Career experts have revealed a list of jobs that could see you earn up to £71,000 without having a degree.
Having a degree can be a good way to get started in a career, and for an increasing number of roles it is an absolute requirement.
Getting a university degree has often been seen as a path to higher wages.
People with degrees do earn more on average than those who don't, data firm Statista told the Telegraph .
Those with degrees earn £35,000 a year on average, compared to £25,500 for those without.
Getting a degree costs money, with tuition fees of £9,250 for many such qualifications.
Most degrees are paid for by a form of government student loan , which is repaid as a form of graduate tax on earnings.
But not having a degree is no barrier to getting a job - even a top-paying one.
Here is a list of the jobs that pay the most without having to get a degree.
1) Scrum master - £71,000
This has nothing to do with rugby.
A “scrum” is a type of project management framework used in the technology industry - so the scrum master would be hired to manage communication between team members.
Communication, organisation and interpersonal skills are fundamental for this type of role - but you don’t necessarily need a degree.
2) Casino gaming manager - £70,000
This job is the second highest-paying role that doesn't require a university degree.
However, there are very few jobs available. Job website Adzuna only has 10 currently advertised.
3) Construction manager - £65,000
Construction managers earn wages averaging £65,188.
The role involves taking charge of building projects and ensuring they run to time and budget.
People with this role oversee safety measures on site, looking out for the welfare of the wider building team.
4) Ethical hacker - £63,000
Also known as ‘white hat hackers’, this role involves an employee probing for security vulnerabilities that a criminal may wish to exploit.
5) Commercial pilot - £60,000
There are high costs involved with training for this role - of up to £120,000, though some airlines will pay these costs.
But once trained, pilots can earn large sums.
Many pilots will have a university degree in aviation or air travel, but it’s not the only route into the profession.
Many major airlines offer training courses to school leavers as well as graduates.
6) Food safety inspector - £60,000
These roles require special food safety certificates, but not necessarily a degree.
Food safety inspectors check food hygiene, either for councils or private firms.
7) Chaffeur - £60,000
Advertised salaries for private chauffeurs average £60,000, making being a professional driver very lucrative.
8) Buying manager - £55,000
These roles require good maths skills, negotiating ability and business sense, but not a degree.
