Changing your career is a big step and can often be seen as something people do to pursue what they love while taking a pay cut. While it’s true that you can do what you truly enjoy by changing careers, this doesn’t have to mean a drop in earnings.
In fact, many people often earn more in their new career paths than they ever did in their previous ones.
In 2023, there were recorded to be more than 4 million solo self-employed people in the UK according to the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE). What’s more, a quarter of these people have entered self-employment since 2020, which equates to a significant number of people who chose to take their careers into their own hands.
In this post, we discuss why you might want to consider switching careers, whether a franchise opportunity could be right for you, and various examples of high-paying jobs that don’t require a degree.
Why choose to change careers?
One of the easiest ways to change career paths is to set up a business of your own. Although it may seem intimidating, there are a number of benefits that can come from leaving a secure role to try something new. These include:
- Higher earning potential. Certain industries simply have a limit on how much their highest earners are paid. A career change could give you scope to earn more. Over time, you can also introduce efficient working practices that make sure you can earn more without taking on greater responsibilities.
- Control over work-life balance. Changing career can help you find a job that fits your lifestyle. Circumstances in life change often, so what once worked for you a few years ago may no longer be convenient. If your new job is self-employed then you’ll get to choose exactly how and where you work.
- Job satisfaction. Most people feel the need to switch careers because they know deep down that their skills could be better used elsewhere. Changing to a more rewarding career or one that’s better aligned with your passions can lead to greater job satisfaction.
- Challenge yourself. Job stagnation often occurs when people feel like they’ve accomplished all they can in their current field. Changing careers gives you new problems to solve, skills to learn, and opportunities for personal growth.
Jobs that pay well without a degree
So you’ve decided you’re ready to switch careers, brilliant! Even if you have an idea about the type of work you’d like to do instead, it’s important to choose a job in which you can make a decent living. This is especially true if you’ve been working in a particular industry for a number of years and have a salary that reflects your experience.
Fortunately, there are many options for those looking to change careers which don’t require higher education or equivalent qualifications:
Property repairs and maintenance
Whether it’s rented property, homeowners, or commercial premises, properties will always need repair and maintenance work throughout the year for various reasons. Accidents, vandalism, wear & tear, weather conditions; they can all contribute to the disrepair of a building. End of tenancy cleaning and maintenance work is also a service often utilised by landlords.
Although you won’t need a degree to enter this line of work, the skills required can include plumbing, joinery, plastering, carpentry, brick work, finishing, cleaning, and more. The scope and nature of work as a property maintenance operative can therefore vary greatly. Over time, it’s feasible to earn well over £50K in this line of work, especially if you reach the point where you have the need to employ other people to help you fulfil projects.
Personal Assistant
As a personal assistant, you get to be part of the executive decision-making without going through years of qualifications. Each day is different, featuring a combination of routine duties and ever-changing tasks. Glassdoor estimates the average salary of a personal assistant in the UK is just over £30,000. However, this can increase dramatically with experience and in consideration of other factors such as location. For instance, the average personal assistant salary in London is closer to £40,000 at the time of writing.
Estate agent
While entry level estate agent work typically starts with a salary of between £20-30K, how much an estate agent earns comfortably increases to £40K and £50K over time. What’s more is that this line of work comes with commission, the rate of which will vary from firm to firm. This can add a significant amount to your pay. For example, let’s say you receive a 1% commission on a property that’s worth £300,000. You’ll take home £3,000 on top of your salary.
Journalist
Journalists and freelance marketers operate by building up a network of contacts which they use to both acquire work and complete projects. Although this takes time, you don’t need a degree to get started.
Publications will frequently use journalists if they’re proven to be reliable in delivering quality work. You also have the freedom to charge based on your experience and the complexity of the work. In the BBC annual report 2024, the highest paid journalists in the UK were revealed to earn well over six figures per year.
Electrician
While working as an electrician does require training and practical experience, you don’t need to go to university. According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), electricians were among the highest paid tradespeople in the UK in 2023 with an average salary of £35,150. This average can fluctuate slightly depending on the geographical area, although most experienced electricians and electrical fitters will reach an income of £45,000 which can then be brought over the £50K mark with continued industry experience.
Recruitment consultant
It might seem ironic but you can earn a lot helping other people find well-fitting jobs and companies secure top talent. The skills you’ll need as a recruitment consultant include communication, management, and administration. According to Prospects and other job board sites, the average salary for a recruitment consultant can range from £24,000 to £30,000 per year.
Firefighter
As a firefighter, you’ll be at the forefront of community work helping protect members and infrastructure from fires. You will also likely take on educational duties within the community to spread the word about fire prevention and safety. Once the necessary apprenticeship training has been completed, UK firefighters can expect an average yearly salary of around £38,000 which will only increase from there.
Police Officer
Working as a police officer can be a challenging yet rewarding job. No two days will likely ever be the same, meaning you’ll have to be adaptable. Training to be a police officer is carried out by specialist academies which only require you have at least two A-levels or a Level 3 qualification (diploma). The starting salary for a police officer in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland is around £28,500, rising to more than £45,000 at senior positions.
