5 high-paying jobs with little schooling and good employment opportunities

hree of the most desirable qualities a profession can have are that it requires little education, that you get paid well, and that the prospects for getting a job are good.

We all probably want a job that meets at least one of these criteria, and it is often a matter of finding a compromise between the three. There are jobs that are well paid and where there are good opportunities for employment, but that require a longer education. Other jobs require little schooling and are easy find, but the salary is not very high. And some jobs are both well paid and do not require much education, but the chance of getting employed is small.

But what if there was a job that met all three criteria? Below we list 5 jobs that do not require a long education, pay well, and where the prospects of getting employed are very good! 

Source: Statistics Sweden (salaries), Swedish Public Employment Service (job prospects).

1. Train driver

A train driver (also called a motorman or engineer) operates, as the name implies, a train. As a train driver, you can work on trains with passengers as well as freight trains. The job mainly consists of keeping track of the train's technical equipment and making sure that the train runs safely, smoothly and at the right speed. As you are usually alone in the locomotive, the job suits those who thrive in their own company. If you need social stimulation, this job may not be for you, in other words!

The average salary for a train driver is SEK 39,700, and the education includes one year of full-time studies. The job prospects are judged to be very good, and most people get a job quickly after completing their studies.

To work as a train driver, you need to undergo certain psychological and medical tests, as the work involves a great deal of responsibility. About 100 people die in train-related accidents every year, which can be a trauma for the train driver who drove the train, so mental stability is important.

2. Accountant

If you are looking for a more "stationary" job, accounting may be for you. The accountant oversees a company's financial activity, such as inflows and outflows, taxes, VAT and employer contributions, and arranges bookkeeping and financial statements. The job suits those who like to count and are analytical and punctual – if you fell asleep when the teacher went through algebra in primary school, you might want to keep looking!

An accountant earns an average of SEK 39,000, and to become an authorized accountant, two years at a polytechnic are required. The Swedish Public Employment Service considers the future prospects for accountants to be very good.

3. VVS-technician

As a VVS-technician, you work with the installation and repairment of VVS-systems in different types of properties. VVS stands for “värme” (heating), ventilation (same in Swedish) and “sanitet” (sanitation), and they work, as the name suggests, with both ventilation systems, heat pumps, pipes and more.

VVS-technicians are often confused with plumbers – which is not entirely wrong as the VVS-technician to some extent does the same thing as a plumber – but the profession also involves many other areas of expertise. The job involves a lot of body work and problem solving, and is therefore well suited for those who are handy and like to move around.

A VVS-technician earns an average of SEK 35,600, and the education required is a little over a year of studies at Komvux. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service's forecast, the job prospects are very good.

4. Programmer 

For those of you who like to sit in front of the computer and are interested in IT, a career in programming may be a better fit. Working as a programmer is primarily about working with a system developer and implement code for different types of software. It can be writing code for everything from a computer game to an accounting program. 

Programmers are often well paid, and the average salary lands at a generous SEK 43,100. When it comes to education, many programmers are actually self-taught, so the required time spent on education technically goes all the way down to 0 weeks – but in practice, the lack of an education must of course be matched by a great private interest and commitment. For those who need some schooling, there are two year educations available.

5. Insurance intermediary

The insurance intermediary mediates, you guessed it, insurance! As an insurance intermediary, you understand customers' needs and help them choose the right insurance. Working as an insurance intermediary is to a large extent a sales job, as additional sales are a central part of the job tasks. It is therefore important that you are social, service-minded, and not afraid to negotiate.

An insurance intermediary has an average salary of SEK 45,100, making it the highest paying job on the list. Insurance companies often have their own training for their employees, and greater importance is placed on personal suitability rather than on academic merit.

The forgotten, fourth criterion…

And if it so happens that none of the jobs above, or any other job that meets all the criteria, suits you - do not worry!

Although it is of course nice to avoid studying for a long time, to earn a lot of money and to have an easy time finding a job, you must always take into account the often forgotten fourth criterion: that you actually want to work with it.

At the end of the day, a job is something you will spend many hours a week on, so the most important thing is that it is something you actually enjoy doing. Do you want to work with something that is difficult to get a job in, pays poorly, or requires a long education? I say go for it! Life is too short not to do what you want.

And if you need help finding out what your goals are and how to reach them, you can always get help from us at Curonova. Through our Rusta and Matcha program, we help you reach your true potential. Contact us and we will tell you more!