH CARE

The healthcare sector in the UK is one of the largest and fastest-growing industries, with over one million healthcare companies in the nation. It is one of the best jobs in UK for foreigners. The industry employs over 130,000 highly skilled international healthcare professionals, a number that has been increasing in the past few years.
Employment in the healthcare sector is expected to grow by a minimum of 13% in the next five years. Employment opportunities can be grouped into: Midwifery, Nursing , Dentistry , health informatics, Healthcare administration and management, Medical research, Pharmacy, Nutrition and diet, and others.
The average annual income for a healthcare worker in the United Kingdom is £25,000 per year, full-time.
3. HUMAN RESOURCES
The estimations for the human resources industry imply a bright future for companies in the UK. As HR outsourcing has become increasingly popular, it is reported that the human resources industry is one of the fastest-growing fields in the UK, currently with over 200,000 job vacancies for foreigners in the United Kingdom.
Average Annual Salary: £30,000
Highest-paying cities: London, Leeds, Sheffield, Cambridge, and Cardiff.
Minimum Education: a degree in business management, economics, finance, or HR may improve your chances of landing a job.
4. IT AND SOFTWARE
The UK has one of the most advanced IT and software services industries in the world. They rank #10 in this sector. The industry employs over 2 million highly skilled international IT and software professionals, a number that has been increasing over the past few years.
There are about 100,000 IT and software services organizations in the United Kingdom, including small businesses and tech start-ups, that are worth seeking out for entry-level job opportunities.
The United Kingdom Software Development Market is valued at $54.89 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach a value of $70.99 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 3.9% during the forecast period of 2024–2030.
There are approximately one million job vacancies in the IT and software sectors of the UK.
Average Annual Salary: £56,835
Highest Paying Cities: London, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Manchester.
Minimum Education: a bachelor’s degree in IT or computer science.
5. ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE
The accounting and finance industry offers one of the highest-paid and most in-demand jobs in UK for foreigners. Foreigners in this sector work with a good salary in mind (over £60,000 along with other benefits, some of which include private healthcare, insurance, great job security, and potential for promotions.
According to recent data from the BLS of the UK, the demand for financial analysts is expected to increase by 8% from 2022 to 2032, which is faster than the average projected growth for all jobs. As a result, employers in the UK require highly skilled professionals.
Although the job market is competitive for international professionals in the United Kingdom, the outlook remains positive for all candidates, with currently over 90,000 job vacancies in the field.
Average annual salary: £50,210
Highest Paying Cities: London, Farnborough, Chester, Manchester, and Cambridge
Minimum Education: A degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
6. LAWYER

The UK is highly recognized for having one of the fastest-growing law industries. This sector offers foreigners one of the highest salaries in the UK, with several benefits and job security. Lawyering is one of the best jobs in UK for foreigners.
There are about 15,000 (or more law firms in the UK with multiple small and midsize businesses that are worth seeking out for entry-level job opportunities. Currently, there are over 150,000 vacancies available to foreigners and citizens alike in the law sector in the UK, and according to a recent report, the demand for lawyers is expected to increase by 7%.
Average Annual Salary: £53,772
Highest Paying Cities: London, Bristol, Leeds, and Birmingham
Md inimum Education: A bachelor of laws degree and training.
7. EDUCATOR
Another reputable career for foreigners in the United Kingdom is becoming an educator. This sector offers foreigners flexibility and good pay (the average salary of an educator in the UK is £35,000).
There are numerous paths in this sector, and employment opportunities can be grouped into: Public or private school teacher, Educational consultant, Curriculum leader, Career counselor , Academic Coach, Librarian , Academic Adviser, Nanny, Childcare worker
As there are over 32,100 schools in the UK, there are currently approximately 150,000 job vacancies in the education sector.
8. RESEARCHER
The United Kingdom has one of the fastest-growing research sectors in the world. This sector offers foreigners and citizens one of the highest salaries in the UK.
The average annual income for foreigners working as researchers in the UK is over £40,000, which is above the highest income for other occupations in the world. This amount varies depending on the type of researcher you are, as there are many paths in this sector.
Professional researchers work in a wide range of industries, including Science, Medicine, Law, Agriculture, Academics, Manufacturing , Psychology , Engineering, Technology, General Business , Mathematics
There are over 50,000 job vacancies in the research industry in the UK.
9. DATA ENGINEER

Since data has become one of the most important assets for companies, they need data engineers who are capable of successfully keeping it organized. They are required in various industries, from retail to hospitals to aviation and marketing. The average hiring growth for data engineers in the U.K. stands at 35%.
Average Annual Salary: £60,000
Highest Paying Cities: London, Cambridge, and Manchester.
Minimum Education: A bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related subject,
10. HOUSE KEEPER
House keeper is another great job in the UK, with numerous job opportunities for foreigners. There are multiple paths in this sector from which you can choose, and employment opportunities can be grouped into: Child support, Cleaner, Nanny, Hotel Manager, Personal Assistant, Assistant property manager, a
The average annual income of a housekeeper in the UK is £50,00.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE NUMBER-ONE BEST JOB IN THE UK?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), occupations in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), medical, and healthcare fields are the fastest-growing in the world and are among the #1 best jobs in the UK.
WHAT ARE THE TOP JOBS IN THE UK FOR FOREIGNERS?
Aside from our list of the best jobs in the UK for foreigners, other top-demanding jobs include customer service representatives, Doctor, Financial Management, Translator, Business Analyst, Delivery Boys, Information technology directors, Operations management, Pilot, Engineer, Shop assistant, Architect, Technology specialist, Project manager, Chief Executive Officer, Consultant, Marketing Director, and others.
CONCLUSION
The UK ranks as one of the top locations for foreigners looking to gain employment with a high salary. This is because the nation is home to the top recognized organizations in the world with high regard for foreign workers. This article has listed some of the best jobs in the UK for foreigners, with the hope that it serves as a guide for you.
REFERENCE
- Indeed.com
- bls.gov
- wikipedia.org
- Statista.com