Not everyone has the time, money, or interest to pursue a 4-year degree. That doesn’t mean that not getting one will doom you to a life of low earnings and job dissatisfaction, however. There quite a few no degree jobs available right now that are experiencing growth and provide a stable work environment, as well as great pay. The best no degree jobs available for 2017 include medical assistant, phlebotomist, dental assistant, home health aide, line worker, web designer, and optician.
10 Best No Degree Jobs
1. Medical Assistant
You’ve probably seen the commercials offering training to be a medical assistant. This job entails everything administrative that a nurse may do, including charting, scheduling appointments, or filing, as well as basic medical care (checking blood pressure, patient Q&A, and weighing a patient.) While most medical assistant jobs will require that you have a certificate or some additional medical training, a full bachelor’s or even an associate degree, are not usually required. Some small companies offer on-the-job training for someone wanting to be a medical associate. Other will allow you to work in the office by day, while paying you to get training from a local community college or medical center at night.
Are jobs available?
Medical assistant jobs are expected to grow 23% from 2014 – 2024, much faster than other job fields. In 2014, there were about a half a million jobsfor this position.
What does it pay?
The average medical assistant makes around $28,000 a year. There are some reports of companies paying $22.58 an hour or more.
2. Phlebotomist
If you’re not squeamish and have no problem poking people with needles, then a career in phlebotomy is a high-paying option. This no-degree job required a certificate to work in hospitals, clinics, or blood donation centers. This job is good for people who are both able to handle the sight of blood and have perfect people skills.
Are jobs available?
Over 112,000 jobs were available for qualified seekers in 2014. The job growth from 2014 – 2024 was expected to be a generous 25%.
What does it pay?
The national average for pay right now is $31,630 per year or $15.21 an hour.
3. Home Health Aide
The aging Boomer population wants to stay in their homes longer. This means that health care is being transitioned from hospice and long-term care nursing homes to the patient’s own home. As this happens, the need for those who can come into the home and do basic health checks, personal care duties, and medical reporting will grow exponentially! Home health aides are in high demand and are only expected to be needed more as Boomers age. These no degree jobs are also available for people who want to work with the disabled or injured of all ages. Basic training and state certification is required to do most of the tasks of a home health aide.
Are jobs available?
They certainly are! This fast-growing career field had 913,000 jobs open in 2014. The ten-year growth is expected to be 38% on top of that already high number of opportunities!
What does it pay?
You won’t get rich doing home health care, but the job is rewarding and can offer good benefits. Expect to get paid around $10.50 an hour, or $21,000 a year – on average.
4. Dental Assistant /Hygienist
Yet another hot job in the medical field, dental assistant positions are a vital role in today’s modern dental clinics. They can perform a variety of essential duties, including handling patient charts, taking x-rays, and holding tools for the dentist. They free up the dentist to do the most specialized tasks of a dental clinic and interact with patients for most of their day. A dental assistant will usually require some type of secondary training or a certificate program. Some dental clinics will provide additional training for unique tasks or procedures once hired.
(Note: Some of the tasks mentioned above also fall into the responsibility of a dental hygienist, who also cleans teeth. Most small or privately-owned clinics will hire for just one position and combine duties.)
Are jobs available?
Yes! Dental assistant jobs numbered 318,800 in 2014. Hygienists made up over 200,00 jobs. Both job types were expected to grow between 18 – 19% over the next ten years.
What does it pay?
Dental assistants can, on average, make $35,980 per year. The hourly wage for even part-time assistants is usually $17.30 per hour or more, depending on geography. Hygienists will make up to $70,000 a year, so it’s a good idea to learn to clean teeth, too!
5. Web Developer
If you have no interest in medical care or treatment, are interested in the way websites work and look, you may be a great fit for a web developer job. Many developers are self-taught, but there are thousands of programs available to teach the basics and help you grow your skills as technology changes. In fact, many of the online courses available from community and state colleges are geared toward those looking to pursue this growing field. Web developers are a popular no degree job, because you can choose to work for a company or act as a freelancer and be your own boss. You’ll need graphic design and programming knowledge to do this job, which is largely responsible for the look, feel, and functionality of web sites of all types and technologies.
