Everyone wants to make more money, but not everyone has the time to devote to a full-time college program in order to obtain a new degree. Fortunately, some of the highest-paying occupations do not necessitate a degree in any discipline or focus.
Continue reading to learn about the highest-paying occupations available without a degree and where to direct your professional development efforts.
Best 11 Highest-Paying Jobs Without A Degree
Want to change jobs but don’t have the time to complete a degree? To narrow down your employment search, look at the highest-paying occupations without a degree below:
1. Firefighter
Firefighters are also paid well in exchange for putting their lives in danger in some cases. Before they can be licensed, firefighters must be physically fit and have completed around two years of training.
When they complete the training, they frequently have excellent job stability and can take satisfaction in the fact that their job is critical. They are constantly rescuing people from burning buildings and assisting in the extinguishment of fires.
Firefighters earn around $51,000 per year.
2. Electrician
Many trades, including electricians, are particularly difficult for young professionals. If you want to make money without having to have a degree, becoming an electrician could be a fantastic option. Instead, you’d likely attend a one- to two-year trade school and gain substantial on-the-job experience before working as a certified electrician in your area.
Electricians install power lines, maintain them, and repair electrical appliances and power lines in residential and business settings. Many electricians enjoy their work because they get to accomplish something new every day, and their skill sets are in high demand. Once you know what it takes to be an electrician, you might potentially acquire a job almost anywhere in the globe, giving you more life flexibility.
3. Real Estate Broker
Real estate brokers can make a lot of money based on the market and their personal marketing and communication skills. In most situations, real estate agents work for real estate companies or realtors, where they obtain their licenses to market and sell properties to homebuyers.
Real estate agents must be skilled at bargaining and negotiating, and they must work hard to secure fantastic offers. The most successful real estate brokers earn genuinely incredible sums of money, frequently exceeding six figures. Real estate agents also collaborate closely with other professionals in the sector, such as contractors, salespeople, and so on.
The average annual salary for a real estate agent is $49,000.
4. Computer Support Specialist
Consider becoming a computer assistance professional if you have an interest in information technology and want to earn more money quickly. Computer support specialists assist clients, primarily commercial customers, with computer and technological issues. They must have some knowledge of computers and computer science, but not a full degree in a major. Many computer support technicians earn around $34,000 per year.
5. Wind Turbine Technician
Wind turbine technicians are in greater demand than ever before, because to the rising emphasis on renewable energy. These certified mechanical specialists construct, maintain, and repair wind turbines for municipalities. This job might be dangerous since you must be comfortable working at heights. However, if you complete the on-the-job training program, you might earn a great wage in as little as two years.
The average annual salary for a wind turbine technician is $56,000.
6. Brickmason
Brickmasons are a subset of construction contractors who specialize in the creation of bricks and other structural stones for the construction, polishing, and maintenance of residential and commercial buildings. They create and lay bricks, but they also build structures that are both aesthetically attractive and functional for their purposes. They blend bricklaying and architectural expertise in this manner.
Brickmasons must have a high school graduation and have completed an on-the-job apprenticeship program. This, however, is not the same as a degree requirement. Brickmasons typically earn around $48,000 per year for the schooling required to succeed.
7. Plumber
A plumber, like an electrician, has a high salary while not requiring a bachelor’s degree or any degree at all. Most candidates require only two years of experience and on-the-job training before earning their plumber’s license from a trade school or a private organization. Technical school also does not require large student loans.
In either case, plumbers provide vital services at homes and businesses by repairing plumbing systems, correcting faults, and performing routine maintenance. Plumbers often have excellent job security because practically everyone requires these skills regardless of what technology emerges in the future.
Furthermore, if you have sufficient abilities and competence in this area, you may be able to create your own plumbing firm if you like to focus more on the business side of things. A typical plumber earns around $60,000 per year.
8. Flight Attendant
In between flights, flight attendants check on passengers, serve food and refreshments, and clean aircraft cabins. They handle the majority of the customer support for the major airlines. Aside from not requiring a degree, flight attendants get to fly around the world essentially for free, and they frequently receive other company-related advantages.
Flight attendants must work relatively long hours because they must travel to and from airports and are constantly away from home. Nonetheless, despite having no schooling requirements beyond a high school certificate, they often earn outstanding wages. This hands-on work has few educational requirements and is in high demand.
The average salary of a flight attendant is $61,000.
9. Executive Assistant
Executive assistants are professionally trained aides to business owners, CEOs, and other professionals. A CEO, for example, may appoint an executive assistant to:
- Organize meetings.
- Make contact with other executives.
- Keep track of the CEO’s schedule.
- Take appointment requests.
- Organize the CEO’s calendar.
Overall, this is an appealing entry-level employment with some room for advancement. Annual income starts off affordable, but there is room for advancement with a certificate program or other formal education.
Consider executive assistants to be personal aides for individuals. Executive assistants are outstanding communicators and organizers with excellent time management skills. Many executive assistants earn substantial incomes, averaging around $40,000, despite not having a four-year degree.
10. Police Officer
Police officers frequently hold bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice or related fields, but they are not legally compelled to do so. In fact, you can become a police officer, a detective, or a comparable professional without ever having attended college.
All you have to do is pass your state’s police academy admission exam. These entrance tests normally demand a high school diploma. After that, you’ll go through police training, which can last anywhere from six months to a year or two, depending on the state.
In this on-the-job training program, applicants are expected to acquire everything they need to know to be a successful police officer.
When you first become a police officer, you’ll most certainly make a fair income, with the possibility of increasing your wage as you stay on the force longer. The average police officer earns around $66,000 per year.
11. Commercial Pilot
Commercial pilots are identical to “normal” aviators with one important exception: they do not work for major airlines. Instead, commercial pilots work for private persons, such as wealthy merchants, as well as small businesses. As a result, bachelor’s degrees in aviation or aeronautical science are not required.
As a result, with only on-the-job training and your pilot’s license, you can become a commercial pilot. Of However, even if you study full-time, obtaining a pilot’s license can take several years. However, if you don’t have a lot on your plate at home, this could be a rewarding professional opportunity, and you could like the opportunity to travel frequently.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, commercial pilots typically earn around $135,000 per year. Although a bachelor’s degree is not required, having an associate degree makes you a more competitive applicant.