The university is not for everyone.
Whilst somebody studies a core subject and follows a career in this, there are always alternative opportunities to pursue a job without a degree, straight from high school.
In the UK, there are numerous avenues to achieve lucrative salaries, and not all of them necessitate a degree.
According to the Office for National Statistics, a significant portion of graduates earns less than individuals who entered the job market directly. Not only that, but the cost of an undergraduate degree in the UK reached an astonishing level of £11,400 to £38,000/ year. On top of this, you need to add living costs of about £1,300/month in London.
Irrespective of possessing a degree, it is still possible to acquire qualifications and develop skills that will open doors to desirable employment opportunities.
If you are one of the many looking for ways to succeed outside an additional 3 years of studying for a university degree, or if you feel you got a useless degree, we have identified plenty of routes available for getting paid jobs with a decent annual salary, without being a graduate.
Here is our pick of the top 40 high-paying jobs available within the UK whilst not having a degree. We have researched the average salary alongside the starting and highest pay to provide you with all the information you need.
All pay data has been taken from Payscale, our jobs board and Glassdoor. We also interviewed personal trainers to find out how much they earn in real life.
Average Salary – £23,353
Starting Salary: £20,000
Highest Salary – £60,000
What is involved:
A Personal Trainer provides the knowledge and skills to help clients achieve their goals through exercise programs and instructing exercises.
The fitness industry has been on continuous growth since 2014, so this is a great opportunity to grow a career within an increasing demand.
You can explore alternative routes such as personal training courses, a personal trainer within a gym or health club or even becoming a self-employed Personal Trainer.
There are several levels of education. To become a Personal Trainer you need a Level 3 Personal Training Qualification recognised by CIMSPA. Alternatively, you can start with Level 2 to become a Gym Instructor. When studying with independent training providers you can start earning whilst you learn, after 2-3 months you could cover the costs of your monthly course repayments.
Your salary will depend massively on the type of level you decide to go for and the location. Personal Training in London or Manchester can be a great route to take outside the University, you can expect to earn up to £120,000 in some of London’s best gyms. This number, of course, can change according to the location.
The table shows the average personal trainer salary based on 25 hours per week as a guide. Learn now how to become a personal trainer.
| Hourly Rate | Weekly Income | Monthly Income | Yearly Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| £20 per hour | £500 | £2,000 | £24,000 |
| £30 per hour | £750 | £3,000 | £36,000 |
| £40 per hour | £1,000 | £4,000 | £48,000 |
| £50 per hour | £1,250 | £5,000 | £60,000 |
| £60 per hour | £1,500 | £6,000 | £72,000 |
| £70 per hour | £1,750 | £7,000 | £84,000 |
Average Salary – £21,250
Starting Salary – £33,300
Highest Salary – £41,000
What is involved:
As an Estate Agent, you will sell or rent out a property that can either be commercial or residential.
You do not need a degree to become an Estate Agent, however, there are a number of specific qualifications which would help you get started. Such as an Estate Agent Diploma or an Estate Agent & Personal Development Training.
Also read: jobs you can do with any degree
Average Salary – £28,000
Starting Salary – £19,000
Highest salary- £44,000
A Nutrition Coach, also known as a Nutrition Advisor, provides advice and guidance to individuals and small groups on topics related to food and drink.
To become a Nutrition coach you need to complete a Level 3 Nutrition Course, this is the perfect alternative for those looking for a career in Nutrition outside the degree level. Learn more about how to become a Nutrition Coach, which is a great career option for 18-24-year-old youngsters.
Check out our range of nutrition courses. After completing the nutrition course with Future Fit, students have several options. They can either start their own nutrition business or apply for jobs across the UK to gain work experience.
Average Salary – £30,344
Starting Salary – £18,000
Highest salary- £38,000
What is involved:
A recruitment consultant is an individual who is responsible for finding suitable jobs for the right people, usually, these people will work for recruitment agencies.
You do not need a degree to enter this industry however background knowledge in the job market would be beneficial. Good communication skills, management skills and administration will be useful within this role.
Average Salary – £25,000
Starting Salary – £20,000
Highest salary- £52,000
What is involved:
As a Pilates instructor, you will need to qualify for a Level 3 Diploma in Mat Pilates which is the entry-level requirement.
