Jetted FoxGuide
Careers that don't need a four-year degree near you
Most jobs in America don't need a four-year degree.
See what they pay where you want to live, what you'd take home and what it takes to start. The numbers that matter are starting pay in your state, estimated take-home pay after taxes, what rent typically costs nearby, and which training programs are within reach.
Jetted Fox shows more than 350 of these careers. About 7 in 10 US jobs (69.9% in 2025) are in occupations that usually do not need a bachelor's degree to start (BLS Table 5.2).
Last updated November 10, 2026
What "near me" should include
A national average salary is a weak answer to "what can I earn here?" A more useful picture has four layers:
- Pay where you want to work. Jetted Fox shows estimated starting pay and pay about two years in for all 50 states and Washington, DC. On the public career pages, you can already compare every state in a table. In the app, you pick where you want to live.
- Take-home pay. The app estimates take-home after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax and major local taxes (single filer, full-time, using 2026 tax rules).
- Local rent. Rent figures come from US Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents, by zip code. You can set your own monthly costs (rent, food, getting around, phone, health insurance) and see whether a path's starting take-home covers them.
- Training and help nearby. Schools and programs are listed within 50 miles of a US zip code, with published tuition and fees before aid, distance, credential, share of students who finish and typical debt, from the College Scorecard. Each path also points to the local American Job Center and its youth services phone number.
You can open nearby programs without an account at go.jettedfox.com/programs.
How to read the pay numbers
On Jetted Fox, starting pay is usually what the lowest-paid 10% to 25% of workers in that job earn. Where that is below the local minimum wage, the app shows the minimum wage instead. "About 2 years in" is the median, meaning half of workers earn more and half earn less. New hires usually start below the median, which is why both numbers are shown.
Example from a live career page, Electricians:
- US starting pay: about $20.50 to $23.76 an hour
- US median ("2 years"): $30.38 an hour
- New York start: $21.99 to $29.08 an hour; median $37.86
- New Jersey start: $23.35 to $30 an hour; median $37.14
- Starting pay ranges from about $18.54 an hour in Arkansas to $38.03 an hour in Oregon
The same page lists pay for every state. Other careers work the same way.
A sample of careers already on the site
Here is a sample of what is live now, grouped so you can browse. Each link goes to pay, training, typical cost and how to start.
Trades and other paths that often pay you while you train
Health care
- Pharmacy technicians (US start about $17.32 to $18.20 an hour; $0 to start if an employer trains you)
- Medical assistants (often 9 to 12 months of a certificate; US start about $17.33 to $18.50 an hour; typical cost to start $2,500 to $15,000)
- Nursing assistants (a short course of about 1 to 3 months; US start about $16.32 to $17.91 an hour)
- Home health and personal care aides
- Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Registered nurses (start after 2 to 3 years of college, not a four-year degree)
A shorter way into tech
- Computer user support specialists (a short course of about 2 to 6 months; US start about $19.70 to $23.56 an hour; typical cost to start $0 to $600)
Work many people can start soon
- Customer service representatives
- Childcare workers
- Teaching assistants
- Retail salespersons
- Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (a 3 to 8 week CDL course, then 2 to 6 weeks driving with a trainer)
- Light truck drivers
See 50 example careers at jettedfox.com/careers. Each page has a table of starting pay in every state. The app covers over 350.
How Jetted Fox helps
- A free quiz of about 7 minutes at go.jettedfox.com, then paths matched to what you said you like.
- No ads. No AI. Facts, not advice.
If you already know a career name, open its page under Careers and compare states. If you do not know yet, start with the quiz.
FAQ
How many US jobs do not need a bachelor's degree?
About 7 in 10. In 2025, 69.9% of US jobs were in occupations that usually do not need a bachelor's degree to start (BLS Table 5.2).
Is the pay figure for my city?
Public career pages show a range for each state. In the app, you choose where you want to work. Starting pay is the 10th to 25th percentile; "about 2 years in" is the median. These are estimates, not a job offer.
Does Jetted Fox show local rent?
Yes. Rent comes from HUD Fair Market Rents by zip code. You can also enter your own monthly costs and see whether starting take-home covers them.
Where do I find training near a zip code?
In the app, each path lists schools and programs within 50 miles. You can also use go.jettedfox.com/programs. Published tuition comes from the College Scorecard. Schools have the actual figures.
How many careers can I browse without taking the quiz?
The public careers index currently lists 50 career pages. The app matches you across over 350 careers.
Is this career advice?
No. Jetted Fox shows facts so you can decide for yourself.
Find your paths
See careers that fit you, with pay where you want to live, at go.jettedfox.com.
Workforce boards that want this available in a youth program can request a counselor page at jettedfox.com/counselors or write to hello@jettedfox.com.