Business

12 jobs that don’t need a degree in South Africa – paying up to R260,000 per month

Malcolm Libera

 ·17 Aug 2025

Not every well-paying job in South Africa requires a degree, and some hold some of the highest offices in the country, with salaries ranging from R16,000 to R260,000 per month. 

Many South Africans never attend university for reasons that range from financial constraints and insufficient grades to simply not being interested in careers that require a degree. 

Additionally, the job market is shifting in 2025, and more positions are open to those without formal higher education.

“Our data consistently shows strong demand for workers in sectors where a tertiary education isn’t a prerequisite for entry,” Anja Bates, Head of Data Insights at Pnet, told BusinessTech.

“Among them are administration, office and support, marketing, graphic design, sales, and building and construction,” she said.

“In sales roles such as account executive or sales rep, ambition and interpersonal skills can compensate for a lack of formal qualifications.”

Bates noted that the administrative, office, and support sectors also offer entry points without a degree, and these roles can be stepping stones to more senior positions.

These jobs are not dead ends because they offer the opportunity to get hands-on experience in the business and grow into other roles. 

“We see many people who start out answering the phone or doing basic bookkeeping move into more high-powered roles in their companies,” she said.

Other fields, such as marketing, IT, customer service, and graphic design, are also rich in opportunities where experience and skill matter more than formal education. 

“However, experience can be a barrier for many young job seekers in the current job market,” Bates warned. 

“There is sadly a scarcity of structured, paid internships and student job pathways in many industries.”

International hiring trends are also influencing the South African job market, with some major employers no longer demanding degrees for roles in HR, IT, operations, or customer service. 

The jobs and what they pay

Despite more employers no longer demanding degrees, Bates stressed that candidates still need to demonstrate their value.

“It is necessary for candidates to show that they have invested in developing their skills and expertise,” she sad.

“There are many ways to do so outside of doing a degree. Short courses that are focused on developing particular real-world business skills or technical competencies can often give you a valuable edge,” 

She added that online learning has made these courses more affordable. A strong portfolio can also differentiate you, whether you have built that portfolio through running a side hustle at home, volunteering for charities, or taking on part-time jobs and freelance work.

The salaries in these non-degree sectors can be substantial. On the lower end, sales consultants can earn around R16,000 a month, while software developers and data analysts can earn up to R60,000. 

In construction, managers can make as much as R53,400 a month, and electrical technicians earn around R34,000.

Some of South Africa’s highest offices also do not require academic qualifications. This includes politicians, pilots, and real estate agents. 

Politicians do not need degrees to serve as councillors, members of provincial legislatures, or even cabinet ministers, a rule that even applies to the presidency.

Of the country’s 32 current cabinet ministers, 26 have some form of higher education. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson, and Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie only have a Matric.

Salaries at the political level can be staggering. Members of provincial legislatures earn around R100,000 a month, while the speaker of the National Assembly and the deputy president earn around R260,000 per month.

Pilots are another example of a lucrative profession that doesn’t require a degree, although extensive technical training and licensing are necessary.

During a recent dispute between FlySafair and the trade union Solidarity over wages and rostering systems, it was revealed that FlySafair’s captains earn between R1.8 million and R2.3 million annually, placing them firmly in the top 1% of South African earners.

Real estate agents can also earn a considerable income without a degree, although they must meet certain licensing requirements. 

While a fully qualified agent needs to complete an NQF4 Real Estate qualification and pass the Professional Designation Examination (PDE4), there are entry-level opportunities for interns and candidate agents. 

Earnings in real estate are commission-based, meaning the income potential is directly linked to sales performance. 

Base salaries typically range from R20,000 to R36,000 per month, but commissions from selling multi-million-rand properties can push annual earnings much higher.

Below are the 12 well-paying jobs that don’t require degrees and the estimated salary ranges outlined by experts.