The highest paying A Level subjects revealed!
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Notnek
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#1
Data has been released showing average annual income in 2016/17 for students who took particular A Level subjects in 2010/11. This shows the top 20:
![Image]()
The dot size is proportional to the number of learners for each A level.
This ranks all A Level subjects:
Here's a link to the study.
A few disclaimers:
- This study does not take into account A Level subject combinations, just individual A Levels
- Obviously taking an A Level just because it "pays well" is silly if you don't have an interest or aptitude for the subject
- The students in this study took their A Levels nearly 10 years ago and a lot could have changed since then!
So while this is interesting data to a lot of people, you shouldn't use it to influence your A Level subject choices.

The dot size is proportional to the number of learners for each A level.
This ranks all A Level subjects:
Here's a link to the study.
A few disclaimers:
- This study does not take into account A Level subject combinations, just individual A Levels
- Obviously taking an A Level just because it "pays well" is silly if you don't have an interest or aptitude for the subject
- The students in this study took their A Levels nearly 10 years ago and a lot could have changed since then!
So while this is interesting data to a lot of people, you shouldn't use it to influence your A Level subject choices.
Last edited by Notnek; 2 years ago
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ajj2000
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#2
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#2
(Original post by Sir Cumference)
Data has been released showing average annual income in 2016/17 for students who took particular A Level subjects in 2010/11:
![Image]()
The dot size is proportional to the number of learners for each A level.
Here's the full data:
And a link to the study.
Data has been released showing average annual income in 2016/17 for students who took particular A Level subjects in 2010/11:

The dot size is proportional to the number of learners for each A level.
Here's the full data:
And a link to the study.
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ecolier
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#3
Fazzy_77
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ajj2000
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Notnek
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#6
(Original post by ajj2000)
Where is biology on the charts?
Where is biology on the charts?
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ajj2000
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#7
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#7
(Original post by Sir Cumference)
In my post I showed all of the subjects if you look down a bit. The image just shows the top 20.
In my post I showed all of the subjects if you look down a bit. The image just shows the top 20.
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Sataris
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#8
harrysbar
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#9
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#9
That data is so meaningless; it suggests it's better to take Home Economics or General Studies rather than English Lit

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Notnek
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#10
(Original post by harrysbar)
That data is so meaningless; it suggests it's better to take Home Economics or General Studies rather than English Lit
That data is so meaningless; it suggests it's better to take Home Economics or General Studies rather than English Lit

Also it’s silly to use this data to say which subjects are “better”. I’m sure that a lot of people are going to be annoyed by this data (and me for posting it) because it is extremely pro-STEM. I know a lot of teachers are talking about this data and I hadn’t seen it posted on TSR yet so I thought I may as well post it.
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harrysbar
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#11
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#11
(Original post by Sir Cumference)
It’s best to ignore subjects that have a very low cohort e.g. home economics had 50 students taking it.
Also it’s silly to use this data to say which subjects are “better”. I’m sure that a lot of people are going to be annoyed by this data (and me for posting it) because it is extremely pro-STEM. I know a lot of teachers are talking about this data and I hadn’t seen it posted on TSR yet so I thought I may as well post it.
It’s best to ignore subjects that have a very low cohort e.g. home economics had 50 students taking it.
Also it’s silly to use this data to say which subjects are “better”. I’m sure that a lot of people are going to be annoyed by this data (and me for posting it) because it is extremely pro-STEM. I know a lot of teachers are talking about this data and I hadn’t seen it posted on TSR yet so I thought I may as well post it.
The study has triggered me slightly tbh; there's so much opportunity for 16 year olds to take it the wrong way and use it as the basis for an A level choice that may not be the best fit for them.
Last edited by harrysbar; 2 years ago
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Gwil
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#12
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#12
Next time you're hesitating between Urdu and Panjabi, you'll know that Panjabi has sooooo many more job prospects.
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Notnek
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#13
(Original post by harrysbar)
Home Economics is listed twice - once with 50 students taking it and once with 260 under Home Economics: Food, Nutrition and Health. General Studies has over 14.500 students taking it and scores highly, but most top unis won't accept it.
The study has triggered me slightly tbh; there's so much opportunity for 16 year olds to take it the wrong way and use it as the basis for an A level choice that may not be the best fit for them.
Home Economics is listed twice - once with 50 students taking it and once with 260 under Home Economics: Food, Nutrition and Health. General Studies has over 14.500 students taking it and scores highly, but most top unis won't accept it.
The study has triggered me slightly tbh; there's so much opportunity for 16 year olds to take it the wrong way and use it as the basis for an A level choice that may not be the best fit for them.
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the bear
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harrysbar
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#15
(Original post by Sir Cumference)
Yes sorry you're right - I didn't see them listed again. General Studies doesn't exist anymore though.
Yes sorry you're right - I didn't see them listed again. General Studies doesn't exist anymore though.
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04MR17
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#16
Notnek
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#17
(Original post by harrysbar)
What about Accounting and PE? Are they more sensible subjects to choose than English Lit and History if you want a well paid career?
What about Accounting and PE? Are they more sensible subjects to choose than English Lit and History if you want a well paid career?
Personally I don't think students should use this data to influence their A Level decisions.
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04MR17
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#18
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#18
(Original post by harrysbar)
What about Accounting and PE? Are they more sensible subjects to choose than English Lit and History if you want a well paid career?
What about Accounting and PE? Are they more sensible subjects to choose than English Lit and History if you want a well paid career?
However if somebody else is already taking Maths and tells me they don't like essay based subjects then pointing them towards accounting if it's available to them wouldn't be bad advice either.
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harrysbar
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#19
(Original post by 04MR17)
However if somebody else is already taking Maths and tells me they don't like essay based subjects then pointing them towards accounting if it's available to them wouldn't be bad advice either.
However if somebody else is already taking Maths and tells me they don't like essay based subjects then pointing them towards accounting if it's available to them wouldn't be bad advice either.
http://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/Un...ns-Information
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-st...level-subjects
Naturally it depends on the career and the person but that is my whole issue with this study - it seems to be suggesting that taking certain A levels will help you to get a better paid job but it is not as clear cut as that. Students should not be taking this data too seriously and I hope they don't
Last edited by harrysbar; 2 years ago
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Notnek
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#20
(Original post by harrysbar)
It could be bad advice if they didn't check with the unis they are interested in first as some competitive unis don't rate Accounting as an academic subject and even list it as a "non preferred" subject.
http://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/Un...ns-Information
Naturally it depends on the career and the person but that is my whole issue with this study - it seems to be suggesting that taking certain A levels will help you to get a better paid job but it is not as clear cut as that. Students should not be taking this data too seriously and I hope they don't
It could be bad advice if they didn't check with the unis they are interested in first as some competitive unis don't rate Accounting as an academic subject and even list it as a "non preferred" subject.
http://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/Un...ns-Information
Naturally it depends on the career and the person but that is my whole issue with this study - it seems to be suggesting that taking certain A levels will help you to get a better paid job but it is not as clear cut as that. Students should not be taking this data too seriously and I hope they don't
EDIT : I've added a few disclaimers to the OP.
Last edited by Notnek; 2 years ago
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