Chief financial officers have climbed to the top of the salary tree and can command some of the UK’s highest annual wages, according to new data released by the world’s largest job site, Indeed.

Indeed analysed thousands of full-time roles advertised across its platform to identify which are currently offering the highest average salaries.

Chief financial officers, who have responsibility for managing a company’s financial planning and reporting, can typically command an average salary of £112,666 a year.

Indeed’s research found that many of the highest-paid vacancies are for senior positions such as company directors and vice president roles.

Many jobs in the top 20 require both a specialism and experience; for instance, applicants for a role as vice president of engineering would need years of practical experience to be considered. The rarity of candidates with the qualifications, expertise and experience needed to fill such senior roles clearly drives up salaries as employers compete for the best talent.

That trend is particularly acute in the healthcare sector, which accounts for nearly half (45%) of the top 20 jobs with the highest annual salaries at the start of 2020.

Orthodontists are the highest paid medical professionals on the list. It can take a decade to train as an orthodontist, as it requires five years of studying dentistry, workplace training, and then an additional three years’ study to become fully qualified. However, those years of hard work eventually pay off, as orthodontists can expect an average salary just under £100,000 a year.

Dermatologists, who specialise in skincare, experts in neonatal care and rheumatologists, who treat diseases which affect the joints, all make it into the top 10. Ophthalmologists, who deal with eye disorders, finished in 10th position.

The highest paying jobs in 20201

1. Chief financial officer £112,666
2. Vice president of sales £109,278
3. Vice president of engineering £108,623
4. Orthodontist £99,010
5. Dermatologist £93,282
6. Director of product management £92,692
7. Neonatologist £92,003
8. Rheumatologist £91,724
9. Ophthalmologist £91,704
10. Director of catering £91,578
11. Nephrologist £91,521
12. Plastic surgeon £90,922
13. Senior director £90,059
14. Paediatrician £89,723
15. Anesthesiologist £89,501
16. Managing director £88,101
17. Unit director – £86,727
18. Vice president of finance – £86,517
19. Tax director £85,742
20. Director of construction – £85,148

Bill Richards, UK managing director at global job site Indeed, comments:

“Gaining advanced skills and experience has long been a powerful way to boost your earning power – and this snapshot of the best-paying vacancies currently being advertised on Indeed shows it holds as true as ever.

“What is striking is just how much the medical profession dominates our top 20 best-paying roles. Such high salaries suggest that the supply of qualified candidates isn’t keeping up with demand, leading employers to pay more in order to win the battle for talent.

“With many specialist healthcare employees working long hours under intense pressure, and potentially making life-or-death decisions in the process, such high salaries may be seen as a just reward for their hard work and expertise.”