40 Jobs You Can Get Without a College Degree | Indeed.com

40 Jobs You Can Get Without a College Degree

Updated April 18, 2024

Video: Top Jobs in Trade
Top Jobs in Trade

There are many jobs that do not require a four-year college degree and can still offer very good career prospects. Regardless of your education level, these jobs give you the opportunity to learn as you work—they emphasize skills over experience and education. A college degree is an asset, but it takes several years, plus a significant amount of money for tuition costs.In this article, we take a look at career paths that don’t require a college degree to get started and that you can pursue right after high school.

15 jobs you can get without a degree

If you are a high school graduate that desires to go directly into the labor market without first going to college, these are some of the most promising career opportunities for you. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, visit indeed.com/salaries:

1. Data entry clerk

National Average Salary: $40,389 per yearPrimary Duties: Data entry clerks use computers to add alphanumerical data to a company's database. The collected data is then processed and used by the hiring organization and can come from multiple sources, such as hand-written documents, audio recordings, or online feedback forms. There are no educational requirements for this role, applicants only need basic computer skills, good typing speed and a strong work ethic, as the pay is usually directly related to the amount of information you put in.

2. Marketing representative

National Average Salary: $50,764 per yearPrimary Duties: A marketing representative uses specific strategies and techniques to raise customer awareness regarding the products or services sold by the hiring company. They typically work closely with the sales and development teams to determine the right pricing and the most effective sales and marketing channels for each product and service that the hiring company is selling. Similarly, to sales representative roles, soft skills and sales/marketing experience are typically more important to employers than a college degree.

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3. Administrative assistant

National Average Salary: $40,052 per yearPrimary duties: An administrative assistant provides administrative support to people and organizations. This can include preparing various reports, conducting research, communicating with customers and arranging meetings and seminars for the organization. Depending on the exact nature of the role, administrative assistants can provide support for the entire company, a single department or a single person in the office. Only a high school degree is required, along with soft skills such as organizational abilities and communication skills.

4. Appliance technician

National Average Salary: $53,148 per year Primary Duties: Home or office appliances, such as air conditioning or central heating, occasionally malfunction. Technicians that work on repairing heating, air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration systems are called HVAC technicians. Most homes and offices have such systems, so the demand for the job is likely to be high for the foreseeable future. HVAC technicians only need an apprenticeship or a non-degree post-secondary school education.

5. Copywriter

National Average Salary: $58,458 per yearPrimary Duties: Copywriters create written messages for a variety of advertising materials, such as brochures, promotional emails, billboards, online adverts and any other form of text that has the purpose of advertising a company, product or service. Their messages include useful information that is meant to interest current and potential customers, written in a way that maintains a positive image for the client company. There is no formal need for a degree, the main qualities of a successful copywriter are excellent writing ability and good knowledge of the hiring company and its products.

6. Diver

National Average Salary: $52,252 per yearPrimary Duties: Scuba divers perform a wide variety of tasks while submerged underwater. They can build, inspect and repair underwater structures, take photographs, study natural underwater plants and animals, conduct experiments and more. Training to become a commercial diver only takes a few months.

7. Coder

National Average Salary: $52,746 per yearPrimary Duties: The job of a coder implies creating websites, designing webpages and building other types of visual content, either for an employer or directly for clients. Although the traditional path to a career in computer programming begins with a degree in a computer-related field, there are many available online courses that can teach you how to code. As a coder, you can either work independently on various projects or for a single employer.

8. Electrician

National Average Salary: $53,980 per yearPrimary Duties: Electricians are tasked with installing, maintaining and repairing electrical devices and networks. They typically work in private homes, office buildings and factories, with their services being expected to become even more in demand over the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

9. Customer cervice representative

National Average Salary: $60,276 per yearPrimary Duties: The main role of a customer service representative is to interact with existing and potential customers on behalf of the hiring company. Day-to-day activities include communicating with interested parties and providing them with information regarding the goods or services sold by your organization, as well as solving complaints made by existing customers. Most companies require applicants for customer service representative jobs to have good patience, a positive personality and a willingness to learn about the company and its products or services.

10. Carpenter

National Average Salary: $54,052 per yearPrimary Duties: Constructing, repairing and installing wooden frameworks and structures. Their work can be performed outside or inside, depending on the type of wooden structure that needs to be built or repaired. Becoming a carpenter does not require a degree, but a formal apprenticeship requires 144 hours of technical training and 2,000 hours of on-the-job practice.

11. Postal-service mail carrier

National Average Salar0y: $65,266 per yearPrimary Duties: Postal mail carriers sort mail and then deliver it to households and companies, by vehicle or on foot. It requires no work experience and little on-the-job training. Besides the relatively high wages and the lack of need for a degree, the other main advantage of this role is high job security.

12. Sales representative

National Average Salary: $69,403 per yearPrimary Duties: A sales representative's main responsibility is selling products or services to potential customers. The role's main duties are usually advertising the products or services sold by the hiring company, prospecting the market for potential new customers and persuading them to buy by using product presentations and various sales techniques. Soft skills, such as excellent communication, good work ethic and charisma are more important for achieving success in a sales role than a college degree.

13. Driver

National Average Salary: $57,916 per yearPrimary Duties: A driver is a hired professional who performs various transporting tasks. The most frequent employers for passenger car drivers are restaurants, hotels and delivery services. The main responsibility of a driver is transporting passengers or light goods from one point to another. They also typically perform maintenance work on their assigned vehicles and need to be able to communicate with customers in a polite and professional manner.

14. Commercial pilot

National Average Salary: $59,486 per yearPrimary Duties: Commercial pilot fly various planes or helicopters for commercial purposes. The exact type of work varies, as they can be cargo pilots, airline pilots, tour pilots, ferry pilots, flight instructors and more. Commercial pilots don't need college degrees, as the main educational requirement is a private pilot certificate that can be obtained in one year.

15. Real estate agent

National Average Salary: $96,972 per yearPrimary Duties: Real estate agents represent either of the two involved parties in the sale or rental of a real estate property. They can specialize in sales or rentals, but also in residential homes, office space, warehouse space and land sales. A real estate agent uses their knowledge of a local market to understand the needs of both parties involved in a sale or a rental and mediate a deal. The pay is usually commission-based, and the only educational requirement is a high-school education.Read more: 15 Tips for New Real Estate Agents To Succeed

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25 other jobs you can get without a degree

Some other common jobs you can get without a formal degree include:

Frequently asked questions

How can I make more if I don't have a degree?

There are many ways to make money without a degree, including:

Invest in the stock market
Rent out a property
Become a freelancer
Create content online
Deliver food for a courier service

If you're not interested in a degree but want some kind of credential, a certification may help you find a role. For example, you can pursue certifications for roles like EMT, funeral director, personal trainer and medical coder.Read more: 6-Month Certificate Programs: 10 That Lead To High-Paying Jobs

Can you make $100,000 per year without a degree?

You can make more than $100,000 per year, even if you don't have a degree. For example, if you choose to become a real estate agent or car salesperson, you can increase your earnings based on how many units you sell.

What can I put on a resume instead of a degree?

If you don't have a degree, you can include certifications, skills and volunteering in the place of your education information. It's helpful to organize your resume according to your strengths, listing the most relevant information first.

Video: Tips to Find Trade Jobs (No Degree Needed!)
Sinead will let you know about various trade jobs and the best tactics to step into the trade industry.

 

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