5 Great Careers That Don’t Require a College Degree
Are you too cool for school? Going to college and seeking a post secondary degree is certainly not the only way to secure a good paying, in-demand, fulfilling and exciting career. There are plenty of other great career opportunities for those with a high school degree. In some cases you may not even need that, you just need some persistence and hustle. Whatever career you choose, know that it isn’t necessarily easy to enter a new field, but millions of people do it all the time.
Here are some of the top jobs that do not require you to have a college diploma. And if you excel, you can command a significant salary.
1) Realtor
Realtors are licensed real estate brokers or agents and they represent buyers or sellers of a property. If you enjoy helping people and love buildings, houses and properties this one might be for you. You can help people find the right home for them while making a very good living. The average salary for a realtor is around $46,000-$102,00 per year range income. New York is the top state for real estate agents with an average annual salary of $102,000. Texas and Hawaii are around $72,000 while Nebraska and Kansas are approximately $46,000 per year. Generally, it takes 4-6 months to get a license, and each state is subject to its own license and oversees its own exam. If you are interested then it might be time for you to learn how to become a realtor today.
2) Electrician
Electricians specialize in setting up, fixing and taking care for power and electrical structures of homes and buildings. Electrical work is one of the toughest trades to master, but a skilled electrician will always be in high demand. The average salary ranges from $37,000-$60,000 per year with New York, California and New Jersey being among the top paying states for electricians. If you would like to learn how to become an electrician, you’ll have to start with an apprenticeship and total training will take 2-4 years to become certified, depending on the state.
3) Lineman
Lineman mainly install or maintain electric power transmission, telecommunication and high-powered electrical lines outdoors. Being a lineman is actually one of the hardest and most dangerous jobs. It demands physical and mental stamina. However a skilled and experienced lineman can make an excellent living, with an average salary estimated to be in the range of $36,000-$100,000 a year. Alaska, Oregon and Nevada are some of the states that offer the highest salaries and most opportunities. It typically takes as long as 4 years in some states of practical work and 24 hour a day training. If interested then you might want to start learning how to become a lineman.
4) Carpenter
Carpenters are builders, they cut, shape, install and repair using wood or other materials. They can build most anything from the ground up. And if you are one who enjoys working with your hands and being creative, this just may be the right career for you. The average salary of a carpenter ranges anywhere from $25,000-$63,000 with New York, California, Hawaii and New Jersey being the top paying states for carpenters. It usually takes 3-4 years of apprenticeship, education and training either in person or via online to discover how to become a carpenter, but once you are established, there are always many interesting projects to work on and you can even build your own home or expand it all by yourself for cheap!
5) Virtual assistant
One of the newest and hottest careers is being a virtual assistant (also called a VA). If you enjoy working from home, being able to work anywhere in the world, then learning how to become a virtual assistant may be perfect for you. Virtual assistants are commonly self-employed and they help others with administrative assistance. You typically find work on freelance websites such as Upwork or Fiverr. Depending on how many hours you work, an annual salary ranges as low as $21,000 and as high as $65,000. You can live in a low-cost state or country and work for people in higher cost of living areas, such as California and Alaska which are among the states that pay the higher salaries for a virtual assistants. With lots of computer skills, the right equipment, a strong portfolio, solid written and verbal communication proficiency and flexibility you can become well established as a virtual assistant even without any prior experience.
There are numerous stories of successful people who never received a college degree. With a bit of training, practicing your skills, some experience, grit and determination you can power your way to success.
