Can you build a successful career and earn yourself a high paying job without a degree? With university attendance levels rising steadily year after year the competition for places is tough. In England, the fees could also be close to £10,000 per year. So is following the path to university the right option to build a successful career in a high paying job or are there better options suited for you?

As our society changes and technology plays a greater role in our day to day life’s so too does the demand for different skills and alternative careers. The traditional high paying jobs in the UK are now being replaced by new career routes, often resulting in high paying jobs that do not require a degree.

We now have a huge focus on our health and wellbeing, which is in direct conflict with sedentary lifestyles, fuelled by a takeaway culture of Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats. Therefore, personal trainers are in high demand, and therefore the expected earnings as a personal trainer are too.

Exploring High Paying Jobs with No Degree – The pressure to go to university.

There is a huge amount of pressure on teenagers when they approach the age to leave school to decide on their future, and pressure to go to university. Over two thirds reported that they would feel like a failure if they didn’t go to university.

With recent research showing that brain development doesn’t reach its full maturity until 25 years old, how much pressure should we put on teenagers to achieve and map out their whole career whilst they are 18 years old?

Furthermore, beyond the focus to choose the ‘right degree’ and go to university, a recent report by Joe Lewis and Paul Bolton, published for the House of Commons in May 2023 reported that poor mental health was on the rise amongst students whilst at university.

Factors such as moving away from home, workload pressure and financial pressures are all referenced as possible causes which could lead to higher rates amongst students at uni.

Student numbers at university continue to increase every year, making the competition for places  tougher and tougher. Recent data on www.statista.com shows 2.86 million students had enrolled in recent yeas, up from 2.75 million in the previous year. This was also a 14% rise Vs 10 years ago.

However, is going to university and getting a degree the right choice for everyone? With nearly three quarters of students choosing to attend university after school, is there another option for some people to follow a different career path and still find a high paying job without a degree?

Our guide lists 27 high paying jobs in the UK that don’t require you to gain a university degree. Each job description will highlight the requisite abilities, credentials, and opportunities for professional advancement. Whether you just want help with your career or are someone looking to grow without a degree, this article will help you.

What are the mental and financial costs of a university degree?

In the UK, earning a university degree is not always necessary to pursue a successful and rewarding profession. There is a rising understanding of the value of professional choices that do not require a formal degree as the labour market and sectors change. 

High paying jobs without a degree provide people from all backgrounds with a path to success and economic contribution. We can create a more talented and diverse workforce that can adapt to the changing needs of businesses by recognising these job opportunities.

Beyond the pressures of choosing which degree to undertake, going to university also carries a financial burden too. Whilst in Scotland tuition fees are free (provided you have lived in Scotland for 3 years before your course starts), in England you could expect to pay up to £9250 per year. Fees are similar in Wales and Northern Ireland too.

This cost is for tuition fees only, so you can expect the actual cost to be much higher when you calculate things like accommodation, living costs, study costs and socialising. The total cost of studying in the UK is estimated to be around £22,000 per year, and more if you study in London.

What about the job opportunities though, does a degree not eventually equate to a new win on the financial investment? That depends, the requirement from employers for new recruits to hold a degree is on the decline, and beyond the sum of costs Vs job income you must also account for the opportunity cost of lost experience in the job market whilst at university.

The UK has seen increased high paying jobs without a degree in recent years due to technology improvements and a rising focus on specialised skills. Keeping up with these growing industries is essential for people looking for successful and easygoing professions.

Highest Paying Jobs UK

When we explore the highest paying jobs in the UK many of the careers, businesses and jobs listed in this guide will appear on the list. There are some careers that will require a degree that do not appear on this list, like becoming a doctor or a solicitor.

However, the number of careers and the proportion of the highest paying jobs that do not require a degree is growing. The advancement of technology and the changes in our society mean that we now require experts and support in lots of different areas.

Although the majority of young people in the UK remain in school until 17 or 18 years old, before deciding to go to college or university, there are also lots of excellent career opportunities and some of the highest paying jobs can actually be started earlier with many suitable jobs for 16 years olds.

27 high paying jobs without a degree in the UK that do not require a university degree.

Let’s now explore 27 high paying jobs that do need you to go to university and get a degree. University is a brilliant option for many people, however, for some people opting to experiment with careers and build their experience could be a wise choice.

