problem solving jobs no degree

42 High-Earning Careers, No College Degree Required

Do you need a four-year bachelor’s degree to score a high-paying job? More and more the answer seems to be no. Employers are seeing “skills gaps” — or the need for talented employees — in well-paying professions across the board. Many expanding, challenging job fields don’t require a bachelor’s degree from entry-level candidates. Instead, employers consider skills, competencies, and commitment.

We’ve rounded up 42 well-compensated careers that don’t require a college degree (or, at least, a four-year-degree). Each job is in a stable or growing industry, which means plenty of opportunities in the near future.

Some jobs on this list require an associate’s or two-year degree. But these degrees are almost always less expensive than bachelor’s degrees. You can work part-time while going to school and possibly get an employer to underwrite some of your education if it’s career-centered.

Salary details represent a projected annual salary as of May 2021. Each figure is the median or average annual salary you can expect to make on the job — in many cases, you can earn a lot more after several years’ experience.

Job outlooks indicate whether opportunities are expected to grow or decline in the field over the next 10 years. These are broad estimates; if a field is declining, there could still be plenty of open jobs in your area.

The salary stats are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics unless otherwise noted.

What’s Ahead:

For Math, Statistics, and Technology Buffs

Aerospace engineering and operations technician.

• The pay: $73,580.
• The outlook: Growing at a 9% rate.
• The training: For most employers, you’ll need an associate’s degree in an engineering-related field. A certificate program may also be an option.
• The details:  You’ll run equipment that tests and produces aircraft and spacecraft.

Engineering Technician (Electrical, Mechanical, or Civil)

• The pay: $63,640.
• The outlook: 2% growth expected.
• The training: Associate’s degree.
• The details: You’ll help develop, test, and repair electrical equipment, like computers and navigational tools.
• The pay: $60,460.
• The outlook: 6% growth expected.
• The details: You’ll help mechanical engineers develop engines, tools, and industrial machines.
• The pay: $58,320.
• The details: You’ll help civil engineers design bridges, highways, utilities, and other important infrastructure.

Read more:  College Alternatives: 7 Different Paths to Take

For Tinkerers and People Who Love To Fix Things

Elevator and escalator installer and repairer.

• The pay: $97,860.
• The outlook: Growing at a 6% rate.
• The training: High school diploma and apprenticeship. Licenses are required in most states.
• The details: You’ll install and maintain escalators, elevators, and moving walkways.

 Wind Turbine Technician

• The pay: $56,260.
• The outlook: This field is hot — it’s growing at a 68% rate!
• The training: Technical school and on-the-job training.
• The details: You’ll install, maintain, and repair wind turbines.

Electrician

• The pay: $60,040.
• The training: High school diploma or equivalent, apprenticeship.
• The details: Electricity keeps the world going. You’ll wire buildings for electrical power and maintain lighting and communications systems.

Electrical Power Line Installers and Repairers

• The pay: $78,310.
• The outlook: No change expected.
• The training: Apprenticeships and on-the-job training.
• The details: You’ll install and fix electric power systems and telecommunications cables.

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration) Mechanic

• The pay: $48,630.
• The outlook: Growing at a 5% rate.
• The training: Some postsecondary education or an apprenticeship is recommended. A license may be required.
• The details: You’ll fix appliances like heating and air conditioning systems.

Plumber/Pipefitter

• The pay: $59,880.
• The outlook : 5% growth expected.
• The training: Apprenticeship or trade school. Local license usually required.
• The details: You’ll install and repair pipes.

For Builders

• The pay: $48,260.
• The training: High school diploma or equivalent, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.
• The details: You’ll be building and repairing both outdoors and indoors, on small and large scales. If you enjoy working independently, this could be a great fit — many carpenters run their own businesses.

Structural Iron and Steel Worker

• The pay: $58,550.
• The training: Apprenticeship and on-the-job training.
• The details: You’ll install iron and steel for roads and buildings.

Insulation Contractor

• The pay: $53,440.
• The outlook: 4% growth expected.
• The training: High school diploma, apprenticeship and on-the-job training.
• The details: You’ll install materials used to insulate buildings.

Solar Photovoltaic Installer

• The pay: $47,670.
• The outlook: 52% growth expected — this field is growing quickly!
• The training: High school diploma and on-the-job training.
• The details: You’ll set up rooftop systems that convert sunlight into energy.

Read more:  7 Reasons to Consider an Apprenticeship Before Going to College

For Medicine and Medical Science Enthusiasts

Magnetic resonance imaging (mri) technologist.

• The pay: $77,360.
• The outlook: 9% growth expected.
• The training: Associate’s degree and experience in healthcare or a related field. Certification is usually preferred.
• The details: You’ll operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners in hospitals or other healthcare facilities.

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

• The pay: $78,760.
• The outlook: 8% growth expected.
• The training: This job requires more formal training than most on this list — an associate’s degree from a nuclear medicine technology program, certification, and, in some cases, licensing.
• The details: You’ll prepare and administer radioactive drugs for healthcare patients.

Hearing Aid Specialist

• The pay: $59,500.
• The outlook: 11% growth expected — faster than average.
• The details: You’ll select and assess hearing aids for patients and give hearing tests.

Registered Nurse

• The pay: $77,600.
• The training: Associate’s degree or diploma from nursing program. Licensing is required.
• The details: You provide care for patients in healthcare settings. Nurses work in all kinds of places besides hospitals — schools, doctors’ offices, outpatient clinics, even the military.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

• The pay: $77,740.
• The outlook: 14% growth — much faster than average.
• The training: Associate’s degree or postsecondary certificate, along with certification.
• The details: You’ll operate ultrasound imaging equipment in healthcare facilities.

Dental Hygienist

• The pay: $77,810.
• The outlook: 11% growth expected, faster than average.
• The training: Associate’s degree. Licensing required.
• The details: You clean teeth and check patients for signs of oral disease.

Radiation Therapist

• The pay: $82,790.
• The training: Associate’s degree, certification and licensing required.
• The details: You’ll give radiation treatment to cancer patients.

Read more:  Go to College or Go to Work: Which One Makes Financial Sense for You?

For Problem Solvers

Detective/criminal investigator.

• The pay: $83,640.
• The outlook: 7% growth expected.
• The training: Associate’s degree and/or some college coursework preferred. Graduation from a training academy. Most detectives and criminal investigators begin as police or patrol officers.
• The details: You’ll build cases against suspected criminals by gathering facts and collecting evidence. Despite TV portrayals, this isn’t a glamorous job — it’s physically demanding work with long hours.

Paralegal/Legal Assistant

• The pay: $56,230.
• The outlook: 12% growth expected — faster than average.
• The training: Associate’s degree or certificate in paralegal studies.
• The details: You’ll help lawyers with research, document drafting, and administrative duties.

For Fans of Transit and Travel

Railroad worker.

• The pay: $64,150.
• The outlook: 5% growth expected.
• The training: High school diploma, on-the-job training.
• The details: You’ll keep passenger and freight trains running smoothly by driving trains or coordinating train activity.