Personal trainer/fitness coach
The average salary for a personal trainer at the time of writing is estimated to be £28,000 per year in the UK. Although there’s really no upper limit to the amount of money you can make as a fitness coach or personal trainer. By establishing a name for yourself and your services, you’ll be able to charge more and attract higher-paying clients over time.
Member of Parliament
Although pay will vary between councils, MPs are among some of the highest earners who don’t require degrees. To become an MP in your local area, you first have to be elected by your constituents, which could be a lengthy process if you’re building a reputation from scratch. However, if you already do a fair amount of community work you could be in a position to pursue MP work as a career. According to the UK Parliament, the basic salary for an MP as of April 1st 2024 is £91,346 per year.
Sales manager
Reaching a managerial position in sales often requires that you gain a number of years’ experience working as a sales executive. A degree won’t be required unless the position is in a highly technical field. By working consistently in the same sales team, you should gain the experience necessary to manage its running and meet targets. Sales managers in the UK have an average salary of £42,263 per year according to Glassdoor.
Management consultant
Management consultants must provide practical advice in a variety of specialised areas, such as business operations, leadership, strategy, mergers, and reorganising. It’s possible to gain experience in each of these areas without doing a degree. With just as little as 2-5 years’ experience, the average salary for a management consultant can be between £45,000 and £65,000.
Offshore workers
Working in the offshore oil and gas industry might not seem that glamorous but it can be an avenue to high earnings. Although this doesn’t start with a degree, those looking to start out offshore work will have to complete studies and/or training. The nature of this will depend on the type of work being carried out. The average salary for offshore jobs across various locations and industries is £47,500 per year.
Web developer
Especially nowadays, anyone can learn to code in their own time. There is a great deal of flexibility that comes with being a web developer. For instance, you might choose to specialise in building apps or be a backend or frontend developer for websites.
Working remotely is also a common option for web developers, which saves money and time on commuting. In the UK, the base salary for a web developer is around £32,000. This can rise quickly with experience and/or by moving into more specialised areas of web development.
Train driver
The most experienced train drivers will far exceed £50k a year in earnings. In fact, the average salary for a train driver in the UK is estimated to be £55,466. On top of this, working in the transport industry provides good financial security and options for career advancement. You don’t need a degree to work as a train driver, although you will have to complete competency and safety training.
Security consultant
As a security consultant, your regular duties will involve performing IT system checks, threat analysis, and cyber security testing. These services are sought after by a range of different industries and as such, the pay for a security consultant can vary greatly. For instance, according to Glassdoor the average salary in the UK is around £41k and then Jobsite has it at just over £62k. Although a degree isn’t required for this role, it might be highly valued. You will at least need some kind of certification and proven experience in a related IT field, such as computer science or information security.
Oven cleaning business
Those who start their own property cleaning business or oven cleaning business can easily earn £50K or more without needing a degree. Providing cleaning services for residential and commercial property is a highly lucrative line of work. This is because you can specialise in certain types of cleaning to increase the rate-per-job, as well as the speed at which individual jobs can be completed.
On top of this, there are relatively low overheads involved with professional cleaning. Common expenses consist of cleaning products, tools, transport, marketing efforts, and any employees you come to hire.
Thinking about oven cleaning as a career path? Our page answers the question ‘is oven cleaning a profitable business?’ by delving into the strengths of the business model and how you can access these benefits through our franchise offers.
Oliver McMechan thrives in the oven cleaning business, where Ovenu franchisees can earn over £50k a year—one of 17 rewarding jobs without a degree.
Start a new career with the support of a franchise
The above options sound great on paper but don’t be fooled – there is still a huge amount of work involved in being successful and reaching a £50K income. A common theme shared among many of the jobs listed above is that you need to establish yourself as a provider of the service to build up a customer base. A good reputation takes time, skill, and energy to create.
If you’re planning to set up your own business, you don’t have to go it alone and you don’t have to start from scratch. For most service-based jobs, there are businesses offering a franchise package. Becoming a franchisee allows you to use the branding, unique products, and business model of an established company.
Another major benefit of becoming a franchisee for oven cleaning or another trade, is that sales and marketing channels are already in place. Marketing your services can be a huge drain on time and energy alongside the regular duties of the job. Plus, you get to benefit from the reputation that comes with the franchise brand.
Become an Ovenu franchisee today
Opting for a change of career is a big decision but one that can lead to more satisfaction and higher earnings. Hopefully, you’re now more knowledgeable about the high-paying jobs that are available for UK jobseekers.
If you’re someone who has the right traits and characteristics to excel in your chosen new career, there shouldn’t be any reason it’s not profitable. The best way to guarantee a fulfilling and high-paying role is to follow the proven business model, i.e. a franchise.
If a practical cleaning job appeals to you, don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss the support Ovenu can offer. Our package has been designed to provide you with a strong base if you’re just starting a new career in professional cleaning, and to provide ongoing support to take your yearly income to £50K and beyond.
