15 Best Jobs You Can Get Without a College Degree

1. Services Sales Rep*

• Total number of jobs: 1.1 million
• Projected job growth, 2017-2027: 12.5% (All jobs: 9.7%)
• Median annual salary: $51,437 (All jobs: $43,992)
• Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent

Everybody’s selling something—and businesses in a range of industries continue to need closers. Indeed, employers seeking sales representatives of services that do not fit neatly into Labor Department definitions include such varied names as Fiserv, Lowe’s, IBM and JPMorgan Chase. And though online sales may dampen demand for these workers, they remain necessary in building and maintaining a solid customer base.

Though you typically need just a high school diploma to get started, you can expect to learn plenty on the job. A familiarity with the company and its services and products is sure to help you land the job, too.

*Bolded data at top refer specifically to sales representative in services other than retail, advertising, insurance, financial services and travel.

2. Computer User Support Specialist

• Total number of jobs: 704,431
• Projected job growth, 2017-2027: 14.4%
• Median annual salary: $50,258
• Typical education: Some college

Techies who are not academically inclined don't necessarily have to count themselves out of the sizzling IT job market. Although applicants with college degrees are still preferred, what matters most is that you have the desired skills—no matter how you attained them.

Computer user support specialists, who help coworkers and clients fix their PC and Mac problems from setup to shutdown, can often land jobs without a college degree. Instead, many employers look to hire help-desk technicians, as they're also called, who have certifications proving their skills. For example, you can take one of the various HDI certification exams right off the bat for $145. Or you can prep for the exam with in-person, one-day classes or online courses that can take as little as five hours to complete.

3. Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer

• Total number of jobs: 117,960
• Projected job growth, 2017-2027: 16.7%
• Median annual salary: $69,040
• Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent
• The American population is growing, and cities are expanding. That means new housing developments and office parks, which require new power grids, which require more people to install and maintain them. But be warned: Working with electrical currents at great heights means this job is as risky as you'd expect it to be.
• Many electrical power-line installers and repairers get started with an apprenticeship after high school, which typically lasts up to three years. It combines on-the-job training with technical instruction. You may also be able to get a one-year certificate from a community college or a two-year associate's degree to get a deeper understanding of the technology used in electrical utilities.

4. Health Technologist*

• Total number of jobs: 132,987
• Projected job growth, 2017-2027: 22.5%
• Median annual salary: $42,308
• Typical education: Postsecondary nondegree award

You can get in on the hot health care job market without investing the better part of a decade on medical school. Becoming a health technologist or technician typically requires just a postsecondary nondegree award, which you can earn in two years or less through accredited programs offered by many community colleges and vocational schools, as well as some universities and hospitals. (Note: Certain technologist or technician positions, such as those focusing on clinical laboratory work, nuclear medicine, cardiovascular and other specialties, may require an associate’s degree.)

These workers—including neurodiagnostic technologists, opthalmic medical technologists, radiologic technicians and surgical assistants—perform tests and procedures ordered by physicians and other healthcare personnel. They may also assist in surgery, monitor patients, maintain and oversee use of certain specialized equipment and perform many other important tasks, depending on their specialty.

*Bolded data at top refer specifically to health technologists and technicians whose specialties are not included in detail by the Department of Labor. It does not include, for example, pharmacy technicians, surgical technologists, veterinary technicians or health information technicians.

QUIZ: Can My Boss Really Do That?

5. Oil, Gas and Mining Service Unit Operator

• Total number of jobs: 42,567
• Projected job growth, 2017-2027: 19.6%
• Median annual salary: $48,358
• Typical education: No formal education required

The outlook for working in energy runs hot and cold. For one thing, location is especially important when it comes to job hunting in this sector, as opportunities are limited to where pipelines, mining sites and other facilities are situated. For example, service unit operators can find thousands of positions in Texas, Oklahoma and California—but zero in many states including Maine, South Carolina and Washington, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Plus, oil and gas prices are huge factors in determining the growth or contraction of this field.

That said, the outlook for these workers, who operate equipment to assist the efficiency of both producing and drilling wells or in mining operations, is currently looking good, with their relatively small numbers expected to grow rapidly. And you don’t need any formal education or related work experience to get started; just expect a moderate amount of on-the-job training.

