Work Abroad

I’ve noticed something over the years. Students don’t really ask “what job pays the most?” They ask “what job won’t make me regret my degree five years later?” Salary is just the visible part. Under it sits stress, years of study, immigration rules, burnout, luck, timing. Let’s talk about the jobs as they actually are, not as Google lists them. 1. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Everyone wants to be one. Almost no one plans realistically for it. A CEO isn’t a job you apply for after graduation. It’s what happens after years of decisions – some smart, many wrong. I’ve seen MBAs from top schools still take 15-20 years to reach this seat. Country Average Salary USA $725,553 – $1.5M+ UK £320,000 – £610,000 Canada CAD 240,000 – 850,000 Australia AUD 300,000 – 1.2M Germany €690,000 UAE AED 2.8M India ₹3.3 – 4.7 Cr Yes, the money is obscene in countries like the US, UK, UAE. But the pressure is permanent. One bad quarter and everything shakes. Most CEOs don’t sleep well. That part never makes it to salary tables. 2. Anesthesiologist If you want pure salary logic, this role is hard to beat. But here’s the part students ignore : This is one of the longest academic journeys you can choose. Medical school. Residency. Fellowships. Exams that don’t forgive. You’re paid well because mistakes aren’t allowed. Ever. Country Salary USA $425,000 UK £112,000 Canada $340,000 Australia $390,000 France €200,000 India ₹25 L In the US and Canada, salaries look massive. In India, respectable – but nowhere close unless you build private practice. This job is calm on the surface. Inside, it’s constant alertness. 3. Surgeons (Neuro, Ortho, General) Surgeons earn because they carry risk on their hands. I’ve met orthopaedic surgeons abroad who earn more than senior tech leaders – but they’ve given up weekends, family events, even hobbies. Surgery rewards obsession. Country Salary USA $425,000 UK £225,000 Canada $365,000 Australia $215,000 France €215,000 India ₹35 L If you don’t love operating theatres, don’t chase this salary. It will eat you. 4. Specialised Physicians Cardiologists. Radiologists. Oncologists. These are not “doctor jobs”. These are lifetime commitments. The money comes later. Much later. What students don’t realise: immigration for doctors is complex. Licensing exams change country to country. Clearing USMLE or PLAB isn’t academic – it’s mental endurance. Country Salary USA $300,000 – $500,000 UK $120,000 – $250,000 Canada $220,000 – $400,000 Australia $200,000 – $350,000 France $110,000 – $200,000 India $15,000 – $60,000 Those who make it? Financially secure for life. 5. Orthodontists Quietly one of the smartest medical careers. Less emergency pressure. Predictable schedules. High private practice income in countries like the US, UK, Australia. But again – long education. Precision matters. Reputation matters. Country Salary USA $220,000 – $280,000+ UK £80,000 – £120,000+ Canada $160,000 – $240,000+ Australia $180,000 – $250,000+ France €80,000 – €130,000+ India ₹8 – 20 L This is not fast money. It’s stable, long money. 6. Psychiatrists Ten years ago, this field was ignored. Now? It’s exploding. Mental health awareness has changed everything. Countries like the US, Canada, Australia are desperate for psychiatrists. Country Salary USA $245,000 UK £225,000 Canada $315,000 Australia $275,000 France €160,000 India ₹27 L What makes this role different is emotional stamina. You absorb stories. Trauma. Silence. If you can handle that – the pay follows naturally. 7. AI / Machine Learning Engineers Let me be honest here. This salary wave is real – but unstable. Right now, AI engineers are paid aggressively because companies are racing. Five years later? The market will reward depth, not certificates. Students who jump in without math, logic, patience usually burn out. Country Salary USA $150,000 – $350,000 UK £60,000 – £90,000+ Canada $90,000 – $130,000+ Australia $110,000 – $160,000+ France €50,000 – €80,000+ India ₹8 – 18 L Those who actually understand models, systems, limitations – they print money. This job rewards curiosity more than ambition. 8. Investment Bankers This salary looks glamorous. The lifestyle isn’t. Long nights. Brutal deadlines. High politics. Many quit by 30. But if you survive early years, especially in the US or UK, bonuses alone can outpace most professions. Country Salary USA $150,000 – $256,000 UK £75,000 Canada $110,000 Australia $145,000 France €115,000 India ₹15 – 20 L This career suits people who thrive under pressure – not people chasing status. 9. Data Scientists Still one of the safest high-paying bets. But here’s the truth : Average data scientists are replaceable. Good ones aren’t. Country Salary USA $120,000 – $165,000+ UK £50,000 – £85,000+ Canada $80,000 – $120,000+ Australia $100,000 – $145,000+ France €45,000 – €70,000+ India ₹9 – 25 L If you can explain data to humans, not just machines, your salary keeps climbing. If you can’t – growth plateaus fast. 10. Airline Pilots Pilots earn because responsibility is non-negotiable. Training is expensive. Licenses are country-specific. Health standards are strict. Country Salary USA $200,000 UK £110,000 Canada $150,500 Australia $175,000 France €175,000 India ₹20 – 50 L But once you’re established, especially with international carriers, income is strong and predictable. This is one of the few jobs where age can increase value. 11. Chief Information Officer (CIO) This role doesn’t exist for fresh graduates. CIOs earn because they understand both technology and business failures. They’ve seen systems crash. Data leak. Companies panic. Country Average Annual Salary USA $160,000 – $300,000 UK £120,000 – £200,000 Canada $140,000 – $220,000 Australia $170,000 – $260,000 Germany €130,000 – €210,000 India ₹45 – ₹90 L It’s a slow climb. But once there, compensation reflects trust. 12. Petroleum Engineers High pay, yes. But also volatile. Oil prices drop, hiring freezes. Political risk. Remote locations. Country Average Annual Salary USA $135,000 – $205,000 Canada $120,000 – $180,000 Australia $130,000 – $190,000 UAE AED 350,000 – 700,000 Norway €110,000 – €180,000 India ₹10 – ₹25 L Students choosing this should understand cycles. This is not a smooth career. It’s a high-risk, high-reward one. 13. Corporate Lawyers Corporate law abroad pays well –

