Making good money without a college degree

Advertiser Disclosure: The credit card and banking offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies and banks from which MoneyCrashers. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they appear on category pages. Advertiser partners include American Express, Chase, U. Bank, and Barclaycard, among. Meanwhile, student debt interferes with the personal and financial milestones many Americans are taught to take for granted. Still, countless young Americans willingly enroll in four-year degree programs each year, assuming that the financial benefits of these degrees outweigh the downsides of five- or six-figure debt. Many require only a high school diploma or equivalent; others require post-secondary certification or two-year associate degrees. Physical therapist assistants work directly under physical therapists, usually in hospital or outpatient office settings. Specific making good money without a college degree typically include:. No matter where you plan to work, you must complete a two-year degree program and obtain a state license to become a physical therapist assistant.

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The percentage of Americans with a college degree may be on the rise , but the vast majority of the population still lacks a postsecondary degree. Some may start college with every intention of finishing, but life gets in the way. Others simply choose to head directly into the workforce after walking the stage at high school graduation. Although the unemployment rate for high school graduates is slightly higher than the unemployment rate for those with associates degrees or higher, college graduates are still struggling to find work after graduation. Noting this, some high school graduates may wonder if years of study and student loan debt are worth it. At the same time, they see billionaires and startup founders achieve great success without a college degree, giving the illusion that they can get some of the best jobs without a college career. The first step toward a long-term career decision is evaluating your interests. An outdoors enthusiast who chooses to work as a park ranger or hiking guide is more likely to wake up everyday invigorated by the work he or she has been assigned to do.

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Those who love their jobs are also more likely to be successful, according to psychologists , as well as being happier and healthier overall. In addition to your personal interests, also consider your aptitude for certain types of occupations. What were your top subjects in school? There are fun online quizzes you can take to match your personality to the right job, but also look at your high school report cards to find where you got the best grades. Participants in the study who had the greatest sense of well-being were 30 percent less likely to die in the more than eight years following the research. This is especially true if you have an in-demand artistic talent like graphic design or photography. Community social media pages are a great way to gauge interest in having certain services performed, as well as the volume of providers available to fulfill that demand. Have a written mission plan, along with documenting your short-term and long-term goals. In addition to information on how to write a business plan , the Small Business Administration SBA has helpful resources that can walk you through the process of starting a business. You can locate a mentor, find a local resource center, or get tips on obtaining financial assistance. Be aware of these steps before you make the decision.

Find What You Love

Want a six-figure income? What about other jobs? But if you just want to make six figures there might be a better way. Here are a dozen examples…. The Thiel Fellowship is a program started by billionaire entrepreneur Peter Thiel. The money is paid out over two years, so no six-figures annually there, but the future potential is much greater. For example, when Business Insider followed up on nine graduates of the Thiel Fellowship program, most of them seem to be doing very well. In fact, several of them have raised millions of dollars for their entrepreneurial ventures. For many years my wife and I had a profitable collection of informational websites in English and Spanish on various topics.

High-Paying Jobs That Don’t Require a College Degree

However, though a bachelor’s degree greatly increases an individual’s earnings potential, there are still many high-paying jobs that do not require higher education but instead value experience, training, and skill. Some jobs that do not require a college education, however, pay well more than the median across all education levels. Some of these jobs are in management roles and higher-ranking positions, accessible to those who worked their way up from low-level positions at jobs that do not require a degree, such as law enforcement or sales. Many of these jobs require years of on-the-job experience or training, and some require specific credentials or licenses. The median income of 10 jobs on this list is more than double the national median. More: What are the worst companies to work for? New report analyzes employee reviews. More: Are these the worst cities to live in? Study looks at quality of life across the U. More: Which countries are the richest? A look at the Top 25 based on average income. More: How much did a personal computer cost the year you were born? More: Who is getting paid more? More: Public sector jobs: States where the most people work for the government.

They open and close doors for passengers, make announcements and just generally make sure that everything in the subway system is running safely. Include any keywords from the job listing, particularly skill words. Essentially, you get paid to search on the internet. You need to report any issues or errors that you encounter too. Show how you will add value. By Alison Doyle. Hello Satrap, I have read your other posts too. However, you do need to have a high school diploma and complete either extensive on-the-job training or an apprenticeship. Florida python hunters wrestle invasive snakes. Want More Money? You can sign in to vote the answer. Continue Reading. You can find virtual assistant jobs on employment search engine platforms, like SimplyHired and Indeed.