Signal and Track Switch Repairer

• The pay: $80,570.
• The details: You’ll be in charge of the gate crossings, track signals, switches, and other systems that keep railroads running.

Subway and Streetcar Operator

• The pay: $81,180.
• The outlook: 10% growth expected.
• The details: You’ll operate subways, trains, and streetcars in urban settings.

Water Transportation Worker

• The pay: $62,760.
• The outlook: 12% growth expected, faster than average.
• The training: For some jobs, a Coast Guard-approved training program may be required.
• The details: You’ll operate boats that carry passengers or cargo.

Air Traffic Controller

• The pay: $129,750.
• The training : Associate’s degree from the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative. Long-term on-the-job training including Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) exams.
• The details: You monitor and direct aircraft to ensure safe passage of each plane. This is one of the best-paid jobs on the list, but it requires the most specialized training, and it’s a hyper-competitive field.

Commercial Pilot (Non-Airline)

• The pay: $99,640.
• The outlook: 13% growth expected, faster than average.
• The training: High school diploma or equivalent. Commercial pilot’s license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). On-the-job training.
• The details: You fly non-scheduled routes and charter flights, give aerial tours, and may fly for medical services and evacuations.

Transportation/Storage/Distribution Manager

• The pay: $98,230.
• The training: High school diploma or equivalent. Five years of on-the-job experience usually required. Industry certification usually required.
• The details: You’ll manage the transportation of all kinds of goods around the country. The best way to get a manager position is to start out in logistics, transportation, or supply chain operations and learn on the job.

Read more:  College vs. Trade School – Which One Is Right for You?

For Computer Aficionados

Web developer.

• The pay: $77,200.
• The training: High school diploma or associate’s degree. Prior knowledge of programming required.
• The details: You’ll build and maintain websites and web applications — including their look, their technical aspects, and sometimes their content.

IT (Information Technology) or Computer Support Specialist

• The pay: $57,910.
• The training: Associate’s degree, some college coursework, or certifications. Continuous on-the-job training.
• The details: You’ll help people and offices troubleshoot their computer equipment.

Network Systems Administrator

• The pay: $80,600.
• The training: Some postsecondary education or an associate’s degree usually required.
• The details: You’ll handle the daily needs of organizations’ data communications systems by installing and supporting hardware and software networks.

For the People Person

Funeral home manager.

• The pay: $74,000.
• The outlook: 4% job growth expected.
• The training: Associate’s degree in funeral service or mortuary science is usually required. Licensing is required.
• The details: You’ll organize funeral services and help people honor their deceased loved ones.

First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers

• The pay: $79,680.
• The outlook: 5% decline projected.
• The training: High school diploma, some work experience in sales.
• The details: You’ll be in charge of sales representatives working in non-retail settings.

Theatrical and Performance Makeup Artist

• The pay: $134,750.
• The outlook: 37% growth expected — this is a hot field!
• The training: Some postsecondary education recommended.
• The details: You’ll apply makeup to theater and film performers to get them ready for their roles.

Advertising Sales Agent

• The pay: $52,340.
• The outlook: 3% growth expected.
• The training: High school diploma.
• The details: You’ll sell advertising space to individuals and businesses.

Insurance Sales Agent

• The pay: $49,840.
• The training: High school diploma and state licensing required.
• The details: You’ll sell one or more types of insurance to customers.

Real Estate Sales Agent

• The pay: $48,340.
• The training: High school diploma or equivalent. Real estate license required, including courses and an exam. On-the-job training.
• The details: Help clients buy, sell, and rent properties. You’ll be self-employed and work with a real estate broker.

Flight Attendant

• The pay: $61,640.
• The outlook: 30% growth expected; this field is growing quickly!
• The training: High school diploma or equivalent. Moderate on-the-job training. Certification from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) required.
• The details: Fly around the world while ensuring passengers’ safety and comfort.

Read more:  21 Steps to Landing a Higher-Paying Job

Other High-Paying Careers with No Degree Required

Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers.

• The pay: $79,540.
• The details: You’ll operate oil or petroleum units.

Firefighter

• The pay: $50,700.
• The training: High school diploma and emergency medical services training. Emergency medical technician (EMT) certification may also be required.
• The details: You’ll control fires and respond to fire emergencies.

There are plenty of careers that don’t require a college degree.

Just because you aren’t paying for a college education doesn’t mean you won’t learn anything. You’ll need to acquire training, specialized skills, and plenty of practice. But the payoff is a uniquely valuable skill set — and most likely a much higher salary down the road.

Source:  Virrage Images /Shutterstock.com

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32 Jobs For Problem Solvers (Solution Seekers’ Guide)

Are you an expert at solving problems? Love puzzling out complex challenges?

Then, you’re in for a thrill!

Today, we’re exploring a list of ideal jobs for problem solvers.

From operations analysts to data scientists. Each one, is a perfect fit for those who thrive on complexity and challenges.

Imagine spending your days dissecting issues. Day in, day out.

Sounds like a dream, right?

So, get your thinking cap on.

And get ready to discover your dream problem-solving profession!

Software Developer

Average Salary: $70,000 – $120,000 per year

Software Developers design, develop, and maintain software systems and applications to solve real-world problems.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy applying their analytical and technical skills to create innovative solutions.

Job Duties:

• Writing and Testing Code : Develop and test software to meet clients’ or employers’ needs, ensuring functionality and user-friendliness.
• Problem-Solving : Analyze software issues and develop solutions to address these problems.
• Collaboration with Teams : Work closely with other developers, UX designers, business analysts, and stakeholders to create effective software solutions.
• System Maintenance : Regularly update and maintain existing software to improve efficiency, add features, and fix bugs.
• Technology Research : Stay updated with the latest programming languages, frameworks, and technologies to improve development processes.
• Documentation : Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for software design, development, and maintenance.

Requirements:

• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field is often required.
• Technical Skills : Proficiency in multiple programming languages, such as Java, Python, C++, or similar, along with experience in software development frameworks and tools.
• Problem-Solving Abilities : Strong analytical skills and the ability to solve complex technical issues.
• Teamwork : Ability to collaborate with team members and contribute to a shared goal effectively.
• Continuous Learning : Willingness to continually learn and adapt to new technologies and methodologies in software development.

Career Path and Growth :

Software Developers have a wide range of opportunities for career advancement.

With experience, they can move into senior developer roles, become software architects, or lead development teams.

They can also specialize in areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, or data science.

As technology evolves, there will always be new challenges and problems to solve, making software development an evergreen field for problem solvers.

Data Analyst

Average Salary: $60,000 – $85,000 per year

Data Analysts are responsible for interpreting data and turning it into information which can offer ways to improve a business, thus affecting business decisions.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who relish the challenge of deciphering complex data sets and providing actionable insights.

