Our pay scale does not differ based on education - it’s based on experience and potential. It certainly is easier to get a job as a front-end developer without a degree than as a back-end developer. If you find the right job and show potential, you may be able to cross between the two - our most valuable developers do that. The two types of development do differ - back-end appeals more to the extremely logical thinkers, front-end to people with more of a creative bent. Not everyone can do both well.
Without a degree it can be extremely difficult to get a job in a larger company unless you have significant work experience. Many companies use the presence of a degree as an initial screen and candidates won’t even get past HR without one.