Choosing the right career that pays well and you can specialise in without a degree can be a challenge. However, some great career options are available for those without a college degree, particularly in the IT and mental health fields.
IT careers are some of the highest-paying jobs without a degree, offering competitive salaries and opportunities to grow. Mental health careers are also becoming increasingly popular, as they provide meaningful work in an area where professionals are needed more than ever before.
This article looks at the highest-paid and best IT and mental health careers available to those without a college degree.
What is a Career Without a Degree?
A career without a degree is a job or profession that a person maintains throughout a significant portion of their life without getting a degree from college. It is an ongoing process that involves education, training, and work experience. Also, it is the progression of positions and jobs a person holds throughout their lifetime.
Careers You Can Have Without a Degree
Are you thinking of careers you can have without a degree? Here’s a list:
- Massage Therapist: Massage therapists relieve pain and stress, need licensing and postsecondary education, and work in various environments. They should be friendly and personable to attract clients.
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN): LPNs work with doctors and registered nurses to provide primary medical care and monitor patient health. The scope of what an LPN does varies depending on their training, job, and place. LPN programs are shorter than RN programs, but practical nurses still play an essential role in patient care.
- Make-Up Artists: A makeup artist can earn thousands of dollars based on their creativity, clientele, dedication, and hard work. They can work as freelancers or have an independent makeup studio or salon.
- Event Management: Building contacts and creating an impressive online portfolio are essential for success in event management. It will help you get bigger jobs and excel in the field.
- Yoga Trainers: Become a yoga trainer to earn a lot of money, do a diploma or secondary course, start online classes, and build a small community to gain trust and get more people for your classes.
- DJs: DJs specialize in specific types of gigs based on their preferences. Hourly pay varies depending on experience and type of event, and most work is done at night. Socializing is critical, so make sure to have a business card and take part in DJ communities.
- Executive assistant: Executive assistants support high-level executives or administrators with typical duties such as clerical work, scheduling, booking meetings, and making travel arrangements.
Best IT Careers
Many organizations begin with self-taught individuals who later pursue formal education. They typically pursue this education when prepared for a promotion or job in a different field that better fits their abilities and interests. They continue their education by pursuing traditional degrees, certificate programs, or courses in subjects they want to learn more about.
Here are some IT careers without a degree:
#1. Computer Security
Specialists in cybersecurity monitor networks for any weaknesses or potential threats to the organization’s data. In addition to creating firewalls, they also handle any attacks on the network infrastructure. As a cybersecurity expert, you will create and put into practice data protection strategies. Many cyber professionals need formal education. You must pay for an online or offline course to learn cybersecurity.
#2. Data Analysis
As a junior data analyst, helping higher-level analysts with front-end and back-end organizations will be your primary duty. Junior analysts also help with client data processing and database data entry tasks. Without a degree, you must pursue self-education to start working as a data analyst.
#3. Information Technology Management
IT managers are in charge of a company’s overall technology as well as the activities of the IT staff. They look after the hardware and software of an organization. A minimum of five years of relevant experience and demonstrable knowledge of your skill set are required to become an IT manager. Although having a bachelor’s or associate’s degree will increase your chances, you can still have a successful career without one.
#4. User Experience Design
UX designers help monitor and improve the end-user experience with websites, programs, or applications. They review and analyze user feedback to identify common problems and develop solutions. They also conduct market and competitor research to understand user requirements. Designers often present their ideas to product teams using visual tools.
#5. Computer Programmer
Computer programmers’ main responsibilities include writing, updating, and troubleshooting existing programs using a variety of computer languages. Additional responsibilities include debugging software, creating computer infrastructure, and maintaining operating systems.
#6. Web Developer
Websites are created by front-end designers, back-end designers, and full-stack developers. They have college degrees or have self-studied to improve their knowledge.
#7. Digital Marketer
Digital marketers use digital marketing tools and strategies to develop engaging campaigns. They collaborate with marketing teams and programmers to create campaigns within budgets. Typical responsibilities include planning campaigns, creating reports, identifying advertising and industry trends, optimizing user experience funnels, and evaluating emerging digital marketing technologies.
#8. Technical writer
In the technology sector, technical writers often concentrate on writing articles, blog posts, or other documents about technical subjects. They analyze company-style manuals to produce interesting articles that will pique readers’ interest and encourage engagement.
Mental Health Careers
Careers in mental health involve working with people of all ages professionally to address a range of life stresses, issues, challenges, or problems, including but not limited to Self-esteem, Abuse or addiction to substances, grief, anxiety, depression, etc.
