If you are just a high school graduate and don't ever want to get a four-year college degree because college just isn't for you, which occupation might be a good choice that would allow one to earn a very good living? It should be an occupation that would be reasonably easy to attain so obviously pro-athletes are similar hard to attain occupations are out. One occupation I was thinking about was auto-mechanic. Any others?
Most of the trades (plumbing, welding, electrician, locksmith, carpentry etc) don't require a 4 year degree, though some schooling is necessary.
it's funny, i just saw this on today's msn homepage... 10 High-Paying Jobs...No Degree Required By Laura Morsch, CareerBuilder.com writer Higher education and higher income often go hand in hand. But a college diploma certainly isn't the only ticket to the gravy train -- just ask Microsoft co-founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen. These two college dropouts are now among the wealthiest people in the United States, with an estimated combined net worth of $72 billion. They have plenty of company. Five of the six richest self-made billionaires on Forbes magazine's list of wealthiest people in the nation didn't finish college. Exceptional performers or entrepreneurs in nearly any industry can command enormous salaries. The following jobs, however, consistently boast high pay, with nationwide average salaries far above the norm -- and no degree is required. 1. Air Traffic Controller -- $105,820 The job: Organizing and controlling the flow of airplanes into and out of an airport. How to get it: You may not need a college degree, but getting hired as an air traffic controller isn't easy. Candidates need four years of college and/or three years of work experience before undergoing pre-employment testing. Once they make the cut, they must complete the FAA Academy and an additional training program before starting work. 2. Real Estate Broker -- $76,930 The job: Helping clients sell their residential property. How to get it: To obtain a broker's license, candidates need 60 to 90 hours of formal classroom training, and one to three years of real estate sales experience. 3. Transportation Manager -- $75,130 The job: Working out the logistics for transportation firms, including mapping out the best routes and estimating demand. How to get it: Experience driving a truck or working in transportation sales is the most common route to this occupation. Just over half of transportation managers have some college experience, but less than one-quarter completed a bachelor's degree. 4. Non-Retail Sales Supervisor -- $73,670 The job: Hiring, training, supervising and scheduling the work of sales workers, including cashiers and customer service representatives. How to get it: Many supervisors start out on the sales floor and work their way up the organization. Good conversational skills, problem-solving ability and computer literacy are crucial. 5. Nuclear Power Reactor Operator -- $66,900 The job: Running the machinery at nuclear reactors. How to get it: Operating a nuclear power reactor requires extensive training by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which includes a mix of classroom work and on-the-job instruction To obtain a license, candidates must pass an annual practical exam and may be subjected to drug screenings. 6. Gaming Manager -- $65,920 The job: Creating game policies and managing the day-to-day responsibilities at a casino. How to get it: Work experience is the primary requirement. Many gaming managers start out as dealers or other casino floor workers. 7. Power Distributor -- $59,510 The job: Controlling the flow of electricity through lines to industrial plants or substations. How to get it: A high school diploma is usually required, and candidates undergo extensive on-the-job training and classroom instruction. 8. Detective -- $58,750 The job: Gathering facts and evidence to help solve crimes. How to get it: Detectives usually begin as police officers and get promoted to detective after a probationary period that ranges from six months to three years. 9. Elevator Repairer -- $58,500 The job: Installing, repairing and maintaining elevators and escalators. How to get it: Most new repairers apply through the local chapter of the International Union of Elevator Constructors. To qualify for an apprenticeship, candidates must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, pass an aptitude test and be in good physical shape. 10. Ship Engineer -- $57,290 The job: Operating and maintaining machinery on a ship, including propulsion engines, generators and pumps. How to get it: Most water transportation occupations require a license from the U.S. Coast Guard. Applicants must accumulate a certain number of hours at sea and pass a written exam, physical exam, drug screening and National Driver Register Check to be considered. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
As previously mentioned, trade jobs usually make good money without a degree. In fact, you can become fairly wealthy if you stick with it and get experience, then open your own business down the road. My Dad's plumber just retired to South France with his son. Other jobs include police officers...the pay isn't huge, but its a decent living. Most police departments have very good retirement. My Grandfather worked for the railroad for many years as an engineer. (drives the train...not a mechanical engineer or whatever.) Good job, benefits and retirement. My other Grandfather contracted for oil companies with a pipeline welding company. Made a ton of money. So welder is a good one. I have relatives that are well of from the oil and gas industries...starting out as a roustabout...becoming a roughneck...eventually managing roughnecks or even owning your business. Mechanics make decent money. Believe it or not, IT support is starting to flow back into the US as service is just too terrible for low cost locations such as India and China for a lot of businesses. For instance, enterprise level service contract still need US IT employees for support in the US. Pays well, no degree needed...usually experience is what counts. Army, Navy, Air Force...as a career isn't too bad. Learn a valuable skill, retire in 20 years with a pension, then contract that skill back to the service, government, or industry. Retail. If you make it a career and can work your way into management, you can make a good living. My buddy had an offer to work at Walgreens and they wanted to make him a general manager of a store within a year. You make a lot of money as a general manager in a lot of retail sectors and it doesn't require a degree...it basically requires the ability to work with and manage stupid people, lazy people, or teenagers. So if you aren't stupid, lazy, or a teenager, you can usually seperate yourself from the pack pretty quickly. Any sales jobs. If you are a good salesman, you can become rich. You can make as much money as you want to go out to make. I'd suggest real estate or insurance...of course the my Dad's salesmen always tell them that they have made a solid living over the last 25 years in real estate, but if they had gone into insurance 25 years ago, they would be retired to a beach somewhere by now. Of course, other industries have perks. We have a friend who works for Miller, makes a decent salary, but the sweet part of his job is most of his business is done on the golf course, at Astros, Rockets, and Texans games, or at nice restaurants...all first class, all on the company dime. I have also heard that pharmacuetical sales is also a good job, but it seems like most of the best ones are young, somewhat attractive women that take the Doctors out to fancy dinners. Contruction supply companies also pay their sales folks well, and it is more 8-5, business comes to you job. So that's some off the top of my head.
Become a postal employee. Half-ass all you want and get paid relatively well for it, just don't shoot anyone.
Actually not a bad suggestion. My boss's daughter is dating a postal employee. He was making $65K a year. When he first started working there he worked "too hard" and finished his routes too early. He said he basically had to learn how to be lazy and take it easy on his routes or he wouldn't be paid his full salary. So he takes a long lunch, sometimes goes home for a nap, drives slowly, stops for breaks, just so he won't finsih too early.
Some departments are starting to require 4-year degrees for their police officers, apparently. And I know Dallas requires 45 hours of college (which is what? A year and a half?). By the way, I saw a thing on the news the other day about how the Dallas Police were offering a $10K signing bonus. For a career with a nearly $40K starting salary, that's not bad at all. Of course, there's also all the fields that require only a 2-year degree, like nursing or some of the other medical tech stuff. My ex-wife is an x-ray tech. She works out at the nuclear weapons plant in Amarillo and makes a good living at it.
May I suggest going to the Air Force or armed services, then learning a trade skill through there. Youll get experience and hands on training, all while, if you wish, you have the choice of going to college that is paid for by them. Not alot of people are into the military lifestyle or regimen, but it is a an option.
I read that long-distance truck drivers, courtroom typers, and post office employees make decent money and usually don't require college degrees to get their jobs.
If you live in San Fran, I would say be a longshoreman. Due to union activity, they get paid over 100K per year. Not sure how much they get paid in Houston ports or elsewhere. I think there is some demand in the New Orleans port system currently. Its a tough job to get b/c of union and all, but once you get in-you are pretty much set.