All 27 careers that we have listed below are high paying jobs with great career prospects. We kick off with our industry, and becoming a personal trainer at number 1.

Personal Trainer

• Average Salary in 2023 – £40,041. Source – Glassdoor and The Fitness Group.
• Highest Salary – Unlimited. Like any business running your own personal training business can have unlimited potential.

With the ever expanding growth of technology comes an increased awareness and improvement in knowledge of health, wellbeing and nutrition in society.

Although we have this increased knowledge though, society has also became addicted to the connivance of takeaway delivery apps on smart phones, an increase in fast food and more people sitting playing on devices rather than keeping active.

We therefore have the perfect mix of a society who are aware of the importance of health and wellbeing but are addicted to the wrong things, and need guidance to support them to reverse the trend. A recent report by the World Health Organisation made it official, our lifestyle is turning us into the the most obese nation in Europe, with fast food apps being cited as one of the main drivers.

As people prioritise their health and well-being, the job of a personal trainer has continued to rise year after year in the United Kingdom. Recent Glassdoor data shows Personal Trainer salaries in the UK can range from £1,000 to £100,000 annually, making this a rewarding and possibly lucrative career option. A popular way to enhance your Level 3 qualification is to add a Level 4 Nutrition Course, enabling you to offer meal plans for your clients and really supporting your potential earnings as a personal trainer.

On average our research shows that the average personal trainer salary can easily sit at around £45,000 – a match for the recent findings on Glassdoor too. How much you charge as a personal trainer will differ depending on many things, such as location, your potential to market your services effectively, and the quality of your education.

As an accredited personal trainer, you need to help people with achieving their fitness goals. You will make customised meal plans for your clients regarding their specific needs. 

Whether your clients are looking for muscle gain or weight loss, your guidance will help them achieve their goals. In the UK, you don’t need to have a particular degree to excel in your personal trainer career.

You do however need to have the right accredited qualifications, an appetite for running your own business (82% of personal trainers are self employed) and excellent support during your studies to ensure you learn and absorb as much information as possible to set you on the right path. 

The Fitness Group is the leading authority on personal training qualifications, learn how to become a personal trainer with our simple 10 step guide here. The first step to becoming a personal trainer will be to complete your Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification and then complete your Level 3 Personal Training Diploma. You can study both with our combined, Level 3 Gym and Personal Training Diploma course.

You can choose to study this online – all of online fitness courses allow you to study via our learning platform with uncapped tutor support.

Alternatively, you can study in person with one our in person courses held at one of our UK locations. For example we have in person courses like our London PT Courses, Manchester, Leeds Glasgow Personal Trainer Courses, or our Bristol Personal Training Courses.

As our qualifications are internationally recognised you can even work abroad once you graduate, or you can actually qualify in Dubai by studying one of our Dubai Personal Trainer Courses. These courses are recognised by REPs UAE.

Pilot 

• Average Salary in 2023 – £40,000 – £81,666. Source – Glassdoor and The Pilot Guys.
• Highest Salary – £170,0000.

A pilot will be one of the top jobs that spring to mind when you think about highest paying jobs, regardless of whether you have a degree. You do not need a degree to become a pilot however you will need significant personal investment to go through flight school. This can cost upwards of £70,000 however the rewards are very lucrative and employment rates are extremely high post flight school with major UK airlines.

You salary will change depending on experience, your rank or career progression and your company. You can expect something in the region of £170, 000 working as a captain for Virgin Active. A pilot is therefore one of the highest paying jobs in the UK, regardless of whether or not you have a degree.

Mortgage Advisor

• Average Salary in 2023 – £46,466 – £81,666. Source – Reed
• Highest Salary – £100,000+

Mortgage advisors have the chance to make a competitive income while offering valuable advice to customers looking for mortgage solutions, with an average yearly income of £46,466.

Similar to becoming a personal trainer, you will have to undertake a Level 3 qualification to become a mortgage advisor, called a CeMap course.

Your main duty as a mortgage advisor is to help people and families identify suitable mortgage products based on their financial situations and objectives. You are essential in determining a client’s eligibility and evaluating available mortgages. 

Also, you will assist them in obtaining financing for real estate transactions. Mortgage consultants are crucial to the house-buying process since they offer insightful information on interest rates, loan terms, and mortgage kinds. 

The career prospects are great, with lots of diverse routes, another great high paying job with no degree needed!

