Going to university is not the only route to take for a well-paid career, and there are plenty of jobs on offer for those without a degree. Here are 10 of the best.
From police officers and firefighters to personal trainers and pilots, many of the jobs for those without a degree pay a decent salary. As a pilot you could earn £150,000, for example, while as a sales manager you could take home £70,000 a year.
In fact, many of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world don’t have a degree to their name either. They include Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson and Deborah Meaden.
Around a third of people get a degree, according to the Office for National Statistics. If you’re one of the two thirds without one, in this guide we look at 10 of the best-paid jobs you could get without a degree including the following:
- Police Officer
- Train Driver
- Pilot
- Estate Agent
- Oil Rigger
- Personal Assistant
Police Officer
Police officers keep us safe and uphold the law and there are a variety of roles within the police. Some officers patrol the streets, for example, following up on crimes, while others examine crime scenes and data. There is a nationwide police force but there are also specialist units, such as the British Transport Police.
- Average salary: £37,250
- Entry level: £28,500
- Highest salary: £46,000
- Pension: There is a defined benefit pension scheme and the amount of money you receive is based on how many years you work in the police. This applies to anyone joining from April 1, 2015 while those who joined previously will have had a final salary pension scheme. The average age of retirement for a police officer is 55.
Qualifications needed:
There are several routes to becoming a police officer. If you apply directly, you usually won’t need any formal qualifications. If you apply for an apprenticeship, you will usually need A-levels, an equivalent qualification, or experience in something similar such as a role in the military.
How to apply:
If you apply directly to the police, you will need to pass an interview, written tests, a medical, security checks, and a physical fitness test.
You can also join the police through an apprenticeship. This is called a Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) and takes three years to complete. While you are on the apprenticeship you will be paid. Each recruitment scheme is managed by individual police forces so you will need to contact your chosen unit to enquire about potential jobs.
Read more: What is the average salary by age in London and the rest of the UK in 2024?
Train Driver
If you’re a train driver, you are responsible for getting anyone or anything on your train to its destination safely and on time. That could be passengers, staff or even equipment or cargo. There is an extensive train network across the UK with some going to Europe and others underground. Along with driving the train, other jobs include communicating with control centres, reacting to incidents, reporting issues, and following strict safety procedures.
- Average salary: £44,500
- Entry level: £24,000
- Highest salary: £65,000
- Pension: Train drivers have access to a generous final salary pension scheme. This pays out a pension depending on the salary the driver was paid when they retired. This amount is divided by the years they have been a train driver to calculate a monthly average pension.
Qualifications needed:
You will usually need GCSEs, at grades nine to four (A* to C) in English and maths to apply.
How to apply:
There are a few routes to becoming a train driver. These include signing up to an apprenticeship with a train operating company, or working your way up through a train company and applying directly. Training usually takes between one and two years to complete before you can become a trainee driver.
Read more: Calculate how much you will get paid after tax with our income tax calculator
Pilot
If you’re a pilot working for an airline, your job is to fly passengers and cargo all around the world. That could mean a flight to Spain for 200 tourists or a long-haul flight to South America with produce on board.
- Average salary: £98,000
- Entry level: £47,000
- Highest salary: £150,000
- Pension: Most pilots can now sign up to a private pension through their employer, although the details will depend on the companies involved. The airline and the pilot will contribute to this, but the level of contributions will depend on the company.
Qualifications needed:
To get a job as a pilot, you will need to start with an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) and a Class 1 Medical Certificate.
How to apply:
You can apply directly to an airline to become a pilot. You will need to complete a pilot training programme first. If you have experience of flying in the military, you can also apply to the Civil Aviation Authority’s Military Accreditation Scheme. This enables you to apply for a job as a commercial pilot. Before you start any type of pilot scheme, you will need to pass a series of medical checks and gain a medical certificate. You may also have to fund the course, if the airline doesn’t offer this.
Sales Manager
Sales managers look after a sales department, keeping track of everything that happens within a company’s sales. This could include hiring and training employees, and feeding back sales results to senior staff members. You could become a sales manager in pretty much any line of work, from a bakery to a ballet. Your role will vary depending on the size and nature of the business.
- Average salary: £46,000
- Entry level: £22,000
- Highest salary: £70,000
- Pension: The type of pension available to a sales manager will depend on the company you work for. Usually it will be a private pension and the company will contribute a certain amount to it. They may match your contributions or put in more money.
Qualifications needed:
If you’re applying for an apprenticeship in sales you will usually need at least five GCSEs and some A- levels. When applying directly you will need some experience in sales.
How to apply:
You can sign up for an apprenticeship to become a trainee sales manager. You can also apply directly to a company for a job in sales. For a sales manager role you will need to show that you have evidence of working in sales and or being a manager. Expect to show details about your track record so far in creating sales and reaching your targets.
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Firefighter
Firefighters respond to emergencies and keep members of the public safe. They are trained to deal with a wide-range of incidents, from house fires to road accidents.
