How to Make $100,000 a Year Without a College Degree: Proven Jobs & Side Hustle Ideas

Who said you need a university degree to pull in a six-figure income? Stop for a second and look around. You know people making €100,000 a year who’ve never touched a cap and gown. Maybe you’ve delivered a package to their house, or gotten a haircut at their shop. Loads of smart, driven folks have built their own luck—sometimes out of nothing special—without chasing down a dusty diploma. It’s not a myth; it’s happening every day. And if you’re tired of people waving degrees like golden tickets, you’re in the right place.

Popular $100k Careers That Don’t Require a Degree

If your first thought is, “Sure, but no degree, no chance, right?”—think again. There’s a chunk of the job market hungry for skills, hustle, and a can-do attitude. The best part? Tech isn’t the only route, so don’t stress if you don’t want to be glued to a laptop.

Let’s dig into jobs where people are earning big, no degree required:

• Commercial Drivers: Lorry drivers, especially those with HGV licenses, can earn €50k–€100k after just a year or two on the road. Right now, Ireland faces a driver shortage, which pushes pay up.
• Real Estate Agents: Good with people? In Dublin’s hot property market, estate agents regularly break the €100,000 barrier with enough sales.
• Sales Professionals: Tech sales, especially SaaS, is all about what you close, not what you studied. Senior sales reps regularly smash €120k with commissions. Many teams will teach you the ropes if you’ve got the drive.
• Electricians & Plumbers: Skip university and get into an apprenticeship. It’s tough at first, but after a few years—especially if you start your own business—the money’s serious.
• Construction Managers: Plenty start out on-site, work their way up supervising teams, and clear €100k by running big projects—no paper needed.
• Self-employed trades: Roofing, tiling, landscaping—Dublin’s constant building boom has made skilled tradespeople pricier than most lawyers per hour. Get certified, build a rep, and the work finds you.
• Entrepreneurship: Starting your own gig means risk, but also no wage cap. From landscaping to food trucks, many business owners in Ireland take home €100k or more after a couple of solid years.

Wonder how salaries compare up close? Here’s a typical breakdown from Irish industry figures for 2025:

Notice a trend? Motivation and industry smarts count for more than memorizing textbooks.

Starting a Side Hustle That Can Grow

Guess what? Not everyone gets to six figures by punching a clock. Side hustles are changing the game. For loads of people, a gig outside of work eventually takes over their main income—and some even surprise themselves by blowing past that magic number.

Let’s talk side hustles that have real potential—not vague surveys or cryptic NFT schemes, but practical, real-life stuff:

• Freelance Digital Skills: If you can code, design, write, or manage projects, you don’t need a boss. Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr let you build a freelance empire from your kitchen table. Once you get rolling, doubling or tripling Irish average wages is within reach.
• Content Creation: Pick a niche, get on YouTube or TikTok, and start creating. Monetisation can be a slog at first, but viral videos have turned hobbyists into €100k+ earners in less than 12 months. The key? Consistency and finding a spark that sets you apart.
• Buy & Sell: Some folks clean up flipping bikes, vintage clothes, or electronics. Platforms like DoneDeal or Facebook Marketplace put you in business from day one. With a keen eye, you can turn a few hundred quid into thousands monthly.
• Local Services: Have a van? Offer rubbish removal, gardening, or moving help. Demand stays high in growing cities like Dublin. Pros who brand themselves smartly—websites, Google reviews, a crisp logo—can land €2,000 weeks.
• E-commerce: Set up shop online with Shopify or Etsy. Handmade jewellery, Irish-themed merch, or dropshipping unique gadgets—the market loves clever ideas. One Dubliner made headlines in 2024 for taking a T-shirt business from zero to €210,000 in a year, selling quirky Irish sayings to Irish-Americans abroad.

Is it easy? Of course not. But hundreds in your city are doing it as you read this. Want proof? Search Irish business podcasts and listen to their stories—regular people, no degree in sight.

Mastering High-Income Skills On Your Own

The secret sauce for many big earners isn’t luck—it’s mastering a skill that matters. These days, so much learning is free or cheap. Forget student loans; open a browser, and skill up at your pace.