• Collecting Data : Gather information from various sources and systems to compile and analyze.
• Data Cleaning : Ensure the accuracy and integrity of data by cleaning and validating datasets.
• Analysis : Use statistical tools to interpret data sets, paying particular attention to trends and patterns that could be valuable for diagnostic and predictive analytics.
• Reporting : Create reports and dashboards to visualize data and effectively communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Problem Solving : Address business challenges by applying data-driven techniques to find solutions or opportunities.
• Collaboration : Work closely with teams across the organization to identify opportunities for leveraging company data to drive business solutions.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field is preferable.
• Analytical Skills : Strong analytical abilities with an aptitude for analyzing large datasets and translating data into actionable insights.
• Technical Proficiency : Proficiency with data analysis tools (e.g., SQL, R, Python) and data visualization software (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
• Attention to Detail : Ability to be meticulous with data and attentive to trends and patterns.
• Communication Skills : Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Problem-Solving : A knack for problem-solving and a methodical approach to finding solutions.

This role provides the opportunity to become a key player in an organization by offering insights that can shape strategic decisions.

With experience, Data Analysts can advance to senior analyst roles, specialize in specific industries or data types, or move into data science or data engineering positions.

There’s also the potential to lead teams or departments, guiding data strategies and policies.

Systems Engineer

Average Salary: $70,000 – $110,000 per year

Systems Engineers design, integrate, and manage complex systems over their life cycles.

They ensure that systems function efficiently, meet user needs, and can be maintained within cost and schedule constraints.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy using their technical expertise to overcome complex system challenges.

• System Design : Develop and design systems architecture to ensure functionality, reliability, and scalability.
• Problem Identification and Resolution : Analyze and solve complex issues that arise during the development, implementation, and maintenance of systems.
• Integration : Oversee the integration of hardware, software, and network technologies to create efficient systems.
• Testing and Evaluation : Conduct thorough testing and evaluation to ensure systems meet design specifications and are free of defects.
• Project Management : Collaborate with cross-functional teams to manage projects, timelines, and deliverables effectively.
• Continuous Improvement : Regularly review and update systems to improve performance and address emerging needs.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field is required. Advanced degrees are preferred for some positions.
• Technical Skills : Proficient in systems thinking, technical analysis, and familiarity with engineering software and tools.
• Problem-Solving Abilities : Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to tackle complex system issues.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills to collaborate with team members and stakeholders.
• Attention to Detail : Meticulous attention to detail to ensure system integrity and reliability.
• Adaptability : Ability to adapt to evolving technological landscapes and project requirements.

Systems Engineers have opportunities to work on a variety of projects across different industries, such as aerospace, defense, healthcare, and technology.

With experience, they can advance to lead systems engineer positions, systems architecture roles, or management positions overseeing engineering teams.

Continuous learning and specialization in emerging technologies can further enhance career prospects, leading to roles in innovation, research and development, or consulting.

Business Analyst

Business Analysts are instrumental in bridging the gap between IT and business needs.

They analyze and model business processes, systems, and stakeholders, with the goal of understanding and documenting business requirements and translating them into functional specifications.

This role is perfect for problem solvers who enjoy dissecting complex business challenges and crafting strategic solutions that align with organizational goals.

• Analyzing Business Processes : Examine current business practices and processes to identify areas for improvement or re-engineering.
• Gathering Requirements : Elicit and document business requirements from stakeholders to understand the needs of the business.
• Developing Solutions : Create viable solutions and work with IT and other departments to implement these solutions effectively.
• Data Analysis : Use data analytics to support decision-making and recommend process improvements.
• Facilitating Communication : Act as a liaison between business stakeholders and technology teams to ensure clear communication and understanding of requirements and functionality.
• Project Management : Oversee projects, ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget, and that the solutions meet business needs.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field is often required.
• Analytical Skills : Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to navigate complex business challenges and data.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical and business concepts to diverse audiences.
• Problem-Solving : A natural aptitude for problem-solving and the ability to think strategically about business needs and solutions.
• Technical Proficiency : Knowledge of business process modeling, data analysis tools, and understanding of IT infrastructure and software development.
• Adaptability : Ability to adapt to new business challenges, technologies, and environments quickly.

Business Analysts play a crucial role in any organization by ensuring that business objectives are met through the effective use of technology.

Career advancement opportunities include moving into senior business analyst roles, specializing in specific industries or technologies, transitioning into project management, or progressing to strategic roles such as business process manager or IT director.

Operations Research Analyst

Average Salary: $60,000 – $90,000 per year

Operations Research Analysts use advanced mathematical and analytical methods to help organizations solve problems and make better decisions.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy using their analytical skills to improve efficiency and effectiveness within an organization.

• Conducting Data Analysis : Collect and analyze data to evaluate operational issues and propose solutions to complex problems.
• Developing Predictive Models : Utilize mathematical modeling techniques to forecast outcomes and optimize decision-making.
• Simulating Processes : Create simulations to test different strategies and to anticipate the impact of changes in the system.
• Optimizing Resources : Determine the most efficient allocation of resources, such as time, money, and personnel.
• Preparing Reports : Compile findings and recommendations into clear and concise reports for stakeholders.
• Collaborating with Teams : Work with cross-functional teams to implement and monitor improvements.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Operations Research, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Engineering, or a related analytical field is highly recommended.
• Mathematical Skills : Strong mathematical and statistical analysis skills are essential for modeling and problem-solving.
• Analytical Thinking : Ability to approach problems logically and to develop innovative solutions.
• Technical Proficiency : Proficiency in computer programming, databases, and statistical analysis software.
• Communication Skills : Excellent written and verbal communication skills to convey complex information to non-technical audiences.

Operations Research Analysts are in high demand across various industries, including logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, and government.

With experience, analysts can progress to senior analyst roles, management positions, or specialize in a particular industry or area of research.

There is also potential for Operations Research Analysts to become independent consultants, offering their expertise on a contract basis.

Mechanical Engineer

Average Salary: $65,000 – $90,000 per year

Mechanical Engineers are responsible for designing, analyzing, and maintaining mechanical systems that can range from small components to large machinery and vehicles.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy applying principles of engineering, physics, and materials science to create solutions that improve the functionality and efficiency of products and processes.

• Designing Mechanical Systems : Create blueprints and schematics for new mechanical devices and systems, using CAD software and engineering principles.
• Prototyping and Testing : Develop prototypes of designs and conduct tests to assess performance, safety, and reliability.
• Improving Existing Systems : Analyze and evaluate mechanical equipment to identify areas for efficiency improvements or cost reductions.
• Collaborating with Cross-Functional Teams : Work with other engineers, designers, and production staff to ensure product and system feasibility.
• Project Management : Oversee projects from conception through to completion, ensuring they meet technical specifications, budgets, and timelines.
• Staying Current with Technology : Continuously update your knowledge about the latest engineering tools, technologies, and industry trends.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering field is required, with a Master’s degree preferred for some positions.
• Technical Skills : Proficiency in CAD software, a solid understanding of core engineering principles, and familiarity with mechanical processes and materials.
• Problem-Solving Aptitude : Exceptional analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to develop innovative solutions to complex engineering challenges.
• Team Collaboration : Ability to work effectively in a team environment, contributing to collaborative problem-solving and project success.
• Attention to Detail : A meticulous approach to design, testing, and troubleshooting to ensure the highest levels of quality and safety.

Mechanical Engineers have a broad range of opportunities for career advancement.

