College is not the only road toward success. When you’re looking for a way to make it, there are many options from which to choose. That said, 6-figure jobs without college degree educations do exist if you want to jump right into the workforce. In the following guide, we will take a look at the best high-paying jobs without a degree or experience.
Finding high-paying jobs without a degree or experience is possible
With the high cost of higher education, it’s no wonder many young Americans are choosing not to go to college. If you are unsure about college, you could take on an apprenticeship, an internship or do on-the-job-training while you decide.
Alternatively, diving straight into the working world could give you a distinct advantage over the competition. What’s more, there are plenty of 6 figure jobs without a college degree out there. In fact, the world is your oyster.
If you didn’t go to college (or plan not to), there are many careers you can pursue. Contrary to popular belief, this choice won’t stunt your ability to make a hefty salary. So let’s take a look at the highest paying jobs without a college degree and how you can get started with them.
Managerial jobs
If you’re comfortable organizing and managing groups of people, there are some high paying 6 figure jobs without a college degree education calling your name.
For instance, here are two options to look into.
1. Product manager
A product manager finds out what their customers truly want from a product, works out how that fits within their company, and then figures out what is needed and who to work with to make the product a win for the business.
A job like this requires an ability to work with many personalities and also an understanding of how people think when it comes to products.
Sure, you can become a product manager without a degree. However, it is smart to gain additional training if you want to break into this sector. You will play a key role in making sure that a business has the right products for its customer base.
That means analyzing trends and also creating a strategy to launch products that will sell. It’s no easy feat, but it’s doable and can be very fulfilling.
To gain a job in this field, you may need to have business experience and expertise in the subject, for example, IT or consumer electronics.
Skills needed to become a product manager:
- Critical thinking
- Organization
- Business understanding
- UX knowledge
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Subject expertise
- Strategic mind
2. Medical and health services manager
Interested in becoming a medical health services manager? While some businesses expect you to have a college degree, the requirements of each one vary.
You will be responsible for the hospital’s general, day-to-day operations.
For instance, this can include everything from making schedules and hiring to creating budgets. A strong understanding of communication and also listening will take you far in this field.
If you don’t have a college education, you may be able to land this role by climbing the career ladder.
You can also get additional training. Undertaking a leadership program or online course will also help along the way.
Skills needed to become a medical and health services manager:
- Active listening
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Care coordination
- Financial management
- Time management
- Leadership
Commercial jobs
Want to work in the commercial sector? Luckily, numerous positions offer 6 figure jobs without college degree educations. So here are three options you may consider.
3. Business owner
Have you ever dreamed about starting your own business? Believe it or not, you don’t need tons of money to create a startup. You may have a side hustle that you want to turn into a full-time job or have a creative vision for the next big thing.
There are many ways to start a business and make big money, even if you need to find out how to start a business with no money at all!
Kick things off with the initial idea: how do you envision the business working? From there, you can start looking at making a business plan, gaining any funding you need, and also getting it off the ground.
There are many businesses you can start, but some good ideas to begin with include becoming a freelance writer, starting an event planning company, creating an online store, and also starting a coaching business.
Skills needed to be a business owner:
- Entrepreneurial spirit
- Idea generation
- Organization
- Attention to detail
- Networking
- Communication
- Technical skills
- Accounting
4. Real estate agent
Can you imagine yourself working on Selling Sunset? If you’ve got the gift of gab, it’s worth looking at real estate jobs. Real estate agents help people to find a new home, or you might also sell commercial property.
You will have the chance to guide buyers through the process of purchasing a property.
For instance, that involves everything from showing them houses and apartments to fielding offers and liaising with the sellers.
If you want to become a real estate agent, you will need to research the requirements in your state, take a course, and also gain a license.
In addition, the great thing about this type of job is that the hours are quite varied. You can create your own schedule, to an extent, if it fits with when your clients can meet with you.
Average salary: $96,382 (Up to $191,607)
Skills needed to become a real estate agent:
- Charisma
- People skills
- Communication
- Math
- Organization
- Time management
5. Commercial pilot
A commercial pilot flies planes carrying cargo or people and makes sure the plane is working properly.
Did you know that commercial pilots don’t need a degree? General airline pilots do need a college education.
However, you can become a commercial pilot with only vocational training in accordance with federal regulations.
