Did you know that one in eight young people without a degree works in graduate jobs in the UK? If you’re seeking a high-paying job but don’t have the time or money to invest in a four-year or graduate degree, you’ve come to the right place because there are plenty of reliable and highest paid jobs in the UK without a degree and within your reach.

Not everybody is cut out for university life. Rising tuition fees and the possibility of repaying student loans for the remainder of their working lives are deterring an increasing number of young people from going to university. However, it may seem impossible to climb the career ladder without a formal undergraduate degree. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the top 40 jobs where skills and training are favoured over the traditional education route. So, read ahead and find the highest paid job that suits you best.

Top 40 Highest Paying Jobs in the UK Without a Degree

1. Air Traffic Controller

Air traffic controllers work in the large air traffic control towers at airports you might have seen in movies. Their duty is to ensure that all aircraft entering and exiting the airport do so safely and efficiently. They do this by laying out the landing routes for the pilots and speaking over the radio to ensure that all takeoffs and landings go off without a hitch. As a result, it’s a very important job with a great deal of responsibility.

How much can I earn as an air traffic controller?

On average, an air traffic controller earns around £40,000 a year. However, an experienced senior air traffic controller can earn approximately £100,000 a year or more. So, the starting salary for an air traffic controller is around £21,000 a year plus expenses, as per the National Careers Service. But this is while you’re doing your college training, which lasts for about a year to 18 months.

Once you’ve done your college training, you’ll progress to on-the-job training, where you’ll learn from an instructor in a live environment. And during that period, you’ll earn around £23,000 a year. After completing your operational training, you’ll be given your licence. And this is when you’ll earn around £40,000 or slightly more. And after about 3 years, you can expect to see that rise to around £50,000 a year.

How to become an air traffic controller?

This job is totally based on your skills and abilities, not on your experience. So you don’t need to have a CV packed with experience and lots of other stuff you’ve done in the past. Because recruiters look at what you can do now, and their application process is more about tests, they see how you perform in those rather than worrying about what you’ve done in the past.

To qualify for the application process, you must be 18 years or older and have 5 GCSEs A-C level. The best way to apply for this job is via the NATS. This is the national air traffic service, where you can apply online. From there, you will be required to test your cognitive and decision-making skills. But once you’ve passed the online test, you’ll be invited to a one-day assessment centre for further tests and more group exercises. If you pass that stage, you’ll be invited to join as a trainee air traffic controller.

One thing worth bearing in mind about this job is that you will be expected to work anywhere in the UK as an air traffic controller. Once you’ve qualified, the NATS will station you at one of the air traffic control centres in any airport around the country. So, you’ll need to be reasonably flexible about where you can live.

2. Recruitment Consultant

Recruitment consultants work for recruitment agencies. These agencies help other companies find staff and place them within the company. They charge companies fees for this service.

As a recruitment consultant, you’ll earn a commission from those fees, so it’s more like a sales job. The more placements you make within companies, the more money you’ll earn.

A recruitment consultant job involves:

• Approaching potential clients and bringing in vacancies
• Going out to the job market and advertising it.
• Speaking to candidates and interviewing them.
• Managing the process all the way through to their interview and then the job off the stage.

How much can you earn as a recruitment consultant?

When you place a candidate with an employer, your company will generate a fee. When the client company pays that fee, you will get a commission on that fee as a recruitment consultant. So, a good recruitment consultant can expect to earn around £40,000. And in high-paying industries, an experienced recruitment consultant can earn over £100,000 a year.

It’s worth pointing out that it’s a sales job, and you’re not guaranteed this money. It’s only if you’re making constant placements and you’re generating money for your employer. So, generally speaking, recruitment consultants or junior recruitment consultants trainees will start on a basic salary of around £16,000 a year. However, you can earn a commission on top of that from the moment you start working.

There are absolutely no caps on earnings. The more placements you make, the more commission you’ll generate. Plus, many companies offer bonuses, paid holidays, cars, and other benefits.

How to become a recruitment consultant?

There are no formal qualifications for a recruitment consultant. They tend to hire more on personality traits than they do on qualifications. So what they look for is someone that’s going to be good in a sales role, confident, persistent, and good with people.

You can start from the trainee recruitment position or a resourcer position. It’s a perfect job if you’re driven and motivated, and you’re good with people. You can also take our recruitment consultant diploma course to know more about the recruitment process to stand out in this industry.

3. Mortgage Advisor

When people need to buy a home in the UK, they will need to borrow money from the bank. They’ll need a loan which is called a mortgage. It’s a loan secured on the house or flat that people buy.

So, what a mortgage advisor does is help house buyers pick the right mortgage products for their needs. Because mortgages are very complex financial products. And there are lots of deals out there. So they help people pick the right one.

As a mortgage advisor, you will even work directly for a bank and advise only on that bank’s products, or you might work for an independent mortgage brokerage that reports on a wide range of products from across the market. And when a mortgage is arranged, a fee will generally be generated, and mortgage advisors make a commission on those fees. So, it is technically a sales job.

How much can you earn as a mortgage advisor?

