Behind the eye-watering salaries of surgeons, judges and engineers, are years of university education and sky-high HECS debts.

But for people looking to secure a six-figure salary without the enormous student debt, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) tax data has revealed the most lucrative professions that do not require a degree.

Jobs in aviation and transport, mining, construction and real estate came out on top, after the ATO published taxable income statistics from the 2021-2022 financial year last Friday.

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Most of the roles offer double the average wage reported in tax returns during the same financial year — $69,994.

While some university courses do exist as pathways into these high-earning roles, they are not the only pathway there — diplomas, certificates, on-the-job training and relevant licenses and exams can also get you into these jobs.

The average annual wage (after tax) for the top-earning jobs that don’t require a degree:

1. Air traffic controllers: $153,445
2. Plane pilots: $143,403
3. Train drivers: $132,430
4. Coal miners: $130,033
5. Helicopter pilots: $125,105
6. Railway signal operators: $124,767
7. Railway station managers: $115,264
8. Real estate agents: $112,815
9. Crane operators: $109,165
10. Auctioneer: $102,544

Salaries soar for air traffic controllers and pilots

Air traffic controllers were the highest earning workers on average, according to the ATO data, with a total average salary of $153,445.

But a gender wage gap apparent in the data shows that the profession was more lucrative for the 1,454 men in Australia who earned $161,123 on average in the role, in comparison to the 370 women in Australia who earned $123,193 on average in the role.

To get into the role which manages aircraft movement, keeps radio contact with pilots and provides assistance during emergencies, it might not be surprising that some training is required, according to Seek.

A Diploma of Aviation with Airservices Australia, or a training program with the Royal Australian Air Force are two pathways into the job, and workers would also need an Air Traffic Control Licence from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

And there is plenty of work available, with 100 air traffic controller jobs on offer in Australia right now and a projected five-year job growth of over 31 per cent, according to Seek data.

Plane pilots were the second-highest paying profession, earning a total average salary of $143,403.

While an aviation degree is offered at university, prospective pilots can also it obtain several pilot licences and about 150 hours of flight training over a single year, in addition to exams and flight tests, to get into the role.

Helicopter pilots receive the fifth-highest salary on the list, getting a total average salary of $125,105, and similarly require a diploma and extensive training.

Rail jobs on and off the tracks

Driving trains can get you a $132,430 salary on average, the third-highest earning job that does not require a degree, according to the taxation statistics.

It’s a job which requires Certificate IV in Train Driving, a course which is usually offered “as part of a traineeship with the major rail operator in your state,” according to Seek.

Railway signal operators, which control the movement of trains, and assemble and disassemble trains within a marshalling yard, earned a total average of $124,767, according to the ATO.

But workers in the sixth-highest earning role will need to be up for physically demanding work outdoors, and complete a Certificate IV in Rail Network Control, according to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

Train station management is the seventh-highest earning role on the list, and earned workers a total average salary of $115,264.

It is a stressful position, and while no formal qualifications are necessary, a Certificate in Rail Infrastructure, Customer Service or Signalling or a Certificate III in Business can be helpful in securing a role.

Mining and construction

Coal mining is the fourth-highest paid job on the list, with workers earning a total average salary of $130,033.

There are a number of vocational qualifications available for prospective miners, and apprenticeships or traineeships also allow workers to gain their nationally recognised qualifications on the job.

In the construction industry, it is crane operations which offers the highest salary to workers who want to avoid university.

Crane operators earned an average total salary of $109,165, landing them ninth on the list.

Workers in the high-risk role will need a number of licenses from Safe Work Australia, as well as a Certificate III in Construction Crane Operations.

Going once, going twice

For those looking for a less risky role, the real estate industry also offers high earning positions.

Real estate agents ranked eighth on the list of high earning jobs that do not require a university degree, with an average total salary of $112,815 reported to the ATO.

But workers in the role are likely to be required to work weekends, and will need to obtain a Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice and complete any state-specific training requirements.

Agents also need a license, which requires workers to have completed a year of full-time work (within three years) under the supervision of someone already in the role.

And for those hoping to bring down the gavel, auctioneers earned an average total salary of $102,544. Auctioning isn’t limited to real estate, but rather extends to various sales industries.

Real estate auctioneers require the same qualifications as a real estate agent, and while there are specialised courses to learn the fast-moving “auctioneer’s chant” that skill is often learned on the job.