A bachelor's degree is often thought to be the key to
financial success. After all, a typical college graduate earns 68% more
than a worker with just a high school diploma. "Going to college has
long been, since the end of World War II, the preferable path to the
middle class," says Anthony Carnevale, director of the Georgetown
University Center on Education and the Workforce. "Now it's not just
preferable; it is very rapidly becoming the dominant pathway because the
entry-level skill requirement for a lot of jobs has gone up." No wonder
many young people feel compelled to dig themselves deep into debt for a
shot at a brighter future. Among the 60% of 2013 college grads who
borrowed money to pay for school, the average amount owed in federal and
private student loans was $27,300.
Making an expensive investment in your education
isn't the only way to get ahead professionally. After analyzing data for
784 occupations, we pinpointed 10 high-paying jobs in expanding fields
that don't require a college degree. All of these jobs call for some
additional training, certification or work experience to get
started--and in truth having a college degree could boost your
competitive advantage and earnings potential--but none requires a
bachelor's to ensure career success.
Licensed Practical Nurse
Total number of jobs: 741,993
Job growth, 2004-2014: 17.5% (All jobs: 5.2%)
Projected job growth, 2014-2024: 20.0% (All jobs: 11.1%)
Median annual salary: $41,974 (All jobs: $41,683)
Typical education: Postsecondary non-degree award
Health
care professionals are in high demand, and you don't necessarily have
to spend the better part of a decade training to become one. Licensed
practical and vocational nurses, for example, get certified through a
program that typically takes just seven to 24 months to complete. The
smaller investment of time and education costs results in lower earnings
than registered nurses (who make a median $66,060) and nurse
practitioners ($92,768), both of which are among our
best jobs for the future.
But as in those jobs, you reap the benefits of increasing opportunities
brought on by an aging population and advancing technology. You still
get to provide patients with basic care, too.
Training programs
can be found around the country at vocational schools, community
colleges and some high schools and hospitals. You just need a high
school diploma or the equivalent to get into such programs; some may
also require you to pass an entrance exam.
Surgical Technologist
Total number of jobs: 101,504
Job growth, 2004-2014: 24.7%
Projected job growth, 2014-2024: 23.5%
Median annual salary: $42,786
Typical education: Postsecondary non-degree award
Becoming
a surgical technologist is another way to benefit from the country's
growing health care demands without investing four or more years for a
degree. "The technician-level occupations are the big secret in the
American economy," says Carnevale. "You can get a certificate in about a
year and earn more than someone with a BA in an area where people are
hiring." Also known as operating-room technicians, these professionals
typically earn their certification in 12 to 24 months. You can find an
accredited program, which requires a high school diploma or the
equivalent to get started, through the Commission on Accreditation of
Allied Health Education Programs.
On the job, these workers help
prep the room and the patient before surgery. They also assist surgeons
throughout the operation by passing them the sterile instruments and
other supplies. Surgical first assistants, who require additional
training either through formal education or work experience, can more
actively assist during a procedure--for example, by helping to suction
the incision site or suture a wound.
Computer User Support Specialist
Total number of jobs: 623,886
Job growth, 2004-2014: 17.0%
Projected job growth, 2014-2024: 19.8%
Median annual salary: $46,592
Typical education: Some college
Techies
who are not academically inclined don't necessarily have to count
themselves out of the sizzling IT job market. Although applicants with
college degrees are still preferred, "it's pretty common that people who
end up in IT careers took non-traditional paths there," says John Reed,
of specialized staffing firm Robert Half Technology. "Professional
skills might outweigh having a degree."
Computer
user support specialists, who help coworkers and clients fix their PC
and Mac problems from setup to shutdown, can often land jobs without a
college degree. Instead, many employers look to hire help-desk
technicians, as they're also called, who have HDI certifications proving
their skills, says Reed. You can take one of the various certification
exams off the bat for $145. Or prep for the exam with in-person or
online courses that can take as little as five hours to complete.
Jobs such as mobile app developer (one of our
best jobs for the future)
might also be attainable without a college degree, says Reed. With
demand currently so high for such roles, filling them might be a
challenge, and employers may be willing to loosen educational
requirements if candidates have the desired skills and knowledge.
Commercial Pilot
Total number of jobs: 40,980
Job growth, 2004-2014: 3.8%
Projected job growth, 2014-2024: 15.0%
Median annual salary: $73,528
Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent
While
their airline-employed counterparts typically need a bachelor's degree
to get started, commercial pilots' careers can take off with just a high
school diploma. But the necessary flight training is both extensive and
expensive. First, you need to get a private pilot's license, which
requires a minimum of 40 hours of flight time (although 70 hours is the
reported average) with a certified flight instructor; it can cost $3,000
to $9,000. Then you have to log at least another 250 hours to get a
commercial pilot's license. Plus, you need to get additional licenses
for instrument, multi-engine and other ratings, depending on the types
of aircrafts you plan to fly. You must also pass periodic medical exams
and renew your licenses throughout your career.
The investment can
pay off. Commercial pilots' median annual earnings soar 76.4% above the
median for all jobs. You likely won't earn quite as much as you could
with the airlines (where pilots and flight engineers earn a median
$114,827 per year), but you also won't have to face the expected cuts as
the turbulent industry continues to scale back flights. On the
contrary, commercial pilots--who fly for charter flights, rescue
operations, firefighting, aerial photography, crop dusting and other
reasons--ought to experience higher demand in the coming decade.
