GeraLearn / Degree salary comparison
Law vs Business and management: Graduate Salary Compared
Five years after graduating, UK Business and management graduates earn more — a median £33,200 vs £32,100 for Law. That is £1,100 more (3%). Real DfE LEO figures, 2022-23 tax year.
Quick answer
Business and management pays more than Law: a 5-year median of £33,200 versus £32,100 — a £1,100 (3%) gap. Source: DfE LEO, 2022-23 UK tax year (DfE LEO graduate outcomes).
Earnings compared, side by side
Median gross annual earnings of UK-domiciled first-degree graduates, 2022-23 tax year.
| Measure | Law | Business and management |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year after graduation | £23,000 | £25,200 |
| Lower quartile (5yr) | £24,500 | £25,200 |
| Median (5yr) | £32,100 | £33,200 |
| Upper quartile (5yr) | £46,000 | £46,400 |
| Rank (of 34 subjects) | #18 | #16 |
| Graduates in cohort | 11,270 | 35,265 |
Ranks are by 5-year median earnings across all 34 DfE CAH level-1 subject groups.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Law or Business and management pay more after graduation?
- Business and management pays more. Five years after graduation, UK graduates of Business and management earn a median £33,200 versus £32,100 for Law — a difference of £1,100 (3% more). Source: DfE LEO, 2022-23 tax year.
- What do Law graduates earn one and five years after graduating?
- Law graduates earn a median £23,000 one year after graduation and a median £32,100 five years after — with most earning between £24,500 and £46,000 (lower–upper quartile). That is £700 (2%) above the all-subject median of £31,400.
- What do Business and management graduates earn one and five years after graduating?
- Business and management graduates earn a median £25,200 one year after graduation and a median £33,200 five years after — with most earning between £25,200 and £46,400 (lower–upper quartile). That is £1,800 (6%) above the all-subject median of £31,400.
- Where do these graduate-salary figures come from?
- From the Department for Education's LEO (Longitudinal Education Outcomes) release, 2022-23 UK tax year (DfE LEO graduate outcomes). They are median gross annual earnings of UK-domiciled first-degree graduates in sustained employment, measured in the 2022-23 tax year, published under the Open Government Licence. These are medians — half of graduates earned less and half more; subject choice does not guarantee any individual salary.
Related comparisons
Data: DfE LEO Graduate Outcomes, 2022-23 UK tax year (DfE LEO graduate outcomes). Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures are medians for graduates in sustained employment and do not guarantee individual earnings. A Gera Systems product.