With experience, they can become senior engineers, project managers, or specialists in areas such as robotics, automotive engineering, or aerospace.

Additionally, they may pursue roles in research and development, management, or consultancy to further influence innovation and efficiency in the field.

IT Consultant

IT Consultants are experts in the field of information technology who work with clients to analyze their technological needs, solve complex IT problems, and improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of their IT systems.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy delving into technical challenges and crafting innovative solutions.

• Analyzing IT Systems : Evaluate a client’s current IT infrastructure and identify areas for improvement.
• Problem-Solving : Diagnose and resolve complex IT issues that a client may be facing, ensuring minimal disruption to their operations.
• Implementing Solutions : Design and implement new systems, configurations, or software to enhance the client’s IT capabilities.
• Advising on Technology Trends : Keep clients informed about the latest technology trends and how they can be leveraged to meet business goals.
• Training and Support : Provide training and support to the client’s staff to ensure smooth adoption of new technologies.
• Project Management : Oversee IT projects from conception to completion, ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field is highly recommended, with a Master’s degree being an advantage for some positions.
• Technical Expertise : Proficiency in various IT domains such as networking, databases, cybersecurity, and software development.
• Problem-Solving Skills : Strong analytical skills with the ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex IT issues.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain technical details to non-technical stakeholders.
• Project Management : Experience in managing IT projects, including understanding project management methodologies like Agile and Scrum.
• Adaptability : Ability to quickly adapt to new technologies and changing business environments.

As an IT Consultant, there is a clear path for career advancement.

Professionals can specialize in various areas such as cybersecurity, cloud computing, or data analytics.

With experience, IT Consultants can move into senior roles, such as IT Manager, Systems Architect, or even Chief Information Officer (CIO).

There are also opportunities for entrepreneurial IT Consultants to start their own consulting firms.

Medical Doctor

Average Salary: $200,000 – $300,000 per year

Medical Doctors diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries that commonly occur in the general population.

They are crucial in the healthcare system and work in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private practices.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who are passionate about human biology, medicine, and the care of others.

• Diagnosing Illnesses : Evaluate symptoms and run tests to determine the conditions affecting patients.
• Developing Treatment Plans : Create and manage treatment plans, including prescribing medications, therapy, and other interventions.
• Providing Preventative Care : Advise and educate patients on health maintenance and disease prevention strategies.
• Performing Procedures : Conduct medical procedures and surgeries appropriate to your specialty.
• Collaborating with Healthcare Professionals : Work with other healthcare providers to deliver a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.
• Staying Current : Keep abreast of the latest medical research, treatments, and procedures in the field of medicine.
• Educational Background : A Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree is required, followed by a residency program in a chosen specialty.
• Medical Licensure : A state license to practice medicine is mandatory.
• Problem-Solving Skills : Excellent diagnostic abilities and the capacity to make quick, life-saving decisions.
• Communication Skills : Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with patients and healthcare teams.
• Empathy and Compassion : A caring and empathetic approach to patient care.
• Adaptability : Ability to handle a wide array of situations and emergencies with composure.

Medical Doctors have numerous opportunities for career advancement.

With experience, they can become specialists in their field, leading researchers, or take on administrative roles in healthcare institutions.

They may also become educators, teaching the next generation of doctors, or pursue opportunities in medical policy and healthcare consulting.

Average Salary: $60,000 – $200,000 per year

Lawyers are legal professionals who represent and advise clients in both civil and criminal cases.

They may work in various legal fields, such as corporate law, family law, criminal law, or intellectual property law.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy analyzing complex legal issues and advocating on behalf of their clients.

• Client Representation : Advocate for clients in court or during negotiations, presenting evidence and arguments to support their case.
• Legal Research : Conduct thorough research on statutes, case law, and legal precedents relevant to clients’ cases.
• Document Drafting : Prepare legal documents, such as contracts, wills, appeals, and pleadings, ensuring adherence to the law.
• Legal Advice : Provide clients with informed legal counsel, helping them understand their rights and the implications of their legal decisions.
• Case Strategy Development : Develop strategies and tactics for clients’ cases based on the analysis of legal issues and potential outcomes.
• Continuing Education : Stay updated on changes in the law, new legal precedents, and industry best practices to provide the most accurate representation.
• Educational Background : A Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school is required, followed by passing the bar exam in the practicing state.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present arguments clearly and persuasively.
• Analytical Thinking : Strong analytical abilities to dissect complex legal problems and develop effective solutions.
• Client Service : Commitment to serving clients’ interests and maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
• Attention to Detail : Meticulous attention to detail when reviewing legal documents and formulating legal arguments.

A career as a lawyer offers the opportunity to make significant impacts on individuals, businesses, and society through legal advocacy and reform.

With experience, lawyers can advance to senior positions within law firms, transition to in-house legal departments, or pursue roles in government, academia, or the judiciary.

Those with a strong interest in policy may also enter politics or become legal experts within non-governmental organizations.

Average Salary: $50,000 – $70,000 per year

Accountants are responsible for managing financial records, analyzing budgets, and ensuring the financial health of an organization.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy working with numbers and have a keen eye for detail.

• Financial Record Keeping : Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records for an organization, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Budget Analysis : Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with established procedures, regulations, and organizational objectives.
• Tax Preparation : Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
• Audit Assistance : Support auditing teams by providing necessary reports and documentation, and implementing recommendations for improving financial practices and processes.
• Financial Reporting : Develop regular financial statements, such as balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and cash flow statements.
• Advisory Services : Offer financial advice to help businesses and individuals make sound financial decisions and plan for the future.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field is required. CPA or other relevant certifications are highly regarded.
• Analytical Skills : Strong ability to analyze financial data and provide accurate reports.
• Attention to Detail : Exceptional attention to detail to ensure the accuracy of financial records and reports.
• Problem-Solving : Excellent problem-solving skills to manage and rectify any discrepancies in financial statements.
• Communication Skills : Good verbal and written communication skills to explain complex financial information in a clear and concise manner.
• Technological Proficiency : Proficiency with accounting software and tools, as well as a strong understanding of database management and commonly used financial software programs.

Accountants have a clear career path that can lead to roles with increasing responsibility such as Senior Accountant, Accounting Manager, Controller, or Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

With a blend of experience, additional certifications, and continuing education, accountants can specialize in areas such as forensic accounting, management accounting, or financial analysis, opening up a wide array of opportunities in both the public and private sectors.

Civil Engineer

Civil Engineers design, build, supervise, and maintain construction projects and systems in the public and private sector, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy applying their expertise to create and maintain the essential infrastructures of society.

• Analyzing Survey Reports : Assess land and construction sites to determine the feasibility of proposed building projects.
• Developing Detailed Design Plans : Use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create robust and efficient structures.
• Compliance with Regulations : Ensure all projects adhere to legal standards and environmental regulations.
• Project Management : Oversee and direct construction operations, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Problem-Solving : Address any design or construction issues that arise throughout the course of the project.
• Infrastructure Improvement : Propose and implement design modifications to improve existing infrastructure.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a related field is required, with a Master’s degree being advantageous for some positions.
• Engineering Skills : Strong grasp of engineering principles, mathematics, and materials science.
• Attention to Detail : Precision is crucial in designing and implementing plans that are safe, sustainable, and cost-effective.
• Project Management : Ability to lead and collaborate with diverse teams, including architects, contractors, and other engineers.
• Licensing : Professional Engineer (PE) license may be required, depending on the role and location.
• Technical Software Proficiency : Skilled in the use of CAD software and other engineering tools and technologies.

