Choosing to go to university is a big commitment, especially financially. There’s the cost of tuition fees themselves which can be anything up to £9,250 each year in England and Wales, as well as the soaring expenses of paying to live while you study (hello rental crisis).
It may or may not shock you to learn then, the estimated cost of attending university in the UK is over £66,000! But is there another route?
For many careers, employers are becoming more open to hiring people without a degree and are placing more value on skills and potential over educational background. We dug into the data behind which employers are advertising jobs that don’t require a university education.
If the idea of paying back huge student loans sends shivers down your spine, we’ve got your back. Here’s our list of the 10 highest-paying jobs for school leavers.
Best-paid jobs without degree requirements
Automation tester
Average salary: £78,276
Advertised vacancies: 33
The top paying job not requiring a degree requires a deep knowledge of programming languages and how to create scripts. Rather than manually testing software and looking for bugs, automation testers develop automated scripts to test software and identify any issues at scale. They bridge the gap between automation and human testing, meaning as well as great technical know-how they need an eagle eye to spot and correct any problems in the scripts. In return, automation testers are paid handsomely with advertised salaries averaging £78,276 in July 2024.
While a university degree is useful, as a school leaver you can enter this field by swotting up on coding languages like Java or Python via online courses. There are also specific software testing courses online you could explore.
Java developer
Average salary: £71,806
Advertised vacancies: 2,145
The second highest paid career for school leavers is also in tech. Java is a coding language that has been used for over two decades to create web applications. As well as bringing their Java skills into a company’s coding activities, these highly skilled developers may also be involved in designing and testing the applications.
The first step to becoming a java developer is to learn the language. Thankfully, there are an abundance of online courses that can help you with this and a university education isn’t a necessity.
Android developer
Average salary: £66,780
Advertised vacancies: 57
That’s right, another tech position comes in third. Android developer is the third highest-paying career path for school leavers, with advertised pay averaging £66,780.These specialist software developers focus on building, developing, and maintaining Android applications.
To be an android developer, you’ll need a good working knowledge of coding languages like Java or Kotlin, as well as knowing your way around Android applications and how they work.
Pensions consultant
Average salary: £63,820
Advertised vacancies: 108
Number-crunchers rejoice! Coming in fourth is the role of pensions consultant, where average salaries top £63,000.
Pension consultants advise clients on how to save and invest for their retirement. It’s a job with big responsibility, as you’ll ultimately make a difference on the quality of life clients can expect in their retirement. You’ll need a strong understanding of financial principles, legal and tax requirements, as well as a knack for getting on with people, building trust and explaining things simply.
You could go into the career via an internship, or study towards relevant professional qualifications such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or Pensions Management Institute (PMI) courses.
Dealer
Average salary: £63,200
Advertised vacancies: 60
If you’ve got a head for numbers and a knack for strategy, the role of a casino dealer might be right up your alley. Casino dealers manage table games like blackjack, poker, and roulette, creating an exciting atmosphere while ensuring the games are played fairly and by the rules.
Top-earning casino dealers often work in high-end casinos where the stakes—and the tips—can be substantial. This role demands excellent customer service skills, a sharp memory for rules and bets, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.
Animator
Average salary: £61,767
Advertised vacancies: 804
Pixar’s ‘Inside Out 2’ has just become the highest grossing animated film of all time, raking in over $1,505 billion making it the tenth highest grossing film of all time. Animators are getting the recognition they richly deserve and it’s an exciting time to join an industry firmly in the spotlight.
Outside of film, animators also work bringing life to video games, television shows and music videos, to name a few.
Could you be behind the next box office hit?! A creative flair and technical know-how are both essential. To apply for experienced positions, you’ll need to show a portfolio of your work. To gain this experience, you could take a media or multimedia course, or you could learn on the job by taking a role as studio runner before rising up the ranks into junior animation roles.
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App developer
Average salary: £60,096
Advertised vacancies: 461
App developers are behind the small software applications or ‘apps’ you can download to your phone or tablet. From Citymapper to Instagram to Hinge, apps have become an essential part of everyday life and the developers specialising in creating them are in demand.
As well as brainstorming new features or concepts, app developers are also responsible for designing easy to use, attractive interfaces – essential to the success of any app.
In the background, they also write the code using languages like HTML, Java and C++, test and debug new developments, and work to successfully deploy apps on platforms like the app store.
After learning relevant coding languages, you’ll need to gain relevant experience. Keep an eye out among larger tech companies for internships or coding bootcamps to help you get your foot in the door.
Builder
Average salary: £58,459
Advertised vacancies: 308
The construction industry is under strain, as demand for workers outstrips supply. In the UK, the worker shortage is so severe that the Construction Industry Training Board estimates that we need an extra 250,000 skilled construction workers by 2028 to keep up with rising demand.
As a result, builders are hot property! And they command hot salaries to match, with advertised pay averaging £58,459 in July 2024.
Jobs may range from building extensions or loft conversions for homeowners, to working on industrial or retail building sites, or even building new homes. It’s a varied, physical and futureproof role – and crucially not one you need a degree for.
Insulation worker
Average salary: £55,040
Advertised vacancies: 37
Insulation workers occupy a specialised niche in the construction industry, installing, replacing or retrofitting insulation into buildings, helping to improve their energy efficiency. It’s like putting a woolly hat on a building to keep the heat in!
While some insulation is fitted as panels, other types are sprayed in place or fixed with staples, screws or tapes. The skills required can be learned on the job, but be prepared for long, physical days where you may spend hours crouching in confined spaces or working in tight loft cavities. Not one for the claustrophobic!
Mortgage broker
Average salary: £53,097
Advertised vacancies: 878
Buying a house is considered one of the most stressful moments in a person’s life, and a key part of that process is arranging a mortgage – a loan from the bank to help buy the property.
Mortgage brokers help make that process easier, advising buyers what they can afford and the interest rates they might expect to pay, ultimately helping them secure the best deal. Typically, brokers also make a commission from a lender after helping arrange a loan.
Working in the middle of the banks and the homeowners, brokers need an expert knowledge of the property market and strong maths acumen. They also need top class communication skills to help explain the ins and outs of the mortgage process to clients.
To enter the career, you could work as an apprentice, or study for a relevant qualification such as the Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMAP).
More highest-paying jobs for school leavers
| Job title | Average advertised salaries, July 2024 | Advertised vacancies, July 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Automation tester | £78,276 | 33 |
| Java developer | £71,806 | 2145 |
| Android developer | £66,780 | 57 |
| Pensions consultant | £63,820 | 108 |
| Dealer | £63,200 | 60 |
| Animator | £61,767 | 804 |
| App developer | £60,096 | 461 |
| Builder | £58,459 | 308 |
| Insulation worker | £55,040 | 37 |
| Mortgage broker | £53,097 | 878 |
| Claims adjuster | £53,026 | 157 |
| BMS engineer | £52,963 | 37 |
| Welding inspector | £52,825 | 42 |
| Commercial insurance account executive | £52,366 | 50 |
| PHP developer | £51,214 | 138 |
| Rigger | £51,144 | 47 |
| Loss adjuster | £51,057 | 556 |
| Housing options officer | £51,013 | 48 |
| Health safety consultant | £50,146 | 53 |
| Tramper driver | £42,870 | 44 |
| Camera operator | £42,812 | 43 |
| Transport equipment painter | £42,765 | 202 |
Read more: What your fave A-level and GCSE subject says about your future career