£4,102 – That is the minimum income a family of four in the UK now needs each month to maintain a basic standard of living.Â
For millions, this is proving harder to achieve. According to recent research, around 24 million people live in households below the Minimum Income Standard, underlining the pressure of rising bills, inflation and stagnant wages.
From 1 April 2025, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over in the UK rose to £12.21 per hour, marking a 6.7% increase, a real-terms boost for low-paid workers.
Yet even with these increases, many households still struggle to keep pace with the cost of living. The only real solution is to pursue higher-paying jobs, and the good news is that it is possible to start a new, better-paid career or job in the UK without needing a university or college degree.
Across the UK, skilled roles in areas such as technology, energy, construction and media offer earnings far above entry-level wages, with the added benefits of career progression, job security and resistance to automation.
In this guide, we reveal eight of the highest-paid jobs in the UK that require no degree. Each provides a realistic path to escape low wages, secure financial stability, and build a rewarding future.
Disclaimers: The information provided may be subject to change. The list below has been arranged according to the average annual salary/earnings from highest to lowest.
Here are our 8 highest-paying UK jobs without a degree with good career prospects:
| No. | Job | Average Salary Per Year |
| 1 | Sales Manager | £22,000 – £70,000 |
| 2 | Smart Home Installer | £22,000 – £55,000 |
| 3 | Supply Chain Manager | £28,000 – £50,000 |
| 4 | Customer Services Manager | £27,000 – £50,000 |
| 5 | Wind Turbine Technician | £25,000 – £47,000 |
| 6 | Plumber | £24,000 – £46,000 |
| 7 | Broadcast Journalist | £23,000 – £42,000 |
| 8 | Estate Agent | £23,000 – £40,000 |
1. Sales Manager
Sales managers lead teams, set targets and drive business growth through strategy and performance. This rewarding career offers excellent earning potential, valuing ambition, leadership and strong communication skills.
Certifications to Boost Career Opportunities:Â
Future-Proofing Against AI:
While AI can support analytics, client relationships, negotiation and leadership remain human-led, making sales managers essential to business success.
UK-Specific Demand:
With companies across industries prioritising revenue growth, experienced sales managers are in high demand throughout the UK, particularly in technology, finance and retail sectors.
2. Smart Home Installer
Smart home installers are in high demand as UK households increasingly adopt connected technology. This role pays well without requiring a conventional higher education and offers skilled workers strong career opportunities in home automation, security systems and energy-efficient solutions.
Certifications to Boost Career Opportunities:
- Smart home technician (level 3)
- Certified Professional in Smart Home Automation Installation
- Smart Home Technician Essential Skills Course
Future-Proofing Against AI:
Hands-on installation, problem-solving, and bespoke customer service mean this career remains resilient against automation, keeping skilled professionals in demand.
UK-Specific Demand:
Between 2024 and 2029, the number of smart homes in the UK is expected to rise by 4.74 million users, highlighting steady growth. This surge ensures strong demand for skilled installers, particularly in cities where smart living trends are accelerating.
3. Supply Chain Manager
Supply chain managers oversee the movement of goods, from sourcing raw materials to delivering finished products. This strategic role offers excellent earning potential and rewards strong leadership, organisation and problem-solving skills within a wide range of industries.
Certifications to Boost Career Opportunities:
- Supply chain leadership professional (integrated degree)
- IoSCM Level 5 Diploma in Supply Chain Management
Future-Proofing Against AI:
Automation can streamline logistics, but human oversight in negotiation, risk management and strategic decision-making keeps supply chain managers essential.
UK-Specific Demand:
In the UK, industries such as retail, manufacturing and e-commerce are actively seeking supply chain expertise, as strong logistics networks are now seen as essential for growth and resilience.
4. Customer Services Manager
Customer service managers lead teams to deliver high-quality support, ensuring client satisfaction and loyalty. This people-focused career offers strong earning potential and rewards problem-solving, leadership and communication skills across a wide range of industries.
Certifications to Boost Career Opportunities:
Future-Proofing Against AI:
While chatbots and automation support service delivery, human-led problem-solving, empathy and leadership ensure customer service managers remain vital.
UK-Specific Demand:
With customer experience central to business success, skilled managers are sought after across the UK, particularly in retail, finance, technology and public services.
5. Wind Turbine Technician
Wind turbine technicians play a vital role in maintaining and repairing renewable energy infrastructure. This high-demand career offers strong salaries, making it a practical route for those seeking to move beyond minimum wage while supporting the UK’s transition to clean energy.
Certifications to Boost Career Opportunities:
Future-Proofing Against AI:
The role requires physical maintenance, troubleshooting and working at heights. These tasks cannot be fully automated, which ensures long-term career security.
UK-Specific Demand:
The UK government has set ambitious targets to expand renewable energy, aiming to double onshore wind capacity to around 27.6 GW and quadruple offshore wind capacity to approximately 54.4 GW by 2030. This growth will sustain strong demand for skilled wind turbine technicians nationwide.
6. Plumber
Plumbers provide essential services in homes and businesses, from installing heating systems to repairing leaks. This well-paid trade requires no formal degree but gives a secure route beyond minimum wage for people with practical skills and an interest in problem-solving.
Certifications to Boost Career Opportunities:
- Plumbing and domestic heating technician (level 3)
- Building services engineering craftsperson (level 3)
- Essential Plumbing Course
Future-Proofing Against AI:
The trade relies on hands-on installation, diagnostics and repairs, tasks that cannot be automated, ensuring long-term job security for skilled plumbers.
UK-Specific Demand:
The UK faces a growing skills shortage in plumbing, with demand rising for new housing projects and sustainable heating systems, making qualified plumbers highly sought after nationwide.
7. Broadcast Journalist
Broadcast journalists deliver news and features across television, radio and digital platforms, engaging audiences with accurate and timely reporting. This career does not require a degree and offers strong earning potential for those with creativity, communication skills and resilience.
Certifications to Boost Career Opportunities:
Future-Proofing Against AI:
AI can take over a few tasks, such as data analysis and transcription, but live reporting, interviewing and editorial judgement depend on human expertise, ensuring broadcast journalists remain essential and in demand.
UK-Specific Demand:
The UK’s vibrant media industry, with national broadcasters, local radio stations and digital channels, continues to create opportunities for skilled broadcast journalists.
8. Estate Agent
Estate agents help clients buy, sell and rent property, earning competitive commissions that can significantly exceed basic pay. This people-focused career relies heavily on soft skills such as communication, negotiation and sales. To succeed, agents must also stay up to date with the real estate market, ensuring they can advise clients with confidence and maximise their earning potential.
Certifications to Boost Career Opportunities:
- Junior estate agent (level 2)
- Housing and property management assistant (level 2)
- Real Estate Diploma Course
Future-Proofing Against AI:
Estate agents remain valuable in the digital age, as client trust, negotiation skills and local knowledge continue to be shaped by human insight rather than technology.
UK-Specific Demand:
Across the UK, the sustained demand for housing means estate agents enjoy abundant opportunities, with both urban and rural markets offering rewarding and stable careers for motivated professionals.
Are you ready to work in the highest-paying jobs without a degree?
University education is not everyone’s cup of tea, plus it is not affordable for everyone. So, of course, there are alternative opportunities to get into some of the highest-paying jobs without a degree straight from secondary school.Â
All it takes is dedication and motivation to perform well in any of these jobs and earn perhaps even above average to escape the minimum wage.
Got more tips on escaping the minimum wage and landing a top-paying UK job without a degree? Then get in touch with us!
