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15 careers that don't require a university degree

  • Brickmason - Average salary: $47,000 Like all trades, becoming a brickmason requires at least a year at a college and a number of years of on-the-job training before applying to become certified.
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    Brickmason - Average salary: $47,000

    Brickmason - Average salary: $47,000 Like all trades, becoming a brickmason requires at least a year at a college and a number of years of on-the-job training before applying to become certified.
    Thinkstock
  • Insurance agent - Average salary: $47,000 Insurance brokers must take a licensing exam, and it's a good idea to take a number of business courses in order to pass it.
    2/15

    Insurance agent - Average salary: $47,000

    Insurance agent - Average salary: $47,000 Insurance brokers must take a licensing exam, and it's a good idea to take a number of business courses in order to pass it.
    Thinkstock
  • Paralegal - Average salary: $50,000 There are university programs in paralegal studies, but the course work can be done through a community college. As with most non-university professions, becoming a paralegal requires years of hands-on experience in order to become certified.
    3/15

    Paralegal - Average salary: $50,000

    Paralegal - Average salary: $50,000 There are university programs in paralegal studies, but the course work can be done through a community college. As with most non-university professions, becoming a paralegal requires years of hands-on experience in order to become certified.
    Thinkstock
  • Administrative/executive assistant - Average salary: $50,000 Today's executive assistants need to be proficient in multiple computer software programs, and have to be able to multi-task with aplomb. However, it's a good way to get an office job without having to go to university.
    4/15

    Administrative/executive assistant - Average salary: $50,000

    Administrative/executive assistant - Average salary: $50,000 Today's executive assistants need to be proficient in multiple computer software programs, and have to be able to multi-task with aplomb. However, it's a good way to get an office job without having to go to university.
    Thinkstock
  • Police officer - Average salary: $51,000 Graduating from a police academy can be accomplished in about a year, while some programs take two years to complete.
    5/15

    Police officer - Average salary: $51,000

    Police officer - Average salary: $51,000 Graduating from a police academy can be accomplished in about a year, while some programs take two years to complete.
    Thinkstock
  • <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Plumber - Average salary: $52,000</span></b><span><br> Plumbers spend less time in the classroom than learning on the job, but you'll still need to take some college-level courses before landing an apprenticeship.</span></p>
    6/15

    Plumber - Average salary: $52,000

    Plumber - Average salary: $52,000
    Plumbers spend less time in the classroom than learning on the job, but you'll still need to take some college-level courses before landing an apprenticeship.

    Thinkstock
  • Funeral director - Average salary: $52,000 A degree in mortuary science can be achieved in two years at a community college, but the career is not for the faint of heart.
    7/15

    Funeral director - Average salary: $52,000

    Funeral director - Average salary: $52,000 A degree in mortuary science can be achieved in two years at a community college, but the career is not for the faint of heart.
    Thinkstock
  • <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Electrician - Average salary: $53,000</span></b><span><br> Like all specialized trades, becoming a certified electrician requires at least a year at a trade school and doing a few years as an apprentice.</span></p>
    8/15

    Electrician - Average salary: $53,000

    Electrician - Average salary: $53,000
    Like all specialized trades, becoming a certified electrician requires at least a year at a trade school and doing a few years as an apprentice.

    Thinkstock
  • <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Immigration/Customs inspector - Average salary: $54,000</span></b><span><br> Immigrations inspectors are often glorified security guards who have received basic police and immigration training. A keen ability to scowl and intimidate at airport kiosks is required.</span></p>
    9/15

    Immigration/Customs inspector - Average salary: $54,000

    Immigration/Customs inspector - Average salary: $54,000
    Immigrations inspectors are often glorified security guards who have received basic police and immigration training. A keen ability to scowl and intimidate at airport kiosks is required.

    Thinkstock
  • Real estate broker - Average salary: $58,000 Anyone who passes a written exam can become a broker in Canada. Building up a steady list of clients and making big profit out of tight margins often takes years of dedication.
    10/15

    Real estate broker - Average salary: $58,000

    Real estate broker - Average salary: $58,000 Anyone who passes a written exam can become a broker in Canada. Building up a steady list of clients and making big profit out of tight margins often takes years of dedication.
    Thinkstock
  • Elevator installer/repairer - Average salary: $66,000 Remember, what goes up must come down. Repairmen require advanced knowledge of electronics and physics, but doesn't require setting foot on a university campus.
    11/15

    Elevator installer/repairer - Average salary: $66,000

    Elevator installer/repairer - Average salary: $66,000 Remember, what goes up must come down. Repairmen require advanced knowledge of electronics and physics, but doesn't require setting foot on a university campus.
    Thinkstock
  • Web developer: Average salary: $66,000 The best Web developers are self-taught - but it takes years of coding to get good enough to land a full-time job in this sector without a university degree.
    12/15

