Top 20 Highest Paying Jobs in the UK With No Degree Needed
Want land your dream job but not interested in a bachelor’s degree? It turns out that you don't need university or higher education and university isn't for everyone. There are numerous high-paying jobs available where you only need transferable skills to succeed. So, if you are looking for top highest paying jobs in the UK with no degree... you've come to the right place.
We have identified a plethora of options for getting paid jobs with an average annual salary without being a graduate. So, what's the highest paying job? The starting salary for an entry-level paid job can be from 20- £32k.
Here are the top 20 highest-paying jobs available in the UK without a degree.
According to the Office of National Statistics, the UK average national salary was £25,971 in 2021, but some of these jobs pay even more.
Risk Manager
Average salary: £57,105
A Risk Manager advises their employer on one or more organisational threats, such as safety, security, and economic risks. Senior positions can easily earn more than £70,000, depending on location and level of responsibility.
A degree is not required for this position, but it may help strengthen your application. Another option is to advance through administrative roles and become a Risk Assistant before becoming a Risk Manager in your own right.
Product Manager
Average salary: £53,002
Product managers are in charge of a certain product, which can take numerous distinct forms: Tangible items, such as manufactured commodities, Intangible products, such as software and videogames, or Services (typically financial), such as credit cards and mortgages.
The entry criteria will vary depending on the sector, and degrees are more likely to be required in more specialised or technical industries, but you can get a long way simply by having a thorough understanding of your profession and positive word of mouth from recruiters and industry mutuals.
Construction Manager
Average salary: £65,188
A construction manager is like a project manager, and they are accountable for the seamless operation, oversight, and coordination of a project. However, if you're more interested in constructing websites than business conferences, this might be more appealing to you!
While going to university to pursue a surveying or construction management degree is an option, it is not the only one. There are apprenticeship programmes and other degrees available, and the average compensation is probably better than a graduate salary.
In addition to high salary, this career path provides several options for international travel and work in emerging fields such as sustainable development.
Ethical Hacker
Average salary: £50,000
An Ethical hacker legally hacks into a company's networks to identify any weaknesses or potential security threats. They use the same techniques as illegal hackers to test the company's internal servers and systems and provide recommendations for improvement.
Can you become an ethical hacker with a computer science degree?
Most ethical hacking jobs require at least a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, or a related field. However,you will not necessarily need a degree or be a data scientist to become an Ethical Hacker. To be an Ethical hacker, you need to be aware of the most advanced hacking techniques to ensure systems can withstand the most technological hacks. You'll also need strong communication skills to convey your findings clearly.
SAP Consultant
Average salary: £64,195
SAP, which stands for Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing, is enterprise resource planning software that is used to manage business operations and increase productivity, revenue, and efficiency. Almost like a business analyst!
An SAP Consultant collaborates with clients to identify unmet needs, develop customised solutions, and integrate them into existing infrastructure.
You can become an SAP consultant by working as an entry-level employee for an organisation before studying for SAP certification, transitioning into a SAP-specific role, and then progressing to management and consultancy level.
Finance Manager
Average salary: £52,316
A career in financial management is one that graduates can pursue, but even without a degree, there are ways to enter the field.
For those interested in a career in finance, both the Institute of Financial Accountants and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants offer specialised training.
If you have completed your A-levels or the equivalent and want to become a financial analyst, you might also be qualified to join a pertinent industry organisation, which can improve your CV for entry-level financial jobs.
Digital Marketer
Average salary: £37,500
There are thousands of people working in digital marketing who do not require a degree. They either learnt on the job, came from other similar fields, or got the necessary skills through online digital marketing courses. One of the best aspects of working in digital marketing is that your days can be filled with a variety of tasks meaning you'll never be bored.
SEO Expert
Average salary: £25,588
Experts in search engine optimization (SEO) ensure that a company's web pages rank high on search engines. They investigate what phrases customers enter into search engines while seeking for certain items or services. Using this information, they develop keywords or phrases to incorporate in a company's web pages to assist potential clients locate them.
Aspiring SEO professionals should undertake study on the most recent SEO trends and consider being certified as an expert on a certain search engine, such as Google.
Chartered Accountant
Average salary: Up to £42,000
Experts in search engine optimization (SEO) ensure that a company's web pages rank high on search engines. They investigate what terms users enter into search engines when looking for specific products or services. Using this information, they develop keywords or phrases to include in a company's web pages to help potential customers find them.
To become an SEO expert, you should conduct research on the latest SEO trends and consider becoming certified as an expert on a specific search engine, such as Google.
Air Traffic Controller
Average salary: £30,453 per year
The job of an air traffic controller is to prevent aviation accidents by managing the flow of arriving and departing aircraft, guiding pilots, and monitoring aircraft as they travel. Their major responsibility is to guarantee that aeroplanes take off and land safely at airports, ensuring the safety of the crew, passengers, and everyone on the ground.
