Journal logo

The Five Best Paying Jobs You Can Get Without a College Degree

There Are Options for Those without a Degree

By Kevin GardnerPublished 5 years ago 3 min read
Like

Do you need a degree to get a good job? What kind of jobs can you get without going to college? What about jobs in the medical field?

College may not be the right choice for everyone. Sometimes, people are financially unable to pay for their education, or they have other obligations that prevent them from setting aside the time it takes to pursue a degree.

Maybe you are still in high school exploring your options, or you're already in the workforce and looking to make a career change. Whatever the case may be, these are five of the best jobs you can get without a college degree.

It's important to note that most of the jobs featured in this list do require some form of training or certification. While you may not need a college education to land a rewarding, profitable career, you will have to put in some hours learning the ins and outs of your desired field. But don't worry! Certificate programs are often much more affordable than university tuition and you'll be able to complete your training much faster than you would a bachelor's.

5. Administrative Assistant

Administrative assistants conduct research, prepare reports and documents, maintain schedules, and perform other tasks for either one person, or an entire office. The administrative assistant must be flexible, good with time management, and a quick problem-solver.

Most jobs require at least a high school diploma for an administrative assistant position, but there are some instances where a bachelor's in business, accounting or a similar field are preferred.

The average salary for an administrative assistant in 2017 was $37,870.

4. Real Estate Broker

Real estate brokers advertise, show, sell, and rent residential and commercial properties. A sales agent has to work alongside a broker, but a real estate broker can work independently. Often, a real estate broker will work for a company in order to gain better access to property listings, but they work off commission and are not salaried.

State licensure is required, and though it varies by location, the general requirements to become a real estate broker are being at least 18 years of age or older, having a high school diploma, or equivalent, and passing the licensing exam after completing a real estate training course.

The median annual income for a real estate broker in 2017 was $47,880.

3. Paralegal

If you have a strong interest in law and criminal justice, then a career as a paralegal may be right for you. Paralegals, also called legal assistants, assist attorneys in their law firms by organizing files, maintaining records and drafting legal documents.

You will need either an associate's degree or certification to find work as a paralegal, though there are sometimes internships available for students and those with a high school diploma to gain valuable experience.

The average pay for a paralegal in 2017 was $50,410.

2. Mail Carrier

Postal-service workers sort and deliver mail and packages to people's homes and commercial buildings in a particular area. While they make stops at the post office, they spend most of their time outdoors.

A high school degree is the minimum education requirement for this position, and most mail carrier jobs offer short on-the-job training.

The average salary for a mail carrier was $57,260 per year.

1. Web Developer

You can be a front-end developer, who codes the appearance of a website, or a back-end developer, who is responsible for the inner workings of websites. There is also mobile app development and UI/UX developers.

Can you get a programming job without a degree in CS or web development? Well, you can earn an associate's or bachelor's degree, but this is a field where the self-made can thrive. You'll have to take the time to learn the ins and outs of your programming language of choice, but there is no shortage of free websites and courses online.

The average web developer salary was $67,990 in 2017.

career
Like

About the Creator

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.