Mental Health Careers Without a Degree
Mental health roles can be entry-level without a degree, with opportunities for career development and advancement through experience and education.
- Teaching assistants: They help teachers, parents, students, and other school staff with student development and individual progress.
- Health educator: Health educators work to educate the community about health, wellness, and behaviors and advocate for individuals and communities.
- Home health aide: Home health aides visit a person’s private residence to assist them with daily tasks, such as bathing, eating, and housekeeping.
- Community health worker: Community health workers connect people to services and organizations through outreach and educational programs.
- Administrative assistant: Administrative assistants are responsible for answering phones, scheduling appointments, invoicing, billing, and payment collection.
- Counseling intern: Counseling interns lead and interact in supervised sessions, perform assessments, and report to professionals.
- Medical secretary: Medical secretaries in the mental health field are responsible for scheduling appointments, hiring and training staff, ordering supplies, working with medical staff, and operating office technology.
- Mental health case manager: Mental health case managers design patient care plans to achieve life and wellness goals, collaborate with other professionals, and respond to crises.
- Caseworker: Caseworkers help disadvantaged families and patients with mental health concerns, often working with all ages and agencies. Government, healthcare, and nonprofit agencies often hire them.
- Peer support specialist: Peer support specialists help those recovering from addictions or mental illness, offering information, tools, and tips to cope.
Other mental health careers without a degree include substance abuse counselor, social services assistant, and psychiatric technician.
Highest Paid Careers Without a Degree
Commercial pilots earn a median annual salary of $121,430, making them the highest-paying profession without a degree. The only educational requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent, but before beginning work, all commercial pilots must complete training and obtain their commercial pilot’s license.
Here is a list of 19 well-paying careers that don’t require a college degree.
- Commercial Pilots: $121,430
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers: $94,560
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: $91,090
- Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers: $85,950
- Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers: $84,990
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers: $77,800
- Postmasters and Mail Superintendents: $76,900
- Transportation Inspectors: $75,820
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical, and Performance: $75,730
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers: $74,760
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers: $74,180
- Signal and Track Switch Repairers: $73,890
- Lighting Technicians and Media and Communication Equipment Workers: $73,460
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers: $71,160
- Gas Plant Operators: $70,710
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians: $70,480
- Subway and Streetcar Operators: $67,880
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers: $67,460
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage: $66,540
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: $66,210
Some Tips for Your Job Search
Here are some tips that will help you find a high-paying career job without a four-year degree:
- Start with specific fields: Jobs in the technology, customer service, administration, and medical assistance fields often only require a high school diploma, industry certification, or on-the-job experience.
- Focus on your studies: Many medical jobs require additional schooling, often requiring you to perform well in science courses. On the other hand, some other careers may require manual labor or some finesse in mechanical thinking.
- Get some training: Give yourself a competitive edge by exploring online learning, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and certificate programs.
- Modify your resume: When you don’t have a degree, ensure your resume showcases your skills. Also, the resume should include the skills listed on the job posting for the position you’re applying to.
- Research potential employers: Learn as much as you can about prospective employers before going in for an interview. Use websites, professional publications, and articles to learn about a company’s mission, policies, and structure.
Best Careers Without a Degree
The educational requirements for these jobs are typically shorter than a four-year degree and may require on-the-job training, a certificate program, or an apprenticeship.
- Carpenter: A carpenter’s job is a high-paying one that requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Drafter: Drafters use CAD software to create technical plans and drawings, including building plans, wiring diagrams, maps, and assembly drawings.
- Sales representative: Sales representatives sell products or services to organizations, businesses, and governments, earn a high salary, deliver sales presentations, negotiate prices, maintain customer relationships, and finding new customers.
- Occupational therapy assistant (OTA): Occupational therapy assistants help patients perform therapeutic stretches and exercises, instructing them in at-home therapy programs.
- Physical therapist assistant: A physical therapist assistant helps patients recover from injury or illness, instructing them on at-home rehabilitation, therapeutic massage, ultrasound therapy, and prosthetic rehabilitation.
- Aircraft mechanic: Aircraft mechanics are responsible for keeping aircraft safe and operating well, earning high salaries without degrees.
- Real estate agent: Real estate agents help clients buy, sell, or rent properties, earning high salaries. They conduct open houses, negotiate sales prices, attend home inspections, etc.
- MRI technologist: MRI technologists are responsible for performing medical tests using MRI scanners, injecting contrast dyes, positioning patients, maintaining equipment, and keeping patient records. They may receive an associate’s degree.
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