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Original poster

Is it possible to earn £50k pa without a degree?

121 replies

whatnoooow · 16/02/2025 15:35

I'm reaching my 40s and nowhere near where I'd like to be, financially.

My current salary is £30k pa and I work in financial services, with qualifications in my industry, but I don't have a degree. I think I'd probably have to stay in financial services.

I'm really struggling to know where to go from here, or how to get there.

Does anybody work in financial services who would be comfortable discussing what they do for a living and if the salary is anywhere near £50k?

Thanks you x

OP posts:
showmethegin · 16/02/2025 15:37

I earn 43k as an assistant project manager in the Midlands and I don't have a degree so in general yes I'd say it was possible to earn 50 without a degree. I will most likely go up in around 18 months at which point it would be around 55-60k

Carinattheliqorstore1 · 16/02/2025 15:37

Hi; yes. I do earn more than that part time. Work in IT. I think you need to keep changing companies every few years to keep on top of salaries

Helpfullright · 16/02/2025 15:41

Nearly 40, basic of 114k + benefits, no degree.

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EffinMagicFairy · 16/02/2025 15:52

Yes, I’ve got it by staying at a company, I would have got it sooner if I hadn’t gone part time to bring DC up, now I’m back full time, if I diverted into other areas of the business earning potential would be more but I’m not interested in the Business travel or stress it would bring.

Parky04 · 16/02/2025 16:01

I earnt over £80k without any CSE's! Hated school (rarely attended). Started work at 15 and thrived in that environment.

Original poster
whatnoooow · 16/02/2025 16:01

Helpfullright · 16/02/2025 15:41

Nearly 40, basic of 114k + benefits, no degree.

Crikey! What is it you do for a living?

I have no idea how this would be attainable for me.

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 16/02/2025 16:02

Lots of computer people in finance earn more than that and many of them don't have a degree.

Computer skills are something of a knack though.

Puttingoutfireswithgasoline · 16/02/2025 16:04

No degree here and getting close.

Probably would have hit it by now without a few years out for kids.

I work in HR.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 16/02/2025 16:04

Yep I'm on 44k at 38 and the best I got were some standard grades. I have a good work ethic and work for a oil/gas and pharmaceutical companies that pay well.

I'm a planner!

curious79 · 16/02/2025 16:06

I worked in FS in 1996 and earnt more. What are you doing? FS jobs usually higher paying. There must be some possibility of moving around if you have quals

abnerbrownsdressinggown · 16/02/2025 16:06

DH doesn't have a degree and works in financial services in IT. Earns well over that).

It was a pain getting his first IT job, but after that it hasn't been an issue at all.

femfemlicious · 16/02/2025 16:08

showmethegin · 16/02/2025 15:37

I earn 43k as an assistant project manager in the Midlands and I don't have a degree so in general yes I'd say it was possible to earn 50 without a degree. I will most likely go up in around 18 months at which point it would be around 55-60k

How did you get into project management please.

Eyesopenwideawake · 16/02/2025 16:09

Yes, I was earning that in the 90's in financial services. No degree. Do you have the possibility/desire to go into a sales role?

LittleRedRidingHoody · 16/02/2025 16:10

Yes I'm on 6 figures without a degree (well, now working on an MBA the company is paying for, so not for much longer!) and was on min wage less than 10 years ago. I was actually on 30k about 5 years ago!

I work in Operations for a US Financial Tech company - my company is fully remote in Europe (so although I'm in London and 'benefit' from raised wages to compensate, technically you could work for my company from anywhere). It's a really lucrative industry if you can find a way to leverage yourself in. I don't think my pathway is super relevant to you, but I definitely know we have financial analysts on 60k+ who have come from other finance backgrounds with no degree and have had a significant salary bump when they moved to us. I've been involved in some recruitment/interviews and for us at least although the roles are very competitive, it is down to previous experience/confidence/personality and not 'who you know'.

Jessstar · 16/02/2025 16:11

DH has no degree and earns £180k basic + bonus. Started in finance. Moved into tech.

Sadly it has meant my career took a back seat as he does work a lot of hours in a stressful environment.

writingsonthewall · 16/02/2025 16:12

I earn about 150 in finance and although i do have a degree and professional qualification, a few people u work with do not have degrees (but are typically qualified).

You could do a CIMA qualification and then easily earn more than 50k, even as part qual

Chipsahoy · 16/02/2025 16:14

No disagree and work in software. 100k

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 16/02/2025 16:16

I'm just shy of that £48k and have no degree, or A-levels.

DH earns £85k again, no degree.

MaltipooMama · 16/02/2025 16:20

No degree here either, basic salary is £67k plus bonus which has taken my annual earnings to around £90k on occasion

Eminybob · 16/02/2025 16:20

I earn more than that in financial services management with no degree and no A levels.
In fact all I have is 5 GCSEs.

HelpMeGetThrough · 16/02/2025 16:21

Our CEO. Over £900k a year and didn't even do A Levels.

Workisntworking · 16/02/2025 16:21

Yes, definitely possible to earn more than £50k without a degree, especially if you are a 'good bloke' - then you don't even have to work hard or be competent!

Original poster
whatnoooow · 16/02/2025 16:36

Wow. It's amazing that so many of you are earning such amazing salaries, it's obviously possible to do it.

I'm a mortgage adviser at the moment and really have no idea how to break in to a new role. Anybody want to take me under their wing 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
whatnoooow · 16/02/2025 16:39

I also have the level 3 CIPD in HR but kind of fell in to mortgages during the pandemic after redundancy

OP posts:
InfoSecInTheCity · 16/02/2025 16:40

Yes £105k + upto 25% annual bonus and discretionary bonuses for specific projects.

I work in cybersecurity Governance, Risk & Compliance, started in call centres and worked my way up through management, then specialising into GRC.

Financial compliance is a big industry and doesn't require a degree, you could do professional certifications to become an auditor.

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