UPDATE: Click here to read the 2015 annual best paid jobs and salaries survey

The influence of financial services over the economy has been spelled out again as City brokers steal top spot in this year’s official list of highest earners.

According to the detailed 2014 ONS annual salaries survey, brokers pocketed around 40 times more this year than those at the bottom of the list - the people responsible for keeping children safe on the way to school.

Lollipop crossing patrols earned around £3,400.

But at nearly £134,000, the average pay of Britain’s estimated 16,000 financial wheeler dealers shadows even their closest pay rivals.

Aircraft pilots at number 3 earned £44,000 less at a mere £90,146 - and about 10 per cent more than sales and marketing directors in fourth place on £82,962.

Laughing all the way from the bank: The fat cats waddle off with this year's £133,677 salary prize in a table propped up by lollipop people, who earn just £3,394, and soaring above pilots on £90,146.

The average pay of the pillars of British business, chief executives, only managed second place with an average wage packet stuffed with £107,703 in 2014.

The overall average wage of the estimated 21,563,000 people included in the survey was £27,271.

Closest to this pay grade are sheet metal workers at 154 out of the 351 jobs surveyed.

Traditionally higher earners, welders and printers, earned slightly less than the average this year at around £26,000 – a similar salary to nurses.

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, compiled by the Office for National Statistics, is the cause of much debate.

For example, in 30th place, solicitors on £46,576 are two places BELOW train drivers.

There are different ways of interpreting the data. Our table includes job titles, rather than job categories, and the corresponding ‘mean average’ annual salary for those jobs.

To find your job, hit CTRL+F on your keyboard to enable the keyword search.