You don't need a college degree to earn a good living and build a career. A welder, nail technician, programmer, or truck driver can earn a higher salary than many graduates of prestigious universities. We asked experts what career path to choose so you don't have to live paycheck to paycheck.
There's a joke circulating online about how to build a real career and earn a good living: “pass your high school exams, finish college, get a doctorate, and… complete a nail art course.” It turns out there's some truth to this.
What counts is what you can do, not what you have on paper.
“Well-paid jobs are no longer reserved exclusively for those with a university degree,” Krzysztof Inglot, a labor market expert and founder of Personnel Service, tells Bankier.pl. “It's clear that practical skills are now winning out over formal education —especially in technical and specialized professions. We're talking about programmers, data analysts, technicians, mechanics, and welders. What counts is what you can do, not what you have on paper. Of course, if someone has a computer science degree and gains experience at the same time, that works to their advantage. But it's not a necessary condition for entering a well-paid career.”
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According to a Personnel Service expert, more and more companies are operating under a skills-based hiring model – Google, IBM, and Revolut are pioneers. He believes this isn't a trend, but a new standard. “By 2024, as many as 81% of companies worldwide will have abandoned strict educational requirements in favor of skills tests and real-world competencies,” the expert adds.
Are specialized certificates better than a diploma?
According to Mirosław Białobrzewski, president of Golden Serwis Sp.zoo, today's students are less and less likely to treat a university diploma as the only guarantee of professional success.
“Our experience shows that diligence, flexibility, and gaining practical experience are equally, and sometimes even more, valued today than formal education,” Mirosław Białobrzewski tells Bankier.pl. “High earnings are possible even without a university degree, although there's no doubt that some industries still absolutely require it. Examples include medicine and law, where a diploma is an absolute requirement to practice and obtain the necessary qualifications. However, in technical professions, success and earnings largely depend on commitment and work results, not on a degree . Our observations indicate that in sectors such as engineering, automation, and IT, practical experience and specific skills, often confirmed by specialized industry certifications, are significantly more important.”
“Friday students work for the three-year students”
“For years, it's been said that 'A students work for C students.' It's a truism—but, as is often the case with truisms, not without foundation. People who spend years focused on systematically obtaining grades, degrees, and certificates rarely develop what the market later demands most: courage, independence, the ability to improvise, or resilience to fail, ” Dawid Pyszniak, CEO of Compass&Partners, tells Bankier.pl. “Those who don't get drawn into the race for diplomas often possess something more valuable: their own vision, curiosity, determination, and the willingness to get up and try again after a fall. In recruitment, it's much more important whether someone has a 'spark' or whether they can admit, 'I don't know, but I'd love to find out.'” The interview itself reveals whether they're a humble practitioner, not just a theoretician with an impressive CV. Today, those who earn the most and have the most influence are those who can create real value—connecting people, delivering results, and thinking outside the box. Not those who are best at reciting a textbook. In sales, services, creative industries, and even consulting, higher education now plays a secondary role at best.
Studies do not guarantee a career
“A university degree used to be a virtual guarantee of a stable and well-paid career. Today, the reality is more complex,” Krzysztof Daniewski, CEO & Founder, Ivy Consultants, tells Bankier.pl. “There's no doubt that higher education, especially at renowned universities, opens the door to professions and environments where high salaries are the norm. I'm thinking primarily about sectors like finance, law, engineering, and medicine. Universities like Harvard, Stanford, Cambridge, and Oxford not only impart knowledge but also shape mindsets, build networks, and open access to global job markets where salaries are commensurate with high competences and responsibilities.”
However, according to Krzysztof Daniewski, the lack of a diploma does not eliminate the chances of high earnings.
” We're seeing a growing number of people who have achieved spectacular financial success without a traditional higher education, ” says a representative from Ivy Consultants. “This is happening primarily in industries based on skills and experience, where the real value an employee brings is paramount. In the IT and new technology industries, for example, for programmers, it's often the portfolio and skills that matter, not necessarily the diploma. In trade and sales, salespeople, regional managers, and business development specialists, relying on interpersonal and negotiation skills and market knowledge, can generate incomes that exceed the national average. Many successful entrepreneurs, even in their own businesses, lacked a higher education, and the key factors were: an idea, determination, the ability to manage risk, and team building,” he adds.
Were your parents wrong?
Many young people entering adulthood also notice that the beliefs passed on to them by their parents that they will achieve nothing without studies do not necessarily translate into reality.
“After graduating from high school, I decided to take a year off from studying and started working for a friend at an advertising agency. I was so drawn to the job that I didn't go back to university and now I don't see the need. Not only do I earn well, but I also plan to start my own company in this industry,” Miłosz from Warsaw tells Bankier.pl.
“For three years, I tried unsuccessfully to get into my dream university. I didn't want to study anything. Ultimately, I decided to simply find a job that would allow me to quickly become financially independent from my parents and not have to count every penny. That's why I took a nail styling course and now I work independently,” Joanna from Wrocław tells Bankier.pl. “Today , when I look at my friends who often earn less than me after graduating, I think it was a good decision.” However, I pursue my passions outside of work.
They don't complain about their earnings
According to job portals, well-paid professions that do not require higher education include:
- Real estate agent – from PLN 4,000 to PLN 25,000 gross
- Nail stylist – from 4,000 to 11,000 gross
- Stewardess – from PLN 4,000 to PLN 14,000 gross
- Barber – from 5,000 to 10,000 PLN gross
- Electrician-automation technician – from PLN 6,000 to PLN 14,000 gross
- Programmer – from PLN 6,000 to PLN 20,000 gross
- Cybersecurity Specialist – from PLN 7,000 to PLN 16,000 gross
- CNC machine operator – from PLN 6,000 to PLN 14,000 gross
- Welder – from PLN 5,000 to PLN 13,000 gross
- Truck driver – from PLN 5,000 to PLN 18,000 gross
- Plumber – from PLN 6,000 to PLN 14,000 gross
There's much evidence to suggest that those who don't get into their dream college this year don't have to despair. They can pursue careers and earn big bucks without a university degree.
