How to Land a High Paying Job without a Degree

Many high paying jobs don't require a four year degree from a college or university. The pay, of course, can vary by geographical region. Many companies offer on the job training for some of the occupations. Landing a high paying job without a degree is possible with some passion, patience and research.

Things You'll Need

• Passion
• Research
• Diligence
• Ability to go back to school if needed

Instructions

1. Research and create a list of as many of these jobs or occupations as you can find online, in periodicals and by using the classified ads. One great source is The Occupational Handbook. Here are a dozen of these as an example to start out and get you going. The median salary for most of these jobs is more than $50,000 a year.

   Postal Service Clerks
   Postal Service Carriers
   Real Estate Brokers
   Ship Engineers
   Power Plant Operators including Nuclear Power Plants
   Detective and Criminal Investigators
   Air Traffic Controllers
   Claims Adjusters
   Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
   Construction and Building Inspectors
   Gas Plant Operators
   Signal and Track Switch Repairers

   There are hundreds more available and new careers are being created all the time with new technology. Recently, there was a need communicated in the press for wind turbine maintenance staff and the huge demand created from increased wind alternative energy. This job does not require a four year degree. Don't forget about government jobs. A large number of people are retiring from federal jobs and need to be replaced. Check out government jobs below in the resource section.

2. Take the list and narrow the jobs or occupations down to the ones that align with your passions. Which ones will you enjoy the most or find most suited to your aptitudes?

3. Select the final job choice. Research the schooling or training or certification needed. Some may offer on the job training only. Check for online user forums or job boards that are aimed at the occupation. See if they offer any suggestions on good trade schools or community colleges for the career path.

4. Contact people who are have careers in the profession and get an idea of what they think about the job duties, pay, conditions, and advancement opportunities. They will offer real world advice without the spin. Remember too that no job is perfect without its difficulties.

5. Enroll in classes or apply for jobs that only offer on the job training. If the school offers certification, find out too if they offer job placement assistance. Some schools do. Ask the teachers for potential employer's names and instances of successful job transitions of former students. Following these steps and some hard work will put you well on your way to landing a high paying job without a degree.

Tips & Warnings

• Unless you have a strong passion for a particular job or aptitude, choose a career that is growing and with less competition

• Use all your resources for information: friends, co-workers, church members, neighbors

• Research new careers that involve green energy as the government will be pushing these in the future

• Don't forget needs for different geographical regions. You may have a huge advantage if you can relocate or travel

Resources

• http://www.usajobs.gov/
• Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Highest Paying Ocupations for On-the-Job Training or Experience
• www.freefoto.com