The highest paying jobs you don’t need a degree for

FEE hikes may be forcing students to think twice about forking out for uni. Here are the most lucrative careers you don’t need a degree for.

Getting your pilots licence might be a better investment than a uni degree. PICTURE: JUSTIN BRIERTY

IF THE changes to university fees is making you think twice about forking out for a tertiary education — you may want to check out the most lucrative careers you don’t need a degree for.

Indeed Australia and New Zealand managing director Chris McDonald said the Federal Budget had put a spotlight on alternative career pathways as students consider whether a uni degree is worth it.

“There will be young people out there weighing up the pros and cons who may decide university isn’t for them,” he said.

“While some of the most lucrative careers are limited to university graduates, there are still plenty of well-paid job opportunities open to those without university qualifications.”

Last night, the Turnbull Government confirmed university students would face a 7.5 per cent tuition fee hike, phased in over four years starting in 2018.

A four-year degree will now cost up to $50,000 while a six-year medical degree will cost up to $75,000.

Students will also have to start paying off their loans earlier, when they start earning $42,000.

Mr McDonald said the services industry employed four out of five Australians and many of these jobs did not require tertiary training.

“What we are also finding is that roles in personal type services are also proving difficult to fill pointing to growing areas of opportunity for job seekers,” he said.

For example, Indeed has found that the top five job posts in Australia advertised for 60 days or more, were all in the area of personal services.

The top jobs based on the percentage of listings still unfilled after 60 days was for nail technicians followed by pizza cook, dental hygienist, yoga instructor, tailor, crew member, lock smith, lead generator in sales, barber and senior hair stylist.

Indeed has also released a list of the 22 best paying jobs that typically don’t require a degree. The list was topped by jobs like construction, maintenance and farm managers, electricians, senior care workers, pilots and executive assistants. It also included personal service jobs like real estate agent and roofer.

Construction managers were the highest earners, taking home an average of $153,213. Top earners can make up to $217,688. An executive assistant can expect to earn $74,838 on average, with top staff on $115,000.

“Many trades are in demand with skills shortages meaning they offer good career prospects, including self-employment opportunities with the scope to earn salaries commensurate with other jobs that require a university degree,” Mr McDonald said.

“It’s important that job-seekers are aware of all the options available to them so that they can make informed decisions about career choices.”

Some high-profile success stories include Boost Juice founder Janine Allis and businessmen James Packer, Lindsay Fox and Solomon Lew.

But research has shown that those who complete a university degree are likely to earn in excess of $1 million more over their lifetime compared to someone who does not finish year 12.

For those that can afford high fees, studies have found graduates from Australia’s most prestigious universities earn about 6 per cent more over a 40-year career than graduates of other institutions. However, what you study is also important.

“The report shows that when it comes to earnings, what you study matters more than where you study,” Grattan Institute researcher Andrew Norton told The Conversation.

“Studying engineering at any university is likely to lead to a higher salary than studying arts at a sandstone university.”

Construction managers have the highest paid jobs that don’t require a university degree, according to Indeed.