40 Top / Highest paying jobs without a degree in UK
University is not for everyone; if someone chooses to study a core subject and pursue a career in it, there are always other options to pursue a job in a high-paying job without a degree, straight out of high school.
If you are one of the many people looking for ways to succeed other than another three years of university study, we have identified a plethora of options for getting paid jobs with a decent annual salary without being a graduate.
Here are our picks for the top 40 high-paying jobs available in the UK without a degree. We researched average, starting, and highest salaries to provide you with all of the information you require.
See List below
1. Personal trainer
- Average Salary – £27,000
- Starting Salary £20,000
- Highest Salary – £60,000
What is involved:
A Personal Trainer has the knowledge and skills to assist clients in achieving their goals through exercise programs and exercise instruction.
Personal training can be a lucrative career path outside of university, with salaries of up to £60,000 in some of London’s best gyms.
This profession can help you turn your personal interests in health and fitness into a yearly salary.
Since 2014, the fitness industry has been steadily growing, so this is an excellent opportunity to advance a career in an industry that is in high demand.
You can also look into personal training courses, working as a personal trainer in a gym or health club, or becoming a self-employed Personal Trainer.
To become a Personal Trainer you need a Level 3 Personal Training Qualification which is recognized by CIMSPA. 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.
Find out more about becoming a Personal Trainer. Alternatively, understand how you can earn more once becoming a personal trainer by finding out more information on personal trainers’ salaries.
2. Estate Agents
- Average Salary – £21,500
- Starting Salary – £16,000
- Highest Salary – £49,000
What is involved:
As an Estate Agent, you will sell or rent out a commercial or residential property.
To become an Estate Agent, you do not need a degree; however, there are a few specific qualifications that will help you get started. For example, an Estate Agent Diploma or Estate Agent & Personal Development Training.
3. Nutrition Coach
- Average Salary – £26,797
- Starting Salary – £19,000
- Highest salary- £44,000
A Nutrition Coach, also known as a Nutrition Advisor, is someone who gives advice and guidance on food and drink topics to individuals and small groups.
To become a Nutrition Coach, you must first complete a Level 3 Nutrition Course; this is an excellent alternative for those seeking a career in Nutrition outside of a degree program.
Learn more about becoming a Nutrition Coach. Check out our nutrition courses.
4. Recruitment Consultant
- Average Salary – £23,000
- Starting Salary – £18,000
- Highest salary- £30,000
What is involved:
A recruitment consultant is someone who is in charge of finding suitable jobs for the right people; typically, these people work for recruitment agencies.
You do not need a degree to work in this industry, but prior experience in the job market would be advantageous.
This role will benefit from strong communication, management, and administrative skills.
5. Pilates Instructors
- 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 have become a Pilates Instructor or Pilates teacher you will be able to run classes within a community, classes within a gym, open mat work studios, and be able to 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.
6. FireFighter
- Average Salary – £30,027
- Starting Salary – £23,000
- Highest salary- £36,000
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.
7. Health & Wellbeing Coach
- Average Salary – £20,300
- Starting Salary – £16,000
- Highest salary- £25,000
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 behavior 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.
8. Police Officer
- Average Salary – £29,310
- Starting Salary – £21,000
- Highest salary- £41,000
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.
9. Marketing Executive
- Average Salary – £24,141
- Starting Salary – £19,000
- Highest salary- £30,000
What is involved:
As a Marketing Executive, you will explore how to develop effective sales strategies that will meet consumers/customers 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.
10. Computer games tester
- 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.
11. Train drivers
- Average Salary – £27,898
- Starting Salary – £24,000
- Highest salary- £70,000
What is involved:
As a train driver, you are responsible for driving the train and ensuring this is done safely, you do not need a degree to become a train driver.
The industry is very popular and can have quite a competitive process. Concentration skills and paying thorough attention to detail are valuable skills to have in a role such as this.
12. Strength and conditioning coach
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.
13. Flight Attendant
- Average Salary – £20,450
- Starting Salary – £15,000
- Highest salary- £39,000
What is involved:
As a flight attendant, you are responsible for ensuring the safety, security and comfort of all airline passengers on your flights.
This job role is a type of customer service role which is front facing with the aim of making a welcoming environment for passengers.
14. Health & Fitness Coach
- Average Salary – £24,000
- Starting Salary – £19,000
- Highest salary- £28,000
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.
15. Member of Parliament
- 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.
16. Sales manager
- 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.
17. Air traffic controllers
- 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.
18. Electrician
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.
19. Plumber
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.
20. Sound engineering Technician
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.
21. Management Consultant
- 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 specialized areas such as strategies, mergers, governance, reorganizations, 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.
22. Sheet metal worker
- 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.
23. Equipment Operator
- 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.
24. Nuclear Technician
- 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.
25. Executive Assistant
- 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.
26. Translator
- 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.
27. Strategy Manager
- 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.
28. Sports massage Therapist
- 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.
29. Prison Officer
- 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.
30. Offshore energy technician
- 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.
31. Security Consultant
- 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.
32. Computer Security Specialists
- 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.
33. Risk Manager
- 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.
34. Hazardous-Waste Manager
- 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.
35. Mortgage Advisor
- 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.
Although you do not need a degree to become a mortgage advisor, gaining an industry-recognised qualification as well as relevant work experience.
36. Personal Assistant
Average Salary – £26,410
Starting Salary – £19,000
Highest salary- £38,000
What is involved:
A personal assistant involves helping with time management and organization, 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.
VIEW ALSO : Top 10 Low Stress Jobs That Pay Well Without A Degree In 2022 / 2023
37. Journalist
- 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.
38. Freelance IT Contractor
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.
39. Youth Worker
- Average Salary – £22,068
- Starting Salary – £17,000
- Highest salary- £28,000
What is involved:
A youth worker is responsible for organizing 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.
40. Environmental Conservation Consultant
- Average Salary – £35,352
- Starting Salary – £21,000
- Highest salary- £59,000
What is involved:
Working within an environmental conservation organization 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.
