Student doesn't start as paid worker (6)
I believe the answer is:
earner
'paid worker' is the definition.
(someone who earns money at work)
'student doesn't start' is the wordplay.
'student' becomes 'learner' (someone who is learning).
'doesn't start' means to remove the first letter.
'learner' with its first letter taken off is 'EARNER'.
'as' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for earner that I've seen before include "Employee" , "Someone who receives wages in return for labour" , "Something that makes a profit" , "One receiving income (for work)" , "One who gets money for work" .)