Good Careers that don't require a 4 year degree

With the cost of college tuition on the rise and more and more college students finding the need to obtain a job in the workforce sooner than later, it’s no wonder many look for careers where you do not need a four year degree. Believe it or not, you can make really good money with only an Associates Degree or less. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, by 2010, two-thirds of all projected job openings will require only on-the-job training.

REAL ESTATE AGENT

In most states, in order to become a real estate broker, the only thing you need to do is attend a real estate training class and then take a state test to be licensed. Once you pass your test and receive your license you can have your foot in the door of real estate. You can take your license even further by taking the real estate brokers training and adding that to your license as well. There are many successful real estate agents in today’s housing market that have nothing more than a high school diploma.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHER

In some states you can become certified as a substitute teacher with as little as sixty college credits. Better yet, your college credits do not have to be focused on any particular major. In some areas substitute teachers can make anywhere from $80 or more per day depending on the school district. Of course if you want to be a permanent teacher you would have to continue your education, however you can still make decent money by substitute teaching.

POSTAL EMPLOYEE

Have you ever visited your local post office and wondered how the postmaster with the big office in the back got their job? Well they worked their way up the ladder, but they did not need a degree to do so. You can start out at the post office on the front line as a clerk or carrier and you can use your experience in those positions to apply for jobs within the post office, such as supervisor and postmaster. You can make good money with a good job, as jobs with the USPS usually pay well.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER

One of the most popular jobs where no degree is needed is an air traffic controller. A college degree is preferred, however if you do not have one you can substitute three years of work experience instead. Once you are screened for employment, you attend a FAA academy to learn the job and if you pass all the necessary tests and qualifications, you can be on your way to making over 100K per year.

Do not get discouraged or frustrated thinking you can’t obtain a high paying job if you only have your Associates degree. In today’s society where technology is booming and customer service is key, you can turn almost any job into a good career by climbing the ladder and learning new on the job skills. If all you have is an Associates Degree, then take it and use it to your advantage to score a good job in today’s highly competitive job market. Remember, in many cases, it’s not what you know, but who you know.