- Average salary: £35,000
- Entry level: £28,000
- Highest salary: £42,000
- Pension: The current firefighter pension scheme, introduced in 2015, is a career average scheme. The amount you receive when you stop working depends on how much you earned and the number of years you were a firefighter. The average age of retirement for a firefighter is 55.
Qualifications needed:
Most fire services ask applicants to have GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths, or an equivalent qualification.
How to apply:
You can apply directly to a fire service, or you can sign up to an apprenticeship. The Operational Firefighter Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship takes two years to complete. Before becoming a firefighter you will need to complete several tests, including a fitness and medical check.
Read more: What is the average salary by age in London and the rest of the UK in 2024?
Estate Agent
Estate agents sell and rent properties, both residential and commercial. They also manage properties for landlords. This can include carrying out regular inspections and communicating directly with the tenants. As an estate agent you could work for yourself or for a company.
- Average salary: £30,000
- Entry level: £20,000
- Highest salary: £40,000
- Pension: The type of pension available for an estate agent will depend on the company they work for, or if they are self employed. Most will have access to a private pension through their employer, which they and their employer usually contribute money into.
Qualifications needed:
No formal qualifications are needed to get a job as an estate agent.
How to apply:
You can apply directly to an estate agent for a job. If you have no experience you will usually start as a trainee and you will be given training. You can also sign up for an apprenticeship to become an estate agent. There are a few to choose from, including the Junior Estate Agent Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship or the Housing and Property Management Assistant Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship. For an apprenticeship you will usually need some GCSEs including maths and English.
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Oil Rigger
If you work on an offshore oil rig, the majority of your job will be looking after and maintaining all the equipment on the rig. If you’re an oil driller you can expect to be in charge of a drill, operating it and making sure records are kept up to date. If you’re based on the rig you may be there for a set period of days or weeks at a time.
- Average salary: £40,000
- Entry level: £20,000
- Highest salary: £60,000
- Pension: The type of pension you can access will depend on the company you work for. Usually it will be a standard private pension, which both you and your employer pays into.
Qualifications needed:
No official qualifications are required to get a job on an oil rig.
How to apply:
The first job most people get working on an oil rig is a roustabout. This involves looking after specific things on the rig and helping to unload supplies. You can then receive training within the company and work your way up to a more specialised job on the rig.
Personal trainer
You can work for yourself as a personal trainer, or you can get a job with a company, such as a gym. You will work with individual customers helping them to achieve their fitness goals. With clients you will create fitness programmes and give advice about nutrition and well being. You may carry out your work at a customer’s house, an outdoor space such as a park, or at a gym or leisure centre.
- Average salary: £30,000
- Entry level: £20,000
- Highest salary: £39,000
- Pension: If you work for a company, you will be automatically signed up to a private pension. Both you and your employer will contribute to this. If you’re self employed as a personal trainer, it will be up to you to set up your own private pension.
Qualifications needed:
You will need some formal training to become qualified as a personal trainer. This includes completing a Level 2 certificate in Gym Instructing and a Level 3 diploma in Personal Training.
How to apply:
Once you have the relevant qualifications, which you can complete through a private training course, you can apply for a job as a personal trainer. The requirements will depend on the company you’re joining but you will usually need to complete an interview and some fitness tests. If you’re striving out on your own, you will need to set yourself up as a sole trader in most cases. You can then set up your own personal training business, with things like a website and social media handles where you can advertise your services.
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Project Manager
Project managers are excellent organisers and their job is to plan how tasks are carried out within a business. The majority of medium and large businesses employ project managers who keep track of how a task is going, delegate jobs to different people, and keep an eye on the overall budget and deadlines.
- Average salary: £29,000
- Entry level: £52,000
- Highest salary: £75,000
- Pension: As a project manager, you won’t be entitled to any specialised pension. However, you will be able to sign up to a private pension through your employer. This will be automatic and you and the employer will contribute to the pension, unless you opt out of it.
Qualifications needed:
To apply for a project manager apprenticeship, you’ll usually need four or five GCSEs and A-levels. If you apply directly for a project manager job, you may not need any formal qualifications and you may be able to access training on the job.
How to apply:
There are a few different apprenticeship schemes you can complete to get a job as a project manager. These include the Associate Project Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship or the Project Manager Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship. To apply for either of these you’ll need to have some GCSEs and A levels. You can also apply directly to a company, and receive training while you’re working.
If you are new to tax returns, check out ourguide to self-assessment.
Personal Assistant
As a personal assistant, you’re responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of a senior member of staff. This usually involves planning their day, responding to emails, and managing their diary. You may be in an office or you could be a virtual personal assistant, with one or several clients.
- Average salary: £27,000
- Entry level: £18,000
- Highest salary: £35,000
- Pension: If you work for a company you should be automatically signed up to its private pension scheme. Both you and your employer will contribute to this. If you’re self-employed as a personal assistant, you will need to set up your own private pension.
Qualifications needed:
Maths and English GCSEs or A-levels, at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C).
How to apply
You can apply for a junior job within a company, working in an administrative role. This is often the way people become personal assistants, through completing formal training while working. There are also several apprenticeships you could complete, such as one in business administration.
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