Great prospects, same rewards

There is no doubt that STEM (science, technology. engineering, maths) subjects are considered some of the most challenging and demanding subjects out there, however does that mean that other subjects do not hold equal value or great career prospects? Are STEM subjects the only ones that lead to great pay and even greater job satisfaction? The answer is a simple no.

You’ll find that every sector is seeking talented individuals, not just from a STEM background, but from creative people to problem solvers to extroverted personalities to those with quiet attention to detail. So if you are someone who is not so keen to pursue a career in STEM then you are not disadvantaged in any way. In fact you’ll find equally inspiring careers outside of the STEM industry that offers big salaries, and equally great rewards. Here is a quick list of alternatives that you might like.

Communications and marketing

As much as AI is on the rise with creative apps such as Adobe Express, Canva and Designs.ai the human touch has not been eliminated. AI programmes need to be instructed to carry out its’ job.

Almost all companies require marketing specialists and those with high creative skills. So if you like creative subjects such as art, graphics and media, roles in digital marketing, and those in marketing roles such as advertising, creative directing and copywriting come with good progression routes and salary prospects.

Jobs in Marketing

Media, Television and Broadcasting

Working as a presenter, producer or TV crew comes with many advantages. You’ll get to be extra creative, manage people, work as a team and gain new experiences every day. If you enjoy subjects like English literature, Film Studies, Photography, Graphics, Media or Art then you may wish to consider a career in this field.

Experienced producers can earn £40,000 to £55,000.

Television Film / Video Producer job profile

Broadcast Journalist job profile

Business and Finance

The finance industry is worth trillions in the UK. This includes banking, investment, insurance, fund management, accountancy and more with over 2.5 million people employed within the sector. The more experience you gain within your specialism, the greater your prospects.

Accounting graduates can earn up to £40,000 with earning potential reaching £134,000 for a chartered accountant. Here are some other areas in business and finance that you can progress in with or without a degree.

Business management

Financial analyst

Investment analyst

Top UK banking apprenticeships

Finance graduate schemes 2025

Teaching and Education

If you enjoy subjects such as humanities, literature, sociology, psychology, history and other social science subjects then a career in education or teaching can propel you into management roles, and senior positions with great salary prospects. You’ll also find that jobs in teaching are readily available, both locally and globally.

Roles such as education consultancy can give you more flexibility and allow you to use your expertise to shape an institute or organisation. You can earn from £52,000 to £75,000 or more. Roles such as Educational Psychologist can earn you up to £85,000 at the most senior positions.

From academic research to early years teaching, there are varied roles that are rewarding and help to make an impact to young people of all ages.

More teaching and education roles

Politics

Politics in government has many benefits including serving the wider community, and advocating for things you are passionate about to bring change to your local area and even the world.

Some areas of politics require voluntary work to start with such as working towards becoming and MP or a Counciller. This can lead to high financial gain as MPs can earn between £91,000 — £114,000 in the House of Commons.

Other areas of politics include social research, public affairs consultant, forensic accountant, public relations and more. So if you enjoy subjects such as politics, philosophy, religious studies, history and law, then a role in politics might suit your skills set.

How to become an MP

International Relations

International Relations is a political science that explores relationships between countries, wars, legal bodies, foreign policies, trade and more. It is a broad area that also explores wider global issues such as disease outbreaks, terrorism and climate crises. If you enjoy subjects such as politics, sociology, criminology, law and geography then this sector might be right for you.

You can pursue roles such as:

Intelligence analyst earning up to £45,000

Diplomatic service officer earning up to £48,000

Government social research officer earning up to £55,000

Broadcast journalist

Search more job roles

Remember to keep your passions in mind when you make your career decisions. All subjects lead to great prospects and no matter what interests you have, the more you pursue them, the greater the possibilities.