On average, a mortgage advisor can expect to earn around £40,000 to £50,000 a year. But a good mortgage advisor who is arranging lots of mortgages can earn more than £80,000 a year, but you do have to be arranging those mortgages and making those sales to earn the commission. To earn that kind of money, the average starting salary for a mortgage advisor will be around £22,000. But within the first year, as you progress and start to bring on more clients and sell more mortgage deals, you can quickly begin to move that to these sorts of thirty to £60,000 to £70,000 a year range.

How to become a mortgage advisor?

The primary qualification you need to become a mortgage advisor in the UK is a CeMAP or a certificate of mortgage advice and practice. It costs a few hundred pounds to do this course, but you can self-study at home. And you have to take an exam at the end. You will be qualified to give mortgage advice in the UK only after you pass the exam.

Another way to get this job is to take a more junior job with a bank, for example, a customer advisor, someone who deals with savings and loans and things like that, and then you can progress your way into a mortgage role. To get one of these junior banking-type jobs, you’ll only need the basic GCSEs to get your foot in the door.
So it’s a perfect job if you’re interested in finance, and you like dealing with people. You can also enrol in Janets’ Mortgage Advisor online course to get started.

4. Project Manager

Project managers manage a wide range of projects across all industries and professions. For example, it could be a big construction project building a big block of flats. It could be an IT upgrade for a business. It could be a people transformation program where a company is restructuring its people. So, there’s a wide range of areas you can get into.

A project manager plans the projects, budgets, and schedules them, and makes sure that everybody on the project team is delivering the work they’re supposed to be, and it’s all delivered on time and budget.

How much can you earn as a project manager?

On average, in the UK, a project manager will earn around £52,000 a year. But an experienced project manager working in suitable industries can earn up to £75,000 a year, even possibly £100,000 a year or more, depending on the experience level and the type of industry they’re working in.

How to become a project manager?

You don’t need any formal qualifications to become a project manager. There are some recognised bodies out there that offer project management training, such as prince2. They are formally recognised and preferred, but they aren’t 100% necessary. So, you don’t need to go out there if you want to. You can also take our online project management course to learn more about this job.

You can even take a junior project role and work your way up into a project management position. For example, you could apply for project support roles or project admin roles to work alongside project managers, supporting them in various functions. And once you’ve got a position like that, you can then obviously progress and move your way into a project management role internally within that employer.

This could take one to five years, depending on how quickly you progress and what opportunities are available within the employer that you’re working for over the time.

5. Estate Agent

Estate agents help people sell their homes. If somebody is looking to sell their house or their flat, an estate agent will take complete control of the process. For example, estate agents will:

• Market the property.
• Take photos to put them on the websites
• Manage all the viewings etc.

And after they’ve managed to sell the house to somebody, they then charge the house owner a fee. These fees generally tend to be relatively high, and estate agents will take a commission from those fees, and that’s how they earn their money.

How much can you earn as an estate agent?

On average, a good estate agent can earn around £60,000 a year. But an excellent estate agent who’s selling a lot of houses can easily make over £100,000 a year.
Entry-level estate agent jobs such as trainee estate agent roles will generally pay around £25,000 a year. But this is a basic salary, and you can start earning commissions straight away. If you do well, you could easily learn to start earning £20,000 to £30,000 a year within the first year.

How to become an estate agent?

There are no formal qualifications to become an estate agent in the UK, but you’ll generally need a driving licence and possibly your own car to get around and do viewings and show people the properties you’re trying to sell.

Like the recruitment consultants, they look for people who will be good in sales positions. So, you’ve to be:

• Good with people
• Confident
• Persistent

It’s a really good job if you’re interested in the property, you like dealing with people, and you want to be rewarded for the results you get as opposed to the time you work. You can also take our online Estate Agent and Property Management Training course to learn more about property development and the pros and cons of this job to kickstart your career.

6. Electrician

Electricians are responsible for installing and maintaining all the electric systems we see around us in our homes and offices. So, because of that reason, they always have and probably will always be in high demand now.

How much can you earn as an electrician?

On average, a salaried electrician in the UK will earn around £44,000 a year. But there are lots of opportunities to earn more within this industry. Because you have lots of opportunities for going self-employed, contracting and often there are lots of overtime work available in construction which is usually paid at very high rates.
So, it’s not uncommon to see electricians earning more. According to an article in The Daily Mail, electricians in certain areas earn £156,000 a year.

How to become an electrician?

You need to get an NVQ in electrotechnical services to be able to carry out the job. But there are two different ways you can actually go about doing this.

Applying for apprenticeship

You can apply for an apprenticeship with one of the big lecture hall funds. They will start trainee or parenthesis electricians on around £14,000 a year. But they will pay for all of your training, put you through college and make sure you get all the qualifications needed. Plus, they can give you on-the-job training of actually working alongside electricians and other merchants.

To qualify for an apprenticeship, you’ll generally need three GCSEs at the agency level, but some companies may have age restrictions on who can do an apprenticeship.

