top jobs without a degree
It’s well known that getting more education will increase your earning potential. But for some of us, that isn’t feasible. Maybe you can’t afford to go to college, or you have children and can’t take the time off from work, or maybe you just don’t want to spend four years in school when you could be working and earning money instead of learning about college subjects that are irrelevant to your job hunt. For whatever reason, there are many occupations out there that pay well without requiring a degree of any kind.
Medical transcription
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment of medical transcriptionists to grow 38 percent from 2021 to 2022, which is much faster than average. This is partly due to increased demand for electronic health records, which makes medical transcription a more important part of physicians' offices and hospitals. It's also considered one of top jobs that pay well in it, but you don't need a college degree to do it; most employers want some experience with transcribing before hiring. You may even find work through your state’s workforce agency if you're looking for local employment opportunities. Average salary: $36,0 (2022).
Pharmacy technician
In most states, you don’t need to have graduated from high school or earned a GED in order to become a pharmacy technician. You do, however, typically need to complete an accredited training program. These programs can be found in community colleges and vocational schools, as well as online programs. Some employers will require that you have completed your training before they hire you, while others may let you complete it during your employment with them. Still others will help pay for it through tuition reimbursement benefits or grants for employees enrolled in certain courses.
In most states, once you’ve completed your training, you need to apply for licensure as a pharmacy technician. For example, in Illinois, you must pass an exam and pay at least $400 in fees to be licensed. As with other careers that are licensed by state boards, becoming licensed means that your state has determined that you have completed training that meets its standards and has met all of its required exams. It also means that if you violate certain rules—such as whether or not to dispense controlled substances—you can be punished by your state board for those infractions even if it is out of line with what other states may allow.
IT support specialist
A person who, as part of an organization's IT department, is responsible for supporting hardware and software systems. The job requires someone who can fix problems and offer technical advice when things aren't working properly. A bachelor's in computer science or information technology is often required. This is one of those roles that may not require a four-year degree but does require substantial specialized training, so it tends to be higher paying than some other unskilled positions. Average salary: $600+ (varies by industry).
Medical records technician
Contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of careers that don’t require you to go to college. One of them is medical records technician. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that medical records technicians earned an average annual salary of $38,80 in 2022. This career path offers educational opportunities at vocational schools and community colleges; after an associate’s degree or certification in health information technology, which costs less than $5,000 on average, you can start applying for entry-level positions. If working directly with patients isn’t your thing but you like data and numbers, then give being a medical records technician some serious thought.
Physical therapy assistant
An entry-level position, physical therapy assistant is an ideal fit for people who want to enter physical therapy but don’t have a bachelor’s degree. According to PayScale, PTAs make $8,297 per year—not bad considering that most institutions only require an associate’s degree in order to work as one. Duties include working with physical therapists during rehabilitation and treatment sessions, performing clerical tasks like answering phones and scheduling appointments and helping patients get from one place to another. PTAs must be aware of where they are at all times—ensuring they aren’t in danger of injuring themselves or others—and keep detailed notes on their activities throughout each day. (PayScale).
Billing and coding specialist
Medical and dental offices need professionals to handle medical billing, coding and documentation. Billing specialists typically receive training on how to use software programs that generate claim forms, access databases that track claims, and oversee collection processes. In order to become a billing specialist, an associate's degree in healthcare administration or medical administrative technology is often required. A bachelor's or master's degree is preferred by employers because it provides training in other healthcare services and advanced coding techniques. For example, some schools provide bachelor's degrees in business administration with an emphasis on healthcare administration; students who complete such programs can expect to find work as office managers for medical practices or working for health insurance companies performing underwriting duties such as reviewing applications from potential clients, gathering information about their lifestyle habits, determining coverage options and setting premiums.
Respiratory therapist
A respiratory therapist can be licensed after earning an associate's or bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy. Respiratory therapists are responsible for diagnosing, assessing and treating patients' breathing and gas exchange issues. Salary: $57,000 (entry level); $70,000 (average) (BLS).
MRI technologist
Medical imaging technicians use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines to produce high-quality images of patients’ organs, tissues and bones. The technology itself is so sophisticated that many students pursue associate degrees in radiologic sciences—as opposed to standard four-year college degrees—in order to prepare for intense and competitive training programs. According to PayScale, MRI technologists can earn up to $73,00 per year if they have a bachelor’s degree in radiologic science, but only $47,00 with just an associate’s degree. It also makes sense that there are more than two times as many openings for radiologic science technicians in 2021 as there were in 2022.
Speech pathologist
A speech pathologist helps people with speech, language, swallowing, and hearing issues by identifying problems, creating treatment plans, and helping patients to follow those plans. This career field is ideal for people who love helping others and making a difference in their lives. It’s also great for those who love working with children—speech pathology is an especially popular career choice among young professionals because it allows them to work directly with children.
Massage therapist
With over 55,000 massage therapists practicing across America, it’s easy to see why so many people consider becoming one of them. It’s also easy to see why massage therapy is considered one of top jobs for those who are 14 years old – with only a high school diploma or GED required to become one! In addition to not requiring any previous work experience, massage therapy also pays well. For example, as an entry-level therapist in South Carolina you can expect to make about $8.31 per hour or $17.64 per hour if you’re certified and licensed.
