(ARTICLE) Top 12 Skills and Trades To Consider If You Don’t Want To Go University Or Work A Regular 9-5

Not in order.

University and running a business is not for everyone, so I decided to share a few well paid & high in demand skills / trades you may want to look into if you don’t want to follow the traditional routes.

1. Offshore Oil Rig worker

Starting Salary: £25,000 - £35,000

Average Salary in the UK: £47,500

Experienced Salary : £60,000 +

For further info: https://www.jobsite.co.uk/advice/oil-rig-worker-job-description

2. Electrician

Starting salary : £20,000 - £25,000

Average salary : £32,000

Experienced : £40,000

For more information: https://electriciancourses4u.co.uk/blog/are-electricians-really-earning-156k-a-year/

3. Train driver

Starting Trainee salary : £30,000

Average salary : £50,000 - £60,000

Experienced salary : £60,000 +

Before you get into it, you’ll have to do a screening test before you can go through a trainee programme.

The test is not easy and requires VERY sharp, fast, precise, visual and thinking skills.

So if you do end up getting invited for a test, practice, practice, practice and practice some more.

For more information: https://www.firstgroupcareers.com/skillsets/traindriver/

There’s a few training providers. Just go on google and search them up.

4. Truck / Lorry driver

Starting salary : £24,000

Average salary : £30,000

Experienced salary : £40,000+

These are base salaries, so it could be higher if you was someone who would overtime.

In America and Canada, truck drivers are making well over $100,000 a year

For more information: https://www.hgvt.co.uk/how-to-become-a-lorry-driver-in-the-uk/#

5. Military tradesman/woman

Usually all training is provided for free and you’ll be paid whilst doing it.

For more information: https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/roles-in-the-raf

6. Firefighter

Trainee salary : £28,000

Average Salary : £38,000

Experienced salary : £40,000 - £70,000

For more information: https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/careers/become-a-firefighter/is-firefighting-the-right-career-for-you/

There’s plenty other training providers, so look around if this one you’re into.

7. Dental hygienist

Starting salary : £24,000

Average salary : £30,00

Experienced salary : £40,000+

For more information: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/dental-hygienist

8. Elevator mechanic

Starting salary : £20,000

Average salary: £30,000

Experienced: £40,000

For more information: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/lift-engineer

9. Roofer

Starting salary : £20,000

Average salary: £35,000

Experienced salary : £40,000

For more information: https://www.simplybusiness.co.uk/knowledge/articles/2021/05/how-to-become-a-roofer/

10. Licensed practical nurse

Trainee salary : £20,000

Average salary : £30,000

Experienced salary : £35,000+

For more information: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nursing-degree-apprenticeships-factsheet/nursing-degree-apprenticeship-factsheet

11. Air traffic controller

Trainee salary: £20,000

Average salary : £37,000 - £40,000

Experienced salary: £50,000+

For more information: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/air-traffic-controller

12. Pilot

Starting salary : £36,000 - £40,000

Average salary : £40,000 - £60,000

Experienced salary : £80,000+

NOTE: Becoming a pilot is an investment as it is not a cheap skill to learn / get into.

It’s expensive, but the long term value you get from it is well worth it in my opinion.

For more information: https://l3harrisairlineacademy.com/en-gb/about-us/blog/how-much-do-pilots-earn-in-the-uk/

And

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/airline-pilot

Summary

There are plenty more other very well paid trades out there. These were just a few I could think of at the current moment of me writing this.

Many people will advise you to go to university and get degree.

University is great but university is not for everybody.

For those who excel at their trade, there is also the potential for a 6 figure salary and the opportunity to be your own boss depending on the amount of work you put in and how responsible you are with your salary.

If you are in a first world country with good health, you have no excuse to not end up rich/successful.

Till next time.