Self-study

You can also self-study in your own time. If you’re currently in a job now, and you can’t afford to take the drop-down to an apprenticeship, what you can do is you can study the NVQ on your own, and then you can apply for a junior electrician role which is called an electrician’s mate. They will see you shadowing and assisting an electrician.
You can also take our online Certificate in Basic Electricity Course to get a head start in this career.

7. B2B Salesperson

What B2B or Business-to-Business means is that you’re in a sales position within a company, and you’re selling a product or services to another business. That’s why it’s called business to business sales.

Generally speaking, business to business services and products sell for quite a lot of money. It could be a piece of software that sells for thousands of pounds; it could be a fleet of cars. In general, it’s about very high sales values, and as a salesperson or sales representative, you will get commissions from those sales when you make them.

How much can you earn as a B2B salesperson?

The basic salary for a junior B2B salesperson or sales representative is around £23,000, and it can rise up to £50,000 per year. A really good B2B salesperson who’s got lots of clients, making lots of sales of high-value products can easily earn over £100,000 a year. And the salary is totally uncapped because the more sales you make, the more commission you will make. 
So, as a sales job, it will involve a lot of contact with clients, meetings, negotiation, networking, trying to generate leads and opportunities to make as many sales of a service or product as you possibly can for the employer.

How to become a B2B Salesperson?

There are no formal qualifications to become a salesperson in any field. It’s all about trying to get those sales like qualities across when you apply for the jobs, the confidence, the persistence, dealing with people, working under pressure and all those kinds of things.

You can also enrol in Janet’s Sales and Marketing Management Diploma course to learn more about sales and marketing techniques and how to close deals.

8. Firefighter

Firefighting is dangerous work that requires a high level of fitness, good judgment skills, and reserves of bravery. It’s a job that can make you feel that you’re contributing to something meaningful and making the world a better place. Firefighters are primarily concerned to protect lives and then with protecting property. This job also comes with lots of career opportunities and flexible working hours. There are scopes for you to diversify your responsibilities and become an expert in:

• Fire investigation
• Regulatory fire safety
• Urban search and rescue etc.

In addition, firefighting is in favour of work-life balance. In the UK, firefighters usually work 40 to 48 hours a week in shifts. The current shift system consists of four shifts followed by 96 hours of off duty (four days).

How much can you earn as a firefighter?

You can start as a trainee firefighter with an average starting salary of £28,000. After you are fully qualified and progress with promotion, your salary can get up to £38,500 a year. There are also great benefits that a firefighter can receive, for example, a pension scheme, childcare support, interest-free loans etc.

How to become a firefighter?

There are no strict entry qualifications to become a firefighter. Most fire departments would expect you to have a level 2 certificate in fire and rescue services in the community, related employment or volunteer experience, or knowledge of fire safety. However, these requirements may vary depending on which local fire department you’re applying to join.
To point out, you’ll need an excellent fitness level, the ability to make tough decisions under pressure, and a good understanding of health and safety. Online courses on firefighter training will also help learn the fundamentals of this job.

9. Train Driver

Train driver is one of the most popular, stable and well-paid jobs in the UK. But driving a train can be a mentally exhausting job because it comes with a great deal of responsibilities. Train drivers must maintain a high level of focus for long periods while adhering to a tight schedule and ensuring the safety of hundreds of passengers.

However, it can be a gratifying career that makes a significant difference in people’s lives. Also, this job offers outstanding pay and benefits, including a competitive wage, a generous pension, and opportunities for career advancement.

How much can you earn as a train driver?

Salaries for train drivers may vary depending on the company they work for and their experience. The average starting salary for a train driver is £24,000, which can go up to £65,000 for experienced drivers.

How to become a train driver?

To work as a train driver, you must be at least 21 years old. You’ll have to pass a set of tests that will assess your hearing, eyesight and concentration. You’ll still need to be able to work shifts at odd hours and have a strong understanding of health and safety.

Put it another way, you may begin by working as a passenger assistant or conductor and then apply for trainee driver positions as they become eligible.

10. Police Officer

Becoming a police officer can be a fantastic option for a job that contributes to society. Police officers combat organised crime to maintain public order, counter the threat of terrorism and act against antisocial behaviour. Their foremost priority is to protect individuals and improve the quality of life for all citizens.

However, this job can be highly demanding, both mentally and physically. For anyone who wishes to take on the challenge, it’s worth noting that you don’t need a graduate degree to become a police officer.

How much can you earn as a police officer?

The average starting salary for a police officer with less than 1 year of experience is £29,000 (excluding tips, bonus and overtime pay). And the average salary for an experienced police officer is £41,500.  But the salary range may vary in different locations. For example, inspectors can earn between £56,907 and £65,688 in London.

How to become a police officer?

There are no formal educational requirements for direct application, but you must be physically fit and pass written examinations. Alternatively, you may begin by completing an apprenticeship as a police constable.

For a degree apprenticeship, you’ll usually need 4 to 5 GCSEs in grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) as well as college certificates such as A-levels. Volunteering as a special constable will give you a sense of what it’s like to serve the police.Furthermore, Before applying for police officer training, you might even get paid jobs as a police community service officer (PCSO).

