If you’re looking for a new career that pays well, you’ve come to the right place. According to BLS data, the employment market is improving — there were 11 million job vacancies throughout the nation in late 2021 — and all signs lead to a surge in chances for those with varying degrees of experience, talents, and educational qualifications 2022.
Don’t you have a college diploma? Don’t be concerned. Without a four-year degree or commette college experience, you may find well-paying employment. The greatest thing is to leverage your earnings to develop real wealth rather than spending years paying off debt like college loans.
This article discusses some of the top employment prospects available to those without a college diploma. It also contains useful advice on how to handle that additional cash so that you may live a Rich Life full of freedom and happiness.
Is it possible to acquire a well-paying job without a degree?
Whether you can get a high-paying job with just high school graduation, you’re wondering if you can. While many occupations are based on talent and attitude rather than academics, others may need you to gain certain skills or complete specialized training to compete in the recruiting market. The time and effort you invest into learning new skills to get a high-paying job will pay off as your income and wealth potential rises.
Top career fields for persons without a college diploma
How you approach your job search will rely on various things, including your career season and lifestyle choices, whether you’re entering the job market for the first time or wanting to change jobs to improve your chances and fulfil your aspirations.
For instance, the work you desire and need when you have young children may not be the same as that you’ll pursue in middle life or as you approach retirement. You may not know exactly what you wish to do, but you do know that you want to work in a career that you like, and that corresponds with your beliefs and interests.
Of course, you want a career that enables you to live the life that feels most real to you and provides you with the greatest fulfilment. When look for a new job, it’s usually a good idea to keep your lifestyle preferences in mind. Some individuals appreciate the hustle and bustle of hectic city life, while others prefer a more laid-back setting where they may work wherever and whenever they choose.
It’s helpful to think about employment in terms of professional sectors and then look for changes that correspond with your natural abilities and interests while looking for the proper course for your career phase (or season) of life and chosen lifestyle. Agriculture, business services, construction, educational services, financial services, health care, information, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade, social assistance, transportation and warehousing, and manufacturing are just a few of the job sectors broken down by the BLS.
Each industry has employment openings that do not need a college diploma. Every industry, for example, needs sales experts, customer service representatives, and executive assistants, to mention a few.
11 of the finest careers for those who don’t have a college diploma
Many things will influence your ability to find the perfect employment. Of course, pay is a factor in whether or not the sector is expected to develop. The 11 top positions mentioned below, on the other hand, should serve as a good introduction to the sorts of professions available to employees without a degree in 2022 and beyond.
Pilot project for a business
If you’ve always wanted to work as a commercial pilot but don’t have a college diploma, many options are available. While bigger commercial airlines may demand their pilots to have at least an associate or bachelor’s degree, would-be pilots may explore alternative possibilities. Many of these positions need FAA-certified flight instructors, which you may get at one of the hundreds of independent flying schools around the country.
Professional pilots must get a commercial pilot’s licence, pass frequent medical tests, accumulate hundreds of hours of flight time, and upgrade their flight training regularly. Professional pilot professions that don’t need a college diploma to include the following:
- Cargo pilots: Cargo pilots may work for large carriers like FedEx or UPS or for individual enterprises that maintain a fleet of aircraft to deliver their products from one location to another. As a cargo pilot, you may make anywhere from $80,000 to over $130,000, depending on your expertise and the size of the firm you fly for.
- Aerial application pilots: Aerial application pilots were formerly known as crop dusters, but that was before the chemicals they sprayed over fields changed from dust-like insecticides to liquid-based treatments to control pests and supply nutrients to crops. Pilots of these tiny, low-flying aircraft must have a valid private, commercial, or airline pilot licence in the United States and credentials to carry and distribute chemicals. The annual income ranges from $48,000 to $72,000, with lots of potential for advancement if you purchase your jet and go out on your own.
- Aerial firefighter pilots: These pilots assist on-the-ground firefighters by dropping flame retardants and large amounts of water on wildfires. Pilots of aerial firefighting aircraft must be able to manage their craft in low-flying scenarios. Starting pilots may expect to earn roughly $80,000, while experienced captains on big tankers can earn over $350,000.
- Private jet pilots: Business leaders, actresses, sportsmen, singers, and others seek pilots to fly their private planes. A private jet pilot’s typical wage in the United States is roughly $86,500, with some earning upwards of $400,000 transporting individuals from point A to point B.
Representative of the company
A company’s sales reps sell the company’s goods or services. You should be a people person who enjoys prospecting for leads, chasing and establishing connections with clients, and negotiating and completing agreements to succeed in sales. Being a sales representative may pay off handsomely if you have the mindset and commitment to work in a high-pressure, performance-based environment.
There are two sorts of sales representative jobs: inside and outside sales. You’ll mostly perform sales operations over the phone, over email, or via video conferencing as an inside sales professional — sometimes known as a remote or virtual sales rep. You’ll be selling items and services via face-to-face contacts at locations like the customer’s home, a trade fair, or a retail or wholesale sales outlet if you work as an outside salesperson. Depending on who the client is, business-to-business (B2B) or business-to-consumer (B2C) sales are used.