High-value skills that pay €100,000+ in 2025—I’ll break down what’s hot, and how folks are learning them:

• Digital Marketing: Google, Facebook, and Instagram are how businesses pull in customers. Courses on Udemy, Coursera, or even YouTube are turning beginners into sought-after ads managers. Top freelancers take €5,000–€15,000 per client project.
• Copywriting: Writing words that sell is worth its weight in gold. Modern copywriters—self-taught or from short online courses—see fees upwards of €500 per email sequence, or €2,000+ for a landing page. There are loads of job boards for remote gigs.
• Web Development: It’s not just for Silicon Valley. Even local shops want better booking systems and websites. You can start learning free on Codecademy or freeCodeCamp, and land clients through networking or marketplaces.
• Photography & Videography: If you’ve got an eye, gather some kits and put it to use. Social media has increased demand for photographers—weddings, events, product shoots. Great freelancers in Dublin make €3,000 a month easily when booked out.
• Sales & Negotiation: Knowing how to close deals is priceless, no matter what you sell. Sales podcasts, books, and workshops are everywhere. Most of Ireland’s top earners—think high-end car dealers or insurance agents—never stop training on this skill.

Everyone has 1–2 hours a day to learn something new, especially with a smartphone in your hand when commuting. No degree is ever going to replace real-world skill, and employers are noticing. Employers now care far more about a high paying job history or portfolio than a CV loaded with letters after your name.

Standing Out in the Irish Job Market (Without a Degree)

So, how do you get noticed and get paid more, when everyone else seems to have a fancy qualification to wave? It’s possible. Here’s what actually works in Dublin and across Ireland, right now:

• Build a Network: Eight out of ten top jobs in Ireland are filled through word of mouth. Go to meet-ups, talk to people, and let them know what you do. Join online groups—LinkedIn is your friend, not just for corporate types.
• Create a Portfolio: If you can show your work (in sales, design, trades, anything), you win. Even a simple website or Instagram page that highlights jobs done, happy clients, or glowing reviews can tip the scales in your favour.
• Gather Testimonials: Don’t be shy—ask clients or bosses for reviews. Post them online, print them off, use them everywhere. Word spreads, and reputations are everything, especially in close-knit Irish industries.
• Sharpen Your Interview Skills: Learn to sell yourself, not your education. Focus on results, stories, and examples. “I increased bookings by 30%” speaks louder than “I attended such-and-such college.”
• Pick Up Certifications: These short, specific courses carry weight—think Google Certs for digital work, trade tickets, or health and safety cards. Not a full degree, but employers treat them as proof you can do the job.
• Stay Updated: Ireland moves fast—new industries pop up (like AI or renewable energy), and if you jump in quick, you have the same shot as anyone at the best-paying spots. Subscribe to newsletters, follow local business news, or check Boards.ie for leads.

One big myth: “No degree means nobody will hire you.” Just not true. Real-world skills and relationships open more doors now than at any time before—employers are tired of degree snobbery and want people who know how to fix problems.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Pursuing a high-income path without a degree isn’t some magic trick—there are traps. People hit plateaus, jump for risky fads, or burn out chasing cash. If you want to join the €100k club and stay there, watch out for:

• Spreading Too Thin: Grabbing every gig and side hustle works short-term, but you burn out, and your work suffers. Pick 1–2 things and own them.
• Ignoring the Paperwork: Taxes, receipts, legal bits—it’s not glamorous, but late fines kill small businesses. Hire an accountant by the month, if possible, and get in the habit of regular bookkeeping early.
• Shortcut Chasing: It sounds wild, but there’s always a new ‘get rich’ hack doing the rounds. Ignore anyone promising big returns for little effort. Building €100k takes grit, but it’s steady and real, not lottery luck.
• Learning Stagnation: Think you’ve ‘made it’? In fast-changing markets—construction, marketing, tech—being out of date can drop your income by half. Stay sharp; always be upgrading your skill set.
• Poor Customer Service: This one kills more businesses and side hustles than anything. Even if you’re not the cheapest, people remember how you treat them. Outstanding service = repeat business and referrals.

Here’s what actually sets six-figure earners apart: They work hard, pick in-demand skills, and keep learning. No magic, just smarts and elbow grease. If you’re willing to hustle, plug into your network, and build a rep, you can skip the piece of paper and build a life beyond the ordinary.