While an undergraduate degree from a university is often recommended for many of the best-paying jobs, you might be surprised at just how many roles there are that don't require a degree. Here, we'll showcase some of the jobs and careers with the highest earning potential that don't necessarily need a bachelor's degree.
| Job Title | Average Salary (€) | Potential High Salary (€) |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Trainer / Fitness Instructor | 30,000 | 80,000 |
| Chef | 30,000 | Varies (higher for private chefs) |
| Plumber | 45,000 | 60,000+ |
| Electrician | 52,500 | 70,000 |
| Sales Manager | 55,000 | 70,000+ |
| Software Developer / Programmer | 50,000 | 70,000+ |
| Digital Marketing Manager | 52,500 | 65,000+ |
| Real Estate Agent | 40,000 | 80,000 |
| Air Traffic Controller | 72,000 | 80,000+ |
| Construction Manager | 80,000 | 90,000+ |
What Qualifications Do the Highest Paying Jobs Without a Degree Require?
When we say that a job doesn't require a degree, we certainly don't mean that it doesn't require any formal training at all. Most jobs are paid based on the balance of supply and demand, as well as the value of the industry in which they are located. The fewer people there are to do a job, the more they'll get paid. Jobs that don't require any qualifications or experience don't usually tend to pay very well, as the positions are easily filled.
However, for jobs that require particular skills or don't have many people with said skills to fill the position, you can expect a higher salary. It's not necessarily about how difficult or easy a job is. If you have a rare set of in-demand skills, you'll likely be able to find work that pays well.
Why Experience is Key to the Best-Paid Jobs in Ireland Without a Degree
In addition to your skills and qualifications, high-paying jobs often require experience. The more knowledge you have, the more you can charge versus your inexperienced counterparts. Over time, most people will see their salaries increase. With experience comes seniority and increased earning potential. It also helps to constantly stay up-to-date in your field, develop new skills, and integrate new technologies where applicable. The quickest way to reduce your earning potential is by falling behind the competition.
The Highest Paying Jobs in Ireland Without a Degree
Here are just some of the areas you could look at if you don't feel like attending an undergraduate university course is right for you. Of course, for teenagers seeking good jobs, this can be quite a conundrum.
Personal Trainer/Fitness Instructor
If you enjoy exercising and helping others, a career as a personal trainer or fitness instructor may be a good fit. While the starting pay mightn't be great, especially if you haven't any experience or very few clients, you'll find that you can earn very well if you can get your personal training business off the ground.
People will pay you to help them through sessions at the gym or even come up with and plan fitness routines, diets, and other related services. Experience will help as every client is different and there are also courses and possible ways to study and develop new skills. They typically earn around €30,000 a year, but there's the potential to earn up to €80,000 a year if you get everything right.
Chef
The average chef earns €30,000 a year in Ireland, but this includes every type of chef imaginable. Naturally, very good and private chefs can earn much more for their work, provided they're working either for themselves or for the right company or business. Becoming a successful chef involves not only managing a kitchen but also preparing food that people want to eat. Specialising in a popular type of cuisine can help.
Plumbers
Plumbing is an industry whose workers have significantly benefited from the increasing number of people being pushed into academia and university rather than learning a vocation or trade. While plumbers still require training, this is a job that people tend to avoid for one reason or another, despite its high earning potential. In fact, in Ireland, the average plumber is reported to earn around €45,000 a year. Again, it's about finding business, making customers happy, and building a reputation in the industry.
with top professionals pushing far beyond that figure.
Electrician
Another job that's traditionally considered a “trade”. Electricians can earn a substantial amount of money without ever having to attend university. Much like plumbers, they still need to learn how to do their job, and this can involve vocational training, apprenticeships, and other forms of on-the-job training.
However, you'll find the training to become an electrician far more hands-on than a university undergraduate degree course, and the earning potential is often much better for entry-level roles. A new electrician can command around €47,500 per year, while the average salary is closer to €52,500 per year. The most experienced electricians earn approximately €70,000 per year.
Skilled trades remain among the highest-paying jobs in Ireland, even without a degree, because demand consistently outstrips supply. With fewer students choosing vocational paths, trained professionals, such as plumbers and electricians, can command higher rates. These careers also offer long-term stability since housing, business, and infrastructure projects will always require their expertise. Over time, experienced tradespeople can significantly increase their earnings, even expanding into business ownership.
Sales Manager
Sales managers are responsible for leading sales teams. While business degrees can be beneficial for applicants, they're not necessary. Ultimately, what you need is an aptitude for achieving results. If you can keep a sales team happy, set targets, and develop sales strategies, you'll have the chance to earn well. The earnings of sales managers will depend on who they work for and the revenue their teams generate, but we've seen reported average salaries of €55,000 per year.
