{"id":22019,"date":"2024-08-22T10:19:53","date_gmt":"2024-08-22T10:19:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/?p=22019"},"modified":"2024-08-22T10:20:25","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T10:20:25","slug":"top-10-highest-paying-jobs-for-school-leavers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/top-10-highest-paying-jobs-for-school-leavers\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 highest-paying jobs for school leavers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Choosing to go to university is a big commitment, especially financially. There\u2019s the cost of tuition fees themselves which can be anything up to \u00a39,250 each year in England and Wales, as well as the soaring expenses of paying to live while you study (hello rental crisis).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It may or may not shock you to learn then, the estimated cost of attending university in the UK is over <\/span>\u00a366,000<\/span><\/a>! But is there another route?<\/span><\/p>\n

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 <\/span>don\u2019t<\/span><\/i> require a university education.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If the idea of paying back huge student loans sends shivers down your spine, we\u2019ve got your back. Here\u2019s our list of the 10 highest-paying jobs for school leavers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Best-paid jobs without degree requirements<\/h2>\n

Automation tester<\/a><\/h3>\n

Average salary: \u00a378,276<\/b><\/p>\n

Advertised vacancies: 33<\/b><\/p>\n

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 \u00a378,276 in July 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Java developer<\/a><\/h3>\n

Average salary: \u00a371,806<\/b><\/p>\n

Advertised vacancies: 2,145<\/b><\/p>\n

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\u2019s coding activities, these highly skilled developers may also be involved in designing and testing the applications.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019t a necessity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Android developer<\/a><\/h3>\n

Average salary: \u00a366,780<\/b><\/p>\n

Advertised vacancies: 57<\/b><\/p>\n

That\u2019s right, another tech position comes in third. Android developer is the third highest-paying career path for school leavers, with advertised pay averaging \u00a366,780.These specialist software developers focus on building, developing, and maintaining Android applications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To be an android developer, you\u2019ll 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Pensions consultant<\/a><\/h3>\n

Average salary: \u00a363,820<\/b><\/p>\n

Advertised vacancies: 108<\/b><\/p>\n

Number-crunchers rejoice! Coming in fourth is the role of pensions consultant, where average salaries top \u00a363,000.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pension consultants advise clients on how to save and invest for their retirement. It\u2019s a job with big responsibility, as you\u2019ll ultimately make a difference on the quality of life clients can expect in their retirement. You\u2019ll 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

You could go into the career via an internship, or study towards relevant professional qualifications such as the <\/span>Chartered Financial Analyst<\/span><\/a> (CFA) or <\/span>Pensions Management Institute <\/span><\/a>(PMI) courses.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dealer<\/a><\/h3>\n

Average salary: \u00a363,200<\/b><\/p>\n

Advertised vacancies: 60<\/b><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n

Top-earning casino dealers often work in high-end casinos where the stakes\u2014and the tips\u2014can be substantial. This role demands excellent customer service skills, a sharp memory for rules and bets, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Animator<\/a><\/h3>\n

Average salary: \u00a361,767<\/b><\/p>\n

Advertised vacancies: 804<\/b><\/p>\n

Pixar\u2019s \u2018Inside Out 2\u2019 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\u2019s an exciting time to join an industry firmly in the spotlight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Outside of film, animators also work bringing life to video games, television shows and music videos, to name a few.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019ll 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A post shared by Studio Ghibli (@ghibliusa)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n