This qualification will provide you with the skills and knowledge of anatomy and physiology focusing on the spine and core.
Once you become a Pilates Instructor or Pilates teacher, you can run classes within a community, classes within a gym, open mat work studios, and run one-on-one sessions.
Your job growth as a Pilates instructor can be dependent on the route you decide to take within the industry. If you want to learn more about how much you can earn as a Pilates instructor, explore our Pilates salary information.
This career choice is also good for nurses looking for a career change.
Average Salary – £44,027
Starting Salary – £30,742
Highest salary- £64,000 approx.
What is involved:
When you become a FireFighter you will work within the community to prevent and put out fires. Alongside this, you will help educate the community about fire safety and prevention. This job will also involve supporting car accidents and floods.
Average Salary – £35,000 approx.
Starting Salary – £16,000
Highest salary- £74,400
What is involved:
A health and wellbeing coach will have the knowledge and understanding to promote the health and well-being of individuals, groups and communities so that people can make improvements and changes to their lives through positive behaviour change.
To become a Health and wellbeing coach you can study numerous courses such as Level 2 understanding mental wellbeing, Level 3 exercise referral for health management, Level 4 Lower back pain and Level 4 Obesity and Diabetes Management.
Average Salary – £35,763
Starting Salary – £28,101
Highest salary- £43,032
What is involved:
As a Police officer, you will help maintain law and order across different areas of the public to ensure they are preventing crime and improving the quality of life for all citizens.
In order to be a Police officer, you need to work well under pressure and be able to deal with difficult or stressful situations when needed.
Average Salary – £29,650
Starting Salary – £19,000
Highest salary- £33,290
What is involved:
As a Marketing Executive, you will explore how to develop effective sales strategies that will meet consumers’ requirements by promoting products, services and ideas.
You will work on marketing campaigns to promote a product or service to maximize profits.
You do not need a degree to become a Marketing executive however a creative flair and continuous motivation to learn will be beneficial when working so closely with change in markets.
Average Salary – £31,090
Starting Salary – £20,000
Highest salary- £40,000
What is involved:
When being a computer game tester you will be required to play computer games in order to check that they work efficiently and effectively in order to find and report any broken bugs.
In order to become a computer games tester you will need writing and communication skills, so alternative learning in game design may be beneficial if you are wanting to explore this career.
Average Salary – £20,898
Starting Salary – £24,000
Highest salary- £43,349 in London
What is involved:
As a taxi driver, you are responsible for driving a taxi and ensuring you take people to their destinations. You do not need to take a degree to do this job, but you do need to hire a PCO car if you want to do private driving.
The industry is very popular and can have quite a competitive process.
Acquiring a PCO licence and paying thorough attention to detail are valuable skills to have in a role such as this.
Average Salary – £27,898
Starting Salary – £24,000
Highest salary- £70,000
What is involved:
A strength and conditioning coach is responsible for establishing and maintaining a strength and conditioning program which has been tailored to their clients.
This is a great alternative role as a job without a degree as it provides opportunities to explore sports and athletic performance.
Average Salary – £27,000
Starting Salary – £16,000
Highest salary- £44,000
What is involved:
Working as a Life Coach will make you a trained professional who aims to provide help and guidance for clients to help reach or exceed personal or professional goals.
To become a Life Coach you currently don’t need a qualification, however, to be successful and improve earning potential many life coaches are qualified in a Level 3 Life Coach course.
Additionally, some Life Coaches look into higher qualifications such as a Level 5 Life Coach course, to increase earnings and widen market potential.
Average Salary – £27,000
Starting Salary – £22,000
Highest salary- £32,000
What is involved:
As a health and fitness coach, you will have a qualification in the Level 4 Personal trainer course with RSPH Nutrition.
This will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to provide fitness advice alongside nutrition advice to your clients.
As a qualified health and fitness coach, you have the ability to earn more than Personal Trainers by having the scope of knowledge to provide nutritional advice to clients alongside helping them reach their fitness goals.
Average Salary – £30,000
Starting Salary – £18,000
Highest salary- £100,000
What is involved:
As a member of parliament is a representative of the people who live in their area, their prime role is to act in the nation’s interest. As a member of parliament, you will belong to a political party with which you would then act in the interest of that party.