To prepare for this elite role, you will have to attend weeks of both ground training and then flight training. It is likely to be a challenging but ultimately rewarding process.
Skills needed to become a commercial pilot:
Technical jobs
If you are lucky enough to be tech-savvy, your earning potential is almost limitless for 6 figure jobs without college degree educations. Many of the high paying remote jobs without a degree or experience fall into this category.
So here are three options that you may want to try for yourself.
6. Software engineer
According to Michigan Tech, software engineering is a type of computer science involved in maintenance, testing, development, and also design.
While you can enter this sector by going to college, 27% of software engineers don’t have a college degree.
That means using programming languages — such as Java or C++ — to create applications or websites. To get started, you will need to learn one of the most common programming languages. You can use that knowledge to gain your first job.
Another good thing that makes this one of the best, highest paying jobs without a college degree? You can freelance or also choose to work with a company, depending on your values and time commitments.
Skills needed to be a software engineer:
- Analytical skills
- Problem-solving
- Research skills
- Tech knowledge
- Programming language knowledge
- Troubleshooting
- Written communication
7. Web developer
Web developers make websites and may write code, work on the user interface, or also manage a website. There is a lot of variety in what you can do, which can be a great way to have a creative and also fulfilling career.
It may surprise you that you don’t need a degree to work as a web developer. Much like the role of a software engineer, this position relies heavily on your technical skill set.
So if you’re looking for high paying jobs without a degree, it pays to look at this option.
Once again, you will need to learn one of the most common programming languages to get a job in this sector. You can also get into this career by undertaking boot camps or taking an online course in one of the languages.
Average salary: $77,030 (but can go up to $100,670)
Skills needed to become a web developer:
- Technical knowledge
- Testing and debugging
- UX and UI design
- Troubleshooting
- Problem-solving
- Decision-making
- Programming language knowledge
- Front-end coding
8. DevOps engineer (Development and operations engineer)
DevOps degrees don’t exist, and many of the professionals who work in this sector don’t have a degree. These professionals act as the middle-person between teams, so it’s important that they have top-level communication skills.
As a DevOps Engineer, you will have a general understanding of IT programs and systems. You will work with agile principles to make sure that the team delivers quickly and also efficiently. To get started in this role, you should have IT experience and training.
Skills needed to become a DevOps engineer:
- Tech-savvy mind
- Interpersonal skills
- Communication skills
- General IT knowledge
- Coding
- Infrastructure management
- Collaboration
Expert tip: Develop your skills
So, how can you land one of these 6 figure jobs without a college degree? The answer is simple enough: invest in your independent education. Developing your money making skills gives you the opportunity to go after positions with high-level salaries and responsibilities.
First up, consider which role you want to get. When you have it in mind, you can start creating an action plan to help you land it. It’s worth figuring out what education and also what experience you need to get the position. Do your research and start working toward it.
What jobs can you make 6 figures without a degree?
The top jobs that can make you 6 figures with a degree include being a commercial pilot and also a health services manager. Keep in mind these jobs will require certain certifications. Consider the skills that you already have and the sector in which you’d like to work.
How can I make $100,000 a year without a college degree?
Looking into training courses and also apprenticeships is the way to go if you want to make $100,000 a year without a college degree. After all, gaining a college degree is by no means the only way to become successful and make a lot of money. Some vocations, such as web development, require you to have training rather than a degree.
How to make $200k a year without college?
If you’re looking for a way to make $200k a year without college, you could learn how to start a business from scratch. The truth is that you don’t need a college degree to do this, and, in addition, you can dictate how much money you earn.
However, you do need to have a strong business mind, analytical skills, communication skills, and an idea to make it work.
What is the highest paying job without going to college?
High-paying jobs you can get without going to college or having experience include jobs as areal estate agents and medical and health services managers. As we have covered, there are many six-figure jobs you don’t need a degree for. And you also have the ability to create your own job by starting a business!
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6 Figure jobs without college degree educations give you more options!
Should you choose not to go to college, you can still create a lucrative career you love. The truth is that there are many avenues you can look into for the highest paying jobs without a college degree.
So get started by considering the unique skills and talents that you bring to the table.
If you can match your skill set to one of the above jobs, you can land a six-figure salary before you know it. And think of the great things that could do for your financial wellness, savings, and investing goals!