Jobs that Don’t Require a 4 Year Degree

Even though you might be willing to go to school so that you can launch a great new career, you might not be able to spend years getting an education. You might have bills and responsibilities that have to be taken care of right now, so you might need to start bringing in an income relatively quickly. Luckily, there are some career options that don’t require a lot of schooling but that can still provide you with a nice income. These are some of the options that you can explore.

CNA or Home Health Aide

If you would like to help others but can’t dedicate the time that is required to earn a nursing degree, then you can consider becoming a CNA or home health aide. People often lump CNAs, Orderlies, and Medical Assistants together but their roles are slightly different. All these jobs are medical-related and involve assisting Doctors, Nurses and patients but CNAs have more specific duties. CNAs must complete 75 hours of state-approved training and pass a competency test. Nursing assistants only need to complete a brief on the job training period. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Nursing Assistants and Orderlies earn about $28,530/yr. or $13.72/hr. and job growth is expected to be faster than average.

Dental Hygienist

Taking good care of your teeth is very important. If you would like to help others with having healthy mouths and smiles that they can be proud of, you can try pursuing a career as a dental hygienist. You can get a specialized associate’s degree and secure a job as a dental hygienist, allowing you to make a good income. The median annual wage for dental hygienists was $74,820 in May 2018 or $35.97/ hour.

Truck Driver

It only takes a few weeks to get a commercial driver’s license (CDL). There are 3 classes of CDLs “creatively” named Class A, Class B and Class C. With a Class A CDL, you can drive vehicles heavier than 10,000 pounds including:

Tractor-trailers
Truck and trailer combinations
Tank vehicles
Livestock carriers
Flatbeds

With a Class B CDL, you can drive a straight vehicle weighing 26,001 pounds or more, or tow a vehicle less than 10,000 pounds including:

Straight trucks
Large passenger buses
Segmented buses
Box trucks
Dump trucks with small trailers
Tractor-trailers

With a Class C CDL, you can transport 16 or more people (including the driver). With special endorsements you can also drive:

Small HazMat vehicles
Passenger vans
Combination vehicles not covered by Classes A or B

Once you have secured your CDL, you can then look for various truck driving jobs.

If you like the idea of traveling and would like to make a higher income, you can look for CDL truck driver positions that will allow you to travel over longer distances. If you’d like to stick close to home, on the other hand, you can check into local truck driving jobs.

Plumber

You can take courses at a local trade school or community college to learn more about plumbing. You can also work as an apprentice to an experienced plumber to gain knowledge and experience. As a plumber, you can work for someone else or start your own business. There are three major categories of “Plumber” called Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters. Plumbers work with the pipes and fixtures related to both drinking water systems and wastewater disposal systems. This includes the normal type of pipes found in most houses and businesses.

Pipefitters work with high-pressure pipes and thus it is more dangerous and of course, higher-paid. Pipefitters work on refrigeration systems, boilers, and HVAC systems. Generally, pipefitters work in industrial and manufacturing environments so they must be able to read blueprints to locate the specific system that they are working on.

In addition to what pipefitters do, steamfitters also install and repair gauges and automatic controls.

Training to become a Pipefitter or Steamfitter is more complex than just a plumber and requires some classroom training and an apprenticeship. The median annual wage for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters was $53,910 in May 2018 or $25.92/hr.

As you can see, you don’t have to dedicate years to schooling so that you can earn a four-year degree in order to get a good job. There are a lot of career opportunities out there that don’t require a lot of schooling but that can allow you to make a good living. You can explore the options above, or check out some of the programs at your local community college or trade school for more ideas.

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