Here are the Best Paid Jobs in the British Finance Industry

So what is the best job if you want to make the most money? Generally speaking, the salaries of entry-level analysts are pretty similar across the board, averaging around £55, 000 ($85, 000) for the jobs surveyed. So have a look at the most lucrative jobs in what is perhaps the most lucrative career possible.

Everyone knows that one of the best ways to earn a lot of money is to go into finance.

Within finance, like all other professions, certain jobs pay better than others. So what is the best job if you want to make the most money?

New data from salary benchmarking site Emolument can shed a bit of light on that question.

Emolument compared the salaries of analysts and managing directors in a variety of different finance jobs, and put the results together for us.

Generally speaking, the salaries of entry-level analysts are pretty similar across the board, averaging around £55,000 ($85,000) for the jobs surveyed. By the time finance workers have reached managing director however, there are some big differences in pay.

So have a look at the most lucrative jobs in what is perhaps the most lucrative career possible. All figures are the average earned by employees at the level of managing director, and were provided by Emolument.

7. Fund Manager — assets under £5 billion ($7.7billion): Average total: £303,000 ($468,000)

What they do: Despite managing as much as £5 billion ($7.7 billion), small scale fund managers are towards the bottom of the scale when it comes to big finance salaries. In general, they are responsible for the strategies of investment funds, and ensuring that they perform well.

Average Salary: £130,000 ($201,000)

Average Bonus: £173,000 ($267,000)

Average Total: £303,000 ($468,000)

6. Institutional Sales in investment banking: Average total: £303,000 ($508,000)

What they do: Institutional salespeople are responsible for selling anything from equities to currencies — depending on their desk — and spend their time pitching their wares to other financial institutions. Institutional sales is often seen as one of the most attractive jobs in banking, as hours are manageable and the job is less stressful than many in the industry.

Average Salary: £197,000 ($304,000)

Average Bonus: £132,000 ($204,000)

Average Total: £303,000 ($508,000)

5. Fundraiser for hedge funds and asset managers: Average total: £340,000 ($525,000)

What they do: Fundraisers do exactly what their job title suggests, they raise money. Hedge funds and asset managers are always looking to increase the size of the investments they can make, and fundraisers play a key role in that. Their importance is reflected in how much managing directors in the area can make.

Average Salary: £150,000 ($231,000)

Average Bonus: £190,000 ($293,000)

Average Total: £340,000 ($525,000)

4. Origination banker: Average total: £500,000 ($772,000)

What they do: Origination bankers are responsible for bringing as much business as possible to their banks. They spend their time creating pitches for their bank’s products, which they will then give to potential clients. Origination bankers can make their employers a lot of money, which means they can make a lot too.

Average Salary: £250,000 ($386,000)

Average Bonus: £250,000 ($386,000)

Average Total: £500,000 ($772,000)

3. M&A and leveraged finance banker: Average total: £570,000 ($880,000)

What they do: Mergers and acquisitions bankers play a role in making sure the biggest deals on the planet get done. They arrange financing for companies, and can work on either the buy-side or the sell-side. The work they do commands big fees, which helps explain the average yearly earnings of £570,000 ($880,000)

Average Salary: £230,000 ($355,000)

Average Bonus: £340,000 ($525,000)

Average Total: £570,000 ($880,000)

2. Trader in investment banking: Average total: £602,000 ($929,000)

What they do: Traders are some of the most recognisable workers in finance, bringing together buyers and sellers in order to execute trades in anything from sovereign debt to soft commodities. The high-speed, high-stress environment of trading is reflected by the salaries traders can command.

Average Salary: £240,000 ($370,000)

Average Bonus: £362,000 ($559,000)

Average Total: £602,000 ($929,000)

1. Structurer in investment banking: Average total: £653,000 ($1,007,000)

What they do: Structurers help to create new financial products for clients who have more complicated and specific needs than others, and then implement the sale of these products. This area is a lot more niche than most in investment banking, and that is reflected in the huge salaries that structurers can command.

Average Salary: £262,000 ($404,000)

Average Bonus: £391,000 ($603,000)

Average Total: £653,000 ($1,007,000)