21 Highest Paying Jobs Without a Degree (Earn as much as $85,810)

In this post, we’ve compiled a list of the best paying jobs with no Bachelor’s degree needed. Some of these jobs also require no Associate’s degree and no prior experience either.

How Much Can You Really Earn Without a College Degree (or Experience)?

While getting a college education is never a bad thing, you really don’t need one to earn a good salary.

At the time of writing, the federal minimum wage in the United States is $7.25 per hour.

So, a person earning minimum wage who works 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year would earn $15,080 annually.

Even without a Bachelor’s degree, you can earn far more than minimum wage – in fact, most of the jobs on this list pay double, triple or even quadruple that amount.

So, if you don’t have a college degree and maybe you don’t have much experience either, but you’d really like to save more and gain financial security, like most of us do, then you should consider going into one of the professions listed below.

These positions pay well, you don’t have to get a degree, and for some of them, you don’t even have to worry about having any previous work experience either.

Some of these positions require previous experience or on the job training, and others you can do from the comfort of your own home, wearing your pajamas if you want to!

There’s really a wide selection to choose from.

1. Transcriptionist

Transcriptionists listen to audio, like an interview for instance, and then type what they hear.

Essentially, you listen to something and transcribe it.

Once you transcribe the audio you send it back to the client in the form of a Word document, or whatever other format they ask for.

Working as a transcriptionist is a fairly simple job that requires absolutely no experience or degree.

The only skill you do need to be a transcriptionist is the ability to type fast and of course, it also requires a great deal of concentration and attention to detail.

A really advantageous aspect of this job is that you can usually do it from home!

And, you generally get to set your own hours too.

You can find transcriptionist jobs in traditional places, like the classifieds.

But you can find  a lot of at-home positions online on websites like:

• Tigerfish
• Get Transcribed
• TranscribeMe
• Verbal Ink
• Quicktate

How much can you earn?

On average, transcriptionists earn $30,940 per year.

But, as it’s such a broad industry, earnings vary from client to client.

Transcriptionists that work in specialist industries, such as medical, may be able to earn much more.

2. First-line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

An exciting job that pays well is a first-line supervisor of police and detectives.

First-line supervisors of police and detectives are responsible for supervising and coordinating the activities of the police force.

They also ensure that all procedures are conducted in accordance with laws and regulations.

This position does not require a Bachelor’s degree. In terms of education, all you need is a high school diploma.

Sometimes, you’ll need to have related on-the-job experience, or have undergone training in a vocational school, but often you just need to complete the on-the-job training.

How much can you earn?

First-line supervisors of police and detectives earn a mean annual wage of $85,810, according to BLS.

3. Uber Driver

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about Uber.

We even wrote a lengthy post about making money with Uber.

It’s a transportation service that customers can use through their phones, which many people are using as an alternative to traditional taxis.

As an Uber driver, you get paid to drive customers who use the app to and from locations. You’re sort of like a taxi driver.

The best part is that you get to use your own car and absolutely no prior experience is required and you don’t need a college degree.

How much can you earn?

On average, Uber drivers earn $19 per hour.

But, depending on where you live, you could earn more or less.

For example, drivers in New York reportedly earn $30+ per hour.

4. Virtual Assistant

From website owners to business owners, there are so many people out there that require assistants to help them with their work.

Now, many people choose to hire a virtual assistant and work with them online.

This means that you can work from the comfort of your own home.

All you need is a PC and a good internet connection.

You can find virtual assistant jobs on employment search engine platforms, like SimplyHired and Indeed.

You should also check out the following places for opportunities:

• VirtualAssistants
• Zirtual
• Freelancer.com

Virtual assistants are responsible for a wide variety of tasks.

Depending on the type of client they’re working with, assistants can have many different responsibilities, from making appointments to managing social media accounts.

How much can you earn?

On average inexperienced virtual assistants earn $31,000 per year according to PayScale.

However, the pay can vary quite drastically depending on the client you work with and how experienced you are.

Once you gain more experience, you can earn $35,000 or more per year.

5. Gas Plant Operator

A gas plant operator is a person that’s responsible for overseeing and operating gas processing equipment.

They work with utility companies and need to control systems and make sure that everything is functioning properly.

To become a gas plant operator, you don’t need a college degree.

You also don’t require any previous work experience.

All you need to have is a high school diploma. You’ll get long-term on-the-job training.

How much can you earn?

According to the BLS, the median annual wage for a gas plant operator is $66,010.

6. Loan Officer

Loan officers work in banks and they’re responsible evaluating applications for loans, and for recommending loan applications for approval.

Generally, a loan offer works with both individuals and businesses, and specialize in commercial, consumer and mortgage loans.

You only need a high school diploma to work as an officer.

You will need to complete on-the-job training, however.

How much can you earn?

The average salary for a loan officer in the United States is $63,430, according to the BLS.

7. At Home Call Center Agent

Working from home is a dream for many people, and it’s an achievable one.

