6 Rewarding Jobs That Don’t Require A College Degree
If you aren’t quite ready to pursue a college degree, then these career options may be for you!
1. Social Media Manager
This job is perfect for people who enjoy listening to people’s stories, connecting businesses to their customers, and creating attractive brand content. If you are undecided on what college degree you want to pursue, social media is a well-paying job that will help you explore your passions! You can work full-time for a company managing their social platforms, or work as a freelance manager for multiple small businesses!
Social media managers wear a lot of hats. This means that their list of roles and responsibilities is long. However, this job is an excellent fit for people who enjoy traveling or working remotely! If you are working for several businesses, you will constantly communicate with each company. This will require face-to-face meetings and phone calls so that you can fully understand the heart of the company. The most important part of a social media manager’s job is engaging with their customers. Make sure that you fully understand the mission of the company and make their content engaging for their clients!
The average salary of a social media manager is $59,000. This makes it an ideal job for young people entering the workforce with some exposure to photography, videography, formatting, and graphic design. You may want to take a few courses in photography, videography, and graphic design to prepare for this job.
2. Customer Service Representative
Customer service representatives are the face of their company! They are the voice you hear over the phone and the friendly smile you meet at the door. If you love being around people, this is the job for you!
You do not need a college degree for this job. The only qualifications that are required are a high school diploma or equivalent. Customer service representatives typically work from home, which makes this an ideal job for people who enjoy working remotely on a flexible schedule! You must be a problem-solver and an outside-the-box-thinker to thrive in this career. If you would rather work in an office, you can also apply to be a receptionist at an office. Your responsibilities as a receptionist will be similar to a customer service representative, but they will vary depending on the company.
The average salary of a customer service representative is $30,000. Your salary will vary depending on the company that you work for. Make sure that you apply with a company whose mission you support! If you are not passionately committed to this job, you will quickly burn out.
3. Travel Agent
If you want to explore the world before getting a college degree, then this is the job for you! Travel agents get free or discounted travel as a part of their job perks. They work remotely, which means that they also have a flexible work schedule!
As a travel agent, you will be responsible for communicating with your clients and understanding their travel criteria. You will coordinate their transportation, excursions, accommodations, insurance, and a plethora of other details. You must be a self-motivated, detail-oriented person to thrive in this job.
The average salary of a travel agent is $44,000. This salary varies greatly depending on the type of trips you are planning and the company you work for. If you are a person who loves to plan, then this job will be an excellent fit for you!
4. Firefighter
Being a firefighter is one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs you can attain without a college degree. If you have a passion for helping people, then this is the career for you. Firefighters have long shifts and rigorous schedules, but they are a vital part of our community.
As a firefighter, you will be responsible for putting out fires, addressing medical emergencies, attending to urban rescues, and protecting lives and properties in your jurisdiction. At the station, you will also be responsible for maintaining the station and equipment. If you want to be a paramedic, you will need to take courses to be certified. Firefighters who perform their general duties do not need any certifications beyond a high school diploma.
The average salary of a firefighter is $52,500. This salary varies depending on the state in which you work, but that is the median salary for firefighters in the United States. You should be passionately dedicated to your career if you choose to pursue this job.
5. Actor
While some actors pursue acting training at colleges, you do not need a college degree to be an actor or actress! In our digitized culture, companies are always looking for actors to do commercials, training videos, web productions, and more. If you have a talent for acting, then this career is right up your alley!
As an actor, you may start out working multiple jobs. You can perform in live theater productions, on television shows, in commercials, or as an extra. The best thing to do when starting in this field is to get experience! Look for opportunities where you can work as a crew member or perform as an extra to get a feel for what this career field is really like. You will also want to find a mentor in this career field who is both happy and successful. If they are both happy and successful, they will be able to equip you with the tools to thrive as an actor!
The average salary for an actor is $40,000. This salary varies depending on the role you land and the company that contracts you. This career field can be cutthroat at times. You will need passion, determination, and confidence if you are going to thrive as an actor.
6. Veterinary Assistant
If you love animals, love people, and love organization, then this job is for you! Veterinary assistants have a wide variety of roles in a veterinary clinic. Although they have a behind-the-scenes role, vet clinics could not operate without them!
If you are willing to learn, veterinary clinics are willing to hire you! To apply for this role, you should be responsible, hardworking, flexible, and amicable. You should also have a strong stomach since you will assist the vet in surgeries, help with x-rays, and clean up animal messes. The vet and vet techs will often pull you from your station in the kennels to help with their duties. This job has plenty of opportunities for growth if you want to pursue higher education. You can get certified as a vet assistant, vet tech, or pursue vet school.
The average salary for a veterinary assistant is $31,000. This makes it an ideal entry-level job for kids who are straight out of high school. If you love animals, then you should definitely pursue this career path!