9. Power plant operators

Still have questions? Believe me, I’m a college grad and often wish I took that route instead. Jobs like that makinb few and far between unless you specialize like SAP or Oracle crap — in my case, I was a contractor working a shift no one else would work. If you have most of the skills and abilities needed for the job, but are only lacking the required degree, go for it. Prepare an answer to the likely question. And that every single kid has to go ocllege college in makjng to become successful. Pages About Contact Contribute. InboxDollars pays you to watch videos, search, shop, take surveys, and. In fact, some hiring managers simply say this as a way to cut down on the number of applications.

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Sometimes, you will see a job that seems like an ideal fit for you. The good news is that there are ways to get a good job without a college degree, even if the job maing says it is a requirement. In fact, some hiring managers simply say this as a way to cut down on the number of applications.

If you can demonstrate that you have the skills and experience needed for the job, some employers will overlook your lack of a degree. There are some things you can do throughout the job search process to get a good job that pays well without a college degree. Before applying for the job, look carefully at the job listing. If you have most of the skills and abilities needed for the job, but are only lacking the required degree, go for it.

There is no sense in wasting your time and energy applying for a job that is not right for you. For example, consider taking courses in your industry at a local college. You can also complete certificate programs related to the job, and include those on your resume.

Many certificate making good money without a college degree have flexible schedules, and some are even online. Similarly, include any education that you do collee. Employers will double check, and if you lie, they can rescind an offer or even fire you. The best way to do this is to connect your skills and experiences to the job listing.

Include any keywords from the job listing, particularly skill words. Networking is a key way to get an interview when you are applying for a job and lack the required degree. When you apply, reach out to anyone you know at the company. Let them know you are applying for the job, and see if they are willing to write you a recommendationor tell the hiring manager about you.

In your cover lettermention that you spoke to this person about the job. You can also do this if you have not found a specific job opening. Reach debree to any contacts, and ask if you can talk to them about the industry, or talk about your current job search.

This might lead to information about a job opening. In your cover letteravoid monry on your lack of a degree. Instead, focus on the skills that you do have, and explain how your job experiences make you a strong fit for the job. If you get the job interviewgreat! Project confidence. Focus on your skills and experience. When answering questions, try moneu mention any keywords from the job listing. Make sure to highlight your skills and experiences that make you a good fit for the job.

Show how you wthout add value. One collegge to do this is to focus on how you will add value to the company. Perhaps you have helped reduce costs or increased aithout at other companies.

Highlight these experiences, and explain makiing you would like to add value to this company. Prepare an answer to the likely question. Do you think this will hinder dehree on the job? When you answer, try to once again emphasize your qualifications rather than focusing on the drawbacks to not having the degree.

Part-Time Jobs. Job Searching Job Listings. By Alison Doyle. Detree Reading.

But, given the crushing cost of student debt and a slowly recovering job market, is a college degree really worth it? PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel thinks good ideas and work experience outweigh education. Here are eight of the best ways I know to make money without a degree. A service business is usually the easiest type of business to start. Instead, you just need a valuable skill that people will pay you for, over and over.

Invest in real estate

To earn more, bundle your packages together and focus on value. Anyone with enough up-front capital can jump into real estate making good money without a college degree start a rental-property business. But do you really know how to manage a property successfully? Crowd-funding sites like RealtyMogul. Investors can also save time and resources by looking at pre-vetted deals and online presentations to help them make decisions. Position yourself as a consultant instead, and get paid to share advice on everything from lean management to accounting. Think about pain points and how you can help solve a business’ biggest problems. Consultants enjoy the ultimate flexibility as independent contractors who can work with businesses either by the day or for the long term. Consultants also need in-depth industry knowledge. The Internet is rife with premium products on both personal blogs and corporate websites alike. In reality, sellers can generate profits from just about any entertaining or useful material. But, before you start selling, think about how to branch out and create new opportunities. Film your next workshop or web redesign and talk through the process as you go.