Nowadays, there are many jobs that you can do from home, like virtual assistant and transcriptionist, as mentioned above.

But, another lucrative, at-home job for those that don’t have a degree is at home call center agent.

Nowadays, many customer service agents operate from home, in a virtual call center, rather than in a traditional call center setting.

As an at home call center agent, it’s your responsibility to assist customers over the phone. You’ll need to answer questions that they have, resolve issues and advise them too.

What’s great about this job, aside from the fact that you can do it from home, is that, for the most part, you get to set your own work hours.

Here are a few places you can look for jobs

• Apple
• ACD Direct
• American Express

How much can you earn?

Generally, at home call center agents earn $24,380 a year.

Depending on the company or organization, however, the pay can vary.

8. Subway and Streetcar Operators

Subway and streetcar operators are responsible for controlling trains.

They open and close doors for passengers, make announcements and just generally make sure that everything in the subway system is running safely.

Generally, subway operators work in an urban setting.

You don’t need a degree for this position, but you will need to complete a local transit training program.

You also need to undergo a background check, medical exam and drug test.

How much can you earn?

The BLS reports that the median annual wage for subway and streetcar operators is $62,360.

9. Cable TV Installer

Another fairly good paying job that doesn’t require a degree is cable TV installer.

As the name suggests, a cable TV installer is a technician that installs, maintains and repairs cable television lines.

You don’t need to have a bachelor’s degree to work in this field. However, you do need to have a high school diploma and complete either extensive on-the-job training or an apprenticeship.

If you’re interested in a job as cable TV installer, then be on the lookout in the usual places, like in the job section of the paper, and on employment search engine platforms, like Indeed, or consider contacting local cable companies to inquire about open positions.

How much can you earn?

The BLS states that the median annual wage for a cable TV installer is $54,570 per year

10. Elevator Installers and Repairers

If you don’t have a degree, then you might want to consider a career as an elevator installer and repairer.

Elevator installers and repairers are responsible for repairing and maintaining elevators, as well as moving walkways, escalators, and any other lifts in general.

While you don’t need a college degree to get into this career, you will need to complete an apprenticeship.

A high school diploma or equivalent is also a requirement.

How much can you earn?

This job is definitely one of the best paying on this list.

The average median pay is $80,870 per year.

11. Medical Secretary

A medical secretary works in a variety of medical settings and health care facilities, from doctor’s offices to medical clinics.

It’s a medical secretary’s responsibility to perform secretarial duties and a wide variety of administrative tasks.

Tasks might include scheduling appointments, scanning files, and recording medical charts, for example.

How much can you earn?

The mean salary for a medical secretary is $34,330, according to the BLS.

12. Search Engine Evaluator

Like most people nowadays, you probably spend a good portion of your day online.

So, why not make a profit from it?

Search engines, like Yahoo and Bing, hire search engine evaluators to test and evaluate their search algorithms.

If you don’t have a college degree, and you’d like to find a job that you can do from home, then being a Search Engine Evaluator is a good option.

All you need to do is use a search engine, and provide feedback. You need to report any issues or errors that you encounter too.

Generally, you get a keyword or a list of keywords that you’ll need to search for. When the results come up, you need to examine them, and then provide feedback regarding how accurate, useful, and relevant they are. You also need to report back on the overall quality of the results.

Essentially, you get paid to search on the internet.

The best part is that you can do this job from home. Plus, you don’t need a college degree or any prior experience either.

What you do need is a PC with an internet connection.

Search engine employment platforms, like Flexjobs and SimplyHired, can be a good source for search engine evaluator jobs.

But you can also go directly to the source – companies that hire search engine evaluators.

Here are a few:

• Leapforce
• Appen Butler Hill
• TheSmartCrowd (Also known as the LionBridge)
• Google: Google doesn’t directly hire search evaluators. They go through a third-party company (like the ones mentioned above), but the job vacancies are shown on this page.

How much can you earn?

The average pay for a search engine evaluator is $27,353 a year, according to Glassdoor.

13. Delivery Driver

Delivery truck drivers are responsible for transporting packages and small shipments, usually within a certain urban area or local region.

As a delivery driver, you generally transport merchandise from a distribution center, like a warehouse for example, to a household or business.

Tons of companies now require delivery drivers, especially with the prevalence of online shopping.

You don’t need to have a college degree to become a delivery driver or any experience for that matter.

What you do need to have is a clean, valid driver’s license.

How much can you earn?

According to the BLS, the median annual pay for a delivery driver is $27,760.

14. Human Resources Assistant

A career as a human resources assistant is a good option if you don’t have a degree.

Human resources assistants record data and keep track of information for a company’s employees.

This data and information can include weekly earnings, addresses, supervisory reports, and absences.

Essentially, as a human resources assistant, it’s your job to compile and keep personnel records.

You might also have to assist the human resources manager with other tasks that involve company and employee relations.

You don’t need to have a degree to get into this field. A high school diploma is required, and some employers prefer candidates who have previous customer service or secretarial experience.

