"Four Year College Degree Not Required!"

In today's economy, a bachelor's degree is no longer a guarantee of a good job with a livable salary. There are plenty of jobs and careers that pay well but don't require a bachelor's degree to start. Some of these jobs include dental hygienist, electrician, and medical assistant. All of these careers offer salaries above the national median and don't require a four-year degree. This is especially of interest if you homeschool a student who doesn't want to complete a bachelor-degree program when they graduate. Some even take college or vocational classes before they graduate in the hopes of being career-ready when they "graduate".

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average salary in 2020 was $56,310. All of these jobs paid more than this average, and not one of them require a 4-year degree.

While some of the jobs below may require a AA at most, none of these careers require a BA for employment in the field. For example, jobs in the field of aviation might require an AA from a school like the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative. For pilot positions, some airlines require a college degree, but there are career opportunities without such requirements.

Here are just a few of the jobs that beat the national average.

1. Airline pilot $163,480

2. Independent Contractor Marketing Managers$150,400 -$154,470

3. Air Traffic Controllers (may require an AA, Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) or Air Transportation Workers 110,830- $127,440

4. Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance - $99,990

5. Computer Programmers - $95,640

6. Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels, Water Transportation Workers (may require a AA) $73,530 - $89,740

7. Gambling Managers$85,440

8. Power Plant Operators - $81,890

9. Dental Hygienists - $78,050

10. Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers - $77,610

11. Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers - $74,410

12. Pile Driver Operators, Hoist and Winch Operators - $62,730 - $71,880

13. Commerical driver - $71,850

14. Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters -$59,890

15. Locomotive Engineers- $70,660

So if your student is interested in finding a job right after they graduate, I suggest checking out the local options for education in your area. Students can begin meeting the requirements for all of these jobs before they graduate. This might mean that they are taking vocational classes, applying for internships, or taking advantage of dual enrollment.

Can you think of another avenue of employment that doesn't require a 4-year-degree to provide a living wage?