Most people think that you need to attend college and get a bachelor’s degree to land a great job. But that’s not always true. Below you’ll find some top jobs that don’t require a degree:
Medical Billing Technician
Payment for medical services depends on a coding system that describes treatments for patients. The codes provide a basis for insurance companies to pay patients’ bills, and medical billing is a critical link in the financial aspect of medicine. As a medical biller, you make sure that the payment that you request goes to the right person and reflects accurate information.
Duties
According to BLS, medical billers submit claims to payers for patient visits and process the remittances. Problems such as late payments and denied claims come to you for resolution. You may need to get approval that ensures remuneration for a specific treatment. Your responsibilities include maintaining paper and electronic records for insurance reimbursement, doctor’s office databases and patients’ medical history.
Qualifications
A job in medical billing requires you to get some training after you graduate from high school to learn the codes and obtain certification.
Average Earnings
$38,040 per year at $18.29 per hour
Paralegal
Lawyers need someone who understands legal terms and can work under their direct supervision to perform tasks that they delegate. Your work helps attorneys by meeting with clients, reviewing contracts or conducting research. An attorney’s office gives you an opportunity to display your ability to work well with others and to complete tasks efficiently in a quiet area.
Duties
Paralegals provide the reliable assistance that attorneys need to complete a range of professional services. Some law firms have several staff members or support personnel for each attorney, an indication of ways in which you may contribute in a meaningful way. You may research an assigned topic and report the results to an attorney, and some lawyers may let you prepare a draft of a document.
Qualifications
To qualify as a paralegal, you need some training to earn a certificate in paralegal studies or an associate’s degree.
Average Earnings
$49,500 per year at $23.80 per hour
Criminal Investigator
Law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal level need criminal investigators to track down people who commit crimes. Skills that may help you succeed as a criminal investigator include the ability to listen carefully and to think critically. You need excellent oral and written communication skills and superior decision-making ability.
Duties
A primary duty of a criminal investigator is to discover facts that lead to the solving of a crime and the delivery of punishment for criminals. You need to document the facts carefully on background investigations, copyright infringement, identity theft or any other violation.
Qualifications
Many criminal investigators have a college degree, but many do not. The field of criminal investigation does not specify educational requirements, but courses in criminal justice, civil rights, or police ethics that lead to an associate’s degree at your local community college may help you qualify for the job.
Average Earnings
$77,860 per year at $37.43 per hour
Bookkeeper
Someone who likes to work with numbers and help small businesses manage their finances may enjoy bookkeeping. Many small and mid-size companies need a bookkeeper to organize and update financial records, and large organizations may have positions in their accounting department.
Duties
The functions that you perform as a bookkeeper include recording financial transactions, updating statements and verifying the accuracy of financial records. You may need to know software that can produce spreadsheets, databases, balance sheets, and income statements.
Qualifications
You need some training after you graduate from high school to learn the skills that a bookkeeping job requires. Your skills in basic math and knowledge of bookkeeping software can help you succeed in the position. You also need to maintain a current skillset to work with computers and software that enable you to perform sophisticated calculations.
Average Earnings
$38,390 per year or $18.46 per hour
Nursing Assistant
Patients who cannot care for themselves temporarily or permanently need a nursing assistant to help them take care of daily necessities. Traits that include a desire to help others and a talent for understanding what infirm people need can help you succeed as a nursing assistant. Ordinary daily activities that involve hygiene or eating give you a chance to help.
Duties
As a nursing assistant, you answer patients’ calls, take blood pressure and temperature, dress wounds, and feed patients who need help eating. Some of your duties include cleaning patients’ rooms, changing bed linens and turning bedridden patients. You need to document any health issues and report them to the registered nurses.
Qualifications
To become a nursing assistant, you must attend a state-approved course and pass a competency exam to earn certification.
Average Earnings
$26,590 per year or $12.78 per hour
Corrections Officer
A sense of duty and civic responsibility may lead you to a career as a corrections officer. Professionals in the criminal justice system face challenges that most people never know, and the demanding work can bring a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment.
Duties
The tasks that face you may put you in harm’s way as you enforce the rules that maintain order in the nation’s prisons. You have to remain aware of inmates’ activities, provide counseling, and offer rehabilitation to receptive individuals. The detection of contraband and the identification of the inmates who have it are essential parts of the job that help maintain order.
Qualifications
The demands of the job require you to receive training at a facility that provides on-the-job instruction after you graduate from high school. Each state has requirements for qualification.
Average Earnings
$42,820 per year at $20.59 per hour
Web Developer
A web developer makes sure that the structure of a website is appropriate for the clients’ needs. According to Career Foundry, web developers don’t merely design websites; they build them from the ground up. They must make sure that the files and indexes for a website are stored accordingly. They also need to analyze the website owner’s needs to ensure that the content, graphics and flow meet their goals.
Duties
As a web developer, you would be responsible for creating the back end of the website, including setting up a domain, creating an index for the site, and placing the web pages in the appropriate places. Most web developers need to have some knowledge of code and script languages, including CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, HTML5, PHP, and JAVA. They should also be comfortable with graphics programs, so they can construct website prototypes.
As a web developer, you might also need to understand how to comprehend and report on website analytics. You should also have strong management skills. You will typically need to communicate between the website owner, web designers, and other people involved in the business to create and maintain the website.
Qualifications
To become a web developer, you need the skills that are necessary to build and maintain a website. You don’t need any special certifications or trainings. If you don’t want to teach yourself, you can take one of many web development courses available online.
Average Earnings
$67,990 per year at $32.69 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Broadcast or Sound Engineering Technician
A broadcast or sound engineering technician is a type of audio engineer. According to Sokanu, in this field, you’ll set up, run, and manage the electrical equipment for television or radio stations, concert venues, or movie production sets. You may also be hired to work in educational institutions or offices. Some broadcast and sound engineering technicians work with journalists outside of the studio.
Duties
This job requires you to work with producers to determine the type of sound that is needed for a broadcast or event. You’ll also need to operate, monitor and fine-tune video, and audio equipment to make sure that it is running properly and offers high sound quality. You might be responsible for installing and removing equipment from certain locations. You’ll usually need to know how to record and edit audio files, synchronize audio with recorded visuals, and deal with equipment malfunctions.
Qualifications
You might need to complete a specific vocational program to get a job in this field. You can get a certification from the Society of Broadcast Engineers. However, depending on the type of company that you work for, you may be hired without a certification if you possess the skills that are necessary to work a sound board, connect and operate recording and sound equipment, and understand the physics of sound.
Average Earnings
$42,650 per year at $20.51 per hour, according to the BLS.