Most Pay, Least Qualification
These are the roles that pay well relative to the study they demand — two years of training or less, and a median of $60,000 or more. Ranked by pay per year of study, which is the honest measure of how easily a job converts into income.
1. Business Owner / Founder
None · no pre-entry study
$410,000
$410,000 per study year
2. Software Sales Executive
None · no pre-entry study
$148,000
$148,000 per study year
3. Forex Trader
None · no pre-entry study
$128,000
$128,000 per study year
4. Luxury Car Salesperson
None · no pre-entry study
$115,000
$115,000 per study year
5. Solar Sales Consultant
None · no pre-entry study
$88,000
$88,000 per study year
6. Recruitment Consultant
None · no pre-entry study
$84,000
$84,000 per study year
7. Air Traffic Controller
Certificate · 1 year training
$160,000
$80,000 per study year
8. Car Salesman
None · no pre-entry study
$78,000
$78,000 per study year
9. SEO Specialist
None · no pre-entry study
$78,000
$78,000 per study year
10. Copywriter
None · no pre-entry study
$74,000
$74,000 per study year
11. Commercial Property Agent
Certificate · 1 year training
$145,000
$72,500 per study year
12. Advertising Sales Rep
None · no pre-entry study
$72,000
$72,000 per study year
13. Penetration Tester
Certificate · 1 year training
$138,000
$69,000 per study year
14. Social Media Manager
None · no pre-entry study
$68,000
$68,000 per study year
15. Stockbroker
Certificate · 1 year training
$135,000
$67,500 per study year
16. Videographer
None · no pre-entry study
$64,000
$64,000 per study year
17. Shearer
None · no pre-entry study
$62,000
$62,000 per study year
18. Retail Store Manager
None · no pre-entry study
$62,000
$62,000 per study year
19. Mortgage Broker
Certificate · 1 year training
$112,000
$56,000 per study year
20. Financial Planner
Certificate · 1 year training
$105,000
$52,500 per study year
21. Underground Miner
Certificate · 1 year training
$105,000
$52,500 per study year
22. Real Estate Agent
Certificate · 1 year training
$105,000
$52,500 per study year
23. Drill Operator
Certificate · 1 year training
$98,000
$49,000 per study year
24. Detective
Certificate · 1 year training
$96,000
$48,000 per study year
25. Insurance Broker
Certificate · 1 year training
$92,000
$46,000 per study year
26. Oil Rig Worker
Certificate · 1 year training
$92,000
$46,000 per study year
27. Train Driver
Certificate · 1 year training
$88,000
$44,000 per study year
28. Power Plant Operator
Certificate · 1 year training
$86,000
$43,000 per study year
29. Crane Operator
Certificate · 1 year training
$82,000
$41,000 per study year
30. Digital Marketing Specialist
Certificate · 1 year training
$82,000
$41,000 per study year
31. Front End Developer
Diploma · 2 years training
$118,000
$39,333 per study year
32. Rigger
Certificate · 1 year training
$78,000
$39,000 per study year
33. Police Officer
Certificate · 1 year training
$78,000
$39,000 per study year
34. Heavy Machinery Operator
Certificate · 1 year training
$76,000
$38,000 per study year
35. Insurance Sales Agent
Certificate · 1 year training
$76,000
$38,000 per study year
36. Firefighter
Certificate · 1 year training
$74,000
$37,000 per study year
37. Network Engineer
Diploma · 2 years training
$108,000
$36,000 per study year
38. Building Site Supervisor
Diploma · 2 years training
$108,000
$36,000 per study year
39. Court Reporter
Certificate · 1 year training
$68,000
$34,000 per study year
40. Tiler
Certificate · 1 year training
$68,000
$34,000 per study year
41. Welder
Certificate · 1 year training
$68,000
$34,000 per study year
42. Truck Driver (Long Haul)
Certificate · 1 year training
$68,000
$34,000 per study year
43. Concreter
Certificate · 1 year training
$66,000
$33,000 per study year
44. Scaffolder
Certificate · 1 year training
$66,000
$33,000 per study year
45. QA / Test Engineer
Diploma · 2 years training
$98,000
$32,667 per study year
46. UI Designer
Diploma · 2 years training
$98,000
$32,667 per study year
47. Systems Administrator
Diploma · 2 years training
$96,000
$32,000 per study year
48. Solar Panel Installer
Certificate · 1 year training
$64,000
$32,000 per study year
49. Prison Officer
Certificate · 1 year training
$64,000
$32,000 per study year
50. Building Inspector
Diploma · 2 years training
$95,000
$31,667 per study year
51. IT Support Technician
Certificate · 1 year training
$62,000
$31,000 per study year
52. Payroll Officer
Certificate · 1 year training
$62,000
$31,000 per study year
53. Plasterer
Certificate · 1 year training
$62,000
$31,000 per study year
54. Sommelier
Certificate · 1 year training
$62,000
$31,000 per study year
55. Arborist
Certificate · 1 year training
$60,000
$30,000 per study year
56. Conveyancer
Diploma · 2 years training
$82,000
$27,333 per study year
57. Dental Hygienist
Diploma · 2 years training
$78,000
$26,000 per study year
58. Paramedic
Diploma · 2 years training
$72,000
$24,000 per study year
59. Draftsperson
Diploma · 2 years training
$72,000
$24,000 per study year
60. Graphic Designer
Diploma · 2 years training
$66,000
$22,000 per study year
61. Restaurant Manager
Diploma · 2 years training
$64,000
$21,333 per study year
62. Paralegal
Diploma · 2 years training
$62,000
$20,667 per study year
Where the easy money really hides
Commission sales is the clearest example. A car salesperson, luxury vehicle specialist, solar consultant, software sales executive or commercial property agent needs no degree at all. What they need is the discipline to work a pipeline: follow up every enquiry, keep a database, ask for referrals, and pick a high-value product so each sale is worth more. Earnings in these roles are extremely uneven — the top quartile earns several times the median — which is exactly why they are open to anyone willing to be measured on results.
Resources, energy and heavy plant pay for conditions rather than credentials. Underground mining, drilling, rigs, crane operation, rigging and heavy machinery all run on short tickets and licences that take weeks, not years. The premium comes from remoteness, rosters, shift work and safety-critical responsibility. Bank the income while you have it and plan a transition into supervision before your body forces one.
Transport and logistics — long-haul freight, bus and train driving, marine crew — sits in the same category: a licence, a medical, a clean record and a willingness to work hours other people will not.
Licensed trades are the best risk-adjusted option on this list. You are paid during your apprenticeship, you finish debt-free with a licence the law protects, and the ceiling doubles the day you put your own name on the van. Electrical, plumbing, gas fitting, lift technician and crane work all clear well above the site median.
Self-taught digital work rounds it out. Penetration testing, SEO, copywriting, front-end development and paid media are hired on portfolio and results rather than transcripts, and the entry cost is time rather than tuition.
One warning: low qualification does not mean low effort. Every role on this page substitutes something else for study — physical risk, unsocial hours, income volatility or relentless self-marketing. Choose the trade-off you can sustain for a decade, not the one that sounds easiest this week.