Careers

Careers without a four-year degree

Pay, training, costs and how to start, from US government data.

• Automotive service technicians and mechanicsStart after 6–12 months of a certificate program
• BartendersStart now · paid while you train
• Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerksStart now · paid while you train
• CarpentersStart now · paid while you train
• CashiersStart now · nothing needed
• Childcare workersStart now · no experience needed
• Computer user support specialistsStart after 2–6 months of a short course
• Construction laborersStart now · paid while you train
• Cooks, fast foodStart now · nothing needed
• Cooks, institution and cafeteriaStart now · nothing needed
• Customer service representativesStart now · paid while you train
• Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpersStart now · nothing needed
• DishwashersStart now · nothing needed
• ElectriciansStart now · paid while you train
• Fast food and counter workersStart now · nothing needed
• Food preparation workersStart now · nothing needed
• Heavy and tractor-trailer truck driversStart after 3–8 weeks of a short course
• Home health and personal care aidesStart now · no experience needed
• Industrial truck and tractor operatorsStart now · nothing needed
• Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighersStart now · paid while you train
• Insurance sales agentsStart now · paid while you train
• Janitors and cleanersStart now · nothing needed
• Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, handStart now · nothing needed
• Landscaping and groundskeeping workersStart now · nothing needed
• Licensed practical and licensed vocational nursesStart after 12–18 months of a certificate program
• Light truck driversStart now · nothing needed
• Maids and housekeeping cleanersStart now · nothing needed
• Maintenance and repair workers, generalStart now · paid while you train
• Medical assistantsStart after 9–12 months of a certificate program
• Medical secretaries and administrative assistantsStart now · paid while you train
• Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricatorsStart now · paid while you train
• Nursing assistantsStart after 1–3 months of a short course
• Office clerks, generalStart now · nothing needed
• Operating engineers and other construction equipment operatorsStart now · paid while you train
• Packers and packagers, handStart now · nothing needed
• Pharmacy techniciansStart now · paid while you train
• Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfittersStart now · paid while you train
• Police and sheriff's patrol officersStart now · paid while you train
• Preschool teachersStart now · paid while you train
• Receptionists and information clerksStart now · nothing needed
• Registered nursesStart after 2–3 years of college
• Retail salespersonsStart now · nothing needed
• Sales representatives of servicesStart now · paid while you train
• Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturingStart now · paid while you train
• Secretaries and administrative assistantsStart now · no experience needed
• Security guardsStart now · paid while you train
• Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerksStart now · nothing needed
• Stockers and order fillersStart now · nothing needed
• Teaching assistantsStart now · no experience needed
• Waiters and waitressesStart now · nothing needed