PhD Job Trends in Bristol

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil, EngD, Doctorate)
South West > Bristol

The table below provides summary statistics for permanent job vacancies advertised in Bristol with a requirement for PhD qualifications. It includes a benchmarking guide to the salaries offered over the 6 months leading up to 1 January 2026, comparing them to the same period in the previous two years.

6 months to
1 Jan 2026
Same period 2025 Same period 2024
Rank 86 99 -
Rank change year-on-year +13 - -
Permanent jobs citing PhD 7 7 0
As % of all permanent jobs in Bristol 0.35% 0.49% -
As % of the Qualifications category 1.16% 1.58% -
Number of salaries quoted 0 4 0
Median annual salary (50th Percentile) - £45,000 -
South West median annual salary - £45,000 £30,000
% change year-on-year - +50.00% -33.37%

All Academic and Professional Certifications
Bristol

PhD falls under the Academic Qualifications and Professional Certifications category. For comparison with the information above, the following table provides summary statistics for all permanent job vacancies requiring academic qualifications or professional certifications in Bristol.

Permanent vacancies requiring academic qualifications or professional certifications 602 442 443
As % of all permanent jobs advertised in Bristol 30.15% 30.67% 26.75%
Number of salaries quoted 395 229 340
10th Percentile £28,250 £32,900 £36,813
25th Percentile £39,000 £50,000 £46,250
Median annual salary (50th Percentile) £52,500 £60,000 £60,000
Median % change year-on-year -12.50% - +14.29%
75th Percentile £67,500 £76,250 £72,450
90th Percentile £80,000 £83,750 £85,000
South West median annual salary £52,500 £52,600 £50,000
% change year-on-year -0.19% +5.20% -

PhD
Job Vacancy Trend in Bristol

Historical trend showing the proportion of permanent IT job postings citing PhD relative to all permanent IT jobs advertised in Bristol.

PhD job vacancy trend in Bristol

PhD
Salary Trend in Bristol

Salary distribution trend for jobs in Bristol citing PhD.

Salary distribution trend for jobs in Bristol citing PhD

PhD
Co-Occurring Skills & Capabilities in Bristol by Category

The following tables expand on the one above by listing co-occurrences grouped by category. They cover the same employment type, locality and period, with up to 20 co-occurrences shown in each category:

Applications
1 7 (100.00%) Chatbot
General
1 2 (28.57%) Agriculture
2 1 (14.29%) Analytical Skills
Job Titles
1 7 (100.00%) Trainer
2 2 (28.57%) Research Scientist
Miscellaneous
1 1 (14.29%) Molecular Biology
Processes & Methodologies
1 7 (100.00%) AI
1 7 (100.00%) Conversational UI
2 5 (71.43%) Physics
3 3 (42.86%) Chemistry
3 3 (42.86%) Mathematics
4 2 (28.57%) Economics
5 1 (14.29%) Biochemistry
5 1 (14.29%) Biology
5 1 (14.29%) Biotechnology
5 1 (14.29%) Data Interpretation
5 1 (14.29%) Experimental Design
Qualifications
1 7 (100.00%) Degree
1 7 (100.00%) Master's Degree
Vendors
1 7 (100.00%) PayPal