A PAY rise might seem like a dream for many of us right now, but some lucky workers saw their salaries jump by tens of thousands of pounds last year.
New data shared with Flying Eze shows a number of job roles received hefty pay rises last year, with some salaries going up by a whopping 81% between 2024 and 2025.
Wages have been on the up over the past few years as workers grappled with high , which has hiked the .
Salaries rose significantly in 2024, with typical wage growth hitting 5.9% in December last year, up from 5.6% the previous month.
For many, getting a pay rise can be difficult as employers face economic challenges and rising costs.
But data provided by Totaljobs found some jobs have seen much better pay rises than others.
The workers who saw the highest wage increase last year were “intervention tutors”, teachers who typically work with children with behavioural issues.
Their salaries typically went up a whopping 81.39% between 2024 and 2025, going from £26,697 to £48,425 – a rise of £21,728.
Next in line for the largest pay rises were barristers, who received pay rises of over £16,000 last year, with average salaries climbing from £33,644 to £50,098 – a 48% increase.
Personal private assistants, who sometimes don't need specific qualifications, saw their salaries jump 40% from an average of £50,000 in 2024 to £70,000 this year.
And GPs, hotel managers and stock condition surveyors all saw their pay jump between 30% and 40% over the past year, too.
GPs took home a typical salary of £44,841 in 2024, but saw their typical salaries jump by 35% to £60,750 in 2025.
Meanwhile, hotel managers received an extra £16,500 in their pay packets this year, with salaries leaping from £47,000 on average to £63,500.
Salary warning
While the past year saw some huge salary leaps, experts warn increases are likely to be more modest this year as employers face rising costs such as increases to National contributions (NICs).
The rate of employer NICs (secondary Class 1 NICs) will increase from 13.8% to 15% this month.
An Incomes Data Research (IDR) survey found employers are likely to raise salaries by an average of just 3% to 3.99% in 2025, which is considerably lower than last year.
In total, four fifths of respondents said pay rises will be lower this year.
Most employers attributed this to the increase in NICs but inflation was the next most common factor.
So, if you're hoping for a hefty pay rise, it could be worth switching careers, “job hopping” or asking your boss for a raise directly, experts say.
Michelle Pearce-Burke, co-founder of finance app Wealthify, said: “Being strategic about switching up your career at the right time can be great for boosting your earning power if you're savvy.”
How to negotiate a pay rise this year
According to expert Dr Cheryl Hurst, it's important to know your worth and have a clear goal if you're looking to negotiate a pay rise.
“Come into the meeting with a strong understanding of the current market and your place within it,” she advised.
“Do research about people with your skillset, qualifications, education, and experience in the same or similar industry.”
She said it's important to stick to your guns and aim higher than you would actually accept so there is room for negotiation.
“Have a firm idea of what you’re asking for and be prepared to say it, and aim high so there’s room to lower it if necessary,” she said.
“This gives you and your boss a definitive guide based on realistic expectations and a well thought-out request.”
And finally, it's a good idea to get people on your side before going in all guns blazing, she said.
“Build a solid team of mentors and role models who advocate for you. Having more senior team members who promote your work is a vital component to not only salary increases but job satisfaction and growth.”