11. Personal Trainer

Being a personal trainer is one of the jobs that provide opportunity to change lives and help people become the best version of themselves. You don’t need a degree to become a personal trainer, all you need is a passion for health and fitness and the dedication to pursue this career.

A personal trainer plays a vital role in helping individuals achieve their fitness goals, improve their health, and enhance their overall well-being.

How much can you earn as a personal trainer?

The average starting salary for a personal trainer in the UK is £18,700. But an experienced personal trainer can earn over £28,500. As the payment is dependent on their experience in the fitness industry, a personal trainer can earn up to £60,000 a year across the UK.

How to become a personal trainer?

To become a personal trainer, you don’t need a degree, but you do need a qualification. Any online course will help you get the fundamental knowledge and skills you need as a personal trainer. Janets’ CPD accredited Personal Trainer Level 3 course is the stepping stone into the fitness industry. As a level 3 personal trainer, you can build on your skills and experience to progress in salary and charge a higher fee. You can even earn up to £100/hour when you become a highly experienced and qualified elite personal trainer.

12. Nutrition Coach

Nutrition is the foundation of our health that fuels our performance in everyday life. A certified nutrition coach knows the science of nutrition and helps clients who are looking to make life changes by promoting better health through smarter dietary choices, sustainable change, and a better relationship with food.

How much can you earn as a nutrition coach?

The national average salary for an entry-level nutrition coach is £28,000, while an experienced nutrition coach can earn up to £43,000 per year. However, the salary for a self-employed nutrition coach may vary depending on location, experience, and qualifications. The fees for nutrition coaches working with individuals are typically between £45 and £75 for an initial consultation.

How to become a nutrition coach?

To become a nutrition coach, you don’t need a university degree. Our Level 3 diploma in Nutrition course and  Nutrition Practitioner Diploma course are the perfect alternative for those looking for a career in Nutrition outside the degree level.

13. Health and Wellbeing Coach

If you enjoy helping people, becoming a health and wellbeing coach might be the perfect career choice for you. A health and wellbeing coach helps individuals improve their health, both physically and mentally. They often have to work with people to set personalised goals and change their behaviours.

How much can you earn as a health and wellbeing coach?

The salary for a health and wellbeing coach depends on experience and ranges in between £28,407 and £34,581 per year. You can choose to become part of the NHS pension scheme, with an employer contribution of 20.6%.

How to become a health and wellbeing coach?

You may wish to get a relevant degree in this field but it’s not necessarily required to get this job. You can enrol in Janets’ Diploma in Health and Wellbeing course to get the required knowledge and skills to apply for this job. This will make you more competitive when searching for roles.

14. Marketing Executive

Marketing is a great career choice for people who are looking for a traditional career path offering stability. You don’t need a marketing degree to make it in this industry. Most recruiters look for creative people with a strong portfolio and a desire to learn.

You need to look for a category of marketing that suits your passion and skills since marketing has many aspects.

How much can you earn as a marketing executive?

You need to start your career as a junior marketing professional and climb your career ladder to mid-level marketing professional which is a Marketing Executive. You might have to work as a marketing assistant as well before becoming a marketing executive. And after that, the next step in your career will be Senior Marketing Executive.
On average, an entry-level marketing executive earns £20,000 in the UK. However, the salary for a Senior Marketing Executive varies depending on work experience, location, industry demand, and sector. They can earn around £50,000 per year in the UK.

How to become a marketing executive?

To get a marketing job, you need to gain relevant experience through internships and freelance projects. Building a strong portfolio and developing the necessary skills through online courses are the easiest ways to get started. Janet’s Digital Marketing Diploma course will provide you with all the fundamental marketing knowledge you need to help you pursue your career in this sector.

15. Life Coach

A life coach is an individual who helps clients in reaching their personal and professional goals by providing them with support, guidance, structure, and encouragement to make the most of their lives and move forward in the areas in which they want to change, e.g. relationships, careers, fitness, work-life balance, self-confidence etc.

How much can you earn as a life coach?

The national average salary for a life coach in the UK is £29,856. With more than three years of experience as a life coach practitioner, you can charge £100 to £150 per session. And if you have more than ten years of experience, the hourly rate might increase above £200 per session.

How to become a life coach?

To get into this rewarding career as a life coach, you do not need any qualifications. It is a good option for those who do not want the time and expense of attending university. As there are many routes to becoming a life coach, you can choose to do an apprenticeship, or enrol in Janets’ Life Coaching Advanced Diploma online course and apply directly to become a life coach.

16. Plumber

Plumbing is an excellent career choice as there are many financial, physical, and mental benefits involved in this role. Plumbers are usually responsible for fitting, maintaining, and repairing water systems in different types of infrastructure in residential households and commercial properties.

How much can you earn as a plumber?

Your starter salary as a plumber in the UK will be £21,000. And as you become experienced, your salary will go over £40,000 per year.

In fact, when you become an experienced plumber, you can charge up to £90 per hour. This means that as a self-employed plumber, you’ll be able to earn up to £60,000 per year!

How to become a plumber?