Civil Engineering offers a variety of opportunities for career advancement.

Engineers may specialize in areas such as structural, environmental, geotechnical, or transportation engineering.

With experience, Civil Engineers can become project managers, consulting engineers, or even occupy leadership positions within their organizations.

There is also the potential to work on groundbreaking projects around the world, contributing to the development of innovative infrastructures that shape the future of societies.

Cybersecurity Analyst

Average Salary: $75,000 – $120,000 per year

Cybersecurity Analysts are responsible for protecting an organization’s computer systems and networks from cyber threats, such as hackers, viruses, and other malicious attacks.

This role is ideal for individuals with a knack for problem-solving and a strong interest in technology and cybersecurity.

• Monitoring Security Systems : Constantly monitor the organization’s networks for security breaches and investigate any potential security incidents.
• Implementing Protective Measures : Install and manage software, such as firewalls and data encryption programs, to protect sensitive information.
• Conducting Risk Assessments and Audits : Regularly assess the organization’s security measures and conduct audits to identify vulnerabilities.
• Developing Security Plans : Create and maintain the company’s security standards and best practices documentation.
• Responding to Security Incidents : Take immediate action to mitigate damage during a security breach and lead the technical response to ensure recovery.
• Staying Up-to-Date : Keep abreast of the latest cybersecurity trends, threats, and countermeasures to maintain defense readiness.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field is often required.
• Technical Skills : Proficiency in security across various platforms, including network security, endpoint security, and cloud security.
• Analytical Skills : Ability to analyze data and security patterns to detect anomalies and respond to incidents effectively.
• Communication Skills : Strong verbal and written communication skills for documenting incidents and explaining security measures to non-technical staff.
• Attention to Detail : Vigilance and a high level of attention to detail to spot subtle signs of a security breach.
• Problem-Solving : Excellent problem-solving skills to swiftly address and neutralize security threats.

Cybersecurity Analysts play a critical role in defending an organization’s digital assets and have numerous opportunities for career growth.

With experience and additional certifications, analysts can advance to senior roles such as Cybersecurity Manager or Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

They can also specialize in different areas of cybersecurity, such as penetration testing, security architecture, or cybersecurity consulting.

Database Administrator

Average Salary: $70,000 – $100,000 per year

Database Administrators are responsible for the performance, integrity, and security of databases.

They ensure that data remains consistent across the database, is clearly defined, and can be accessed by users as needed.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy ensuring that data systems are running efficiently and securely.

• Maintaining Database Systems : Ensure that databases operate efficiently and without error, and manage database access permissions and privileges.
• Backup and Recovery : Implement regular backup procedures and effectively recover data in the event of data loss.
• Monitoring Performance : Monitor database performance and tweak parameters to improve user access as needed.
• Upgrading Database Infrastructure : Plan and execute database upgrades and migrations to ensure that systems stay up-to-date and secure.
• Ensuring Data Integrity : Check and enforce data integrity, and conduct regular audits to ensure data accuracy and adherence to data management standards.
• Providing User Support : Assist users in generating complex queries and reports, and address any issues related to database performance or access.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field is often required.
• Technical Skills : Proficiency in database languages like SQL, experience with database software, and knowledge of database design principles.
• Problem-Solving Abilities : Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to diagnose and resolve database issues.
• Attention to Detail : Ability to focus on the details and understand complex systems to ensure smooth operations.
• Communication Skills : Good verbal and written communication skills are essential for documenting the database environment and explaining complex issues to non-technical staff.

Database Administrators have a crucial role in managing an organization’s data and ensuring its availability.

With experience, they can move into more senior roles such as Database Manager, Data Architect, or Information Systems Manager.

There are also opportunities to specialize in particular database technologies or to become a consultant for businesses in need of database expertise.

As the importance of data continues to grow, the role of the Database Administrator becomes increasingly vital to business operations.

Financial Planner

Average Salary: $60,000 – $100,000 per year

Financial Planners provide expert advice to individuals and businesses to help them achieve their long-term financial objectives.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who have a knack for financial strategy and enjoy helping others navigate complex financial decisions.

• Assessing Financial Needs : Analyze clients’ financial situations to understand their needs and goals.
• Developing Financial Plans : Create tailored financial strategies that include investments, savings, budgets, insurance, and tax planning.
• Reviewing and Adjusting Plans : Regularly review financial plans to accommodate life changes or shifts in financial markets.
• Educating Clients : Educate clients on various financial topics, helping them make informed decisions about their finances.
• Monitoring Financial Markets : Keep abreast of the latest economic trends and regulatory changes that may impact clients’ financial plans.
• Building Client Relationships : Establish and maintain strong client relationships through excellent service and communication.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field is highly desirable.
• Financial Knowledge : In-depth knowledge of financial products, markets, tax laws, and insurance.
• Problem-Solving Skills : Ability to analyze complex financial data and provide practical solutions to financial issues.
• Communication Skills : Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain financial concepts clearly to clients.
• Certification : Many employers prefer candidates who are Certified Financial Planners (CFP) or are willing to obtain certification.
• Integrity : A commitment to ethical behavior, as financial planners must act in the best interest of their clients.

Financial Planners have the opportunity to make a significant impact on their clients’ lives by helping them secure their financial future.

With experience, Financial Planners can advance to senior positions, specialize in areas such as retirement planning or estate planning, or even start their own financial planning firms.

The demand for financial advice is expected to grow, which can lead to a rewarding and prosperous career for diligent Financial Planners.

Logistics Coordinator

Average Salary: $40,000 – $60,000 per year

Logistics Coordinators are responsible for managing the flow of goods and materials from suppliers and manufacturers to the end-user.

They ensure that products are delivered in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who thrive in dynamic environments and enjoy developing solutions to logistical challenges.

• Coordinating Transportation : Manage the scheduling and routing of shipments to ensure timely delivery of goods.
• Tracking Shipments : Monitor the progress of shipments and update customers and stakeholders on the status, addressing any delays or issues that arise.
• Inventory Management : Keep an accurate record of inventory levels and order supplies as needed to maintain optimal stock levels.
• Negotiating Contracts : Work with transportation providers and suppliers to negotiate contracts and rates that benefit the company.
• Problem-Solving : Quickly identify and resolve problems that may arise with shipments, inventory levels, or customer concerns.
• Continuous Improvement : Analyze current logistics processes and recommend improvements to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred.
• Organizational Skills : Strong organizational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously.
• Attention to Detail : Keen attention to detail to ensure the accuracy of orders and inventory records.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively coordinate with team members, suppliers, and customers.
• Problem-Solving Abilities : Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to address and overcome logistical challenges.
• Technology Proficiency : Familiarity with logistics software, databases, and Microsoft Office Suite.

