THE path to a successful career doesn't have to involve university - some jobs pay up to £50,000 a year and don't require a degree. Applications for full-time undergraduate places through UCAS have hit record levels in recent years, including 758,000 in 2024. But the higher education path isn't for everyone, and you can save yourself time and money by heading into the jobs market earlier. The average UK student debt is £45,600 for those who started a course in 2022/23, according to the Student Loans Company (SLC).

But the Department for Education (DfE) says the median graduate salary is £40,000 a year, meaning it could be a while before you've paid off everything you owe. However, it might not be necessary to saddle yourself with debt. From carpenters to gas engineers, manual testers and welding inspectors, you can earn a bag (as the Gen Z-ers say) in roles that don't require you to go to uni. New data from jobs board Adzuna shared exclusively with The Sun has revealed 15 hourly-paid roles paying up to £50,000 a year - based on a 40-hour working week - and don't require a degree.

Of course, these aren't the only jobs that can see you earn the big bucks without a university education. The Sun spoke to Kirsty Holden, who revealed she earns over £50,000 a year after setting up her own virtual assistance business, all without a degree. The 37-year-old, from Hull, changed her career after becoming a mum. She said: "To my delight, within the very first month, my earnings exceeded what I used to make in my part-time corporate job, all while providing the flexibility and balance my family needed.".

James Neave, head of data science at Adzuna, said: "Hard work does pay off when it comes to hourly jobs. "The more you put in, the more you earn. "From IT and construction to retail, many hourly positions can offer up to £50,000 annually, and employers usually value skill sets over formal degrees. "If you’re looking for a blend of flexibility and lucrative paycheck, hourly jobs might be what you’re after, as they typically offer better work-life balance, and most of them reward extra effort with overtime pay.".

Top of Adzuna's list for jobs are Javascript front-end developers, manual testers, and net developers. All three of these roles pay on average £50,000 a year, if you're lucky enough to land one. Stone polishers, who work on stone used on kitchen worktops for example, can earn £49,920, while shuttering joiners could take home £49,675 and sign language interpreters £49,643. Test analysts, carpenters and marriage counsellors, meanwhile, can bag £49,618, £49,532 and £49,519, respectively.

Bottom of Adzuna's list are user interface designers, pipe fitters and strategic buyers, who work helping businesses with planning and purchasing of items. But land one of these roles, and you could still earn up to £49,214 without heading to uni. Bear in mind, Adzuna's data is based on salaries advertised for those job roles in December which can go up or down. YOU don’t need to go to university to be successful, writes The Sun’s Head of Consumer Tara Evans.

She said the list of successful people without a degree includes Richard Branson and Mark Zuckerberg. But it really depends on what you want to do, when it comes to weighing up whether university is worth it for you. So many students take on a degree because they think it’s essential to getting a job - but it’s not. And with the average student debt for someone starting a degree is 2022/23 hitting £45,600, it could leave you financially worse off in the long run.

Whatever you want to do, read our Sunemployment page for tips on how to get started. It's one thing knowing the best-paying jobs for which you don't need a degree - it's another knowing how to apply. Do your research so you know exactly what a job entails and the pathway to getting an interview. Some roles, while not requiring you to have gone to uni, may still need you to have some form of training or apprenticeship, like a carpentry or chef role.

Others will start off as apprenticeships, where you'll gradually build up your salary until you're fully qualified. Once you've landed an interview, make sure you brush up on your CV and research how to prepare for an interview. We also spoke to recruitment expert Natasha Kearslake, director of HR consultancy Organic P&O Solutions. She shared the six CV tips that seriously boost your chances of getting a call back. These were:.

Sarah Coles, personal finance expert at Hargreaves Lansdown, said that on average, graduates end up better off than those going into the jobs market straight from school - but it's not the path for everyone. "For some school leavers, the world of work is the most sensible destination overall. "It means that those who are preparing to take on student loans may well find it pays off in the end – but it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed lower pay if you take a different path.".