Are jobs available?
This fast-growing tech job is expected to see an increase 27% in jobs over the next 10 years. There were 148,500 jobs in 2014, not including freelance contracts negotiated privately.
What does it pay?
$64,970 per year is the average salary. Most web developers saw an hourly wage of $31.23 per hour or more.
6. Electrical Line Workers
This job is not as popular as some of the other no degree jobs on the list, but it’s a viable option for those looking to use an apprenticeship method of training to earn a good living. Line installers and repairers need specialized training to work safely around live electrical equipment. They may also service other types of utility lines, including cable and fiber optics. Since they work at great heights and all times of year, it requires good health and some strength to perform. Line workers are also expected to work at all times of day, especially following an emergency situation or inclement weather.
Are jobs available?
While this field isn’t growing as fast as other (just the average 6%), there are plenty of opportunities to be hired. There were over 236,000 jobs in 2014 for this type of labor.
What does it pay?
Hard work pays off for the line repair worker. This no degree job pays $61,430 per year, or $29.53 per hour.
7. Machine Tool Programmers
This is not a commonly talked-about job, but it is so essential in today’s manufacturing markets. The machine tool programmer creates the computer programs needed to produce and assemble the specialized parts that make up everything from airplanes to dairy milkers. This job requires on-the-job training to learn the programming needed. Some certificates may also be helpful.
Are jobs available?
With a job growth of less than 5%, it’s not exactly a hot job. There are over 25,000 jobs available each year, however, and competition may not be as high for this job that no one has really heard of.
What does it pay?
You’ll make an average hourly wage of $23.55 in these no degree jobs. Average annual salary is around $49,000.
8. Solar Panel Installers
As more and more home and business owners look to alternative ways to power their lives, solar power is becoming increasingly more attractive. In fact, jobs in the solar energy field are becoming more difficult to fill, as it is still a relatively new, in-demand job. Solar panel installers (also called “Solar Photovoltaic Installers” or “PV Installers”) are charged with the work of installing, maintaining, and repairing the often very large panels on roofs or other structures. The duties are often physical demanding, and require work in high spaces, such as roofs and attics. There is also quite a bit of travel involved for more specialized work. A high school diploma and on-the-job training is all that is needed for this career.
Are jobs available?
There were just 6,000 jobs available for this work in 2014. Growth of 24% is expected over the next 10 years, however, which is higher than most sectors.
What does it pay?
PV installers can expect to make $37,830 per year. The average wage is $18.19 per hour.
9. Opticians (Dispensing)
The next time you go shopping for glasses, pay close attention to the people helping you pick out and get measured for your frames and lenses. These folks are called opticians, and they are part of our list of no degree jobs that pay fairly. You don’t need any formal education beyond a high-school degree for this profession. On-the-job training is usually enough. Opticians work in small clinics, as well as chain stores and major eye exam franchises. Good people skills and an ability to detail are required to do well as an optician.
Are jobs available?
There were over 75,000 jobs for this career in 2014. Growth is expected to be 24% over ten years – which is higher than average.
What does it pay?
Opticians can earn $34,840 per year, on average. Hourly wages are approximately $16.75 per hour or more.
10. Diesel Mechanic
If you’re good with your hands and want to work in a stable job industry, a diesel mechanic career is a solid choice. Diesel service technicians (mechanics) repair and inspect buses and trucks, as well as other kinds of diesel engines. Some formal training in diesel engine repair is preferred, but many have gone on from high school to do this job with just on-the-job training. A certification of some sort, is helpful for these no degree jobs.
Are jobs available?
There is faster-than-average growth for this profession, as the number of jobs is expected to grow by 12% or more over the next 10 years. In 2014, there were 263,900 jobs.
What does it pay?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics quote the pay for this career at $44,520 per year, or $21.40 per hour for a full-time worker.
As you can see from the list, no degree jobs still require some type of training. Your best bet is to do some research into the career you’re wanting to pursue and talk to people who have been successful doing it. They may have insight into the quickest and cheapest way to obtain the training and experience needed to start at the higher end of pay and get the best jobs for that market.
Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm