Although the common assumption is that you need at least an associate or bachelor's degree to earn a decent wage, there are exceptions to the rule. Although a secondary degree is required in many fields of business, science, and health, there are also dozens of careers that you can begin straight out of high school or with minimal training, such as a certificate program at a vocational school or an on-the-job apprenticeship. Although you can enter these fields with little training, most will still require you to learn as you go or work toward a degree while you work. You might wonder where the value is in that route. Many businesses will pay for their employees to continue their education in a related field, so if you plan on earning a degree you may be able to earn and get some of your college paid for while you work! The ROI DiscussionROI means "return on investment" and refers to how long it will take for your college degree to pay for itself. While highly technical degrees such as those in the STEM fields - science, technology, engineering, and mathematics - can lead to high paying positions, they can also lead to high student debt from college loans and other expenses. That means it can take a long time to pay off your student debt and you may not see a return on your investment for a decade after entering your chosen field of work. Entry-level jobs which require no degree may seem ideal at first glance, but you should do some in depth research before you commit either way. An engineer may land an entry-level position earning $55,000 a year, but the average student loan debt is over 30,000 and can take 10 to 30 years to pay off completely. On the flip side, the same engineer will earn an average $90,000 at mid-career, so their ROI shows that their degree was a sound investment. A no-degree job, such as an electrician apprentice position, may start at $42,000, which is great when you have no student loans to pay off. The difference is long term: the average licensed electrician earns around $55,000 and the highest paid earn roughly $70,000. That means that, while you will earn more directly after high school, in a decade or two your friends with a STEM degree will out earn you despite having to pay off their student debt. On the Job Training and ExperienceSome careers can be entered via on the job training, where you start at the bottom and work your way up the chain of command. For example, McDonalds promotes and trains from within, and a manager earns between $39,000 and $46,000 and may be promoted to district or national positions to earn more. Likewise, you might hire on as a parts cashier in an automotive shop and work your way up to office manager or learn to be a nail technician and eventually open your own nail salon. The key is to do your research before you commit to a career. Visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website and find whether your career of choice is expected to grow in demand, what related positions you might move in to once you've been trained, and what your long-term prospects are. For example, if you plan to work at McDonalds with the goal of entering management, you should learn what training and knowledge is required at the national level so you can add business or sales classes to your long term plans. You should also look at job search engines to determine whether there is a need for your talent in your area, as well as the requirements for the position you're training in. You can have all the experience or training in the world but if an employer only interviews those who hold a degree, your knowledge base is moot. The same holds for vocational training: you might take a certificate course to become an electrician but if there are no apprenticeship openings, you won't be able to gain the required on-the-job training. Careers You Can Enter with Little to No SchoolingThere are plenty of career fields you can enter without a college degree; some require a certificate program and others are great for those with experience but no formal education. For example, in-home caregivers earn an average of $30,000 per year and require no training, so if you've overseen care for a family member, you have the needed experience. Auto mechanics are highly skilled and earn a considerable salary, yet no formal training is required, only that you be able to prove you have the requisite skill. The same holds true for carpenters, builders, and other skilled trade occupations. The field of IT is far ranging and still growing; certain IT areas such as cyber security are growing so fast there is a critical lack of, and need for, professionals. As this is an area that can be self-taught or learned independently, if you choose to focus on cyber security your job outlook will be excellent. Beauty care is another sector that can be entered with little formal training and there are many options you can choose from. You can complete the training to be a makeup artist in as little as six months and add to your skill set after you gain employment. Most beauty school programs run from six months to two years, so within a couple of years, with a few business classes or online learning thrown in, you might be ready to open your own salon or spa. Vocational LearningMany careers are available which only require completion of a certificate program. Although vocational schools are the most common source for earning a certificate, many community colleges also offer programs that around a year in length. A certificate program is often the fastest way to enter a career field, but you should keep in mind that you'll most likely need more education or on-the-job training in order to advance in your field of choice. Cosmetology is an excellent example of a vocational school field; you might choose to take a program to learn makeup or massage therapy in order to enter the work field in general and then continue learning other aspects of the industry in order to expand your client services. Likewise, earning an electrician certificate may be the key to landing an apprenticeship position in the field but you'll have to continue learning on the job in order to qualify as a licensed electrician. Sample CareersHere are examples of careers that can be entered with little formal training; keep in mind you'll most likely qualify for entry-level jobs that will pay considerably less than the average wage listed:
Whether you're just trying to pay the bills, or you're looking for a full-time, lifelong career, it's good to know you have options outside a four-year degree program. If you're considering one of these career fields, you should look at current employment openings in your area to gauge whether this is a viable choice where you currently live. While you may find a lucrative career that can be learned in a year, it won't help you if every employer requires a Bachelor degree before granting an interview, so research your area of interest thoroughly before you commit to an alternative job training route. sources:
What are the Best Paying Jobs Without a College Degree? Read more on: University Headquarters Via https://universityhq.org/resources/get-hired-toolkit/highest-paying-entry-level-jobs/
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