The Road to Success Without College

Afraid that years in college may not really prepare you for the job you desire? Scared of accumulating too much student debt? Ready to "get on" with life? Here are 3 career alternatives that you can embark upon right after high school graduation to start earning and doing, rather than waiting years to create your future career.

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With student loan debt being around nearly $40,000 per person, it's understandable why so many people are opting out of college. However, that doesn't mean that they can live without some form of work. Fortunately for them, there are plenty of careers that pay well, offer a nice income, and don't require a college degree. Here's a look at three of the most promising ones.

Real Estate Agent

In general, those who are good at sales stand to make quite a bit of money. Since most sales jobs pay based on commission, the amount of income you can make is potentially higher than many other jobs. You're paid based on your performance. Being a real estate agent is one such sales career. A real estate agent makes pretty decent money. You make money based on commission. Commission is a percentage of each home sold, typically 6–7%. Nationwide, real estate agents make between $62,000 and $90,000 a year. Most real estate professionals bypass college and go to real estate school instead, where they learn about real estate law, contracts, and other important information pertaining to selling houses or commercial property.

Firefighter

Firefighters bring a wide range of skills to the job, including, of course, firefighting skills as well as people and animal rescue techniques and medical training. In order to do their jobs effectively and to maintain a degree of safety, firefighters must also have a high level of physical fitness. Each city has its own requirements for becoming a firefighter. Usually, would-be firefighters can receive job-specific training by the fire service. However, there are often community classes that will also prepare future firefighters for the job, at least to a certain degree. This job doesn't usually require a degree, however. Income is dependent on the state where you fight fires. The highest-paid firefighters make more than $75,000 a year.

Web Designer

With the existence of online training companies like Udemy and LinkedIn Learning, it's entirely possible to learn how to do web design or web development for a fraction of the cost of a bachelor's degree. While many hiring bosses still look for candidates who have a BA or a BS, many will now consider hiring people based on their portfolios. Designers need some basic skills, like the ability to draw, the ability to use design programs, and the ability to work well with clients. Many designers without a degree will post their work to their social media accounts so that it can be seen by people in their industry. They'll also attend trade shows and other industry events so that they can meet people in the industry who might help them to get a job down the road. Graphic designers make up to $71,000 a year. 

Conclusion

Getting a well-paying job these days doesn't always require a degree, and with the average debt of most college students being in the mid-double digits, it's easy to understand why more and more people are opting out of a university degree. The key to making a nice living is to find a job that pays well without a degree. These jobs usually require some sort of on-the-job training or a certification course. However, many people working today teach themselves the skills they need to do the job they want, allowing them to save money on a degree and dive right into their chosen field.

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