Real Estate Agent

• Average Salary in 2023 – £45,614. Source – Glassdoor
• Highest Salary – £76,000 +

Real estate agents can make a good amount of money helping clients buy, sell, or rent properties with an average yearly salary of circa £45,000. Real estate agents’ main duties include facilitating property transactions and acting as clients’ advocates. 

Moreover, your job as a real estate agent includes advising customers through the full purchasing or selling process. This is done either when you are assisting people in discovering their dream houses or assisting investors with property investments. Real estate agents connect buyers and sellers, negotiate deals, and ensure seamless transactions. 

A driving license is pretty much a pre requisite for the role and again a real estate agent is an example of a high paying job with no degree that you can literally start today! When you factor in potential bonuses this role could earn north of £100k per year, often you can earn an percentage of the sale value of the house. For example the real estate business will earn a percentage and then the agent will earn a percentage of that fee.

This is a well paid job that you can start shaping a new career in today with no degree required.

Business Development Manager

• Average Salary in 2023 – £32,000-£62,000 Source – Glassdoor and Reed
• Highest Salary – £76,000 +

The business development manager is an interesting and dynamic job in UK sales, strategy, and relationship-building. Business Development Managers have the chance to make a good wage while promoting growth and company expansion. In the UK, their average yearly salary reported to sit between £32,000 to £62,000.

Location, company and experience will all play a role in altering the average salary for the role, with London Business Development Manager roles attracting a higher salary.

The main duties of a business development manager are to seek out new business possibilities, form alliances, and create plans to boost sales and market share. You are essential to the company’s efforts to grow its clientele, discover undiscovered markets, and cultivate positive working relationships.

Business development managers are essential to fostering corporate expansion and maintaining the organisation’s long-term prosperity. This demand for the role means it is one of the highest paying jobs in the UK.

Graphic Designer

• Average Salary in 2023 – £24,390 Source – Payscale
• Highest Salary – £55,000

Among one of the high paying jobs without a degree in the UK, there is no specific job requirement for graphic designers. There is no specific degree required for it. You just need to be a master of graphic tools. This job is all about visual communication and design. 

With an average yearly salary of £24,390, graphic designers can make a good living. They use their artistic talents to convey ideas, tell stories, and produce visually engaging content.

As a graphic designer, you must create visual elements that portray the message you want to convey. You need to be aware of specific graphics required for mediums, including print, digital, web, advertising, and branding. 

To effectively communicate ideas and thoughts, you must be able to combine font, colours, images, and layout to create eye-catching designs. Every marketing corporation and organisation requires graphic designers to showcase their services to their potential clients.

Photographer

• Average Salary in 2023 – £27,539 Source – Payscale
• Highest Salary – Unlimited – check out how much famous photographers can make here

Photographers have gained immense importance in the digital age. It is a creative profession and offers rewarding salaries in the UK. Photographers have the chance to make a competitive income while capturing moments, conveying stories, and expressing their artistic vision via photos. They can earn average annual salaries of up to £27,539.

As a photographer, you must use your technical expertise and creative eye to take pictures for occasions, including portraits, events, weddings, landscapes, fashion, commercial campaigns, and more. Delivering high-quality and eye-catching photography depends on your skills in composing shots and controlling lighting through your images.

Photographers can hold an employed role in a business or they can offer freelance services as a consultant, run their own business and support many businesses. The potential for this career choice is unlimited as you can run your own business and scale this up, making it one of the highest paying jobs in the UK.

Social Media Influencer

• Average Salary in 2023 – £35,144 Source – Glassdoor
• Highest Salary – Unlimited – check out how much famous influencers can make here

Social media influencers can generate a competitive income by utilising their online presence and interacting with their followers. In the UK, social media influencers are earning an average annual salary of £35k.

Your main duty as a social media influencer is to produce and distribute engaging content on numerous social media sites. You must include product reviews, lifestyle blogs, lessons, and other material that appeal to your target audience. Influencers on social media are important for marketing businesses, goods, and services.

How much you can generate, will depend on the size of your social media following. Brands will pay you to promote their content and in turn if you have a higher number of followers you can expect a higher rate. You may take up a semi-employed role working in a agency however it is most likely that you will monetise this role with the help of an agency whilst running your own business.

Growing your business as a social media influencer is no easy task, alongside the huge benefit of being able to grow it for free organically on the free to use social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, comes a high level of competition too.

