Skills & Hobbies

Skill

Careers that use working independently

You are happy to organise your own day and get on with things alone. 20 of our careers use this skill, ranked below by how much it matters.

Match me, starting with this skill

A key skill in these jobs (3)

You will use this every day.

Outdoors, land and animals

Farrier

Trim horses' hooves and make and fit horseshoes by hand at the forge. A skilled, registered trade reached through a long approved apprenticeship.

No official salary figure

Building services and energy

Gas engineer

Install, service and repair boilers and gas appliances safely – a trusted, legally registered trade with steady demand.

£25,000 – £45,000 starter to experienced

Construction and trades

Locksmith

Fit, repair and open locks, safes and security systems – a problem-solving trade for calm, trustworthy people.

£23,000 – £30,000 starter to experienced

Used a lot (12)

An important part of the work.

Hair, beauty and wellbeing

Barber

Cut and style hair with barbering techniques, shape beards and give shaves, working with every hair type in a busy, sociable barbershop.

£19,000 – £30,000 starter to experienced

Engineering and manufacturing

CNC machinist

Program and run computer-controlled machines that cut precision parts for engineering and manufacturing.

£25,000 – £42,000 starter to experienced

Construction and trades

Carpenter or joiner

Turn timber into staircases, roofs, doors, kitchens and fitted furniture – on site or at the workshop bench.

£24,000 – £40,000 starter to experienced

Health and science

Dental technician

Design and make crowns, bridges, dentures and braces to a dentist's prescription in a dental lab. A registered, precise, hands-on health career.

£32,000 – £48,000 starter to experienced

Outdoors, land and animals

Dog groomer

Bathe, dry, brush and trim dogs of every breed, check their skin and coat, and advise owners, in a salon, a vet practice or your own mobile business.

£15,000 – £23,000 starter to experienced

Building services and energy

Electrician

Install, test and repair wiring, lighting, controls and low-carbon tech in homes, workplaces and new buildings.

£26,000 – £45,000 starter to experienced

Outdoors, land and animals

Gardener

Grow and care for plants in private gardens, parks, estates and green spaces, from sowing seeds to pruning, weeding and mowing.

£24,000 – £32,000 starter to experienced

Construction and trades

Painter and decorator

Transform rooms and buildings with paint, wallpaper and specialist finishes – ideal if you have an eye for colour and detail.

£21,000 – £32,000 starter to experienced

Building services and energy

Plumber

Fit, fix and look after the water, heating and drainage systems that keep homes, hospitals and businesses running.

£24,000 – £46,000 starter to experienced

IT and telecoms

Telecoms engineer

Install and repair broadband, phone, fibre, mobile and satellite systems - out on the road, up masts and in customers' homes.

£25,000 – £40,000 starter to experienced

Creative crafts

Upholsterer

Build and restore padded furniture such as chairs and sofas, fitting springs, fillings and fabric using traditional or modern upholstery methods.

£23,000 – £32,000 starter to experienced

Engineering and manufacturing

Welder

Cut, join and shape metal for everything from buildings and pipelines to wind turbines - a skilled, practical trade.

£25,000 – £45,000 starter to experienced

Handy to have (5)

Helps, but not the heart of the job.

Engineering and manufacturing

Engineering maintenance technician

Keep factory, production and transport equipment running by servicing and repairing motors, pumps, gearboxes and controls.

£27,000 – £48,000 starter to experienced

Hair, beauty and wellbeing

Hairdresser

Wash, cut, colour and style hair, talk clients through new looks and build a loyal following in salons, spas or as a freelance stylist.

£19,000 – £30,000 starter to experienced

Automotive and transport

Motorcycle mechanic

Service, repair, tune and customise motorbikes, scooters and quad bikes - turn a love of bikes into a trade.

£25,000 – £40,000 starter to experienced

Construction and trades

Plant operator

Drive the diggers, dumpers, dozers and cranes that shape building sites – ideal if you love big machines.

£25,000 – £45,000 starter to experienced

Construction and trades

Plasterer

Create smooth walls and ceilings, renders and ornate mouldings – a skilled finishing trade that rewards a steady hand.

£21,000 – £38,000 starter to experienced

Other skills