Electrical Power-Line Installer
Total number of jobs: 115,770
Job growth, 2004-2014: 8.9%
Projected job growth, 2014-2024: 13.7%
Median annual salary: $64,168
Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent
A
growing population and expanding cities really charge the demand for
power-line installers. New housing developments and office parks require
new power grids, as well as more people to install and maintain them.
But be warned: Working with electrical currents at great heights means
this
job is as risky as you'd expect it to be.
An
apprenticeship, typically lasting up to five years, is the common
starting point for electrical power-line installers and repairers. In
general, apprenticeships are another path to a lucrative career. Not
only do they help you skip the cost of college, these training positions
actually pay an average starting salary of $50,000 a year, according to
the Department of Labor. You can find apprenticeship opportunities in
this field and a variety of other industries through
the U.S. Department of Labor.
Industrial Machinery Mechanic
Total number of jobs: 332,094
Job growth, 2004-2014: 9.9%
Projected job growth, 2014-2024: 19.5%
Median annual salary: $47,507
Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent
Reports of the U.S. manufacturing industry's demise have been
greatly exaggerated. Yes, some low-skill factory positions are among our
worst jobs for the future.
But other highly skilled occupations with manufacturers have much
better prospects. Industrial machinery mechanics are one class of
beneficiaries. As a greater number of advanced machines are used in
manufacturing, the people that keep them in good working order should
stay in high demand.
To get this job, you can start as a helper or
other factory worker to learn the necessary skills, which include
working with hydraulics, electronics and computer programming. Employers
may also offer courses in these areas onsite or through local technical
schools. Alternatively, you may have to complete a two-year associate's
degree program in industrial maintenance.
Office Support Supervisor
Total number of jobs: 1.4 million
Job growth, 2004-2014: 5.7%
Projected job growth, 2014-2024: 12.4%
Median annual salary: $50,211
Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent
Secretaries
and administrative assistants provide the kind of personal touches that
are hard to replace with a machine. For this reason, many businesses
should continue to need their support. Businesses will also need the
support of qualified office supervisors to coordinate the activities of
the millions of clerical and administrative workers in the workforce.
You
can get started in entry-level clerical and administrative positions
straight out of high school if you have basic office and computer
skills. Many workers can pick up needed skills in a few weeks of
on-the-job training. Otherwise, take some relevant classes at a
technical school or community college to beef up your application. To
advance to a supervisor position, you typically need a few years of
related work experience, plus evidence of leadership and organizational
abilities.
Insurance Sales Agent
Total number of jobs: 749,193
Job growth, 2004-2014: 26.6%
Projected job growth, 2014-2024: 9.8%
Median annual salary: $47,632
Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent
Everybody
needs insurance. So the agents selling it--whether for property and
casualty, life, health or long-term care--should continue to find work.
Those selling health and long-term-care insurance should be in
particularly high demand to meet the needs of the newly insured (thanks,
Obama) and the aging population. Even as more people can turn to the
Internet to research policies, agents are still needed to close the
deal, process paperwork and advise on more complicated situations.
The
entry-level education requirement is just a high school diploma, but a
bachelor's degree can give you a leg up on the competition. Coursework
and knowledge of business, finance and economics, as well as public
speaking, can also boost your career prospects. You need to get a
license to sell insurance in the state where you work, which may require
you to complete certain courses, pass an exam and continue taking
classes that focus on insurance laws, consumer protection and other
aspects of the business.
Plumber
Total number of jobs: 428,705
Job growth, 2004-2014: 0.9%
Projected job growth, 2014-2024: 17.6%
Median annual salary: $48,194
Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent
New
buildings come with plenty of new pipes, and all those drains lead to
an ocean of opportunities for plumbers. Pipefitters and steamfitters,
who are lumped in with plumbers, specialize in systems that carry acids,
chemicals and gases. The already-large pool of workers is expected to
add more than 75,000 new positions over the next decade. Regular
maintenance needs and remodeling projects, including those necessary to
meet stricter water-efficiency standards, also give plumbers a steady
flow of business.
You can dive into the work straight out of high
school with a four- or five-year paid apprenticeship, in which you'll
typically earn 30% to 50% of what fully trained plumbers make. As your
vocational training advances, your wages will grow, too. Once your
apprenticeship is complete, you'll be considered a journey worker and be
able to do some tasks on your own. After you gain more experience, you
can become a master plumber and work independently, which requires a
license in most states.
Private Detective
Total number of jobs: 35,884
Job growth, 2004-2014: 12.5%
Projected job growth, 2014-2024: 11.7%
Median annual salary: $45,698
Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent
Paranoia
is a boon for the gumshoe business. Not that it's not
warranted--technological advances and all things going digital have
spurred cybercrimes, including identity theft, and increased the need
for investigative services.
Most detective work requires just a
high school education, but for some jobs, you may need a two- or
four-year degree. For example, if you specialize in certain fields, say
insurance fraud or computer forensics, a related bachelor's degree might
be necessary. Or you can opt to work for yourself, as about 23% of
private eyes do. In any case, the ability to learn on the job is a must,
and previous related work experience is a plus. You'll also need a
license in most states; requirements vary.
2014 Rankings of Best Jobs Without a College Degree:
Dental Assistant
Health Information Technician
Elevator Installer
Massage Therapist
Carpenter
Electrician
Computer User Support Specialist
Plumber
Construction Supervisor
Brickmason
Kiplinger
updates many of its rankings annually. Above is last year's list of 10
best jobs you can get without a college degree. Keep in mind that
ranking methodologies can change from year to year based on data
available at the time of publishing, differences in how the data was
gathered, changes in data providers and tweaks to the formulas used to
narrow the pool of candidates.
Culled from Kiplinger:
