While most job openings require a college degree as a fundamental basic necessity to earn more money, it really is not a guarantee that one will make it in life. It seems like that long when people with Degrees relied on their qualifications to get a job to support themselves in everyday life.
Today, more and more job openings requiring a bachelor’s degree earn a relatively small salary good enough for the basic needs compared to skill-based career paths where one can earn 100k without a Degree.
Crippling student debts even for grad students in the medical and engineering careers has left doctors who graduate with an average of student loans of $190,000 in exchange for a $200,000 income job playing catch-up to skill-based careers with no college degrees.
There are plenty of job opportunities out there that don’t require a college degree but pay pretty good. Jobs that don’t necessarily need you to have a college degree and still make a good and decent living.
- 1. Commercial Pilot.
- 2. Real Estate Broker.
- 3. Sales Consultant
- 4. Air Traffic Controller
- How Much Do Air Traffic Controllers Earn?
- 5. Specialized Skilled Virtual Assistant
- 6. Plumber
- 7. Firefighter or Police Officer
- 8. Site Manager
- 9. Information Technology Manager
- 10. Head Chef
- 11. Freelance Writer
- 12. Professional Athletes
- 13. Digital Nomad
- 14. Business Owner
It has to be mentioned that we aren’t here to talk about starting a business and earn a million bucks success stories only. Though that can and does happen, this post’s focus is primarily about jobs that can earn you 100k. Think of it as current job opportunities for people who can leverage non-college-degreed skills to make that kind of money in their careers.
One can literally get real, regular jobs that don’t require a college degree if one knows where to look.
We will start with jobs that don’t require a college degree first
1. Commercial Pilot.
A Commercial Pilot usually has a Medial Salary of $111,930. It’s Education Requirements include a Commercial pilot’s license.
This is a career one can pursue. It does not require a four-year degree, although having it is an added advantage for many airlines. All in all, if you manage to get the job, this can prove to be a fantastic way or earning six figures without a degree.
It also has to be noted that this job is demanding with extreme working hours, and the certification process is usually long.
2. Real Estate Broker.
The majority of successful real estate brokers you know are only high school diploma holders and only fewer than you realize have a college degree. It goes to demonstrate that getting a real estate broker job only requires a High school diploma or equivalent.
Brokers need to get and renew state licenses. When one is ready to get started, the first step is to sign up for a real estate pre-license course.
It’s training requirements include one to three years of on-the-job experience in the field as a sales agent, in other similar cases brokerages get formal training programs for newly hired agents, while others expect new agents to learn from seasoned reps. It’s
Salary Range (10th to 90th Percentile) is from $22,750 to $163,540.
People wishing to be brokers must go through a process of working as real estate sales agents under licensed brokers for at least a year before sitting for their state real estate licensing exam.
Brokers usually need to renew their sales licenses every two to four years, depending on their state policy. Most estates may require continuing education too.
3. Sales Consultant
Selling exotic cars or private planes can make one very wealthy in a short period of time.
To be a great salesperson, you have to understand the value of training. Go on the internet and watch some of the YouTube videos from successful sales trainers available for free online, and many sales mentors can help one improve their sales skills; knowledge is power.
In this field, the most important investment you need to make is your time. Sacrifice your time, the more you practice, the higher the chances of you getting lucky.
4. Air Traffic Controller
Becoming an air traffic controler is another interesting job likely to earn you up to 100k per year. If you thought becoming an air traffic controllers required a university degree, i do not blame you! This is yet another job opportunity you can do without needing a college degree.
To proceed with this job requires passion. This pressurecooker type of a job is not for everyone! In fact, the majority of air traffic controllers are level-headed to enter into this field.
So, if you think you have what it takes to become an air controller, you must be ready to deal with the stress of coordinating airplanes fundamentally, giant chunks of metal transporting fragile humans, through the sky.
Although people for air-traffic control jobs don’t need a degree, it is important that they undergo an extremely tailored intensive screening and psychological testing to ensure they are suitable for the job as any slight mistake in this job can prove fatal.
How Much Do Air Traffic Controllers Earn?
As an air traffic controller, you can expect to earn $150,000 and above as soon as you make it and become an air traffic controller.
5. Specialized Skilled Virtual Assistant
Skilled virtual assistants are a far cry from your averege VA you hire from upwork. Skilled VA’s hold key roles as part of valued team players in business processes they get hired to do as part of their jobs. And, being a virtual assistant to any of the many growing online entrepreneurs is a very good way of learning the ropes.
Imagine working from home at any location in the world with an internet connection, no need to worry about waking up early for work, or being stuck in traffic.