Although there is no degree to become an MP, you need to be elected so this can take some work and time before achieving this.
Average Salary – £32,455
Starting Salary – £21,000
Highest salary- £51,000
What is involved:
A sales manager is someone who is responsible for leading and guiding a team of sales individuals within an organisation. This role will involve setting sales targets and ensuring the team is running effectively to ensure everything is done to meet that sales target.
You do not need a degree to become a sales manager, however prior experience as a sales representative will be needed before taking on managerial responsibility as a role.
Average Salary – £50,00
Starting Salary – £25,000
Highest salary- £100,000
What is involved:
As an air traffic controller, you will be trained to use radar and radio communication equipment to communicate advice, information and instructions to pilots. The aim of this role is to guide the aircraft as it travels by using a tracking system of the aircraft’s exact position.
Average Salary – £29,644
Starting Salary – £21,000
Highest salary- £40,000
What is involved:
Electricians are responsible for designing, installing, maintaining and fixing electrical wiring systems. In order to become an electrician you will need to learn how to operate electricals to ensure you can carry the job out safely, this can be done through learning on the job or appreciating schemes.
Average Salary – £25,000
Starting Salary – £15,000
Highest salary- £36,000
What is involved:
As a plumber you can install or repair pipes and fittings that carry liquids and gases, you are responsible for understanding how to maintain and manage piping systems.
To become a plumber you will need an NVQ level 2 as a standard qualification which is the equivalent to an A level.
Average Salary – £32,000
Starting Salary – £20,000
Highest salary- £54,000
What is involved:
As a sound engineer, you have the skills and knowledge to build and assemble sound equipment. You will use equipment to record, mix, edit and reproduce music for things such as podcasts, TV, films and other productions.
Average Salary – £49,047
Starting Salary – £30,000
Highest salary- £88,000
What is involved:
As a management consultant, you provide advice and functional expertise in specialised areas such as strategies, mergers, governance, reorganisations, strategic leadership and operations.
To become a management consultant you should have good problem-solving skills, be able to communicate clearly and be able to organise and manage time effectively.
Average Salary – £27,250
Starting Salary – £20,000
Highest salary- £37,000
What is involved:
The main role of a sheet metal worker includes fabricating sheet metal products based on drawings. This involves cutting, bending and shaping sheet metal in accordance with design instructions. You can research some work experience opportunities to gain some skills on this whilst on the job.
Average Salary – £22,050
Starting Salary – £18,000
Highest salary- £25,000
What is involved:
As an equipment operator, you will use a variety of construction class vehicles on various job sites and be trained in all weather conditions. Within this job, you will be expected to be able to communicate effectively whilst maintaining safety practices.
Average Salary – £30,500
Starting Salary – £23,000
Highest salary- £38,000
What is involved:
As a nuclear technician, you will be maintaining equipment and monitoring radiation levels of nuclear power stations. Although you do not need to be degree educated you will need a good understanding of engineering.
Average Salary – £31,450
Starting Salary – £22,000
Highest salary- £45,000
What is involved:
As an executive assistant, you will be responsible for managing the schedules and communications of key company employees. This will include emails, documents, preparing meetings and coordinating arrangements.
Average Salary – £23,565
Starting Salary – £18,000
Highest salary- £39,000
What is involved:
Being a translator will require you to be able to accurately convey the meaning of spoken and written words from one language to another. In order to pursue this career, you will need to learn how to speak new languages and become fluent in them.
You do not need a degree to do this, you can cover this through online courses and education platforms.
Average Salary – £54,515
Starting Salary – £36,000
Highest salary- £75,000
What is involved:
A strategy manager’s job role is to review organizations and help determine their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and use this information to determine a company strategy to minimize risks.
Average Salary – £25,000
Starting Salary – £18,000
Highest salary- £41,000
What is involved:
A sports massage therapist is qualified at a Level 3 Sports Massage qualification which will allow you to work full time as a Sports therapist. Once qualified as a sports therapist you will provide advice and guidance on how to prevent injuries from occurring during sports and exercise physical activity.
Average Salary – £27,000
Starting Salary – £22,000
Highest salary- £38,000
What is involved:
As a prison officer, you will supervise and oversee the safety and security of prisoners. You will also help rehabilitate them and plan for their future, good communication skills are patience are useful within this job.