Logistics Coordinators play a critical role in the supply chain and have the opportunity to significantly impact a company’s operational efficiency.

With experience, Logistics Coordinators can advance to higher positions such as Logistics Manager, Supply Chain Manager, or Director of Operations, overseeing larger teams and strategic planning for logistics operations.

Management Consultant

Management Consultants analyze organizational problems, develop strategies for improvement, and help to implement changes within businesses.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy helping organizations overcome challenges and improve their performance.

• Assessing Business Challenges : Work with clients to identify areas of improvement, inefficiencies, or problems within their business operations.
• Strategic Planning : Develop strategic plans to address issues, increase revenue, reduce costs, or improve overall business performance.
• Implementing Solutions : Assist in the implementation of management strategies and monitor the progress of changes made within the organization.
• Facilitating Workshops and Training : Conduct workshops and training sessions to educate staff about new processes and how to adapt to change effectively.
• Stakeholder Management : Communicate with stakeholders at all levels, including senior executives and staff, to ensure buy-in and successful adoption of new strategies.
• Staying Informed : Keep up to date with industry trends, business tools, and management techniques to provide the best advice to clients.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or a related field is required; an MBA or relevant Master’s degree is often preferred.
• Analytical Skills : Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to understand complex business issues and develop effective solutions.
• Communication Skills : Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively convey strategies and foster a collaborative environment.
• Project Management : Ability to manage multiple projects with various deadlines, ensuring timely and successful delivery of consulting services.
• Adaptability : Capability to adapt to different business environments and to work with a wide range of industries.

Management Consultants have the opportunity to make a tangible impact on businesses and industries.

With experience, consultants may advance to senior roles within a consultancy firm, specialize in a particular industry or functional area, or transition into executive positions within corporate organizations.

There is also potential to establish one’s own consulting practice.

Network Architect

Average Salary: $100,000 – $150,000 per year

Network Architects design and build data communication networks, such as local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and intranets.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy creating solutions that help organizations communicate more efficiently and securely.

• Designing Network Infrastructure : Develop blueprints for complex, secure, and scalable networks tailored to the specific needs of an organization.
• Implementing Network Solutions : Oversee the deployment of networking hardware and software, ensuring proper integration with existing systems.
• Addressing Technical Challenges : Solve complex networking issues that may arise during design, implementation, or daily operations.
• Updating Network Systems : Continuously evaluate and upgrade network infrastructure to meet changing demands and incorporate new technologies.
• Security Planning : Ensure that all network designs incorporate robust security measures to protect against cyber threats.
• Research and Development : Stay abreast of the latest advancements in network technologies and best practices to recommend improvements.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, or a related field is typically required. Advanced degrees or certifications (such as CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE) can be advantageous.
• Technical Skills : Strong understanding of network infrastructure, including hardware, software, networking protocols, and security measures.
• Problem-Solving Abilities : Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to design networks and troubleshoot issues as they arise.
• Communication Skills : Ability to clearly communicate technical information to non-technical stakeholders and work collaboratively with various teams.
• Project Management : Experience in managing projects, with the ability to oversee multiple initiatives simultaneously and meet deadlines.

The role of Network Architect offers opportunities to lead the technological direction of an organization’s communications infrastructure.

With experience, Network Architects can advance to senior IT management positions, such as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or IT Director, or specialize further in areas like cloud computing or cybersecurity.

Continuous learning and adapting to new technologies are key for career growth in this ever-evolving field.

Average Salary: $128,000 – $148,000 per year

Pharmacists are healthcare professionals responsible for the preparation, dispensing, and management of prescription medications.

They play a critical role in patient care by ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy applying their knowledge of medicine to help patients manage their health.

• Dispensing Medications : Accurately prepare and provide medications to patients, ensuring proper dosage and administration.
• Consulting on Medications : Offer expert advice on prescription and over-the-counter medications, including potential side effects and interactions.
• Medication Therapy Management : Conduct reviews of patient medication regimens to optimize therapeutic outcomes and minimize adverse effects.
• Collaboration with Healthcare Providers : Work closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to develop the best treatment plans for patients.
• Healthcare Promotion : Conduct health and wellness screenings, provide immunizations, and offer guidance on healthy lifestyles.
• Staying Informed : Continually update knowledge on the latest pharmaceutical products, drug therapies, and regulations.
• Educational Background : A Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from an accredited pharmacy program is required.
• Licensure : Must pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX) and obtain a state license to practice pharmacy.
• Attention to Detail : Precision and attention to detail are critical to ensure the safety and health of patients.
• Communication Skills : Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively counsel patients and collaborate with other healthcare professionals.
• Problem-Solving Abilities : Proficiency in identifying medication-related problems and developing appropriate solutions.
• Empathy and Patient Care : A commitment to providing compassionate care and making a positive impact on patients’ health.

Pharmacists have the opportunity to advance in various settings, such as community pharmacies, hospitals, or the pharmaceutical industry.

With experience, they can move into more specialized roles, assume leadership positions, or engage in clinical research and development.

Pharmacists can also further their expertise through board certifications in areas like oncology, nutrition support, or geriatric pharmacy.

IT Project Manager

Average Salary: $90,000 – $140,000 per year

IT Project Managers oversee and direct technology projects, from simple software updates to complex network overhauls.

This role is perfect for problem solvers who thrive in a fast-paced environment and are passionate about leveraging technology to meet business objectives.

• Planning and Scheduling : Develop project plans, including timelines, resources, and budget allocations, ensuring that IT projects are delivered on time and within scope.
• Team Coordination : Lead multidisciplinary teams of software developers, engineers, and analysts to execute project tasks effectively.
• Risk Management : Identify potential project risks and develop mitigation strategies to prevent disruptions to the project timeline or budget.
• Stakeholder Communication : Maintain clear and consistent communication with project stakeholders, including reporting on progress and managing expectations.
• Quality Assurance : Oversee the quality of deliverables, ensuring that the end product meets both technical standards and user requirements.
• Continual Improvement : Reflect on completed projects to identify areas of improvement and integrate lessons learned into future project management practices.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field is often required, along with relevant project management certifications (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2).
• Leadership Skills : Strong leadership and team management abilities to guide project teams and ensure collaborative efforts.
• Technical Expertise : Solid understanding of IT principles and technologies, coupled with the ability to apply this knowledge to solve complex problems.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical issues to non-technical stakeholders.
• Adaptability : Flexibility to adjust project plans and strategies in response to changing technology landscapes or business needs.

As an IT Project Manager, you have the opportunity to directly influence the success of technology initiatives within an organization.

With experience, IT Project Managers can advance to senior management roles, such as IT Director or Chief Information Officer (CIO), or specialize in areas like agile project management, IT strategy, or consultancy.

Continuous professional development in emerging technologies and project management methodologies can also lead to broader career opportunities in the ever-evolving tech industry.

Structural Engineer

Average Salary: $65,000 – $95,000 per year

Structural Engineers are responsible for designing, planning, and overseeing the construction of buildings, bridges, and other structures to ensure safety and durability.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy applying principles of physics and mathematics to create stable and secure structures.