Sales roles highlight how performance often outweighs formal qualifications. Employers primarily value proven results, leadership ability, and the capacity to meet revenue targets. While a degree might open some doors, sustained experience, interpersonal skills, and adaptability are what lead to the highest salaries. Sales managers who can motivate teams and consistently hit goals often earn well above average.
Software Development/Programmers
The tech industry in Ireland typically offers competitive salaries. You can always study computer science and software development on a university course, but there are plenty of options outside of university, too. To earn well in software development, you need to think about in-demand industries, the programming language that's best suited for specific applications, and the skills you need to develop to command a higher salary. Programmers are reportedly paid around €50,000 per year in Ireland.
Ireland’s tech industry offers some of the best-paid jobs in Ireland without a degree for those with the right skills. Many developers learn through coding bootcamps, online courses, or self-study, bypassing traditional university routes. Employers often care more about a portfolio and problem-solving ability than a diploma. As industries increasingly rely on software solutions, programmers with in-demand skills can enjoy high salaries and strong career progression.
Digital Marketing
Most businesses and companies need to market their products, and nowadays, digital marketing is a crucial part of this process. While there are marketing degrees you can do at universities across Ireland, there are also opportunities in digital marketing that don't require an undergraduate degree. This is also one of the highest-paying jobs you can do online or remotely. Digital marketing managers earn around €52,500 a year.
Real Estate
Working in real estate doesn't require an undergraduate degree, and if you work within the right markets, the earning potential is excellent. While reports on real estate agent salaries in Ireland vary, with some sources stating they earn as little as €40,000 in County Dublin, others suggest they can earn up to €80,000. The potential for higher earnings is evident. Real estate agents in Ireland may still need to obtain specific qualifications, such as the Certificate of Auctioneering and Real Estate, or pass PSRA exams.
Air Traffic Controller
Air traffic controllers are not required to attend university, but they undergo extensive training. To get onto the necessary courses, however, there are screening processes. After that, you have to complete a course. The average salary for an air traffic controller in Ireland is €72,000.
making it one of the best-paid jobs without a degree.
Construction Managers
Construction managers in Ireland are reported to earn an average annual salary of €80,000. This is another area where there's a lot of money to be made since most students are pushed towards more academic pursuits. In the end, construction management degrees are now available since universities have started recognising the role's potential. Still, it's also one you can work your way into without an undergraduate degree. Typically, you'll need experience within the construction industry as well as other types of vocational training suited to construction.
Starting Your High-Paying Career without a Degree in Ireland
As we've clearly stated, careers without degrees aren't careers without qualifications or experience. For almost all of these careers, you need practical skills and initiative. Trades like plumbing and electrical work offer apprenticeships that combine on-the-job training with classroom learning. These schemes are structured to get you working in the field directly, which isn't always the case with degrees.
Other industries often have their own professional courses and certifications. Fitness instructors can complete personal training certificates, just as digital marketers can find free or low-cost online courses in social media, SEO, and content creation. More creative industries often look for a portfolio, past projects, or case studies and may even require some volunteer work to gain experience.
Networking is also essential. Breaking into any of these industries will require knowing people who'll hire you. In sales, real estate, or construction, reputation goes a very long way, and you can gain this through personal connections. It's worthwhile attending local events, joining professional groups, and working with a mentor or tutor to speed up the process. Attending university can sometimes offer this, but there are many other paths to networking.
The important thing is to do your research on any careers that interest you. From there, you can take the necessary steps, such as networking, acquiring qualifications, and developing the required skills. After that, you can start earning!
Get Career Help from a Tutor to Boost Your Earning Potential
No matter what you want to do for a career, you can get help from a private tutor. Just search for the skill or subject that you'd like to improve on the Superprof website, and you can start comparing tutors. There are tutors available to help with academic skills and subjects, as well as soft skills that are useful in a wide range of the best-paying jobs or careers. You'll notice that there are three main types of tutoring available, each with its own pros and cons.
Face-to-face tutoring will likely have you paying the most per session, but you'll be paying for the tutor's time, experience, expertise, and perhaps even travel costs. This kind of tutoring tends to be the most cost-effective overall, as every minute of every session is spent working on you and what you want to learn.
If you can't find any suitable local tutors for what you want to learn, you can broaden your search with online private tutoring. Online tutoring is usually more affordable as tutors' travel costs aren't a factor. For more academic subjects and skills, online tutoring can be almost as effective as face-to-face tutoring. However, for more hands-on skills, you may need the tutor to be there with you.
Last but certainly not least, there's group tutoring. This can be delivered in-person or online and comes with the massive advantage of often being much cheaper than one-on-one tutoring. The downside is that you get less one-on-one time with your tutor and the sessions won't be tailored entirely to or focused on you.
Fortunately, many of the tutors on the Superprof website offer the first session for free, so you can always try several different tutors and types of tutoring before deciding which is right for you. Just search for what you want to learn on the Superprof website today!
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