6. Transportation, Storage and Distribution Manager

• Total number of jobs: 133,710
• Projected job growth, 2017-2027: 9.0%
• Median annual salary: $91,782
• Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent

These managers play an integral role in the operations of many businesses across the country. They plan, direct and coordinate the transportation, storage and distribution needs of their companies, maximizing efficiency and ensuring that they adhere to relevant rules and regulations.

And all that hard work pays well: This occupation offers one of the highest median salaries of all jobs that do not require a college degree, second only to nuclear power reactor operators. You likely need five or more years of related work experience to reach managerial ranks, but considering you may only need a high school diploma to get started in this field, your return on investment is still stellar. Note, however, that some companies may prefer an applicant with a bachelor’s degree for this position.

7. Plumber

• Total number of jobs: 496,031
• Projected job growth, 2017-2027: 16.8%
• Median annual salary: $49,347
• Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent

New buildings come with plenty of new pipes, and all those drains lead to an ocean of opportunities for plumbers. Pipefitters and steamfitters (who are lumped in with plumbers for data collection purposes) specialize in systems that carry acids, chemicals and gases. The already-large pool of workers is expected to add more than 83,500 new positions over the next decade. Regular maintenance needs and remodeling projects, including those necessary to meet stricter water-efficiency standards, also give plumbers a steady flow of business.

You can dive into the work straight out of high school with a four- or five-year paid apprenticeship, in which you'll typically earn 30% to 50% of what fully trained plumbers make. As your vocational training advances, your wages will grow, too. Once your apprenticeship is complete, you'll be considered a journey worker and be able to do some tasks on your own. After you gain more experience, you can become a master plumber and work independently, which requires a license in most states.

8. Medical Secretary

• Total number of jobs: 599,378
• Projected job growth, 2017-2027: 23.9%
• Median annual salary: $34,586
• Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent
• Another good entrypoint into the burgeoning health care job market, fueled by the growing medical needs of our aging populations, is by becoming a medical secretary. In this profession, you would assist physicians or medical scientists by providing administrative support, including preparing reports or articles and taking dictation. You might also collect patients’ medical histories, arrange for hospitalization and process insurance payments.

You can break into this field with just a high school diploma, but you can expect to need several months of on-the-job training, too. That will help you learn the industry-specific terminology, codes and practices necessary for your work. To get a jump on this track—and an edge over competing applicants—you might consider taking courses on this subject at a local community college or technical school.

9. Self-Enrichment Education Teacher

• Total number of jobs: 395,916
• Projected job growth, 2017-2027: 18.2%
• Median annual salary: $38,149
• Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent

You can be a lifelong learner—and teacher—without ever getting a college degree. Indeed, demand for courses that people can take for the sheer purpose of self-improvement or (gasp!) just plain fun is on the rise. This more casual approach to education is especially popular among the growing number of retirees who wish to remain active.

So, instructors of such classes can find plenty of opportunities to work. You might even opt to create your own: about 26% of self-enrichment education teachers are self-employed, compared with 6.4% of all workers. The subject matter you teach can really be anything from music and dance to yoga and spirituality to cooking and personal finance to foreign languages and computer programming. (Fitness and aerobics trainers, as well as flight instructors, however, are not included in this occupation category.) And while some formal training or certification in your area of choice might be helpful, you really just need to know the material well enough to pass on your knowledge and expertise to others.

10. Flight Attendant

• Total number of jobs: 122,346
• Projected job growth, 2017-2027: 13.8%
• Median annual salary: $50,500
• Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent

These workers do much more than serve in-flight drinks and snacks. Flight attendants are responsible for conducting pre-flight inspections of emergency equipment, working with pilots to discuss cabin conditions and flight details and caring for passengers, especially those with special needs, including providing and coordinating emergency medical care when necessary.

To become one, you must have at least a high school diploma or the equivalent, but some college or a bachelor’s degree can give you a leg up on the competition. You also need one or two years of experience working in customer service. Once you land a job, your airline provides three to six weeks of initial training, after which you must pass an exam to become certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. You must also get recurrent training every year to maintain your certification and get new training for each type of aircraft you work on.