You can become a plumber through a traditional apprenticeship, but there are alternate and easier ways to become a plumber faster. For example, you can enrol in our Plumbing Skills Training Course. It’s fully online and will provide you with all the fundamental skills you need to pursue your career.

17. Translator

Translators are experts in culture, language, and both written and oral communication. They convert one language to another and it is one of the most fulfilling career paths for those who enjoy working with people from different countries.

How much can you earn as a translator?

A translator in the UK earns an average salary of £26,275. You can also become a self-employed translator and charge by the hour. You can earn an additional income of around £1,835 per year in the UK.

How to become a translator?

You do not need a degree to become a translator. The most obvious requirement is to learn a second language fluently. It is possible to learn a second language fluently by studying at school or college or travelling, living or working abroad or even from the comfort of your home via online. There are so many online courses available to learn and master second language. To learn more about translation tools and technology or learn how to achieve cultural competence in translation and interpretation, you can enrol in Janets’ Translator & Interpreter online course.

18. Sports Massage Therapist

A sports massage therapist is a professional who uses massage techniques to manipulate the soft tissues of the body in order to help an injured person recover. They work with clients to reduce inflammation, limit the risk of future injury, and restore normal tissue function.

How much can you earn as a sports massage therapist?

On average, the salary for a sports massage therapist starts at around £18,000. An experienced sports massage therapist in the UK can earn around £30,000. If you choose to work in the private clinics or with professional teams, you can earn up to £45,000 in the UK.

How to become a sports massage therapist?

You don’t need a degree to become a sports massage therapist. By completing a relevant, accredited online sports massage course, you can apply for this job. As a beginner, you need to enrol in Janets’ Sports Massage Course, which is a level 2 CPD-accredited course. After completion of the course, you’ll be able to practice sports massage.

You’ll also need to complete level 3 and level 4 qualifications to become more skilled and work with clients who have already been diagnosed with their injury.

19. Risk Manager

Risk management is a specialised job that involves identifying any potential risks to the safety, security, profitability, and existence of an organisation. Risk managers usually set the compliance management system and use it for the company’s benefit. They also identify situations that involve or could lead to risks and analyse how they can be improved or resolved.

How much can you earn as a risk manager?

The average entry-level salary for a risk manager in the UK is £55,664 in the UK. An experienced risk manager can earn up to £74,000 per year.

How to become a risk manager?

You don’t need a degree to become a risk manager, you’ll need to work your way up. This means to start in an administrative role, gaining experience, getting to risk assistant post, and finally moving on to a risk management role. Employers usually look for non-graduate employees to have A levels or their equivalent.You can also take any online course related to risk management, for example, Compliance and Risk Manager Training by Janets will help you develop your ability to manage risks and seize opportunities for growth.

20. Personal Assistant

A personal assistant (PA) assists a specific person in an organisation with their daily tasks by acting as their first point of call. They handle a range of tasks, from basic administrative tasks to organising important meetings and even create performance report.

How much can you earn as a personal assistant?

The UK average salary for a personal assistant is £26,500 per year. When you become an experienced personal assistant, you’ll be able to earn up to £35,000 per year. You can even earn more as this role is really demanding and requires patience and time management

How to become a personal assistant?

You don’t need a degree to become a personal assistant. As long as you are a capable communicator in the interview, you’re halfway there. There are lots of entry-level jobs available to get started in this career. All you have to do is that you’ll need to prove you have the right skills for the role. However, GCSEs to further education or degree level is preferred to get this job.
Moreover, there are many online courses that might help you demonstrate that you have the right skill-sets. Our QLS endorsed Office Admin, Secretarial and PA Diploma course will also provide you with the insight, skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this busy career.

21. Journalist

Journalists are professionals who play a vital role in keeping the public informed. They analyse current events and tell important stories on local, national, and international levels. They usually work for specific organisations, investigate and report stories. Journalists also work for magazines, radio stations, television, and online news outlets.

How much can you earn as a journalist?

The estimated national average pay for a journalist in the UK is £34,500. An experienced journalist can earn up to £45,000 per year. This varies on which sector you go on to work in, and by location.

How to become a journalist?

To become a journalist, you don’t need a degree but you need to have good research skills. You can start by finding a niche that interests you, publish blogs or collection of works to create a strong portfolio, and work on self-improvement. The key is to demonstrate your ability to uncover the truth.
You can also enrol in online courses to understand all the fundamentals and skills you’ll require in this job. Janets’ Diploma in Journalism course will help you acquire the right knowledge and skills to get started.

22. Social Worker

Social workers help improve lives by protecting vulnerable people. They assist individuals from harm or abuse and support them to live independently. Social workers work across various settings, e.g.: hospitals, schools, government agencies, non-profit organisations etc.

How much can you earn as a social care worker?

The social worker job is rewarding career that comes with good pay. The average salary for a social care worker in the UK is £38,500. Experienced level social workers make up to £50,000 per year.

How to become a social worker?

