Most people believe that to get a high-paying job, we need to have a college degree. But in 2025, it is not completely true. There are many careers that don’t require any college degree but offer a high salary based on skills, experience, or certifications rather than formal education.
If you are someone who wants to get a high-paying job but don’t have a college degree, then this post is for you. In this article, we will explore some of the best paying jobs which do not require a college degree.
These jobs are from various industries like technology, trades, transportation, sales, and other fields.
Indroduction
Nowadays, education is very expensive, and if we talk about the college degree, it takes time and money too. It is not possible for everyone to bear such expenses and spend four years in college to get a degree.
Many people don’t believe in the education system, they start working in their early age and gain experience.
Fortunately, there are professions in which skills matter more than any kind of degree, especially a college degree.
So, in this guide we will look at the many different career paths that do not require any degree at the same time, pay high salaries.
Skilled Trade Jobs
Trade jobs are high-paying jobs which doesn’t require any college degree. In such jobs, experience and expertise matter more than a degree. People can learn these skills through vocational training or apprenticeship.
Don’t you know about the trade jobs?
Okay, let us explain. The trade jobs are the kind of jobs that are available in the field of construction, manufacturing, and specialization.
Truly, many trade jobs are in very high demand, particularly in manufacturing, construction, and maintenance.
What are the examples of trade jobs?
You may be someone who does not know about the trade jobs, let us give you an example of trade jobs.
Trade Job examples:
- Carpenter
- Plumber
- Electrician
- Welders
- Mechanics
And many more.
Salaries:
It doesn’t require a college degree, does it mean the professionals who work in trade do not get high paying salaries?
Well, it’s not true.
They get paid an average salary of $78,051 per year in Canada. You can check the Trade jobs salaries on glassdoor.ca.
Skilled Trades Salaries in Canada
Tech and Digital Jobs
Most people think to get a well-paying job in the world of technology, we need to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the fields related to technology, like computer science or a bachelor’s in information technology. But that is not completely true.
Big MNCs like Google and Meta prioritize experience and certifications over degrees.
So what are the High Paying Jobs in Technology that do not require a college degree?
- Web Developer
- Graphics Designer
- Digital Marketer
- Cybersecurity Analyst
and could be many more.
Web Developer:
- A web developer builds websites and web applications.
- Anyone can learn web development online from YouTube or platforms like Codecademy and W3Schools.
The Average Salary of a web developer in Canada is $50,000 to $75,000 per year.
Web development is one of the highest in demand jobs in Canada and all over the world.
A web developer can develop the front-end or the back-end of an application. If someone develops the back-end and front-end of the application, they are a full stack web developer and get paid even more than the given average salary.
Graphics Designer:
- Graphics Designer creates visual contents using tools like Adobe Photoshop, Canva, or Illustrator.
- They work for businesses.
The average salary of a graphics designer in Canada is $45,000 to $70,000 per annum. It could be even more than that for the experienced designer and big cities.
For the creative individuals, Graphic Designing is a lucrative field. It is one of the best jobs for freelancers, it allows them to set their own rates, the freelance designer can work from anywhere, and with multiple clients at once.
Digital Marketer:
- Digital Marketers promote the business online using various digital channels like social media, paid advertisements, and SEO.
- In 2025, the demand for digital marketers is increasing due to the business expansion.
Average Salary of a digital marketer in Canada is between $43,000 to $67,000 per year. It can be even more than that as per the experience and the city.
Cybersecurity Analyst:
- Cybersecurity analysts protect computer networks, servers, and systems from cyber threats and keep them secure.
- Certificates like CEH or CompTIA Security+ can be very helpful for individuals who want to enter this field.
The Cybersecurity Analyst can get a salary between $63,000 to $80,000 per annum. It is one of the highest paying jobs in Information Technology. Professionals with additional certificates can earn in six figures.
Sales and Business Jobs
Sales and business-related jobs depend on the communications and selling skills rather than a college degree. Professionals from these jobs can eventually start their own business that is why it has unlimited earning potential.
Real Estate Agent:
- A real estate agent helps people buy, sell, or rent properties.
- They can earn a huge amount of money from commissions on the sales.
The average salary of a real estate agent is $24,000 to $130,000 per annum in Canada. They can even make more money through the commissions from sales.
Some Other High Paying Sales and Business Jobs
- Insurance Sales Agent
- Stock Market Trader
These two jobs are like real estate agent jobs and have the same earning potential in them too.
How to start a career without a degree?
If you want to enter in these fields, follow the steps below:
- Take Online Courses: There are so many websites or online learning platforms available on the web today that are offering training. You can use any platform like Udemy, LinkedIn, or Coursera.
- Get Certifications: You can get an online or offline certification too.
- Get Experience: You can get some experience through an Internship, apprenticeship, or freelance work to enhance your skills and get the real-life experience.
- Build Portfolio: By building your portfolio, you can showcase your work to attract clients or employers.
- Build Network: Make good connections with professionals to explore job opportunities.
Conclusion
It does not require having a college degree to get a high-paying job in 2025. Many jobs offer a great salary on the basis of expertise and experience. By learning skills and gaining experience, anyone can build a successful career in any field, such as trades, technology, sales, and some other fields.
If you have any questions or want to give any suggestions, please use our comment box.