When Indian students ask me about part-time work in the UK, the question almost always comes with a bit of hesitation. Not excitement – anxiety. “How many hours can I work?” “Will it affect my visa?” “Can I manage studies and work together?” “What if I accidentally break a rule?” These aren’t lazy questions. They come from fear. Most students are stepping into a new country with limited savings, big expectations from home, and a quiet pressure to prove that studying abroad was the right decision. Part-time work becomes less about extra money and more about survival, dignity, and independence. So let me explain how part-time work in the UK actually works for Indian students – not in legal language, but in the way students experience it day by day. The Rule that Matters More Than Everything Else If you’re studying in the UK on a Student visa (what most Indian students have), your work permission is usually simple : You can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during official holidays. That’s it. No hidden tricks. No flexibility around this number. And this is where many students make their first mistake – they think 20 hours is a target. It’s not. It’s a maximum. I’ve seen students struggle because they planned their finances assuming they would work the full 20 hours every single week. Reality doesn’t work like that. Some weeks you get 12 hours. Some weeks 8. Some weeks none. If you mentally treat part-time work as support, not guarantee, life becomes much easier. The UK is Strict About Work Rules – But Also Very Clear One thing I genuinely appreciate about the UK is clarity. You’re not allowed to : Work more than 20 hours during term Be self-employed or freelance Start a business Take a full-time permanent role And yes, authorities do take this seriously. But here’s the other side of the truth : If you stay within the rules, you don’t need to live in fear. Most problems happen when students listen to “friends of friends” instead of official guidance. Or when they think one extra shift “won’t matter”. It always matters. The UK system is fair, but not forgiving if you knowingly cross limits. Once you understand that, you stop testing boundaries and start working calmly. What Kind of Part-time Jobs Do Students Actually Do? Forget the fantasy jobs. Most Indian students start with very normal work : Retail stores Supermarkets Cafés and restaurants Warehouses Cleaning or hospitality roles Campus jobs like libraries or student support These jobs aren’t glamorous. But they teach something important early on – routine. You learn to manage time. You learn to show up even when you’re tired. You learn how workplaces function in the UK, which is very different from India. Later, some students move into better roles – teaching assistants, research helpers, admin jobs on campus, or roles related to their field. But that usually happens after settling in, not immediately. There’s no shame in starting small. Everyone does. Balancing Work and Studies is Harder Than People Admit This part is important, and people don’t talk about it honestly. Working 20 hours a week while studying is tiring. UK courses are not passive. There are readings, submissions, group work, presentations. Deadlines don’t adjust because you had a shift. Students who manage best are not the smartest – they’re the most realistic. They plan their weeks. They say no to extra shifts during deadline-heavy periods. They understand that missing one shift is better than failing a module. Burnout usually happens when students chase money without respecting academic pressure. The students who last are the ones who treat part-time work like a responsibility, not an escape. Money Reality : Part-time Work Helps, But it Won’t Fund Everything This is a tough truth, but it needs to be said clearly. Part-time work in the UK will help with : Groceries Transport Small personal expenses Some rent contribution It will not fully cover : Tuition fees Full living costs in most cities Emergency expenses consistently Students who go in expecting part-time income to solve everything feel stressed very quickly. Those who treat it as support – emotional and financial – feel more in control. Working part-time also gives something money can’t: confidence. Earning in pounds, paying your own bills, managing your expenses — that changes how students see themselves. The Emotional Side of Working While Studying Abroad This part rarely makes it into blogs. Working part-time can feel lonely at first. Different accents. Different work culture. Sometimes you feel invisible. Sometimes you feel judged. And then, slowly, it shifts. You start understanding jokes. You stop panicking over small mistakes. You feel part of something. Even a simple “Good shift today” from a manager feels validating when you’re far from home. Part-time work isn’t just income. It’s integration. Part-time work in the UK isn’t about earning fast money. It’s about learning how to stand on your own in a new system. If you respect the rules, manage your time honestly, and don’t expect miracles from one paycheque, it becomes one of the most grounding parts of the study abroad experience. Not easy. Not glamorous. But real. Students Also Ask How many hours can Indian students work in the UK? Most students can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during holidays, as permitted by their Student visa. Can students work more than 20 hours if they need money? No. Working more than the allowed hours is a visa violation and can lead to serious consequences, including visa cancellation. Are Indian students allowed to work off-campus in the UK? Yes. Students can work both on-campus and off-campus, as long as the job follows visa rules. What are the best part-time jobs for Indian students in the UK? Retail, hospitality, warehouse work, and campus roles are common starting points. Field-related roles usually come later. Does part-time work affect studies in the UK? It