We recommend posting regularly and aiming to post authentic content that interests you – this will come across more naturally to your followers and give you a higher chance of long term success.

Generally the income you can generate will depend on your number of followers, your affiliate contract and the brands you work with.

Electrician

• Average Salary in 2023 – £36,000 Source – Reed
• Highest Salary – £100k +

Electricians in the maintenance and building sectors are in great demand in the UK. Electricians have the chance to make a competitive wage while offering services for electrical installations, repairs, and maintenance. They have an average annual income of £36,000.

Your major duty as an electrician is Installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical systems. You need to have a thorough knowledge of wiring buildings, setting up lighting fixtures, managing electrical safety inspections, and resolving electrical problems. You need to make sure all electrical systems run smoothly.

Depending on the size of the project and the complexity some electrician roles can enter into the high regions of £100,000 + – making them one of the highest paying jobs in the UK.

Plumber

• Average Salary in 2023 – £25,000 – £30,000 Source – Check a Trade
• Highest Salary – £100k +

Working as a plumber in the United Kingdom is important in the building and maintenance business. Plumbers earn a respectful wage while performing essential plumbing, heating, and water systems services. They have an average annual salary of £25,000-£30,000

As a plumber, your main duty revolves around installing, maintaining, and repairing plumbing systems, pipes, and fixtures. You also need to work on tasks like setting up heating systems and bathroom fixtures and fixing water leaks. Moreover, you need to make sure buildings have effective water flow. P

lumbers play a critical role in assuring the functionality and safety of plumbing systems, which are essential for sanitation, hygiene, and comfort. Their knowledge is crucial for maintaining drainage, the water supply, and heating systems.

Like most of the high paying jobs with no degree on this list, the salary expectations will greatly differ depending on factors like experience, location and whether you prefer an employed role or to start your own plumbing business. Similar to the trade of an electrician, running your own plumbing business can be extremely lucrative, making it potentially one of the highest paying jobs in the UK.

Welder

• Average Salary in 2023 – £32,000 Source – Reed
• Highest Salary – 50k +

Working as a welder in the UK offers an important job and a successful career. Welders have jobs in various sectors. They can make a respectable wage while displaying their prowess in connecting metals and creating structures.

On average, they can earn an hourly wage of £14.75 and annually around £32,000.

Your main duty as a welder is to join metals with the aid of specialised equipment for producing long-lasting connections. You might work on tasks that call for accurate welding in the construction, manufacturing, automotive, and other industries.

Buildings, bridges, machines, and a variety of other things are constructed and manufactured by welders. Also, the quality and safety of buildings are improved by skilled welders.

The most common route to becoming a welder is via an apprenticeship programme.

Carpenter

• Average Salary in 2023 – £38,227. Source – Reed
• Highest Salary – £45k, however like all of the high paying jobs with no degree earnings may be higher if you operate your own carpentry business

Working as a carpenter in the building business in the United Kingdom offers an attractive and rewarding career. They demonstrate their skill and workmanship while making many diverse designs.

Your main duty as a carpenter is to use wood to build, install, and fix various fixtures, furniture, and buildings. Your work will revolve around creating cabinets or shelving, installing doors and windows, or constructing building frames. 

The specialised type of carpentry necessitates both technical proficiency and artistic flare. Carpenters employ their skills to bring architectural plans and interior concepts to life by measuring, cutting, and assembling intricate elements.

Train Driver

• Average Salary in 2023 – £48,500 (Reed) – £61,000 (Glassdoor). Source – Reed and Glassdoor
• Highest Salary – £72,000 as a train driver manager, according to Reed.

In the UK, being a train driver is considered a good-paying job. This job falls under the transportation industry. Train drivers have the potential to earn up to £70,000 and an average salary of £48,500-£61,000. This profession also gets financial security and career advancement chances.

The main duty that you need to perform as a train driver is to drive and drop people off. Also, you need to ensure that cargo and goods are transported safely. 

To become a successful train driver, you must strictly follow the given timetable. Also, you need to follow all the safety regulations to avoid any kind of mishap. 

If you have not acquired a university degree and are looking for a high paying jobs without a degree, you can work as a train driver and earn a lot of money. Also, this job will give you a chance to travel across beautiful destinations.

