To get a job at university and college level, you require the correct degrees. Higher education is a must if you want a job teaching graduate and under-graduate students.
If you are not open to learning new things and do to have the desire to find out more, a career in education may not be a good option. To be a successful professor, you need to constantly keep updating your knowledge so that you are well up to the times and can impart some of this knowledge to your students.
If you want a career that will let you make enormous amounts of money, then you need to give education a second thought. The purpose of education is not a mercenary one, it is the job satisfaction that is more important. To earn a lot you need to plan your career carefully and take up jobs that are high paying. Government jobs in schools or colleges do pay a substantial amount but leave a lot to be desired where money is concerned.