By Jeff Gillis & Mike Simpson

Key Findings

• • The top-earning careers that do not require prior work experience are: Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters, and Insurance Sales Agents.
  • The top-earning careers that don’t require a college degree are: Construction Equipment Operators and Operating Engineers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers, and Painters, and Construction and Maintenance workers. 

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the global COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the U.S. economy will have a lasting impact on the job market and the way people work for years to come.

While remote and digital work have become more popular across virtually every industry, wage cuts, layoffs, and slow gains have defined the pandemic for millions. And while some parts of the country have begun the recovery process, many areas, including large metro populations and parts of the Northeast and Pacific, are still struggling.

If changes to your job as a result of the pandemic have you thinking about pursuing a new career, there’s good news. In 2018 we looked at the many professions out there that require little previous experience or specialist education to get started. To account for the changing job landscape we have now updated the study using data from the 2020 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Requirements Survey and the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Survey. We took a closer look at the highest earning careers that don’t require prior work experience. We also looked at the best careers that require only a high school diploma (or less) and exactly how much money you can expect to make in these roles.

Career Considerations

In the U.S., where the national median income is nearly $42,000, there are a number of career paths that don’t require previous experience and can earn more than the median income.

While each state has its own education and accreditation requirements for public school teachers, for the majority of school physical education teachers, no experience is needed, which makes this job the highest-paid job with few training and experience requirements. Plumbers, insurance sales agents, and heating and cooling systems installers round out the list of jobs requiring the lowest level of experience with salaries above the national median of $42,000 per year.

Trained On the Job

If you’re looking for work, these careers have high total employment in the U.S., and many offer higher annual incomes without requiring a tremendous amount of work experience.

If you don’t mind being hands-on, occupational therapists earn a median annual income of more than $86,000, more than twice the national median. While you’ll need a master’s degree, and a bachelor’s degree in a related field, you can always start with an associate degree in occupational therapy and work your way up from there.

Audiologists (who work with hearing and ear problems) earn a median income of over $81,000. Audiologists do require a doctoral degree and need to be licensed to practice medicine, but also earn nearly twice the national median income for 2020. 

With a median income of just over $77,000, dental hygienist is one high-paying career that may not list experience as a prerequisite for application. With accreditation through community colleges, technical schools, or dental programs, becoming a dental hygienist can take just two years. Dental hygienists earn more than $35,000 over the national median income.

Police and sheriff’s patrol officers earn a median annual income of just over $65,500, and 81% of jobs don’t require previous experience to apply. Licensed practical and vocational nurses earn a median annual income of close to $49,000, account for over 676,000 jobs across the U.S., and 75% of positions don’t require previous work experience to apply.

No Degree? No Worries

Jobs that don’t ask for a long work history but do have higher education requirements may still be difficult to consider for career transitions. Thankfully, some employment opportunities may not require more than a high school diploma (if that) and still don’t necessitate extensive work experience.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn a median annual income of almost $50,000 (just over $7,800 above the national median) and rarely require more than a high school diploma for consideration. General construction employment is expected to grow by 5% by 2029, faster than the average for other occupations.

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn median annual incomes of just over $47,000, (more than $5,000 over the national median) and also don’t require extensive work experience or more than a high school diploma. Painting, construction, and maintenance jobs yield a median annual income of just over $42,000, roughly the same as the national median, and aren’t hard to get into with minimum education requirements and relatively brief on-the-job training.

Big Paychecks With Minimum Education Requirements

Being hired or promoted into supervisor or management roles in some professions can create a major bump in earnings without requiring a degree or accreditation.

A first-line supervisor of mechanics earns a median annual income of over $70,000, and 77% of jobs don’t require more than a high school diploma for consideration. Similarly, a first-line supervisor of construction workers earns a median annual income of nearly $68,000, and 95% of jobs require a high school diploma at most. Other positions paying median annual salaries of $60,000 or more without requiring post-secondary education include aircraft mechanics ($66,440), police and sheriff’s patrol officers ($65,540), and office and administrative support jobs ($62,940). Next to retail positions, police and sheriff’s patrol officer jobs are also one of the most commonly available, employing around 3.3 million in 2020.

Landing the Next Job

When it comes to making a career shift, it’s never too late. Some jobs may require you to go back to school or establish certain accreditations, but still don’t require years of experience for consideration. With the option for on-the-job training, some jobs pay more than the median annual income in the U.S. and don’t require anything more than a high school diploma, and the opportunity for growth and higher compensation exists in higher positions. 

At The Interview Guys, we know if you get the interview and ace it, you can get the job. Whether you’re looking for a new job, need help establishing your resume or cover letter, or need interview prep and career advice – we’ve got you covered on every front. The job search isn’t just about the next gig, it’s about the next step in your career. Take it with confidence with expert advice from The Interview Guys. Visit us online at TheInterviewGuys.com today to learn more. 

Methodology

For this study, we aggregated and analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). We relied on two BLS datasets: the 2020 Occupational Requirements Survey and the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Survey. For more information, visit https://www.bls.gov/.

Fair Use Statement

Enthused by the data surrounding the U.S. job market or know someone who might be? We encourage you to share the results of this study with your readers for any noncommercial use. Please include a link back to this page in your story so they have access to our full findings and methodology.