Air Traffic Controller

• Average Salary in 2023 – £50,739 – Another high paid job that you dont need to go to university to start.
• Highest Salary – £100,000 +

Being an air traffic controller in the UK does not require a specialised university degree. It involves a very important responsibility to maintain an efficient and safe passage of aeroplanes. Air traffic controllers can earn good bucks ranging from a starting salary of £25,000 to £100,000 per year. This career offers both financial stability and career growth.

As an air traffic controller, you need to know about the ins and outs of radio and radar communication tools. Your duties would include giving pilots crucial guidance, assistance, and directions throughout their missions.

Air traffic controllers make sure that the aircrafts are flying safely. They track and locate aircraft passage through the airspace and ensure that air crafts are keeping an adequate distance from each other. Thus it allows for keeping all flight patterns safe.

This is an essential role, that is in high demand. It can be the a one of the highest paying jobs in the UK today!

Supply Chain Manager

• Average Salary in 2023 – £34,513 – Various sources including National Careers.GOV
• Highest Salary – £75,000 +

Working as a supply chain manager in the UK offers an exciting chance to make a significant contribution without having any degree. Supply chain managers work for the effective flow of resources and commodities across diverse industries. The typical annual income for a supply chain manager in the UK is  £34,513.

Your main supply chain manager’s duty is to supervise every supply chain step. It includes obtaining raw materials and sending finished goods to clients. 

Planning, coordinating, and streamlining the flow of goods will be among your top responsibilities. Supply chain managers frequently work with several departments, including procurement, logistics, and production. 

They improve procedures and reduce inefficiencies. Your ability to lead and make decisions will motivate the team and attain important goals.

Sales Representative

• Average Salary in 2023 – £37,500 – Various sources including Total Jobs
• Highest Salary – £50,000

Sales representative stands among other high paying jobs without a degree in the UK. Sales representatives work to boost sales and work to develop good relationships with clients. They have chances to work in almost all businesses. In the UK, a sales representative makes an average yearly salary of £37,500

As a sales representative, your main duty is to offer your services to potential clients and make sales. All you need to do this is to interact with clients, ascertain their needs, and provide solutions to their demands. 

In order to convince customers, you need to be able to communicate clearly and establish a good rapport. Also, you must show that you are well aware of the products you are selling to create a better impression.

Your salary as a sales rep will be dependent on your industry, your sales commission bonus built into your contract, so of course your sales performance!

Marketing Coordinator

• Average Salary in 2023 – £33,000 – Various sources including Glassdoor
• Highest Salary – £100,000 + (Role Dependant)

Working as a marketing coordinator in the UK offers a thrilling chance to play a key role in society without a degree. They contribute to accomplishing numerous campaigns and initiatives. A Marketing Coordinator’s annual income in the UK is anticipated to be £26,295 – £33,000.

The marketing coordinator’s main responsibility is supporting the marketing department in planning and monitoring marketing initiatives. To ensure a unified and successful marketing strategy, you will work with several teams. 

You need to interact with the creative, content, and digital marketing teams. Marketing coordinators are essential in promoting goods and services, building brand awareness, and connecting with target customers.

The marketing coordinator role is usually one of the most junior roles within a companies marketing team, therefore beyond this role you have the opportunity to progress through a diverse range of career pathways.

You can specialise in one particular marketing niche area or choose to progress through as a generalist and move into roles such as Marketing Manager.

Retail Store Manager

• Average Salary in 2023 – £36,868 
• Highest Salary – £50,000+

Working as a store manager in the UK is a rewarding job. Retail store managers need to direct and manage a retail establishment’s operations. The average annual pay for a shop manager in the UK is £36,868. 

Your main duty as a retail store manager is ensuring everything runs well and giving customers a satisfying shopping experience. You will be responsible for directing daily operations, managing the employees, achieving sales goals, and optimising inventory levels. 

Your ability to lead and make decisions is essential to guarantee the store’s success. A good retail shop manager must have strong interpersonal, leadership, and teamwork skills. You’ll engage with customers, respond to their questions and inspire your team to meet sales targets and deliver top-notch service.

Your level of responsibility, and the responsibilities within the role of store manager can vary depending on the store, size of the organisation, location, and sector. You may also have revenue targets and profit targets built into your job description.

Progress from managing a single store can be made to regional store manager.

Prison Officer

• Average Salary in 2023 – £27,000 – £32,000 (location dependant)
• Highest Salary – £38,000

As a prison officer in the United Kingdom, you need to work within the criminal justice system. You need to work for the improvement of the lives of convicted criminals. This job has the potential to offer a good income with an average salary of £27,000. The beginning salary ranges from £27,000 up to £38,000.

