It is not always possible to objectively measure a job income. The salary level of different professions may vary, and some representatives of a profession earn a lot more money than others and stand out among their peers. The income of top stylists is 300-400 thousand rubles a month, but the average salary of a qualified hairdresser in Moscow is 50 thousand rubles a month. There are not many “stars” in the professions. So, who gets the biggest salary in the labor market in Russia?
First, note that income level varies significantly in different regions. In Russia, the salary level is always stated as monthly as opposed to other countries where people are used to yearly salary. According to the Federal State Statistics Service, the average salary in Russia was 42,595 rubles per month in 2019, but this indicator fluctuated greatly depending on the region – for example, in it is slightly lower in Volgograd (30,097), Ivanovo (26,053) and Tver (30,764).
Traditionally, average high salaries are in Moscow (79 thousand rubles per month), St. Petersburg (58 310), in the north of Russia (Magadan Oblast, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region, Yakutia, etc.), as well as in megacities; but this post will focus on the average income across different professions and provide a list of top 10 highest paying jobs in Russia.
Dentist. A doctor who is engaged in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the teeth, oral cavity and maxillofacial area. Dental surgeons and orthopedic dentists are considered the highest-paid. The average salary of a dentist in Russia is 70,000 rubles. Private clinics provide higher than salary than public ones. The maximum dentist salaries in Moscow reach 350,000 rubles.
Obstetrician-gynecologist. A doctor who treats gynecological pathologies, diseases that impede the conception and bearing of a child, controls the condition of the mother and the unborn child before childbirth and the birth process itself. Fertility doctors are especially popular, they deal with infertility problems in both men and women. The average salary of a gynecologist is 80 000 rubles. The maximum salary of a fertility specialist at a commercial medical center in Moscow is 500,000 rubles.
Drilling engineer/foreman. A specialist who organizes and controls the process of drilling wells for mining. An engineer assesses the risks associated with drilling: the possibility of collapse, environmental damage, and employee safety. A course on drilling engineering can be taken after finishing high school (11 grades), to be successful in this profession one needs to focus on chemistry, physics, and mathematics. The average salary in the country is 90,000 rubles. The maximum income is 180,000 rubles.
Risk manager/Financial Risk Assessment Specialist. A specialist who can work for banks, insurance companies and enterprises in the energy sector. The duties include risk assessment based on statistics from past years and current conditions. Based on the research one comes up with a plan to prevent the economic and financial losses of the company. This profession is in most demand in large businesses. The average salary for this job is 100,000 rubles. The maximum income is 350,000 rubles.
IOS and Android developers. Programmers who create applications for smartphones, tablets and other portable devices on two popular platforms – iOS and Android. This profession is required in all commercial organizations that develop and support their own mobile applications. While the demand for developers far exceeds supply, their average salary fluctuates around 140,000 rubles, and the maximum is about 240,000 rubles. Mobile development courses are available on the Internet, at Russian and foreign online course platforms.
Big Data Analyst. A software engineer who works with large amounts of data of varying fragmentation degrees and structure. Working with big data opens previously inaccessible opportunities in a variety of areas – now Big Data analysis is widely used in IT, marketing, banking, public administration, and agriculture. Therefore, the average salary of a Big Data specialist is 140,000 rubles, and the maximum is about 250,000 rubles.
SAP Consultant. ERP consultant who implements IT automation solutions in medium and large enterprises. To become SAP consultant, one needs to have a university degree in IT or economics, good English skills and, preferably, German. All vacancies require at least 1 year of experience in implementing and maintaining SAP. Average salary: 160,000 rubles. The maximum is 350,000 rubles.
Java/Ruby programmer. A specialist who develops highly loaded systems, web applications and various kinds of programs in Java or Ruby programming languages. Not all Russian IT universities master these very popular languages in the world, therefore, to master them, one needs motivation, perseverance and the ability to learn independently. The average salary of Java/Ruby developer is 160,000 rubles. The maximum is 470,000 rubles.
Civil Aviation Pilot. A very attractive profession, especially considering that it does not require higher education. But the competition among pilots is also high, so at least 150 hours of flying time, experience and international certification will be required to obtain the position of the first pilot. The average salary of the first pilot, captain of an aircraft in Russia is 150,000 rubles. The maximum is 650,000 rubles.
Ship captain. A very romantic and responsible profession. The captain is responsible for passengers, cargo and for the safety of the ship itself. Captains of large ships and ocean liners earn the most. Their average salary is 185,000 rubles, and the maximum is 500,000 rubles. But in order to become a captain, it’s not enough to attend a maritime academy, one will have to work as a navigator or as an assistant to the captain, get the experience of a navigator and only then get the coveted promotion.
Please note that there are no top managers or executives on this list, it consists of specialists who are still lacking in the labor market in Russia, and their salaries are above the national average. In most demand are various types of IT specialists, medical specialties and employees with increased responsibility – pilots and captains.
How to get a high paying job in Russia
To receive a high income, one should focus on specific skills that are in demand. This list may be adjusted depending on the specifics of a position or an industry. Nevertheless, it is possible to outline the basic requirements for specialists who aim for a highly paid position:
- working experience in the industry 5-10 years;
- good knowledge of foreign languages (at least English);
- specialized education (especially large foreign universities are valued);
- MBA degree;
- high-stress resistance;
- personnel management skills.
Feedback from previous employers is also important, therefore it is important for a highly paid specialist to maintain good relations with the employer even after leaving the company.
Highly-paid professions in Russia for the next 5-10 years (promising professions)
Most often there is a demand for the workforce because the industry is developing rapidly, and the education system is lagging. There is not enough time to prepare a qualified professional for the tasks of the employer. The current highest demand in the IT field relates to the fact that universities do not train enough IT specialists to a level required by an employer. For example, one can become a programmer or information security specialist at a university or college, but at the same time, a person can grow professionally to the level of a development operations engineer, game designer or Big Data analyst at the expense of their own strong-willed and intellectual competencies. Therefore, such professionals will be in demand and have high salaries in Russia.
Another reason for high salaries Russia may be the demand for this specialist not only in the labor market but also abroad. This category includes software developers, athletes, pilots, captains of sea vessels. Russian employers must provide a position with a high salary, if not at the European or American level, then not much lower, otherwise the employee will want to move to a foreign company. This situation happened in aviation in February 2018, when experienced pilots began to leave for Asian countries because salaries and demand for their specialty are higher abroad. Russian airline Aeroflot was forced to raise salaries for pilots operating Boeing 777 and Airbus A320 to the declared level of 650,000 rubles per month.
Highly-paid industries in Russia where the employees will be in demand in the next 5-10 years are:
- Information technology
- Financial industry
- Extractive and chemical industries
However, remember that the shortage of specialists in a certain area may stop, and the level of salaries will decrease. Therefore, choose a profession according to your liking and interests, so that you want to develop it and grow professionally.