You can become a social worker through on-the-job training. Many employers offer “trainee” or “assistant” positions, where you can get trained. There are many aspects of social work. You can choose to become a teacher’s aide, childcare provider, community health worker, case manager or even social service assistant. Janets’ Health and Social Care Management online course will also help you get a job in this sector.

23. SEO Expert

An SEO expert is an individual who optimises websites to achieve higher rankings on the search engines. An SEO expert is primarily responsible for:

• Increasing the website’s traffic
• Monitoring and reporting website’s performance
• Conduct keyword research
• Create and publish content for targeted audience
• Develop link building strategies
• Improve conversion optimisation rate etc.

How much can you earn as an SEO expert?

The average salary for a SEO expert in the UK is £39,500. This may rise up to £49,000 per year for the experienced SEO experts. However, salaries can vary significantly depending on the level of experience, location, and company size.

How to become an SEO expert?

You can become an SEO expert without a formal degree. Self-studying online courses, guides, hands-on projects, and practical experience will help you master SEO and apply for this job. You can start by learning the SEO fundamentals, how search engines work, learn content and SEO strategies, and develop a portfolio to showcase your skills. You can also enrol in Janets’ Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Training to learn the necessary skills required to get this job.

24. Customer Service Manager

A customer service manager oversees teams of customer service representatives. They usually answer customer questions, resolve problems, set team goals, monitor progress, and train staff members.

How much can you make as a customer service manager?

The average starting salary for a customer service manager is £21,000 per year in the UK. An experienced customer service manager can make up to £50,000 per year, which makes this job one of the most in-demand highest paid jobs in the UK in 2024.

How to become a customer service manager?

You don’t need a college or university degree to become a customer service manager. All you need is hands-on experience and a proven track record in customer service roles. You may need to demonstrate skills like communication, problem-solving, and team leadership to succeed in this career. Janets’ Customer Service Skills online course is another way gain necessary skills and knowledge required for this job.

25. Data Analyst

Data analysts are in high demand as many organisations nowadays rely on data analytics to make key decisions and grow their businesses. If you enjoy working with numbers and data to solve problems, this should be your perfect opportunity to become a data analyst. The job responsibilities of a data analyst include: collecting, analysing, and interpreting data to process and interpret it for solving business problems.

How much can you earn as a data analyst?

The average salary for a data analyst in the UK is £42,500 per year. This can rise up to £53,000 with your level of experience. As a market research data analyst, you can even earn £60,000 per year, making this one of the highest paid jobs you can do without a degree.

How to become a data analyst?

To become a data analyst without a degree, you need to develop a plan that can help you define each step of your career journey. You need to gain lots of technical skills like learning JavaScript, Python, SQL, C++ and more. You’ll also need practical work experience to build your professional network. By creating a portfolio and demonstrating your skills will help you take entry-level positions as a data analyst. Enrolling in an online course on data analyst and earning a certificate will also help expand your knowledge and credentials.

26. Graphic Designer

A graphic designer is a creative individual who creates visual designs for websites, ads, brochures, posters, branding etc. They might work for a company as part of a design team or for various clients as a freelancer. They often collaborate with employers or clients, fellow graphic designers, share ideas, make necessary changes based on feedback from employer or client , and ensure overall quality of designs.

How much can you earn as a graphic designer?

The average starting salary for a graphic designer is £20,000 in the UK. There are a lot of factors that affect the salary for a graphic designer. However, an experienced graphic designer can earn up to £40,000 per year.

How to become a graphic designer?

To become a graphic designer without a degree, you need to develop essential graphic designer skills like basic design theory, color, layout, composition, blending, knowledge of typography, and familiarity with graphic design softwares. Once you are done with learning the fundamentals of graphic design, you need to get certified. Online courses like Diploma in Graphic Design by Janets can help you develop your knowledge and skills in graphic design and enhance your resume and portfolio.

27. UI/UX Designer

A UI/UX designer is an individual who creates intuitive and interactive design keeping in mind how the users interact with it. They create an enjoyable and effective customer journey for the users. A UX designer usually conducts competitor analysis, develops product structure and strategy. Whereas, a UI designer works on the branding and graphic design to develop user guidelines.

How much can you earn as a ui/ux designer?

The starting salary for a UI/UX designer might vary depending on the level of experience and skills they have. On average, a UI/UX designer in the UK earns £45,000 per year. An experienced UI/UX designer can earn up to £57,000 per year. By working with multiple clients or project-based tasks, a senior UI/UX designer can earn more than £100,000 per year making this career one of the most highest paid jobs in the UK.

How to become a ui/ux designer?

You can become a UI/UX designer without a formal education and degree. If you have a strong portfolio and lots of practical projects to showcase your skills, you can succeed in this field. Even, taking Janets’ online course on Advanced Diploma in User Experience UI/UX Design can equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge you need to start your career.

28. Social Media Manager

A social media manager is an individual who develops strategies to increase followers, creates and oversees social media campaigns to increase brand exposure for their assigned products or organisations.

How much can you earn as a social media manager?

Social media manager is one of the highest paid jobs in the UK, with an average starter pay of £25,000 per year. An experienced social media manager can earn up to £60,000 per year in the UK.

