Six Jobs that pay Surprisingly High Salaries

Often we think of high-paying jobs being those for which people have gone through a lengthy training period, such as doctors, dentists, and solicitors. However, academic qualifications alone are not always the precursor to a successful career. Here we look at six jobs which pay unexpectedly well, none of which tie you down to an office cubicle.

Stonemason

Stonemasonry is a skilled profession and salaries rise with the level of expertise. Stonemasons carry out a wide variety of work including repairing buildings and monuments, creating memorial headstones, and making original stonework for homes and gardens. While a starting salary can be around the £15,000 mark, this rises to £35,000 for experienced stonemasons and even higher for those who are self-employed or who have a particular in-demand speciality.

Hazardous Waste Manager

For those with excellent organizational skills and a willingness to flirt with danger, the role of hazardous waste manager might be right. The salary is usually around £37,000 and for this you will need to inventory all possible hazardous waste material within an organization and deal with its safe disposal. This may sometimes involve relatively innocuous items such as IT equipment. However, it can also include medical waste or hazardous chemicals. Therefore, expertise in particular areas means that you can command a much higher salary than the average for the profession.

Events Manager

Events managers can work in many fields on a self-employed basis as well as being employed by companies. An events manager oversees the planning, organisation, and roll-out of a wide variety of public and private events including weddings, concerts, festivals, corporate events, and conventions. Days can be long and the hours lonely, but the reward of seeing something through to completion is often worth it. The average salary is around £30,000 but can vary widely, particularly if you set up your own business and become well-known for certain types of events.

Butler

You many think that the role of butler died out in the era of Downton Abbey but British butlers are still very much in demand around the world. Today butlers can be called on to undertake a wide variety of tasks from running a household, chauffeuring, wardrobe management, and even cooking. While particular academic qualifications are not a requirement, graduation from a school such as the British Butler Institute is an advantage. A newly-qualified butler can expect to earn around £35,000 and this can rise to £90,000 depending on experience and where you are employed.

Truck Driver

For many, the appeal of becoming a truck driver is life on the open road. While hours can be long and it is often necessary to spend time away from friends and family, the rewards can be worth it. An average salary for a truck driver in the UK is around £27,000 and with a current national shortage of HGV drivers this is a career with plenty of opportunity. Once you have gained experience, you can become self-employed or even set up your own haulage company and this can substantially increase your remuneration. People may perceive driving a truck as boring, but it can actually be thrilling.

Ethical Hacker

While the title may surprise, ethical hackers are not on the wrong side of the law but rather are employed by large companies and government departments, such as GCHQ, to see if there are any weaknesses in their computer security. While some people go into this industry with a computer science background, academic qualifications are by no means a requirement and aptitude is deemed more important. Salaries start at around £35,000 and rise to £90,000 or higher, so this is definitely worth looking into if it interests you.

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