    Web developer: Average salary: $66,000

    Web developer: Average salary: $66,000 The best Web developers are self-taught - but it takes years of coding to get good enough to land a full-time job in this sector without a university degree.
    Thinkstock
  • Commercial pilot - Average salary: $67,000 It takes years of training and experience before pilots can apply for commercial carriers, but if you're dedicated and like travel, flying passenger jets could be the career for you.
    13/15

    Commercial pilot - Average salary: $67,000

    Commercial pilot - Average salary: $67,000 It takes years of training and experience before pilots can apply for commercial carriers, but if you're dedicated and like travel, flying passenger jets could be the career for you.
    Thinkstock
  • Nuclear operator - Average salary: $75,000 Matt Groening didn't make Homer Simpson a nuclear operator for nothing. This career doesn't require a university education but pays more than enough to support a growing family.
    14/15

    Nuclear operator - Average salary: $75,000

    Nuclear operator - Average salary: $75,000 Matt Groening didn't make Homer Simpson a nuclear operator for nothing. This career doesn't require a university education but pays more than enough to support a growing family.
    Thinkstock
  • Air traffic controller - Average salary: $108,000 High stress, long hours and thousands of lives in your hands. If you're great a multi-tasking, being an air traffic controller could prove a financially-rewarding career choice.
    15/15

    Air traffic controller - Average salary: $108,000

    Air traffic controller - Average salary: $108,000 High stress, long hours and thousands of lives in your hands. If you're great a multi-tasking, being an air traffic controller could prove a financially-rewarding career choice.
    Thinkstock
Brickmason - Average salary: $47,000 Like all trades, becoming a brickmason requires at least a year at a college and a number of years of on-the-job training before applying to become certified.
Insurance agent - Average salary: $47,000 Insurance brokers must take a licensing exam, and it's a good idea to take a number of business courses in order to pass it.
Paralegal - Average salary: $50,000 There are university programs in paralegal studies, but the course work can be done through a community college. As with most non-university professions, becoming a paralegal requires years of hands-on experience in order to become certified.
Administrative/executive assistant - Average salary: $50,000 Today's executive assistants need to be proficient in multiple computer software programs, and have to be able to multi-task with aplomb. However, it's a good way to get an office job without having to go to university.
Police officer - Average salary: $51,000 Graduating from a police academy can be accomplished in about a year, while some programs take two years to complete.
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Plumber - Average salary: $52,000</span></b><span><br> Plumbers spend less time in the classroom than learning on the job, but you'll still need to take some college-level courses before landing an apprenticeship.</span></p>
Funeral director - Average salary: $52,000 A degree in mortuary science can be achieved in two years at a community college, but the career is not for the faint of heart.
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Electrician - Average salary: $53,000</span></b><span><br> Like all specialized trades, becoming a certified electrician requires at least a year at a trade school and doing a few years as an apprentice.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Immigration/Customs inspector - Average salary: $54,000</span></b><span><br> Immigrations inspectors are often glorified security guards who have received basic police and immigration training. A keen ability to scowl and intimidate at airport kiosks is required.</span></p>
Real estate broker - Average salary: $58,000 Anyone who passes a written exam can become a broker in Canada. Building up a steady list of clients and making big profit out of tight margins often takes years of dedication.
Elevator installer/repairer - Average salary: $66,000 Remember, what goes up must come down. Repairmen require advanced knowledge of electronics and physics, but doesn't require setting foot on a university campus.
Web developer: Average salary: $66,000 The best Web developers are self-taught - but it takes years of coding to get good enough to land a full-time job in this sector without a university degree.
Commercial pilot - Average salary: $67,000 It takes years of training and experience before pilots can apply for commercial carriers, but if you're dedicated and like travel, flying passenger jets could be the career for you.
Nuclear operator - Average salary: $75,000 Matt Groening didn't make Homer Simpson a nuclear operator for nothing. This career doesn't require a university education but pays more than enough to support a growing family.
Air traffic controller - Average salary: $108,000 High stress, long hours and thousands of lives in your hands. If you're great a multi-tasking, being an air traffic controller could prove a financially-rewarding career choice.
Updated

The saying "the higher the education, the higher the salary" isn't always the case. There are a number of career options that don't require a university degree - though most do require spending at least one year at a community college, where the annual tuition could run as high as $4,000. Here are 15 of the highest-paying careers that don't require setting foot on a university campus and the average salary for each. (Sources: CareerCast, Forbes, Kiplinger.com and Bankrate.com)