Journalist
Average salary: £25,411 per year
The job of a journalist is to investigate and compose news content for magazines, television and radio programmes, newspapers, and internet platforms. Journalists are social media gurus in addition to good writing and research abilities, as social media platforms are a vital source of news information and a way of reaching audiences. A qualification recognised by the National Council for the Training of Journalists is required (NCTJ). Accredited courses provide budding journalists the professional skills they need while also demonstrating their ability to potential employers.
Sales Manager
Average salary: £55,000
A sales manager is in charge of managing a sales team, setting individual and team KPIs, motivating and training their team to meet sales targets. A sales manager is also in charge of hiring new team members, such as sales executives.
To be a sales manager, you must have good leadership and motivating qualities, since part of your position is assisting individuals on your team to perform at their peak. Interpersonal skills, such as problem solving, negotiation and relationship management are also crucial talents to have.
Events Manager
Average salary: £35,000
An events managers job involves meeting with clients to learn about their vision for their events. They also oversee the event's planning, including choosing the cuisine, arranging musicians or DJs, seeing and reserving the venue, and making ensuring everything stays under budget.
It takes good organisation and time management abilities to succeed as an events manager. It's also crucial to prepare ahead and have a backup plan in case your first selections turn out to be unfeasible.
Scrum Master
Average salary: £54,306
Scrum is a project management framework that was originally designed for software development. It divides tasks into short "sprints" that may be assigned to members of small teams.
It's named after the rugby formation and encourages flexible cooperation and non-linear communication. A Scrum Master exists inside this structure to protect the team from extraneous distractions.
A graduate degree is not necessary. You should be well suited to the post of Scrum Master if you can demonstrate that you are an agile thinker with the ability to communicate clearly and quickly to new difficulties.
HR Business Partner
Average salary: £54,872
HR business partners act just like a HR manager. They are people specialists that assist businesses in improving their HR strategy, frequently in a specialised area of the organisation.
They collaborate closely with stakeholders and the chief executive to identify and resolve current HR issues, as well as to enhance the company's people management efficiency.
You don't need a degree to achieve this, but specialised training, such as the CIPD Business Partner Programme, will give you a greater chance.
Translator
Average salary: £27463
Translator positions may be quite profitable, and they are in high demand as a result of globalisation and the way modern corporations conduct business. They require interpreters to assist with cross-border negotiations, marketing, and other tasks.
A degree has been awarded to some of the top translators. Others have been recognised by the completion of formal language examinations outside of university. The bottom line is that if you learn to speak another language fluently, whether you have a university degree or not, you can become a well-paid translation.
Hazardous Waste Manager
Average salary: £41,089
Hazardous waste managers are responsible for removing hazardous by-products from pesticide plants, hospitals, gasoline refineries, and other potentially hazardous locations. They make certain that disposal procedures adhere to regulatory legislation and environmental requirements. The high remuneration is due to the amount of skill and danger needed in appropriately handling these by-products.
Taking an online course in environmental safety and chemical disposal is a wonderful way to get started in the hazardous waste management industry. Construction or quarrying experience is also advantageous, as these job settings have similar health and safety procedures.
Firefighter
Average salary: £25,150
A firefighter's role is to respond as fast as possible to fires, accidents, or situations involving a risk to life or property. Car accidents, flooding, and chemical spills are examples. When they get on the site, they determine if they need to call in reinforcements from other emergency services to neutralise hazards or assist victims. UK Fire Service Resources and The London Fire Brigade are two firefighter recruiting agencies. Recruiters need applicants to go through a training programme that evaluates their mechanical thinking, athleticism, English and math skills, and so on.
Police Officer
Average salary: £26,839
Police officers are responsible for maintaining peace and order in their communities as well as increasing people' quality of life. Police officers are paid well because of the dangers they may face while serving the public.
The Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF) has been updated to match modern policing practises by the College of Policing. For non-degree holders, the framework includes the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA). This is a three-year apprenticeship that includes paid on-the-job and off-the-job training. To join the apprenticeship programme and acquire a degree in professional policing practise, candidates must have two A-levels (or equivalent).
Oil Rigger
Average salary: £33,138
An oil rigger's job is to clean, inspect, and repair the equipment on an oil rig, such as pipes, mud pumps, and cranes. To guarantee that activities run properly, more experienced oil riggers operate the rotary drill rig and gauges. Because oil rigs are located offshore, oil riggers alternate periods of working and living on the rig with periods of free time at home.
Oil riggers must be over the age of 18 and have completed an emergency response training course. Working in this hazardous environment requires a high level of alertness and physical fitness. Apprenticeships for inexperienced workers are a good method to get started as an oil rigger, and they frequently assist in the development of critical thinking, decision-making, and time management abilities.
Key Take Home Message
Although it's popular to think that a degree is necessary for high-paying jobs, unless you plan to work in an academic field, the additional 3-4 years of work experience may be a huge leveller. There are other options if spending years in higher education doesn't sound appealing to you. A third of student’s express regret about attending college, blaming debt and a lack of employment opportunities. The truth is that getting well-paying jobs doesn't always require years and years of education.
This list serves as evidence that possibility exists for a job opportunity. Therefore, you could be closer than you realise to a high paying job if you have a passion for a certain field or can show that you have the soft skills needed to succeed in a senior position.
