I hear it a lot, “I want to make good money, but I don’t want to go to college.” Here’s good news, the two are not synonymous. Below are five good careers that don’t require university degrees! You can have your cake and eat it, too.
Good Careers That Don’t Require University Degrees
Dental Hygienist
Hygienists are in-demand, and the salary reflects that! The national average salary is $76,220, and the educational requirement is an associate’s degree and a state board exam. Dentists need highly motivated, trained hygienists to clean teeth and help a practice run smoothly!
To be a successful hygienist, one needs to possess strong attention to detail, concern for others, and be an excellent communicator. Like other high-wage, technical jobs, admission to educational programs can be quite competitive. One can gain experience as a dental assistant and do well in general education courses to help ensure acceptance to a training program.
Maintenance Mechanic/Technician
Have you driven through your town or city’s industrial park? If so, you have likely seen large manufacturing facilities that employ hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people. Among those employees are Maintenance Mechanics or Maintenance Technicians. These skilled individuals keep complex machines running smoothly. The national average salary for this career path is $47,520, and the educational requirement is typically a post-secondary technical certificate in Industrial Maintenance (program lengths vary but usually are equal to one year of full-time technical school).
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know that my little brother is a Maintenance Mechanic. I joke because, at age 25, he makes more money with a one-year technical certificate than I did at age 25 with a Master’s degree. It just goes to show that more education does not always equal more money! Learn more about my brother’s career and his story!
Physical Therapist Assistant
If you have a desire to help others and want a career that is in-demand and pays well, consider the career path of a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). The national average salary for a PTA is $58,790, and the educational requirement is an associate’s degree and passing of a state board exam.
My best friend from childhood is a PTA and recently let me ask her some questions about her job. She has worked in both the nursing home setting and the school environment. Her job is to carry out exercises with patients that help improve their aptitude and quality of life. She says empathy and compassion are two of the most needed personality traits of someone aspiring to become a PTA.
While the training to become a PTA may be a shorter time commitment than the traditional university education, don’t underestimate the rigor. Admissions to programs are competitive, and the coursework isn’t easy. To make an application more competitive, try gaining experience as a Physical Therapist Aide. This role requires no formal training and allows one to get experience in the field while also strengthening an application for a PTA program.
Electrician
Math-minded problem-solvers who enjoy hands-on work should consider a career as an electrician! The national average salary is $56,180. Most aspiring electricians choose an apprenticeship training model with either a technical school or a labor union. This type of education and training allows trainees to practice and apply what they are learning while also earning a wage!
Electricians can work in a variety of settings. Some may work in industrial plants while others do commercial wiring or residential wiring. If this career path is of interest to you, I recommend exploring different options to reach a Journeyman status. Check your local technical school and electrician’s union.
Veterinary Technician
If you love animals and are looking for an in-demand job, consider exploring the veterinary technician career path! A two-year degree and state-issued license can get you to work quickly. The national average salary of a vet tech is $35,320, and the outlook is bright despite the struggling economy!
Should this career path interest you, make sure you prepare for rigorous math and science coursework. You must be willing to get your hands dirty and be ready for the somewhat emotional toll it can have on animal lovers.
Other Good Careers that Don’t Require University Degrees
One of my favorite resources for early career exploration is ONET’s My Next Move website. They have a special section dedicated to good careers that don’t require university degrees. You can see the full list here. Most students are not even aware that these careers exist. They have been exposed to very few of them and simply do not know what they do not know!
Why I’m Passionate About Career Exploration
For years, a college-for-all mentality was pushed in America. When I was in high school, I was told I needed to go to college to be successful. Fortunately for me, it worked out and fit well. Unfortunately for my little brother, it didn’t. He went to university because that is what everyone told him was best; however, two years later, he left (with student loan debt) because he knew it wasn’t right for him. He followed his original passion of electricity and mechanics.
I have spent my entire career in Career Technical Education, and I am passionate about helping students who want to bright future and a good job without the traditional university education. College isn’t for everyone, but post-secondary education and training of some kind is. Let me help your child figure out their true calling.
Book a free consultation today!