Average Salary – £34,392
Starting Salary – £19,000
Highest salary- £62,000
What is involved:
When you become an offshore energy technician you will work for the oil and gas industry, installing and testing a variety of equipment. This role may also be known as process operation technicians. Offshore energy can be numerous things such as wind turbines as an offshore energy source.
In order to become an offshore energy technician, you will need to complete additional studies within engineering, employers usually provide on-the-job training which will usually last 12 months.
Average Salary – £42,295
Starting Salary – £22,000
Highest salary- £80,000
What is involved:
A security consultant will regularly perform threat analysis, system checks and security tests. You will update cyber security criteria and procedures and ensure IT systems and software is running safely without any problems.
Average Salary – £38,000
Starting Salary – £22,000
Highest salary- £71,000
What is involved:
As a computer security specialist works to improve and build security through the development of software systems, networks and data centres. You do not need a qualification to pursue this career however problem-solving skills, the ability to work under pressure and persistence and determination are all beneficial within this role.
Average Salary – £49,718
Starting Salary – £30,000
Highest salary- £80,000
What is involved:
The role of a risk manager involves communicating risk policies and processes for an organisation. You will use your knowledge and hands-on development of risk models involving market, credit and operational risks.
Average Salary – £28,000
Starting Salary – £20,540
Highest salary- £40,000
What is involved:
The main role of a Hazardous-Waste Manager is to provide and deliver expert waste advice to clients and support partner waste producers. In order to work within this you will need to be experienced in auditing waste operations and facilities this is also something you could explore work experience within.
Average Salary – £29,289
Starting Salary – £19,000
Highest salary- £34,000
What is involved:
A mortgage advisor will have an in-depth knowledge of the property market, you will help provide professional mortgage advice solutions within Financial Services Authority Regulations. Mortgage software developers may be needed to simplify and automate some tasks.
Although you do not need a degree to become a mortgage advisor, gaining an industry-recognised qualification as well as relevant work experience.
Average Salary – £26,410
Starting Salary – £19,000
Highest salary- £38,000
What is involved:
A personal assistant involves helping with time management and organisation, scheduling meetings, acting as correspondence, and note-taking. This will be done on behalf of your manager to help manage their daily workload and time.
Average Salary – £25,193
Starting Salary – £18,000
Highest salary- £41,000
What is involved:
Being a journalist involves researching, writing, editing, proofreading and staying on top of daily trends and news to ensure you can cover this. To perform well in this job you will need good communication skills, writing skills and be able to work under pressure.
Average Salary – £40,515
Starting Salary – £27,000
Highest salary- £65,000
What is involved:
As an IT contractor, you provide clients with IT skills on a business-to-business contract basis, this will mean you aren’t employed as a traditional employee but you work directly for the end client or find new clients via recruitment agencies.
Average Salary – £22,068
Starting Salary – £17,000
Highest salary- £28,000
What is involved:
A youth worker is responsible for organising and overseeing community programmes aimed at young people, you will work directly with young children to help develop useful life skills and develop healthy relationships.
You do not need a degree to become a youth worker, however, a qualification at Level 2 or 3 as a Diploma in Youth practice will give you an advantage when applying for a role.
Average Salary – £35,352
Starting Salary – £21,000
Highest salary- £59,000
What is involved:
Working within an environmental conservation organisation involves managing, protecting and improving different environmental areas through the importance of conservation work, publicity and scientific monitoring.
You do not need a degree to take on environmental conservation, however, volunteering or researching different training opportunities will be beneficial prior to applying for this job role.
Consider careers that align with individual goals, interests and capabilities when choosing a job without a degree that you want to train for. Start by identifying the career objectives of different job types. Different jobs prefer communication, problem-solving, data and analytics, or people motivation and fitness and movement at various levels of importance.
Determining the “easiest” job to learn is subjective, varying on individual preferences, learning styles, and physical capabilities. Some jobs are considered more accessible for beginners due to their simple techniques and training methods.
Personal Training focuses on fitness and client communication, making it less reliant on computer skills. Nutrition jobs are known for their focus on well-being at various stages of life, such as pregnancy or training for a marathon. Sports Massage is accessible to individuals of varying fitness levels and ages.
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