After decades of believing a college degree is necessary to succeed in life, many people are beginning to push back. College prices rise exponentially every year, and many families find themselves and their children taking on tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt. But it doesn’t have to be this way; you or your child graduating from high school can find good-paying jobs without degrees and without acquiring tens of thousands of dollars of student loan debt.
5 Good-Paying Jobs that Don’t Require a Degree
While many jobs that don’t require a degree, these five jobs allow individuals to begin their careers straight out of high school. If training is needed, often the employer pays for it.
Flight Attendant
Love to travel and help people? Then being a flight attendant may be the perfect job for you. While you don’t need a degree, prior work in some area of the hospitality field, such as in a hotel or a restaurant, is helpful.
According to US News & World Report, the median salary in 2021 was $61,640. “The best-paid 25% made $76,920 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $48,780.”
As a perk, depending on the route you’re assigned, you may be able to travel to exotic destinations and see the world. On the other hand, if you’d like a more stable lifestyle, you may be able to work a commuter route, traveling between the same two cities regularly.
Sales Representative
Being in sales isn’t easy for some, but for the right person, being a sales representative is a fun and challenging job that can reap significant rewards if you work on commission. In addition, many sales reps have to travel, which can be a perk if you like variation and don’t want to stay in the same area weekly.
While most sales jobs don’t require a degree, if you choose to work in a field that sells technical or scientific items, you may need a degree.
The average income for sales representatives is close to what flight attendants make, with one exception—“the best-paid 25% made $85,610 [in 2021]” (US News & World Report).
Electrician
If you like working independently, working as an electrician may be the job for you. As an electrician, you can complete your work at personal residences or businesses. While you can enter the field with a GED or high school diploma, you will likely need to complete an apprenticeship program that may last several years.
You’ll also need a license, though the requirements vary by state. However, until you are licensed, you can register as an unlicensed electrician if you work under a licensed electrician. Once you obtain your license, you may create your own business or work for someone else.
“Electricians made a median salary of $60,040 in 2021. The best-pad 25% made $77,350 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $46,900” (US News & World Report).
Wind Turbine Technician
As the world continues to push toward clean energy, more jobs in that field, including wind turbine technician, will open up. As a wind tech, you’ll maintain and repair wind turbines. This is an excellent job if you’re not afraid of heights because much of the time you’ll be hundreds of feet in the air maintaining the turbine.
Most of the training for this position happens on the job. However, “’graduates of [accredited degree] programs gain skills in addition to technical skills that help them get promotions much faster’” (US News & World Report). If you choose to pursue a degree, you won’t need a four-year degree; a community college degree is sufficient. Plus, if you wait to seek you’re degree until you’re employed as a wind turbine technician, your employer may pay for your education.
Wind techs “made a median salary of $56,260 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $63,930 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $47,040” (US News & World Report)
Bus Driver
Bus driver might be a career on this list that surprises you, but the job does not require a degree and offers flexibility. For example, you could become a bus driver for the city or a travel company. Or, if you’d like part-time work, you can become a school bus driver.
To qualify for this position, you will need a high school diploma or GED and a commercial driver’s license. In addition, a clean driving record is a must, as is having a calm, relaxed demeanor. You should also be confident that you can diffuse tense situations that may occur while you’re driving.
If you get the job, you will also have a few months of on-the-job training.
US News & World Report states, “Bus drivers made a median salary of $48,620 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $62,400 that year, while the lowest-pad 25% made $38,080.”
Bonus: Real Estate Agent
If you’re a people person, one more good-paying job that doesn’t require a degree is a real estate agent. Real estate agents should know the area where they sell homes and be able to put people at ease.
While only a high school degree or GED is required to enter the field, you must take some real estate courses and obtain a license. Depending on the state where you plan to work, you may also need to work under a more experienced real estate agent for some time.
How much you make as a real estate agent depends on the price of the houses your customers buy and sell. However, generally, “real estate agents made a median salary of $48,340 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $75,940 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $35,880” (US News & World Report).
Final Thoughts
The careers highlighted here are 5 of the good-paying jobs that don’t require a degree. There are many more, so don’t feel pressured to go to college and pay thousands of dollars for a degree if you don’t want to. You have other options that can lead to a stable, well-paying job.
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