How to become a social media manager?

You can become a social media manager without a degree by beginning with entry-level positions such as a social media specialist. You need to have a deep knowledge of social media platforms, communication skills, creativity and decision making skills. Engaging, building and maintaining an online community is crucial. You also need to familiarise yourself with social media management tools like Buffer, SprouotSocial, Tailwind, HubSpot etc to manage content and track campaign performance. You can also take Janets’ Social Media Marketing Professional Diploma course to further your skills and knowledge.

29. Cybersecurity Analyst

A cybersecurity analyst monitors and responds to security incidents. They are primarily responsible for analysing security alerts, investigating potential threats, and taking immediate actions to mitigate risks.

How much can you earn as a cybersecurity analyst?

The average starting salary for a cybersecurity analyst £30,000 in the UK. Whereas, an experienced cybersecurity analyst can earn £48,000 per year. When you become a senior cybersecurity analyst, your salary may rise to between £65,000 and £80,000 per year. And in the higher-level leadership roles, a cybersecurity analyst may earn up to £100,000 per year, which makes this career one of the highest paid jobs in the UK that you can do without a degree.

How to become a cybersecurity analyst?

Experience is crucial to have to become a cybersecurity analyst without a degree. You need to develop technical skills and build a portfolio to showcase your skills. Attending bootcamps, online certification courses on cybersecurity will also help you get a job in this field.

30. Bookkeeper

A bookkeeper is an individual who keeps track of a business’s financial transactions like purchases, expanses, invoices, payments, sales revenue etc. They also create balance sheets, income statements, and complete payroll.

How much can you earn as a bookkeeper?

The national average salary for a bookkeeper in the UK is £26,500. An experienced bookkeeper can make up to £35,000 per year.

How to become a bookkeeper?

If you don’t have a degree, you can still pursue the career of a bookkeeper. If you undergo on-the-job training programmes or take online courses on bookkeeping, it will help you boost your CV.

31. Writer

In general, a writer creates works of fiction and non-fiction, including books, poetry and manuals. A professional writer is someone who expresses ideases through writing according to a set of instructions or a specific style. They also draft, write, edit and proofread texts, pitch ideas to publishers and editors, works with designers or even marketing experts. There are many aspects of a writing job, for example: authorship, content creation, technical writing, freelance writing etc.

How much can you earn as a writer?

The average starting salary for a writer in the UK is £21,000 per year. The salary can rise up to £41,000 per year based on the level of experience. However, if you pursue the career of a technical writer or author, you may earn £50,000 per year.

How to become a writer?

The first requirement to become a writer without a degree is to be well-read. With enough writing experience and professional network, you can make writing a successful career. There are many aspects of a writing job, for example: authorship, content creation, technical writing, freelance writing etc. You can consider an apprenticeship with professional writers that will allow you to learn the hard and soft skills required for a writing career. Moreover, you can take online writing courses to gain necessary skills and pursue this career.

32. Data Scientist

A data scientist is an individual who collects, analyses and interprets data to help make decisions in an organisation. This challenging yet satisfying career will put you at the forefront of technological advances. A data scientist has more responsibilities than a data analyst and is often responsible for preparing data to use in analytics applications, interpreting data to solve complex problems, and converting data into actionable information.

How much can you earn as a data scientist?

The career of a data scientist is one of the highest paid jobs in 2024. The average starting salary for a data scientist in the UK is £32,000 per year. The national average base salary for a data scientist is £50,921. An experienced data scientist in the UK can earn up to £82,500 per year.

How to become a data scientist?

There are few steps to becoming a data scientist without a degree. You can begin with learning the basics and build a solid understanding of the fundamental concepts of data science. Areas like mathematics, statistics, python programming, R programming are crucial in this career. Online certification courses like Data Science & Machine Learning with Python will help you as well.

Once you are done learning the fundamentals of data science, you’ll need to build a portfolio to showcase your skills and apply for internships or entry-level roles such as data analyst, research assistant or junior data scientist.

33. HVAC Technician

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. An HVAC technician is sometimes called a HVAC installers. They are primarily responsible for installing and maintaining various HVAC equipment and commercial refrigeration systems, including furnaces, heat pumps, ventilation systems and refrigeration systems.

How much can you earn as an HVAC technician?

The average salary for an HVAC technician is £38,397 per year in the UK. An experienced HVAC technician can earn up to £45,000 per year.

How to become an HVAC technician?

You can start with a high school diploma or equivalent degree to pursue this career. Online HVAC courses like HVAC Professional Training by Janets will help you learn the fundamental knowledge and skills required for this job.

34. Email Marketing Specialist

An email marketing specialist is an individual who focuses on building email lists, creating and sending emails to connect with potential customers, increasing brand awareness, and promoting specific products or services.

How much can you earn as an email marketing specialist?

The average starting salary for an email marketing specialist in the UK is £29,500 per year while an experienced email marketing specialist can make up to £45,000 per year.

How to become an email marketing specialist?