• Analyzing Structural Integrity : Conduct detailed calculations to predict the stresses and pressures experienced by structures and design frameworks accordingly.
• Developing Design Plans : Create complex blueprints and plans for structures, ensuring they meet codes, regulations, and environmental requirements.
• Site Assessments : Inspect construction sites to determine the suitability of the earth for the requirements of an upcoming project and to assess any potential risks.
• Material Selection : Choose appropriate construction materials that offer the best balance between cost, quality, and safety.
• Collaboration with Professionals : Work alongside architects, contractors, and other engineers to ensure the structural vision is safely and efficiently realized.
• Monitoring Construction : Oversee the construction process to ensure compliance with design specifications and safety standards.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering is required.
• Technical Skills : Proficiency in using design and analysis software such as AutoCAD, Revit, or SAP2000.
• Attention to Detail : Ability to meticulously analyze and design structures to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.
• Problem-Solving : Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to solve complex engineering issues.
• Communication : Effective communication skills for collaborating with a wide range of professionals and for explaining technical concepts to non-experts.
• Project Management : Capabilities in managing projects, timelines, and resources to meet client and regulatory requirements.

Structural Engineers have the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects that shape the infrastructure and skyline of our built environment.

With experience, they can progress to senior engineering roles, specialize in areas such as earthquake engineering or forensic engineering, or lead their engineering firms.

Continuous learning and professional certification, such as obtaining a Professional Engineer (PE) license, can further enhance career prospects and recognition in the field.

Data Scientist

Average Salary: $80,000 – $120,000 per year

Data Scientists analyze and interpret complex digital data, such as usage statistics, sales figures, or logistics, to assist in business decision-making.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy employing their analytical skills and knowledge of statistics to uncover patterns, manage data, and drive strategic planning in organizations.

• Analyzing Data : Use statistical methods to collect and analyze data and to identify trends or patterns that can inform business decisions.
• Machine Learning Models : Develop predictive models and algorithms that can help forecast outcomes and automate decision-making processes.
• Data Mining : Extract data from various sources and analyze it to gain insights into business performance and opportunities.
• Creating Data Visualizations : Design and present data in visually compelling formats to help stakeholders understand the findings.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration : Work with different departments to implement data-driven strategies and solutions that align with business objectives.
• Continued Learning : Stay updated with the latest data science techniques, tools, and best practices in the field.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field is often required, with many roles preferring a Master’s or PhD.
• Technical Skills : Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with database management systems, machine learning, and statistical analysis tools.
• Analytical Mindset : Strong problem-solving skills with a knack for identifying trends and insights in large datasets.
• Communication Skills : Ability to communicate complex quantitative analysis in a clear, precise, and actionable manner.
• Attention to Detail : Diligent and meticulous in data handling to ensure accuracy and integrity of analysis.

In this role, the potential for impact is significant, as data-driven insights can lead to transformative decisions and strategies within a business.

With experience, Data Scientists can advance to roles such as Senior Data Scientist, Data Science Manager, or Chief Data Officer.

Opportunities also exist to specialize in fields such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, or big data engineering.

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts are responsible for examining financial data and trends to help businesses and individuals make informed investment decisions.

This role is well-suited for problem solvers who have a knack for numbers and a passion for analyzing financial markets and economic trends.

• Financial Data Analysis : Interpret data on the performance of investments, including stocks, bonds, and other securities.
• Creating Financial Models : Develop models to predict future economic conditions and guide investment strategies.
• Investment Recommendations : Provide informed recommendations to clients or employers based on thorough analysis and understanding of market conditions.
• Report Preparation : Compile detailed reports that highlight analysis findings and suggestions for financial planning and investment management.
• Monitoring Economic Trends : Keep a close eye on changes in the economic landscape that could affect investment portfolios and strategies.
• Client Presentations : Present analysis and recommendations clearly and confidently to clients or stakeholders.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, or a related field is typically required. An MBA or CFA designation may be advantageous.
• Analytical Skills : Strong ability to analyze financial data and trends to make accurate projections and recommendations.
• Mathematical Proficiency : Excellent quantitative skills to understand complex financial calculations and models.
• Communication Skills : Clear verbal and written communication abilities to convey complex financial information in an understandable manner.
• Attention to Detail : Meticulous attention to detail to ensure the accuracy of financial analysis and reports.
• Technological Proficiency : Proficiency with financial software and tools for data analysis, such as Excel, SQL, or specialized financial modeling programs.

A career as a Financial Analyst offers vast opportunities for growth.

Analysts can advance to senior analyst positions, portfolio management roles, or even become directors of financial analysis departments.

Those with a strong track record and additional certifications may move into high-level consulting positions or executive roles within finance, such as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

The role is pivotal in shaping investment strategies and financial decisions, making it a critical and influential position in any business.

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts play a critical role in evaluating and improving complex computer systems within an organization.

They are responsible for ensuring that IT systems meet the business needs effectively.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy analyzing data, improving processes, and implementing technological solutions.

• Assessing System Capabilities : Examine current IT systems and infrastructure to determine effectiveness and suggest improvements.
• Designing Solutions : Develop plans to enhance systems, including software and hardware updates, to address business challenges.
• Problem-Solving : Identify system issues and inefficiencies and propose strategic solutions to optimize performance.
• Gathering Requirements : Collaborate with end-users and stakeholders to understand their needs and translate them into system requirements.
• Implementing New Systems : Oversee the selection and installation of new IT systems to ensure they are on time, within budget, and meet organizational needs.
• Continuous Learning : Stay updated with the latest technological trends, systems, and best practices in the field of IT.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field is typically required.
• Technical Skills : Strong understanding of computer systems, databases, and other technology tools and platforms.
• Analytical Thinking : Ability to dissect complex problems and devise effective solutions.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the capacity to interact with technical teams and business stakeholders.
• Project Management : Experience in managing projects, including resource allocation, timelines, and budgeting.

A career as a Systems Analyst offers numerous opportunities for professional development.

With experience, Systems Analysts can progress to more senior roles such as IT Project Manager, Business Analyst, or IT Consultant.

They may also specialize in specific industries or become experts in emerging technologies, leading to increased demand and higher earning potential.

Industrial Engineer

Average Salary: $65,000 – $85,000 per year

Industrial Engineers optimize complex systems, processes, and organizations by eliminating waste of time, money, materials, man-hours, machine time, energy, and other resources.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy designing efficient systems and processes in various industries.

• Analyzing Workflows : Review and assess production workflows to identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements.
• Developing Production Systems : Design systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.
• Implementing Quality Control Procedures : Establish quality control protocols to ensure the final product meets the required specifications and standards.
• Utilizing Software for Process Simulation : Apply computer simulations to test and optimize production systems and logistics.
• Project Management : Oversee project timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure objectives are met efficiently.
• Staying Updated on Technology : Keep abreast of the latest technological advancements that can be applied to improve production processes and product quality.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field is required.
• Problem-Solving Skills : Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to identify problems and implement effective solutions.
• Technical Expertise : Proficient in the use of engineering software and tools for designing and analyzing production systems.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills for collaborating with team members and presenting findings to stakeholders.
• Attention to Detail : Ability to focus on the minute details of complex systems to ensure nothing is overlooked.