How much can you earn?

Human resources assistants earn a mean annual wage of $39,180.

15. Data Entry Clerk

If you’re looking for a simple job, which requires no degree, experience, training or qualifications of any kind, then consider becoming a data entry clerk.

Data entry clerks enter data into documents, like a spreadsheet for example, or through a database management system.

Tons of legitimate companies and organizations are looking for people to perform data entry tasks at home. This means that as long as you have a PC, you can do this job from anywhere.

There are a lot of legitimate companies that pay people to do data entry from home.

Some employees may require previous data entry experience, but many of them don’t.

How much can you earn?

According to PayScale, the average wage for a data entry clerk is $12.41 an hour.

Depending on the company that you work with, however, the pay can vary quite drastically.

16. Claims Adjusters, Appraisers, Examiners, and Investigators

Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators are responsible for evaluating insurance claims.

Once they’ve evaluated a claim, they decide whether or not an insurance company must pay it. They also determine how much needs to be paid.

To work as an entry-level claims adjuster, examiner, or investigator, you generally only need to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Some higher up or more specialist positions, like auto damage appraisers, may need other qualifications or experience.

How much can you earn?

The median pay for claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators is $63,060 per year, according to the BLS.

17. Police Officer

If you don’t have a college degree and you’re looking for a challenging, yet rewarding job, then consider becoming a police officer.

You’ll need to apply and pass a background, drug, and polygraph test.

You don’t need to have a college degree to become a police officer. But, once you’ve applied and have passed the tests, you are sent to the Police Academy for training.

Check out local papers, online job boards or employment websites, like SimplyHired or Indeed.

How much can you earn?

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics report that the median pay for police officers and detectives is $60,270 per year.

18. Online ESL Teacher

Do you think you’d make a good teacher?

Then, why not become an  English as a second language (ESL) teacher?

Online, you can teach English as a second language to people all over the world.

To teach English online, you don’t need to have a degree. Sometimes, you might need to get a TEFL certification.

You can do this job from the comfort of your own home and you generally get to choose how much work you take on.

The student and teacher communicate with each other via Skype or through email or online chat.

There are many places online that offer online teaching jobs. Make sure you read our post on the 20 Best Places to Find ESL Teaching Jobs Online.

How much can you earn?

On average, English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers earn $40,184 per year, according to PayScale.

19. Security Guard

Another job that doesn’t require a college degree is the security guard job.

Security guards work in a variety of settings, from airports to malls.

Generally, security guards are responsible for guarding, monitoring and patrolling premises.

They must prevent theft and violence, and ensure that rules are adhered to.

While you won’t need a college degree, many employers require you to have a clean criminal record and pass a drug test. Some might require you to get a firearms license.

How much can you earn?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, $28,460 is the mean annual wage for security guards.

20. Power Plant Operators, Distributor, and Dispatchers

One of the best paying jobs on this list is power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers.

This position involves controlling and monitoring power-generating equipment and systems.

In this role, you generally work shifts.

While you won’t need a degree, a high school diploma or equivalent is satisfactory, you will need to participate in extensive on-the-job training.

Generally, you also need to undergo a background check.

How much can you earn?

According to the BLS, the median pay for this position is $75,660 per year.

This is definitely one of the highest paying jobs on this list.

21. Insurance Sales Agent

An insurance sales agent is someone that sells insurance to customers. They are responsible for contacting customers and explaining different types of insurance policies.

Insurance sale agents help customers to choose policies that best suit their needs.

This position does not require any sort of college degree.

The typical entry-level education required is a high school diploma.

You need to complete on the job training and get licensed in the state where you work.

How much can you earn?

The median pay for insurance sales agents is $48,200 per year, according to figures from the BLS.

College isn’t the Only Way

I hope that we, as a society, can move away from the idea that college is the only way forward. And that every single kid has to go to college in order to become successful.

College is not for everyone!

The idea that if you want to succeed in life you have to go to college is just stupid. Yeah, let’s get into tens of thousands of dollars in debt before we even start our adult life!

There are plenty of successful people who have never set foot in a college.

In today’s world, college is not the only way anymore.

Academia isn’t the only answer.

Look around you…

Most of what makes our modern life possible is done by people without a college degree.

Of course, this isn’t a case against education. I’m all for that.

This is a case against painting a degree as the only/best way to a high-paying, successful career.

Pushing college on every single kid, regardless of their goals and life ambitions, is just stupid.

Let them start their adult life based on their own goals and ambitions, not based on a narrow-minded approach that tries to fit everyone in one box.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, just because you don’t have a college degree, it doesn’t mean that you can’t earn a good income.

There are a wide variety of jobs available, from those you do from the comfort of your own home to those that provide an opportunity for career advancement.

All of the jobs listed above pay you much more than the minimum wage.

Remember, getting a degree isn’t the only to ensure making good money. In fact, some of the best paying jobs out there don’t require a college degree.