There are plenty of jobs out there paying serious moolah - you just have to know which ones.
It's common knowledge that, in most cases, the higher your level of education, the bigger your pay packet will be.
If you want to work in well-remunerated fields like law, medicine and engineering, you won't get far without at least one university degree, preferably two.
But what if you want to take home big bucks without doing three to five years' study at uni?
You're in luck. Experts say there are scores of jobs offering salaries in excess of $100,000 a year that don't require university study. Some require only minimal training.
"Absolutely, it is possible to score jobs earning $100k-plus without a degree,"says recruitment analyst Ross Clennett.
The general manager at Frontline Recruitment Group, Doug Downer, agrees. He bypassed uni after school to take a job with a fast-food chain. For the past 12 years he has earned well over $100,000.
"It's all about attitude, aptitude and drive - everything else you can learn on the job," he says.
Read through the jobs below and work out which one suits you best. While the average salary usually falls well below $100,000, each of them has the potential to pay more than that figure. By working in real estate, for instance, you can earn far more than the average on the back of commission and bonuses or private contracting.
The secret, according to Clennett, is to prove your capability to deliver specific outcomes fast. "In this economic climate, no employer will pay $100k for someone with potential," he says. "It's all about results."
Real estate agent
Average wage: $50,000
Training: For NSW, you need to complete a REINSW Certificate III or IV property practice course that may be undertaken as part of an apprenticeship. "If you are good, there is top money to be made as a real estate agent, particularly in the more affluent areas," says Kelly Magowan from executive search site Six Figures.
See reinsw.com.au
Plumber
Average wage: $50,000
Training: A four-year apprenticeship. Tradespeople in general, including carpenters and bricklayers, can make great money. "Definitely a lot of those working in trades are doing exceptionally well, be they working for themselves or others," Magowan says. She adds that many tradies have in recent years moved on to secure six-figure mining industry jobs.
See mpmsaa.org.au, industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au
Small business operator
Average wage: Very variable.
Training: No formal qualifications required, although the NSW Department of State and Regional Development offers some courses. "Making six figures as a small-business operator can and does happen," Magowan says. "You definitely don't need a degree."
See www.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au
Sales representative
Average wage: $50,000
Training: Secondary education is not normally required. Some employers may require further part-time study, such as a TAFE Certificate IV in marketing. On-the-job training is often provided. Either way, Downer believes this field's potential is uncapped.
See seeklearning.com.au/tafe/certificate-4-in-business-marketing.asp
Chef
Average wage: $42,000
Training: Four-year apprenticeship including a TAFE Certificate III hospitality course in commercial cookery. "It's a long process moving through all the levels but once you get to head- or executive-chef level, the remuneration is well over $100,000 per annum," Downer says. Blossom into a celebrity chef and earnings are potentially limitless.
See tiny.cc/z9V6t
Fashion stylist (image consultant)
Average wage: $60,000
Training: Fashion industry experience - the more the better - is handy. So is participation in a styling course or a fashion business course that covers cutting-edge areas such as fabric trends and offshore manufacturing. Either way, it's a hot job thanks to the influence of television makeover shows promoting the notion that a personal stylist is no longer a service for the rich and famous.
See australianfashionacademy.com
Construction manager (foreman)
Average wage: $66,560
Training: Despite the fact that many building trade managers hold degrees, the qualification is not obligatory. The typical classified ad for a construction manager seeks people skills, the ability to lead and motivate a team, along with experience and the drive to see a project to a successful conclusion. Armed with those qualities, you can rise above labouring to a supervisory role - and make a pile.
See mbansw.asn.au
Police detective
Average wage: $65,000
Training: Tertiary education is not normally required to join the force. That said, after joining, NSW recruits undertake an associate degree in policing practice through Charles Sturt University during training.
To become a detective, you must do two to three years on the beat and then complete the investigator's course followed by the 12-month detective's education program.
See police.nsw.gov.au, csu.edu.au
Recruiter
Average wage: $57,000
Training: Experience or savvy in sales is the only real entry requirement. You need to undergo industry-specific training matched to your skill level, says Julie Mills, chief executive officer of the Recruitment & Consulting Services Association. Following induction training, workers typically attend sales workshops and interview technique classes. Next they gain skills through studying managing people, compliance with legal requirements and good business practice. "Moving up the ladder means constantly learning and improving. That's how you can crack the six-figure salary," Mills says.
See rcsa.com.au.