The prison officer’s main responsibilities include guaranteeing the prisoners’ security and safety. To provide a secure atmosphere, you will be in charge of the daily activities of the prisoners while upholding discipline. Prison officers play an important role in support of prisoners, rehabilitation, and ensuring security. 

Security Consultant

• Average Salary in 2023 – £65,000 – £75,000 
• Highest Salary – £92,000 +

Security consultation is a growing l profession in the United Kingdom. With an average pay of £65,000+ and the opportunity to earn up to £92,000, this job offers financial security and growth opportunities. Starting salaries of security consultants are £22,000.

Protecting businesses from online threats and potential security breaches is your main duty as a security consultant. Finding gaps and flaws in IT infrastructure entails undertaking routine threat analyses, system inspections, and security assessments. 

Your knowledge will be crucial in upgrading cybersecurity standards and practices. You will ensure that IT systems and software operate securely, effectively, and without any external risks.

Translator

• Average Salary in 2023 – £24,676, according to Payscale
• Highest Salary – £50,000 +

Translating is a new trending job in the UK as it is becoming culturally diverse. As a translator, you need to overcome language barriers and promote dialogue between people from various cultures. A career as a translator can be both financially and intellectually gratifying. In the UK, a translator can earn an average salary of £24676 with a starting salary of £18,000. 

Your primary responsibility as a translator is to translate one language into another. This is your best opportunity if you can speak and write foreign languages well. 

It does not require any degree, you just need to understand the words and their cultural connotations and background. Also, you need to be fluent in the language you are translating to succeed in this line of work.

Life Coach

Life coaching is a relatively new profession in the UK. As more people look for advice to accomplish their personal and professional goals, the job of a life coach has gained considerable importance. 

There is no particular degree you need for this job. This is a rewarding profession and has the potential for a competitive income, with an average salary of £27,000, a beginning salary of £16,000, and a maximum compensation of £44,000 per year.

As a life coach, your main responsibility is to offer knowledgeable assistance and direction to clients so they can achieve and surpass their unique ambitions. Life coaches work with their clients to boost their potential whether for personal growth, job success, or greater work-life balance.

SEO Expert

• Average Salary in 2023 – up to £44,000 – according to Glassdoor
• Highest Salary – Unlimited as a Consultant

The role of an SEO specialist in the UK has grown increasingly important in the Internet age. SEO professionals earn an average yearly salary of up to £44,000 in the country. They are essential to helping firms increase their online presence and successfully target their target markets.

As an SEO specialist, ensuring a company’s web pages rank highly on search engines like Google is your main duty. You need to conduct in-depth research to rank the keywords people use to find particular goods or services. 

With this useful information, you curate and add pertinent keywords to the business’s web pages. Your job is to make it simpler for prospective clients to find them naturally through search engines.

As with many of the high paying jobs that do not require a degree in this list, if you freelance as an SEO consultant your earnings can be limitless. If you can gain a reputation as an SEO expect with a track record of results then you can work on gaining high ticket big businesses and consult for tens of thousands of pounds each month.

Fire Fighter

• Average Salary in 2023 – £30,000. Source –Indeed
• Highest Salary – £62,000. Source –Prospects

A career as a fireman in the UK provides a sense of service and a competitive wage. It offers an initial salary of about £26,000 and an average yearly salary of £30,000.  In addition, skilled firemen can make up to £62,000 annually.

Being a firefighter does not require any particular university degree. You just need to take a fire service training course to become a firefighter in the UK. As a firefighter, your responsibilities include fire safety and guiding people in dealing with emergencies. 

Firefighters are trained to rescue people. In any emergency situation like a fire explosion or car accident, they are at the frontline to rescue people. They play an important role in the community by saving people’s property and their lives. 

This is a great example of a high paying job with no degree that will provide a huge level of job satisfaction and a great community feel working in your team.

Sales manager

• Average Salary in 2023 – £46,000. Source – Reed
• Highest Salary – £112,000. Source –Glassdoor

A career in sales management involves managing and directing a group of sales representatives inside a business. In the UK, it offers a starting salary of £30,000 and an average compensation of £46,000. This job offers a rewarding career path for those with an interest in sales and leadership. Furthermore, competent sales managers can make up to £112,000

Your main duties as a sales manager are setting sales goals and creating plans to meet the sales goals. You need to be proficient in inspiring and guiding the sales staff to perform at their work and hit sales targets. Your excellent leadership abilities and sales expertise will be crucial for this role.

