Have you just graduated from high school or college? Are you looking to make a career change but don’t want to do more extensive schooling? When people think of lucrative and Secure career fields. They may often think that a high-end university degree is required. However, there are several great jobs with little schooling to consider. So if you’re looking for a new job that won’t require you to go into debt or stay in school for another four or five years, review this list as you will likely find something that suits you.
1. Certified Diesel Mechanic
Diesel engines are still used in many large vehicles such as oversized trucks and buses that transport goods across the country. These engines are also present in heavy equipment and generators. Diesel mechanics need to have a high school diploma or equivalent and complete a diesel mechanic program at a vocational school or community college. You should also be prepared to take the certification exams from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
Once you become certified as a diesel mechanic, you’re not restricted to one type of vehicle. Since these engines are present in different types of vehicles, you can work in different locations. So you may be employed by a truck company or a heavy equipment rental company. Once you get trained, and have enough experience, you may also decide to start your own diesel repair business. The median annual wage for diesel mechanics was $50,200 in 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
2. Residential Roofing Services
Can you imagine a house without a roof? Of course not. Regardless of whatever type of upgrades homeowners want to make, a roof is something that any reliable structure must have. So the people who receive training will always have a job to do. That’s why residential rooing services are great jobs with little schooling to consider.
When you’re in this industry, you can be responsible for the installation, repair, and or replacement of roofs. According to Bob Vila, homeowners should get their roofs inspected at least once a year. Other insiders also recommend that inspections take place after inclement weather, such as hail storms or heavy winds. So if you work in an area with many residential houses, you can have many clients to work with.
You can further enhance your career by getting more certifications and training that also won’t require additional schooling. When you learn how to work with different materials like metal, slate, or ceramic tiling, you can make your services more attractive. You’ll usually learn on the job if you’re interested in pursuing this type of roofing work. Residential roofing services require a high school diploma or equivalent as you learn through on-the-job training or apprenticeship programs. Depending on the state you work in, you may also need to get an official certification. The median annual wage for roofers was $43,580 in 2020, according to the BLS.
3. Dentistry
Everyone has teeth, and they’re required for people to be able to chew, grind, and digest their food properly. According to the American Dental Association, people should see their local dentist at least twice a year for regular checkups. Whether you’re a general dental practitioner or a specialist, you will likely have plenty of patience to see throughout the year. That’s why dental specialties are great jobs with little schooling.
As a dentist, you’re responsible for diagnosing and treating existing oral problems. General dentistry includes X-rays as visual exams of mouths, professional cleaning, and treating cavities. You’re also responsible for preventing and treating gum disease. You can also work with different age groups. If you prefer to work with kids, you could specialize as a pediatric dentist. Do you like treating the whole family? Then you should gravitate to family dentistry, where you may treat several generations.
For an even more lucrative dental career, you may want to go into different specialties such as cosmetics or endodontics. As people are more aware of the power of a smile, as well as posting their selfies and social media, tooth whitening is one of the most popular and easiest cosmetic dental procedures to get. If you get certification to do dental implants, you may also have a long list of clientele as people understand the value of filling in missing or loose teeth without resorting to dentures.
Since this is a health-related field, there is additional schooling after the undergraduate level, but not nearly as much as what a doctor would have to go through. Dentists must complete four years of dental school to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. There are also national and state licensing exams you must pass. The median annual wage for dentists was $164,010 in 2020, according to the BLS, which can go even higher based on your location and specialty
4. Cosmetology
Do you love beauty and helping others feel good about themselves? If you have the skill to improve people’s hair, skin, or nails, then cosmetology fields are great jobs with little schooling to consider. Clients rely on these professionals to cut, style, and color their hair. There are people that you go to when you need a manicure or pedicure for your event or your basic maintenance. If you’re not sure how to apply makeup, you’re professional Cosmetology Professional can do that for you.
After you’ve finished high school, you’ll need to complete a cosmetology program at your local beauty or vocational school. You can become a cosmetology pro in one field, and be the go-to person for facials or focus on nail services. If you have all the specialties offered at your own business, you can hire other professionals to help.
5. Roofing Contractors
Roofing contractors are similar to residential roofing services, but they work on larger and more complex projects, such as commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and public structures. These contractors undergo the same type of training that residential roofing services undergo. So these are still great jobs with little schooling that you can consider. The median annual wage for roofing contractors was $46,660 in 2020, according to the BLS.
