Free cheat sheet MoneySCOT

Career Pathways in Scotland

Find out exactly which Highers you need, which Scottish universities offer the degree, and what salary to expect — for 24 careers.

24

career pathways

6

career clusters

Scottish

SAAS-funded degrees

Healthcare

Doctor (Medicine)

Diagnose and treat patients across the full range of specialities in NHS Scotland.

5 yr degree~£35,966 starting

Dentist

Provide dental care — diagnosis, prevention and treatment — in NHS or private practice.

5 yr degree~£39,603 starting

Registered Nurse

Deliver direct patient care across NHS Scotland hospitals, community and specialist settings.

4 yr degree£33,247 starting

Pharmacist

Dispense medicines, advise patients and contribute to clinical care in community or hospital settings.

4 yr degree£41,608 starting

Physiotherapist

Assess and treat patients with movement, injury and long-term conditions across NHS and private practice.

4 yr degree£33,247 starting

Veterinary Surgeon

Diagnose and treat animals — from pets to livestock — in clinical or rural practice across Scotland.

5 yr degree£35,000–£37,000 starting

Social Worker

Support individuals and families in need across local authority, NHS and third-sector services in Scotland.

4 yr degree£31,000–£34,000 starting

Optometrist

Examine eyes, diagnose conditions and prescribe corrective lenses in community or hospital optometry.

5 yr degree£33,000–£38,000 starting

Law & Business

Solicitor

Advise clients on legal matters and represent them in courts and tribunals across Scotland.

4 yr degree£28,000–£45,000 starting

Chartered Accountant (CA)

Audit, advise and report on financial performance for businesses, public bodies and individuals.

4 yr degree£25,000–£32,000 starting

Financial Analyst

Analyse investment opportunities, model financial data and support decisions in Edinburgh's financial services sector.

4 yr degree£28,000–£36,000 starting

Economist

Analyse economic data and advise on policy for government, public bodies or financial institutions.

4 yr degree£25,000–£35,000 starting

HR Manager

Manage recruitment, employee relations and organisational development for Scottish employers.

4 yr degree£23,000–£30,000 starting

Marketing Manager

Plan and execute marketing campaigns, manage brands and grow audiences for Scottish organisations.

4 yr degree£22,000–£27,000 starting

Engineering & Technology

Civil Engineer

Design and build roads, bridges, water systems and public infrastructure across Scotland.

4 yr degree£28,000–£35,000 starting

Mechanical Engineer

Design and develop mechanical systems — from offshore energy equipment to medical devices.

4 yr degree£28,000–£36,000 starting

Electrical / Electronic Engineer

Design power systems, electronics and control systems for energy, manufacturing and communications.

4 yr degree£28,000–£35,000 starting

Software Engineer

Build software systems, apps and platforms for Scotland's growing tech sector.

4 yr degree£30,000–£42,000 starting

Data Scientist

Extract insight from large datasets to guide business decisions, public policy and research.

4 yr degree£28,000–£38,000 starting

Education

Primary School Teacher

Educate and inspire children aged 4–12 in P1–P7 across Scotland's local authority primary schools.

4 yr degree£34,938 starting

Secondary School Teacher

Teach a specialist subject to S1–S6 pupils in Scotland's local authority secondary schools.

5 yr degree£34,938 starting

Creative & Design

Architect

Design buildings and spaces — from residential extensions to major civic projects — in Scotland's built environment.

5 yr degree£28,000–£35,000 starting

Graphic Designer

Create visual communications — branding, digital design, packaging and print — for commercial and public sector clients.

4 yr degree£22,000–£26,000 starting

Trades & Construction

Quantity Surveyor

Manage construction costs, contracts and procurement for building projects across Scotland.

4 yr degree£24,000–£29,000 starting

Related hubs

Exams & Qualifications

Nationals, Highers, Results Day and Advanced Highers

University in Scotland

SAAS, free tuition, entry requirements and all 19 universities

Apprenticeships

Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships in Scotland

Minimum wage Scotland 2026

From April 2026: age 18–20 £10.85/hr · age 21+ £12.71/hr (NLW) · apprentice rate £8.00/hr · Scottish Living Wage £13.45/hr.

Full rates guide

Not sure which subjects to pick?

Use the subject choice guides to see which Highers are needed for specific careers — and which common mistakes to avoid in S3 and S5.

Choosing National 5 subjects Choosing Highers in S5 Exams hub

The School Bell

Weekly Scottish-education updates

Deadlines, benefit rate changes and the stuff you actually need to know — no spam.