The jobs that are most in demand as adverts surge with salaries of up to £81,000

THE most in-demand jobs for 2025 have been revealed - and you can earn up to £81,000 without a degree.

If you’re thinking about a career change this year, there are plenty of opportunities on offer – and some come with hefty pay packets.

The list of the most in-demand jobs is based on job listings across the UK, and the roles included are commanding above-average pay increases.

Many of these positions will require formal educational qualifications and training as well as evidence of required skills.

Demand is soaring for workers in schools, hospitals, law firms, and even cutting-edge tech, according to a new report from employment site Indeed.

Teachers are seeing one of the biggest recruitment drives, with job ads shooting up by 245% in the last year alone.

Experts say it’s down to a retention crisis that’s left schools struggling to hold onto staff.

The average pay for a teacher is now £39,356 a year, making it a tempting option for job hunters.

But you’ll need a degree and specific qualifications like a PGCE to step into the classroom.

Doctors are also in high demand as the NHS battles ongoing staff shortages.

Healthcare workers are among the UK’s most essential professionals, but it takes years of training to qualify – including a medical degree and supervised practice.

In the legal world, jobs for property solicitors and commercial directors are booming.

The number of vacancies has more than doubled, with average salaries of £53,000 for solicitors and a massive £81,800 for commercial directors.

You’ll usually need a degree in law and further training to take up one of these positions, but for anyone qualified, it’s clear firms are crying out for talent.

Tech jobs are also heating up, especially in artificial intelligence (AI).

Despite fears that robots could replace workers, it turns out they’re creating jobs instead.

AI product managers are raking in average salaries of £77,343, and demand for tech-savvy workers is showing no signs of slowing.

While some roles require a degree in computer science, others focus more on hands-on skills that can be learned through training courses.

Job hunting without a degree

You don’t always need a university degree to land a top-paying job, though.

Air traffic controllers, for instance, can earn around £91,000 a year after completing specialist training.

And if you’re into gaming, developers make £35,711 on average – and many of them get started with coding boot camps.

We've also rounded up the top 20 highest paying jobs in 2025 that don't require a degree.

Wages on the up

The boom in job ads comes as wages across the UK continue to climb.

According to Statista, the median salary for full-time workers hit £37,430 in 2024, up from £34,963 the year before.

That’s good news for workers, as wages are finally outpacing inflation.

At its peak in October 2022, inflation hit a shocking 11.1%, but it’s since dropped to just 2.2% and is forecast to fall further this year.

With more cash in people’s pockets and employers desperate for recruits, there’s never been a better time to switch careers – especially if you’re looking to earn big.

The key to a good CV

The first impression your potential employer will get of you is from the layout of your CV.

Say the wrong thing or make a bad first impression and you could turn a prospective employer off.

A CV should be clear to read, with appropriate headers and in a decent-sized font.