The actual salary for this role will usually always vary depending on the sales bonuses associated with the role. Depending on your industry and what your selling the earnings can be huge. This is another example of a high paid job without a degree that also be highly rewarding.

Sports Massage Therapist

• Average Salary in 2023 – £30,000. Source Payscale
• Highest Salary – £45,000+. Source – Payscale

Another high paying career that doesn’t need a degree that we can support with is becoming a sports massage therapist.  To begin your journey as a sports massage therapist you must first complete your Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage Therapy.

Our ultimate guide to becoming a sports massage therapist will give you the step by step guidance to follow to become a sports massage therapist.

Once qualified many learners either choose to open their own sports massage business or seek employed roles within an existing practice.

It is very common for sports massage therapists to work part-time hours as a therapist, often combining the practice with other complimentary trades, like personal training.

Providing sports massage is a demanding role for the therapist and working a ‘traditional full-time working week’ aka 37.5-40 hours of massage would lead to burn out for the individual therapist.

Strength & Conditioning Coach

• Average Salary in 2023 – £29,000. Source – Glassdoor and The Fitness Group.
• Highest Salary – Unlimited. Similar running your own personal training business can have unlimited potential.

Our research shows that when our graduates go on to study a Level 4 strength and conditioning qualification they earn more money and open new career opportunities. This makes this advanced personal training qualification pathway another high paying career in the UK, without the need for a degree.

Some of the career pathways you will open when you graduate with our industry leading Level 4 Personal Training Course include, coaching professional sports teams and athletes, opening your own strength and conditioning facilities or enhancing your own gym facility, growing your existing client base, improving client results and earning far higher levels of income. As with all self employed ideas, becoming an accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach is one of the highest paying jobs uk.

We have other specialist Level 4 pathways too, for example you can choose to specialise in lower back pain or obesity and diabetes. Both of these Level 4 qualifications will enhance your earnings in your job or career within the fitness industry.

Highest Paying Jobs UK – Employed or Self Employed?

When we explore the highest paying jobs in the UK we see that most of the career options have a self employed pathway that often leads to a higher salary and higher earning potential. This is the upside to running your own business, the earnings potential is almost limitless. You can scale your business idea to generate enough profit to move into the highest salary bracket in the UK, become the highest 1% of highest paying jobs in the UK.

However, this pathway comes with the highest risk too. Whilst the upside is limitless, most entrepreneurs running their own business will also have difficult days too. There will be times when your chosen path will not be generating enough income and will not be close to being in the category of the highest paying jobs in the UK.

Getting through these difficult times as a business owner, learning and growing with your business is what will ultimately give you the experience and ability to grow your business over time to become really successful.

We at The Fitness Group Education, support thousands of graduates to gain internationally recognised qualifications every year. All of our graduates are passionate about health and fitness and the majority are looking to create a successful career that becomes for them one of the highest paying jobs in the UK.

Running your own business will mean taking on lots of areas outwith your core discipline, like admin, bookkeeping and marketing. However, many of the top highest paying jobs without a degree in this article are also one of the highest paying jobs in an employed position.

A Strength and Conditioning coach can secure employed jobs at some of the UK’s best employers. Many of the universities across the UK will employ an Strength and Conditioning coach and across the broad spectrum of professional sport most clubs and organisations will have employed high paying jobs for Strength and Conditioning coaches.

Key Takeaway – Highest Paying Jobs UK

The UK labour market provides plenty of high paying jobs without a degree that can be great career choices. These numerous employment opportunities offer a fantastic opportunity for people from all backgrounds to prosper and contribute to the economy. In addition, they can acquire rewarding careers by getting into these professions.

The growth of our technology and communications industries, through social media, personalised health and nutrition and business online support have opened up new high paying jobs that you can start today with no need to acquire a degree first. Becoming a personal trainer is now a career choice that is a high paid career choice, if you can successfully navigate your own business and market it successfully.

You can start your journey to become a personal trainer from 16 years old, making it a suitable job for a 16 year olds to no age barrier for older adults.

If you are aspiring for career success without a degree, embrace the expanding demand for these jobs. Most of the jobs we have explored today average within the highest paying jobs in the UK.