The amount of money a sales representative earns is determined by the product or service being sold and the payment structure. Some salesmen are paid a basic wage and then a commission based on the quantity of each transaction. On the other hand, sales salespeople often operate on a 100 per cent commission basis, meaning they don’t get paid until the transaction is completed. Salespeople are sometimes forced to fulfil pre-determined sales goals, and hitting such quotas may significantly impact their remuneration – and even their ability to maintain their positions.
While there are far too many kinds of sales rep positions to mention — nearly every company requires competent salespeople to succeed — the following are some of the highest-paying sales rep jobs you may get without a college diploma:
- Real estate agent: Because real estate agents work on commission, there is no limit to how much money a hardworking real estate agent may earn. The top ten per cent of real estate agents in the United States earn $174,000 or more, while the typical pay is roughly $50,000. To become a real estate agent, you’ll need to take a real estate course and pass a state licencing test and background check, but you don’t need a college diploma.
- Wholesale and manufacturing sales reps: These B2B representatives sell manufactured items to retailers and distributors. These professions are very competitive, and they need a high level of concentration and a willingness to go to the client. Because this salesperson is paid on commission, they must be ready to work hard in a fast-paced setting to produce continuous sales. A manufacturer’s sales representative’s average annual compensation is roughly $62,000, with top representatives earning well over $100,000.
- Advertising sales representative: Ad sales representatives sell ad space in print, TV, billboards, and the internet. Successful ad representatives may earn anywhere from $50,000 to over $100,000 in commission-only roles. While having a background in media or design might be beneficial (advertising sales agents sometimes assist their clients in designing and producing commercials), most entry-level jobs do not need a degree or previous work experience.
Insurance sales professionals assist consumers in selecting and purchasing insurance products such as life, homeowners, renters, and vehicle insurance. While a college diploma is not necessary, you will need to earn a state insurance licence, which often means attending a course and passing your state’s insurance licencing exam. Most insurance sales positions are commission-only, and the average agent earns about $50,000. (though others can make substantially more).
Officer of the law
If you feel called to public duty, you may want to explore becoming a patrol officer with the police department. Cops work long hours, handling a lot of paperwork and patrolling the neighbourhood, and the job may be hazardous. Nonetheless, defending and serving your community may be incredibly satisfying.
The typical police officer in the United States earns about $67,000 per year. However, pay varies depending on the size of the municipality and length of service. Although a college diploma is not needed for entry-level police positions, it may be essential if you want to advance in the ranks.
To join the police force, you must pass an admission test and undertake police academy training. With a predicted 7% increase in law enforcement jobs over the next ten years, you should be able to find plenty of possibilities to join the police.
a private detective
Criminal investigators (CIs) are professionals who work to solve crimes. They collaborate with police officers to investigate crime scenes, collect evidence, and catch perpetrators. You’ll need the following talents to excel as a CI:
- Good judgement
- Exemplary communication skills
- High attention to detail
- Analytical skills
- Ability to work effectively in a team.
Criminal investigators make over $87,000 per year on average, and you don’t need a college diploma to excel in this field. CIs often come from a law enforcement background, have attended a police academy, and/or have worked on a police force.
Elevator repairman
A job as an elevator installation and repair technician may pay over $90,000 per year if you don’t mind working in cramped areas and don’t mind heights. You’ll build, maintain, and repair elevators, escalators, and moving walkways as a highly experienced technician. However, since elevator problems don’t usually occur during typical business hours, be prepared to be on-call and work some overtime.
You’ll need a state certificate of competence and/or a licence, even if you don’t need a degree since elevator technicians learn their job via apprenticeships. Elevator technologists are expected to increase at a constant 6% over the next decade, so anybody interested in learning more about this vocation has a bright future.
Electrician
With around 85,000 job opportunities for electricians each year — and a median annual income of almost $57,000 — being an electrician may be lucrative for someone without a four-year degree. There are many prospects to advance in the field since some electricians earn up to $100,000 per year.
Electricians have a great deal of responsibility since they must be able to do the following tasks:
- Read and understand blueprints and technical diagrams
- Install and maintain wiring, control, and lighting systems.
- Inspect transformers, circuit breakers, and other electrical components.
- Using hand and power tools, repair or replace wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
- Direct employees who install, maintain or repair electrical wiring or equipment to follow state and local construction rules and the National Electrical Code (NEC).
You’ll need to go to a technical school and/or do an apprenticeship to become an electrician. You may also need to earn a state licence or certification by passing an exam and demonstrating that you have the necessary on-the-job experience, depending on where you reside.
The operator of a power plant
A job as a power plant operator could be just up your alley if you enjoy the concept of working on the power system that keeps the nation powered up and moving. While a college diploma isn’t essential, businesses prefer people who are proficient in arithmetic (especially algebra and trigonometry) and have an electrical or scientific background. Most training give place on the job, with some formal classroom study and certification necessary, particularly if you work in the nuclear power industry.