11. Medical Assistant

• Total number of jobs: 677,598
• Projected job growth, 2017-2027: 28.9%
• Median annual salary: $32,495
• Typical education: Postsecondary nondegree award

Medical assistants may be expected to perform administrative tasks in doctors’ offices, hospitals and other healthcare facilities like medical secretaries (a profession noted earlier on this list). But they also are called on to complete clinical tasks, such as measuring patients’ vital signs, preparing blood samples and giving patients injections or medications, as permitted by state law.

You may be able to nab this job with a high school diploma and learn on the job. But the more typical path is to complete a postsecondary education program, available through community colleges, vocational and technical schools and universities and take about a year. Learning to work with electronic health records too can give you a competitive edge.

12. First-line Supervisor of Mechanics, Installers and Repairers

• Total number of jobs: 489,048
• Projected job growth, 2017-2027: 9.2%
• Median annual salary: $64,593
• Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent

These workers directly supervise and manage mechanics, installers and repairers in a range of industries across the country. The majority work is in the automotive industry, but they can also find opportunities for higher earnings in natural gas distribution, electric power generation and petroleum manufacturing, where average wages for this occupation top $90,000 a year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• On top of a high school diploma, you typically need a couple of years of work experience to reach supervisor ranks. And to get started in certain fields, you may benefit from doing a postsecondary education program first. For example, automotive service technicians and mechanics typically complete a vocational or other postsecondary education program in automotive service technology, which usually takes six months to a year.

13. Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technician

• Total number of jobs: 353,586
• Projected job growth, 2017-2027: 15.2%
• Median annual salary: $44,704
• Typical education: Postsecondary nondegree award
• The need for people to stay warm in winter and cool in summer drives demand for these workers all year round, regardless of the state of the economy. (New construction of both commercial and residential buildings can also boost employment growth for HVACR technicians—or dampen it, depending on the real estate market.) And the technological advances of climate-control systems, as well as a growing focus on energy efficiency, also helps increase the need for qualified professionals who know how to keep them working.
• To get started, many HVACR techs complete six-month postsecondary programs in heating, air conditioning and refrigeration at technical and trade schools or community colleges. Some two-year programs even lead to an associate’s degree. New technicians likely learn on the job while working with more experienced pros. They might also get their training through apprenticeship programs, which usually last three to five years and are sponsored by unions and contractor associations. Apprentices typically earn about half what experienced workers make, and their pay increases with their knowledge and skill. You may also need certain certifications to comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules, as well as your state and locality regulations.

QUIZ: How Sharp Are Your Job-Hunting Skills?

14. Elevator Installer

• Total number of jobs: 25,847
• Projected job growth, 2017-2027: 15.1%
• Median annual salary: $79,477
• Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent

Going up? Job prospects for elevator installers and repairers certainly are. Construction of new office buildings, stores and other nonresidential projects has gradually risen as the economy has improved and lifted demand for elevators and the people who work on them. The aging population may also add to the need for stair lifts and elevators in both homes and nonresidential buildings.

People might be deterred by the job's level of danger and physical demands, as well as its high-stress nature. But the happy few who brave this work enjoy high median pay. If you want to join their ranks, you can start learning the trade right after high school through a four-year paid apprenticeship, sponsored by unions, industry associations and individual contractors. Also, 35 states currently require elevator installers and repairers to be licensed; you can find out more through the National Association of Elevator Contractors.

15. Dental Assistant

• Total number of jobs: 350,290
• Projected job growth, 2017-2027: 21.5%
• Median annual salary: $37,730
• Typical education: Postsecondary nondegree award

Smiles all around for jobs in dentistry. With studies showing the close relationship between oral health and general health, people are taking better care of their pearly whites and providing more business for those working in the industry. Aging boomers are also adding to the high demand for professional dental care. To meet those growing needs, the number of dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants is expected to increase rapidly—making dental health a good bet in terms of job security . (Dentists and dental hygienists both rank among our 30 Best Jobs for the Future.)

The quickest way into the field is to become an assistant, which doesn't require a professional degree (which you’d need to be a dentist) or an associate's degree (required for hygienists). Some states require dental assistants, who perform routine tasks such as updating patient records and sterilizing equipment, to pass an exam and get certified, which can take a year through programs offered by community colleges. Otherwise, you can get to work straight out of high school. (Check the Dental Assisting National Board's site for your state's requirements.)