Salaries across various sectors in Europe can greatly differ. While some jobs are fading away, new opportunities are surfacing. Notably, roles in healthcare remain indispensable.
This raises an important question: which sectors are the most lucrative in Europe? Understanding the highest-paying jobs can guide career choices, recognizing that salary isn’t the only motivating factor for everyone.
In this analysis, we delve into Europe’s top-earning professions through data provided by a leading global hiring platform, Indeed, in collaboration with our skilled journalists.
The study focuses on four countries: the UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, with salary figures reflecting annual earnings from May 2024 to April 2025. Notably, we exclude “physicians and surgeons” from the primary dataset for a distinct assessment.
1. Dominance of Medical and Dental Professions
Positions such as medical consultants, radiologists, medical directors, and dentists consistently rank as the highest-paying jobs across these nations. They fall under categories like medical technicians, nursing, and dental services.
This trend is particularly evident in the UK, where nearly half of the top 20 highest-paying roles are healthcare-related. In France, three out of the top four roles are also found in this sector, especially in dentistry.
2. Rewarding Executive and Management Roles
High-level positions such as managing director, director of strategy, and project director receive substantial compensation across multiple sectors. These roles are prevalent in areas like sales, finance, technology, and general management, showcasing a consistent trend of high earnings for leadership positions.
3. Strong Salaries for Tech and IT Professionals
Careers in software development, IT operations, and information design, including software engineers and data engineers, command attractive salaries, particularly in Germany and the Netherlands.
4. Lucrative Sales and Business Development Roles
While entry-level sales positions might be less rewarding, senior roles such as sales director and enterprise account executive can yield impressive pay packages. In Germany and the Netherlands, experienced sales professionals can match salaries typical of tech and management sectors.
5. Competitive Pay in Legal, Tax, and Finance Professions
High-paying positions like tax director and labour law attorney are consistently lucrative, especially in Germany and the UK. These roles require significant regulatory or financial knowledge and are well-compensated in fields like legal, accounting, and finance.
How to Stay Competitive in the Job Market
With technology continuously advancing, job skills must adapt accordingly.
“Continuous learning is vital in a rapidly changing marketplace,” emphasizes Pawel Adrjan, Director of Economic Research at Indeed. “Historically, those who embrace new tools and methodologies stand to gain a competitive edge as technology evolves.”
Top-Paying Jobs in Germany
In Germany, corporate tax advisors lead with a median annual salary of €145,000. Following closely are various sales roles, including managing director and head of sales, with median salaries between €107,500 and €138,243.
A labour law attorney earns about €105,000, while lawyers typically receive around €93,334. Senior positions like system applications product (SAP) consultants earn just below €100,000, alongside system engineers at approximately €95,000.
Other tech roles, such as IT security specialists and technical SAP consultants, average around €90,000, while directors also earn about €90,000. Dentists stand out as the only medical title listed, with an impressive median salary of nearly €86,000.
Dentists Lead in France
In France, dentists earn the highest median salary at €95,000, followed by orthodontists at €78,750. The tech industry sees network architects earning €72,361, while medical technicians make €70,000.
A compliance officer in manufacturing earns €67,500, with domain managers and sales agents close behind at around €65,000 and €64,855, respectively.
Additionally, digital transformation consultants and mechanical designers earn €62,750 and €62,500, respectively. Many professions share a median salary of €60,000, including engineering directors and human resources directors.
Healthcare Roles Dominate Salaries in the UK
In the UK, healthcare professions significantly influence the salary landscape, with nine of the top 20 highest-paying jobs in this field.
Fashion models top the charts with a remarkable annual median salary of €166,390 (£140,000). They are closely followed by medical consultants, earning €145,821 (£111,412). Other notable healthcare salaries include medical directors and radiologists at €137,566.
Orthodontists (€130,767), clinical consultants (€125,392), and chief nursing officers (€124,793) also rank high, while senior leadership roles such as project directors earn €122,528.
Management, Accounting, and Software Development in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the highest-paid roles are found in management, accounting, and software development.
General directors earn a median annual salary of €115,000, followed by business controllers at €80,000 and team leaders at €78,206. Finance roles like controllers also command healthy salaries, typically ranging between €72,500 and €75,816.
Sales and tech positions generally earn between €56,500 and €66,000, covering roles such as sales manager and software engineer.
Is a Top University Degree Necessary?
“Graduating from a prestigious university can certainly enhance job prospects and salary potential, especially in countries like France or the UK,” explains Pawel Adrjan. However, it’s worth noting that many recent job postings are focusing less on formal education, particularly in high-skill fields like IT and data science, suggesting a shift towards skills-based hiring.
Future Lucrative Sectors: What Lies Ahead?
As the job market evolves, the highest-paying roles are also likely to shift.
“In the next 5-10 years, we expect sectors like green energy, AI, cybersecurity, and biotechnology to generate new top-paying job opportunities,” hints Adrjan from Indeed, mentioning roles like AI ethicist and climate data analyst as emerging career paths that could command premium salaries.
Photo credit & article inspired by: Euronews