Becoming a power plant operator, distributor, or dispatcher may be a rewarding job with a typical compensation of slightly under $90,000.
- Nuclear power reactor operators: This personnel modify control rods, which impact how much energy a reactor produces, to regulate nuclear reactors. They’re also in charge of maintaining power levels and following safety regulations by monitoring reactors, turbines, generators, and cooling systems.
- Distributors and dispatchers of electricity: This personnel, sometimes known as systems operators, manages power flow from producing stations to substations and the homes and businesses they serve.
- Power plant operators: These workers operate and maintain the equipment that produces power.
Ironworker who specializes in structural ironwork
Buildings, bridges, and roads are formed and supported by structural iron and steelworkers, also known as structural ironworkers. Their task is to construct, arrange, and connect steel girders, columns, and other structural framework components. They may also deal with wood or composite materials and construct pre-cut metal structures and install pre-cast walls.
Workers who deal with reinforcing iron and rebar, also known as rod busters, place and fasten steel bars or mesh in concrete forms for reinforcement.
Rebar workers earn slightly under $50,000 per year, whereas structural ironworkers earn approximately $55,000. Ironworkers’ labour is physically hard and hazardous, particularly since they often operate at considerable heights. There is no need for a degree since training is provided on the job. Over the next ten years, ironworker job vacancies are expected to grow at a pace of 6%, which corresponds to around 10,000 job openings each year.
Assistant to the CEO
A position as an executive assistant could be right for you if you know your way around a spreadsheet, have natural organizing skills, and like the concept of assisting successful individuals in their pursuit of even greater achievement. Executive assistants often give high-level assistance to an organization’s senior leaders.
- Managing the clerical staff
- Reviewing incoming papers
- Conducting research
- Preparing reports, invoices, and memoranda
- Drafting emails and other communications
- Keeping track of the executive’s calendar
While no formal education is necessary, the executive assistant position carries a great deal of responsibility, which is reflected in the pay. Executive assistants earn more than $60,000 on average, with the most experienced earning more than $75,000.
a web designer
For self-starters without a college diploma, the internet has opened up a world of possibilities. Self-taught web developers are in great demand because they have a deep grasp of programming languages (e.g., HTML, JavaScript, or SQL), are familiar with multimedia publishing tools, and stay current when new computer languages and tools emerge.
You’ll construct and manage websites as a web developer. You may be in charge of developing material, managing a site’s general attractiveness and functioning, or supervising its performance and capacity. Some web developers are in charge of assessing and enhancing the entire user experience on the site (UX).
If you want to get a high-paying web development job, be prepared to offer them a portfolio of your work and certificates or other credentials that demonstrate your proficiency in online design and development. With about 18,000 new web developer positions available each year through 2030, the median income is roughly $77,000.
Copywriter
A job as a copywriter could be right for you if you like the lilt of language, care about commas, and have great grammatical skills.
A copywriter’s objective is to create crisp, clear, and entertaining information that is suitable for the medium. A copywriter might create copy for one or more of the following:
- Website landing pages
- Social media
- Blogs
- Print or digital publications
- Sales materials
- Email funnels
- White papers
- Case studies
- Print and digital advertisements
- Video scripts
While some businesses may need a four-year degree, most employers are merely interested in seeing a great writing portfolio and if you can produce unique material on time and according to requirements. It’s always a bonus if you know how to use search engine optimization (SEO) and other marketing tools.
For full-time copywriters in the United States, the typical annual compensation is roughly $67,000. Depending on their skills, freelance copywriters may earn anything from $40 to $300 per hour. According to estimates, there will be 15,000 new job possibilities for writers in the United States during the next ten years.
How to make as much money as possible without a college diploma
Your earning potential is determined by your willingness to push forward with a can-do attitude, refusing to allow anybody or anything to stand in your way, even not attending a four-year college.
To improve your professional competitiveness, concentrate on improving your talents, obtaining valuable job experience, and building a strong network. Know your value so you can seek a promotion or move on to the next job on your professional path when the time comes. Employers are concerned with the value you can bring to the table when it comes to being qualified for the highest-paying job in your sector. The more value you valuable work to your company, the more valuable you will become, and the higher your income will be.
You’ll realize your actual earning potential if you keep learning and growing.
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When you start making more money, what should you do?
Of course, getting a well-paying job without a degree isn’t the ultimate aim. Nobody works only to earn money; you labour for the benefits that money may provide. You’ve certainly considered what you’d do with additional cash if you obtained a higher-paying job, but what if that new high-paying job was just the start?
Why not focus on attaining what is genuinely important to you at the same time as you work on your future career? (Spoiler alert: You’re a force to be reckoned with!) the I Will Teach You to Be Rich concept will assist you in achieving your full potential.
Assessing your true earning potential, which you can do by completing this quiz, is a fantastic place to start. Then take a look at all of our free resources to see how we can help you work less and make more.