All Graduate Salaries Compared
| Degree | Starting | Mid-Career | Take Home/Mo (Start) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | £32,000 | £55,000 | £2,213 |
| Medicine | £32,398 | £65,000 | £2,237 |
| Law | £25,000 | £45,000 | £1,793 |
| Engineering | £28,000 | £48,000 | £1,973 |
| Accounting & Finance | £26,000 | £50,000 | £1,853 |
| Economics | £28,000 | £50,000 | £1,973 |
| Nursing | £29,970 | £38,000 | £2,092 |
| Architecture | £24,000 | £42,000 | £1,733 |
| Marketing | £24,000 | £40,000 | £1,733 |
| Teaching | £31,650 | £43,607 | £2,192 |
| Psychology | £22,000 | £35,000 | £1,613 |
| English & Humanities | £22,000 | £32,000 | £1,613 |
| Business Management | £25,000 | £42,000 | £1,793 |
| Maths & Statistics | £28,000 | £55,000 | £1,973 |
| Art & Design | £20,000 | £30,000 | £1,493 |
| Biology | £22,000 | £35,000 | £1,613 |
| Chemistry | £24,000 | £40,000 | £1,733 |
| Physics | £26,000 | £50,000 | £1,853 |
| Pharmacy | £33,000 | £45,000 | £2,273 |
| Dentistry | £33,000 | £55,000 | £2,273 |
Career Outlook for Physics Graduates
Physics graduates are among the most versatile and employable, with quantitative and problem-solving skills valued across many sectors. Financial services, technology, engineering, and research all recruit physics graduates. The UK's investment in nuclear energy, space technology, and quantum computing is creating new career opportunities.
Typical First Roles and Career Paths
Common first roles include graduate engineer, data analyst, quantitative analyst, research physicist, medical physicist, and patent examiner. Physics graduates transition well into financial services (quantitative trading, risk analysis), technology (scientific computing, simulation), and engineering. Teaching physics is another strong option with substantial bursaries available.
Tips for Physics Graduates
Physics graduates who develop programming skills (Python, MATLAB, C++) significantly increase their employability and earning potential. Financial services firms actively recruit physics graduates for quantitative roles with starting salaries of £35,000-£50,000. The Met Office, UKAEA, and National Physical Laboratory offer specialist physics careers. Teaching physics attracts a £27,000 tax-free bursary during PGCE training.
Student Loan Repayments
Physics graduates on £29,000 repay approximately £15/month on Plan 2. Those entering quantitative finance or engineering at higher starting salaries repay more, but the loan remains manageable given the strong career trajectory.