Though most email marketing specialist jobs ask for a bachelor’s degree in a major like communications, business, advertising or marketing, you can still get into this career only with a high school diploma. You’ll need in-depth knowledge of design, software programmes, and automation processes. To get started, you can enrol in Janets’ Email Marketing online course and learn all the fundamentals you need to become a successful Email Marketing Specialist.

35. Fitness Instructor

A fitness instructor demonstrates proper exercise techniques and delivers safe and effective fitness programmes to help other people improve their fitness. They also offer motivation and resources to individuals or groups when needed.

How much can you earn as a fitness instructor?

The average starting salary for a fitness instructor in the UK is £17,000 per year and it can rise up to £27,000 per year for the experienced fitness instructors. If you start your fitness instructor career in a gym, you’ll get more security and higher potential clients. You can also work as a freelance fitness instructor as a side job. With additional payments, an experienced fitness instructor can expect to make £55,000 per year.

How to become a fitness instructor?

You don’t need a degree to become a fitness instructor but you do need a certification. Self-directed learning, practical experience, mentorship, and internships will also help you build a career in the fitness industry. There are also many online courses like Complete Fitness Trainer Certification which you can learn at your own pace and pursue this career.

36. Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is a self-employed independent contractor who provides services like administrative, technical, or creative assistance to clients remotely. They mostly work from a home office and provide services to companies or individual clients.

How much can you earn as a virtual assistant?

The average starting salary for a virtual assistant in the UK is £17,000. However, an experienced virtual assistant can expect to earn up to £36,000 per year.

How to become a virtual assistant?

You don’t need a university degree to pursue the career of a virtual assistant. There are many qualifications available online to become a virtual assistant. For example: Janets provides a comprehensive QLS endorsed course on Virtual Assistant, which you can enrol to learn more about this job’s responsibilities. 

You can also join virtual assistant networks and communities to learn directly from peers and find mentorship opportunities.

37. Video Editor

A video editor makes production and/or post-production changes to video shots, films or any type of videography. If you have good technical knowledge and want to exercise some creative freedom, this is the perfect job for you.

How much can you earn as a video editor?

The average starting salary for a video editor in the UK is £18,000 per year. With experience you can expect to earn up to £45,000 per year. If you work on big-budget projects, you can up to £70,000 per year.

How to become a video editor?

In the realm of digital media production, it is not a strict prerequisite for an individual to have a degree. You need to have practical skills and demonstrate a strong portfolio over formal qualifications. Having skills like animation, visual effects, sound design, storytelling, and media studies are prerequisites.
Professional certifications, bootcamps, internships, self-learning, personal projects, and online courses are great ways to master video editing.

38. Motion Graphics Designer

Motion graphics is animation or digital footage that creates the illusion of motion. A motion graphics designer is an individual who creates animated graphics for film, TV credits, advertisements, digital marketing, websites, social media channels and more.

How much can you earn as a motion graphics designer?

The national average salary for a motion graphics designer is £34,000 per year, with a starting salary of £28,000 and experienced level salary of £40,000 per year in the UK. When you become a senior motion graphics designer, you’ll get high budget projects and can expect to earn up to £72,000 per year.

How to become a motion graphics designer?

If you have the right skills and experience, you can become a motion graphics designer even without a degree. You need to build a portfolio to showcase that you are capable of doing and delivering the project.
To become a self-taught motion graphics designer, you need to start by teaching yourself graphic design, 2D animation principles, and develop skills on Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects and Premier Pro. When you are done mastering the above skills, you need to share your work or even gather practical experience as a motion graphics designer. Janets’ online course on Motion Graphics with After Effects will help you get started to pursue this career.

39. Digital Product Reseller

Digital product reselling is one of the trending sources of earning passive income nowadays. You can resell any digital product online and make profits as long as there is a handsome commission involved.

How much can you earn as a digital product reseller?

You can earn up to £100,000 per year by reselling digital products like online courses. All you have to do is register to partner with Janets. And then you can choose to become either a reseller or distributor depending on your networks. As a reseller, you can earn commissions for every successful sale and scale your reselling business by climbing up the commission tier.

40. Human Resources Specialist

A human resources specialist is an individual who handles specific HR functions like recruitment, screening, and interviewing job applicants and places newly hired employees in jobs. They are also responsible for handling compensation and benefits, training, and maintaining employee relations.

How much can you earn as a human resources specialist?

The average starting salary for a human resources specialist is £34,000 per year in the UK. An experienced human resources specialist can expect to earn up to £49,000 per year, making it one of the highest paid jobs in the UK.

How to become a human resources specialist?

You can become a HR specialist without a degree. You need to have a certification in HR and demonstrate your knowledge and skills related to HR. dedication to continuous improvement and commitment to the field. Moreover, you can enrol in Janets’ Human Resource (HR) Management Diploma online course to establish a solid career as a human resources specialist.

Ending Note

In recent years, the job market has been getting tougher. Many job applicants today are searching for jobs not because they want to change careers but because their employers are laying off employees. If you do not want to commit to a university degree, you could always take guidance and motivation from our list of top 40 highest paid jobs in the UK, and figure out what you want.

Whichever route you choose, we wish you luck in finding your dream career!