From tech to creative industries, these are the roles that offer the most fulfillment with the most lucrative pay
Salary is important when it comes to choosing a career – but it isn’t everything.
In fact, twice as many workers believe that enjoying their jobs is a better way of measuring career success than a high salary, according to research by jobs board CV-Library.
Katie Carroll, of careers site LinkedIn, said companies were having to focus more on improving their culture and offering extra benefits in order to attract top talent.
“Options to work flexibly have become particularly important in light of coronavirus as has feeling like you’re being given opportunities for personal growth and are part of a community at work. These allow you to shape a career around other things you care about,” she said.
But what should you do if you want to combine the two? Analysing data from jobs reviews site Glassdoor, Telegraph Money has compiled a list of the best-paid jobs that give employees the most satisfaction.
Best paid job professions with highest job satisfaction
Solutions engineer
With an average base salary of £60,221 and a job satisfaction score of 4.6 out of five (awarded by Glassdoor's users), this is the role that best combines fulfilment and pay.
Solutions engineers work with clients to find technical solutions to their problems. They are typically responsible for finding out what the client's business needs are and then helping to develop the software to meet those needs. It is a role commonly found in large software companies and combines both social and technical skills.
Creative director
The second highest scoring occupation is creative director.
This is a role typically found at advertising or marketing agencies or large brands. Creative directors lead a team to create, plan and deliver a strategic vision for their company or clients. They will plan campaigns, commission artists and writers and pitch concepts. A good creative director will also keep a close eye on the finances to ensure projects do not go over budget.
It ranks slightly lower than solutions engineer on job satisfaction, with a score of 4.4, but has a higher average salary (£61,501).
Business operations manager
Although paid slightly less than a creative director (£60,110 on average), a typical business operations manager enjoys the same level of job satisfaction, according to Glassdoor.
They are often the glue that holds an organisation together and will be in charge of managing recruitment and finances among other things. They will generally be responsible for the company's budget as well as managing relationships with clients and improving the productivity of the workforce.
Enterprise account manager
The second-best paid job in our list is enterprise account manager, which a typical wage of £65,783 a year. This is a client-facing role that usually involves identifying business opportunities. A good enterprise account manager will be able to win new business and keep existing clients on side. They will also report on whether targets have been met. Most postings will ask for sales experience.
It gets a job satisfaction score of 4.2.
The best paid professions with the highest job satisfaction
| Job title | Average base salary (£) | Job satisfaction score | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Solutions engineer |
60,221 |
4.6 |
|
2 |
Creative director |
61,501 |
4.4 |
|
3 |
Business operations manager |
60,110 |
4.4 |
|
4 |
Enterprise account manager |
65,783 |
4.2 |
|
5 |
Technology manager |
92,508 |
4.2 |
|
6 |
Quality control manager |
60,723 |
4.2 |
|
7 |
Investment consultant |
50,732 |
4.5 |
|
8 |
Strategy consultant |
55,000 |
4.3 |
|
9 |
Strategy manager |
64,028 |
4.1 |
|
10 |
Regional manager |
50,602 |
4.3 |
Technology manager
With an average salary of £92,508 and job satisfaction score of 4.2 out of five, this is the most lucrative of the top five jobs. As with a solutions engineer, this person will need good technical skills. They are in charge of a firm's entire IT system. They will also need to work with other people in the business to understand what they need from the software.
Part of their role is to manage IT budgets, plan training sessions for employees and ensure software licensing laws are followed. Adverts usually ask for candidates who have strong leadership skills and relevant technology qualifications.
What creates job satisfaction?
Between 2017 and 2019 the number of job posts on LinkedIn mentioning work flexibility increased by 78pc and this is likely to continue rising once lockdown is over.
“Being able to have a work-life balance is hugely important in creating a happy workforce. We’re definitely seeing increased interest in the idea of a four-day week,” says Ms Carroll. But, she added, time is not the only factor.
“People also like to feel they’re empowered and able to make decisions. A lot of feeling satisfied in your work is feeling like you have ownership over something, for example by leading projects,” she said.
Another important factor is being able to live somewhere with a high quality of life, said Jo Cresswell of Glassdoor.
“Often the best paying jobs are based in London. However some workers find that areas outside of the capital can be much more attractive when it comes to quality of life,” she said.
Those trying to combine living where they want with having a top job have, until now, had to pay for it with a long commute – but as remote working increasingly becomes the new normal that sacrifice may no longer be necessary.
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