Best paid jobs in the UK

The following top ten are drawn from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Ashe). It uses data taken from a 1pc sample of employees paid via PAYE and works out the median gross salary. It does not cover the self-employed or employees not paid during the reference period.

Chief executives and senior official

Unsurpringly, chief executives and senior officials in the UK top the pile, earning a median gross pay of £85,223 last year, an increase of 11.8pc from 2011. Pay range: £44,764 (20th percentile) to £137,623 (75th percentile).

Aircraft pilots and flight engineers
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers earned a median gross pay of £78,736, up 14.1pc from the previous year. Pay range: £59,068 (25th pct) to £94,495

Medical practitioners
Medical practitioners earned a median gross pay of £71,279, a fall of 9.6pc from 2011. Pay range: £28,630 (10th pct) to £135,432 (90th pct).

Marketing and sales directors
Marketing and sales directors earned a median gross salary of £68,245 in 2012, up 2.2pc from the previous year. Pay range: £29,924 (10th pct) to £106,315 (80th pct).

Information technology
Information technology and telecommunications directors earned a median gross pay of £63,622 last year, an annual change of 7.7pc. Pay range: £37,522 (20th pct) to £90,476 (75th pct).




Legal professionals 
Legal professionals earned a median gross salary of £61,544, up 3.8pc. Pay range: £30,848 (10th pct) to £91,784 (75th pct).

Senior police officers
Senior police officers earned a median gross salary of £59,037 in 2012, an annual change of 3.8pc. Pay range: £51,939 (10th pct) to £63,087 (75th pct).

Financial managers
Financial managers and directors earned a median gross pay of £55,504, down 2.2pc from the previous year. Pay range: £25,008 (10th pct) to £100,146 (80th pct).

Senior professionals
Senior professionals of educational establishments earned a median gross salary of £50,214, up 2.5pc from the previous year. Pay range: £27,622 (10th pct) to £62,399 (80th pct).

Functional managers
Functional managers and directors earned a median gross salary of £48,158 in 2012, up 2pc from the previous year. Pay range: £24,259 (10th pct) to £54,106 (60th pct).