By expanding your services to work not only in residential roofing but also in commercial roofing, you can grow your lucrative business in a short amount of time and even expand it to different states. After all, commercial roofing projects often require larger buildings and can result in bigger contracts.
6. Exterminator
Can you imagine living in a home infested with roaches, mosquitoes, mice, rats, and other vermin? What about those nasty little bed bugs that like to crawl out at night and bite people while in a pleasant slumber? If you’re interested in great jobs with little schooling that can help protect people, including yourself, from invasive pests, then you should consider becoming an exterminator.
Exterminators are also known as pest control professionals. They’re the people you call when you need to get rid of a rodent, insect, or other wildlife infestation. Maybe you have a bird’s nest in your attic or chimney, but you don’t want to hurt the little critters. A pest control professional knows how to get rid of such friendly wildlife without hurting them.
As a professional exterminator, you’ll learn various methods to apply to get rid of different infestations. After all, you simply can’t use the same technique to get rid of a bedbug as you would a mouse. You will learn how to handle pesticides, traps, sprays, and other methods. After you complete high school, you’ll undergo a pest control program at a community college or vocational school. The median annual wage for exterminators was $37,330 in 2020, according to the BLS.
7. Local Wildlife Removal
If you have a home with a beautiful landscape, there are some friendly wildlife that you’ll look forward to seeing. After all, who doesn’t like to wake up to hearing singing hummingbirds, butterflies fluttering, or seeing cute squirrels running across the lawn? If you want great jobs with little schooling, that allow you to handle animals or other infestations, you may want to see about local wildlife removal services.
Sometimes even friendly wildlife can get inside the home, such as birds looking for a place to nest or squirrels who want to come inside for winter. Snakes not only slither, but they can even crawl and get up in your attic or basement. Sometimes a bat may inadvertently fly inside, especially if it’s injured. If there’s a skunk nearby, you and anyone in your home may inadvertently get sprayed by it. Become a specialist in this field by working through on-the-job, apprenticeships and training.
8. Electrical Installation
Electricity makes the world go round. Can you imagine what would happen if the power grid went down and no one had the energy to power their homes or businesses? It would cause things to shut down, food would spoil, people would be in the dark, and it would be absolute chaos. That’s why professional electricians are needed and always sought after. So if you want secure and great jobs with little schooling, the electrical field is worth pursuing.
As a professional electrician, you’ll learn how to install, maintain, and repair various electrical systems. You’ll work with lighting fixtures, outlets, switches, and circuit breakers. You may work in residential properties, commercial facilities, or power lines. You can take your electrical program at a community college or vocational school and expect to pass your licensing exam. The median annual wage for electrical installation workers was $56,900 in 2020, according to the BLS. However, the number of years that you’ve worked as an electrician, as well as your location can make that number go up even higher.
9. Local Electricians
So what makes local electricians different from general ones? These electricians work on smaller projects such as residential homes and small businesses. So if you’re not interested in maintaining the electrical grid for a big corporation, then you may want to focus on local electrical work. You still would have to go through the same vocational training and certification as any other electrician.
10. Realtor
Do you enjoy a job where you can balance time between being in your office and being at different locations meeting clients? Do you love seeing different types of residential properties around your city? Do you enjoy meeting different people throughout the day and the excitement of possibly closing a deal? If so, then you should consider becoming a realtor, as it’s among the many great jobs with little schooling that can prove to be lucrative.
As a realtor, you are the person who works with both the person selling their home and a client who wants to buy it. When clients list their homes, they may go through you and rely on you to properly market it. Duties can include hosting open houses. While it’s your choice to deal with certain types of property, you can expand your horizons by focusing on single-family houses, condos, entire apartment buildings, and so on. Just understand that life as a realtor doesn’t mean that you’ll always get a steady paycheck. Most Realtors work on Commission, but if you close the right deal on the right property, such commissions can be extremely lucrative. You should also consider the location that you’re trying to sell housing in. In other words, if you live in a small town with a low population, you probably won’t have as great of a career as a realtor as you would in a major urban environment that has condos, single-family housing, and other properties constantly available.
As you can see, there are several great jobs with little schooling that you can consider. While the economy goes up and down, you may want to consider changing fields or even working a side hustle so that you can eventually work full-time. The above industries can provide a steady career that lets you learn a valuable skill. While you may end up working for someone at first, some of these great jobs with little schooling can also be opportunities to start your own business.