This level of freedom is only a pipedream like no other personal assistant job you’ve ever had. You can work for years without even laying eyes on your employer, just communicating with them over virtual message channels and email only.
After attaining training and experience, it’s possible to get a virtual assistant position that pays more than $100,00 per year.
6. Plumber
The world will always need plumbers. Imagine you are in a situation where your house toilet blocks up, and water is all over the floor; who do you call to come fix the problem?
This job requires dedication. Qualified and highly skilled plumbers can easily make more than $100,000 a year after they finish with their apprenticeship.
7. Firefighter or Police Officer
Feeling like a hero? Feeling like giving back to your community after high school? This then is the right field for you to venture in. These community services offers free training to cadets, and a guaranteed spot on the team if you pass the tests.
The beginning is always tough and not that rosy. A rookie police officer and amateur fire fighter might receive little salary at first, but they might go beyond 100k salary as time goes by.
8. Site Manager
Most contractors do not require one to have a civil engineering degree to tear down walls. It has to be noted that construction is hard work, along the way you attain the skills you need to become a successful contractor.
Along the way to owning your own construction company, be prepared to get involved with site management as part of your journey. Site managers can earn anywhere between $40,000 to $130,000 per year.
9. Information Technology Manager
The filed of Tech offers some of the highest paying jobs. Technology giants like Facebook, Apple, Amazon, and Google are always looking for ways to advance their companies through technology.
History has proven that many coders and tech geniuses don’t need to go to college, accumulate student loans to hone their craft, and some of the best coders in the world are under the age of 25-years old or dropped out of college, examples include Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Larry Page.
IT departments usually need technicians to handle their network problems, and most IT technicians only receive training on the job. Once you land a job in a corporate IT department, be assured to get an annual salary of anywhere between $50,000 to $125,000 per year.
10. Head Chef
Do you have a talent for cooking? In a situation you become a qualified souses chef or head chef at a trendy, up-market restaurant be assured to earn a salary of up to $150,000 per year.
However, it’s important that students of the culinary arts have to attend hotel school to learn the service industry’s nuances, including the regulations around handling food.
Becoming a head Chef is not for everyone! In fact, the majority of new comers to the cookery industry are surprised at how demanding this career is!
Typically students enters the workforce with or no qualification, this route takes long hours of sacrifice in the kitchen to gain experience you need yet it pays very little before receiving a sizeable pay package but it sure is worth it in the end since aspiring chefs are passionate about their career choice, hence many don’t mind working long hours necessary to be successful in the industry.
11. Freelance Writer
Are you so good at English? If you thought becoming a freelance writer is only for those who did well with English classes in high-school, you need to think again!
While having a natural command of the English language is helpful, the landscape of freelancing is continuaosly shifting. And the good news is that anyone with a drive to aquiring new skills can learn the skills needed to become a freelancer.
Though going for a career in writing after you graduate, is an excellent way to earn a living and it will surely be a ticket for you to make 100k per year in earnings, there is more to it than meets the eye.
Needless to mention here that the humble beginings of your freelance writing may start with minimal salaries, those who hold their ground and build on more skills like SEO or sales copywriting can easily increase their pay scale as they improve their skills.
Hard work pays and should the writer be persistent enough with their career path, they may come across endless opportunities to start your very own content writing service or blog that nets you an annual; salary of $100,000 or more.
12. Professional Athletes
When talent is harnessed very well, it surely brings food on the table. There is no shortage of extremely talented sporting individuals who choose to pursue a career in professional sports soon after their high-school programs.
Think of how valuable are the careers of athletes who did so well in thier NFL combine or show a grimer of promise on the basketball court you could land a school scholarship or good deal.
Many pro-sports teams often hire athletes straight out of high school, paying them insane sums of money to play for their side.
13. Digital Nomad
History has proven that some high school leavers have found their fortune on the internet. That is, Setting up an e-commerce business, that allowed them to create an online income selling other manufacturers products online.
Other means of earning 100k
Apart from having a job that does not require a college degree, there are also other means of making a 100k, these include:
14. Business Owner
Small business is the lifeblood of any countries’ economy. Business helps in developing a country while meeting the demands of the people.
Some Entrepreneurs can choose to make a fulltime living from executing on their uniquely guarded ideas can look forward to building a company that contributes to the country as a whole.
Business owners play a vital role in the society, that is drive employment, pay taxes, and increase GDP, and theyre valued members of any community.
Some business owners enjy wildly successful careers of their life, while others may only barely make a living. However, once these business owners that survive the first five years of operations, be assured that there’s a chance of a 95-percent success rate, with the chances of earning hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of dollars every month. This is why most people who are so rich in the world have done so through business.