Industrial Engineers have the opportunity to impact the efficiency and effectiveness of production and service systems.

Career growth may lead to roles such as Senior Industrial Engineer, Project Manager, Operations Manager, or Director of Engineering.

With experience, some Industrial Engineers may also move into consultancy roles or executive positions, such as Chief Operations Officer.

Network Security Analyst

Network Security Analysts are the guardians of information systems, ensuring the security and integrity of data within an organization’s network.

This role is perfect for problem solvers who appreciate the complexities of network infrastructure and the challenge of defending against cyber threats.

• Monitoring Network Security : Constantly oversee the organization’s network for security breaches, intrusions, and irregular system behavior.
• Implementing Protective Measures : Deploy firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems to protect sensitive information.
• Responding to Security Incidents : Act swiftly to mitigate damage from security breaches and work on recovery plans to restore functionality.
• Performing Risk Assessments : Analyze the current security protocols and suggest improvements to minimize risks of cyber attacks.
• Security Audits and Reporting : Conduct regular audits of the network security systems and prepare reports on the status of the network’s security.
• Staying Updated : Keep abreast of the latest cyber threats, security trends, and technologies to continuously enhance network defenses.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, or a related field is typically required.
• Technical Skills : Proficiency in security across various platforms, understanding of firewalls, VPN, data loss prevention, IDS/IPS, web-proxy, and security audits.
• Analytical Mindset : Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze complex networks and identify potential vulnerabilities.
• Attention to Detail : Vigilance in monitoring network activity and spotting irregularities that could indicate a security breach.
• Communication Skills : Ability to communicate technical information effectively to non-technical staff and to document procedures and findings.

A career as a Network Security Analyst offers a dynamic environment with the potential for continuous learning and advancement.

With experience, Network Security Analysts can move into higher-level roles such as Security Manager or Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), specializing in areas like forensic analysis, or they may opt to work as independent cybersecurity consultants.

Intelligence Analyst

Intelligence Analysts are responsible for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information to support and protect national security.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who thrive on analyzing complex data and uncovering insights that can inform strategic decisions.

• Collecting Information : Gather data from a variety of sources, including surveillance activities, intelligence databases, and open sources.
• Analyzing Intelligence : Examine and interpret intelligence data to identify patterns, assess threats, and provide actionable insights.
• Writing Reports : Prepare comprehensive reports that communicate findings to decision-makers within government or private organizations.
• Briefing Decision Makers : Present analysis and recommendations to policymakers, military leaders, or other relevant stakeholders.
• Developing Analytical Tools : Utilize and sometimes develop software tools to enhance the analysis of complex datasets.
• Collaborating with Other Agencies : Work with other intelligence professionals, both domestic and international, to share information and coordinate efforts.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, Security Studies, or a related field is often required.
• Analytical Skills : Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to process and synthesize large amounts of information.
• Attention to Detail : Keen attention to detail and the capacity to recognize subtle patterns or discrepancies in data.
• Communication Skills : Excellent written and verbal communication skills for presenting complex information clearly and concisely.
• Security Clearance : Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which often involves a background check and adherence to strict security protocols.
• Technical Proficiency : Proficient with analytical software and information technology systems used in intelligence operations.

This role offers the opportunity to play a crucial part in safeguarding national interests and contributing to global security.

With experience, Intelligence Analysts can advance to senior analyst positions, specialize in a particular type of intelligence, or move into leadership roles within the intelligence community.

There are also opportunities for cross-functional career development in areas such as cyber security, counterterrorism, and strategic planning.

Logistics Manager

Logistics Managers oversee the movement, distribution, and storage of materials in an organization.

They are responsible for ensuring products are delivered efficiently and on time.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy optimizing processes and overcoming logistical challenges in a dynamic environment.

• Inventory Management : Monitor inventory levels and implement strategies to ensure the availability of products while minimizing excess stock.
• Supplier Negotiation : Negotiate with suppliers and transportation providers to secure cost-effective shipping terms and services.
• Process Optimization : Analyze logistical processes and implement improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
• Compliance Management : Ensure all logistics activities comply with legal regulations and organizational policies.
• Problem Solving : Address and resolve any issues that arise during the transportation and storage of goods.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field is typically required.
• Organizational Skills : Strong ability to organize and manage multiple projects and tasks effectively.
• Problem-Solving Abilities : Aptitude for identifying issues and developing practical solutions in a fast-paced environment.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills for coordinating with internal teams and external partners.
• Technological Proficiency : Familiarity with logistics software, inventory management systems, and data analysis tools.

Logistics Managers play a critical role in the efficiency and profitability of a company.

With experience and a track record of successful problem-solving, they can advance to higher managerial positions, such as Director of Operations or Vice President of Supply Chain.

Opportunities also exist to specialize in areas like global logistics, supply chain analytics, or procurement strategy, further enhancing career prospects.

Mathematician

Average Salary: $60,000 – $120,000 per year

Mathematicians use advanced mathematics to develop and understand mathematical principles, analyze data, and solve real-world problems.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who relish the challenge of complex equations and algorithms and seek to apply their knowledge to diverse areas ranging from economics to engineering.

• Conducting Research : Work on advancing mathematical knowledge, which may involve deriving new theorems, analyzing patterns, or creating mathematical models.
• Applying Mathematical Theories : Utilize mathematical theories to solve practical problems in business, engineering, the sciences, and other fields.
• Collaborating with Professionals : Work alongside engineers, scientists, and other professionals to understand problems and provide mathematical solutions.
• Developing Computational Methods : Create algorithms and simulation models to process and analyze large sets of data.
• Presenting Findings : Communicate complex mathematical ideas and solutions to stakeholders or academic peers through reports, papers, or presentations.
• Staying Informed : Keep up-to-date with the latest advancements in mathematics and related fields.
• Educational Background : A Master’s or Doctoral degree in Mathematics or a related field is typically required.
• Analytical Skills : Strong ability to think logically and critically when solving complex problems.
• Technical Proficiency : Proficiency in mathematical modeling software, statistical analysis, and computer programming.
• Attention to Detail : Meticulous attention to detail when dealing with abstract concepts and calculations.
• Collaboration : Ability to work in interdisciplinary teams and communicate mathematical concepts to non-experts.

A career as a mathematician offers the opportunity to contribute to numerous fields through data analysis, predictive modeling, and problem-solving.

With experience, mathematicians can become lead researchers, senior analysts, or consultants, and may eventually move into academic positions such as professors or department heads.

Statistician

Average Salary: $60,000 – $95,000 per year

Statisticians analyze data and apply mathematical and statistical techniques to help solve real-world problems in business, engineering, healthcare, or other fields.

This role is ideal for problem solvers who enjoy using data to find patterns, draw conclusions, and inform decision-making processes.

• Collecting Data : Design surveys, experiments, or opinion polls to gather data relevant to research questions or business needs.
• Analyzing Data : Use statistical methods to analyze and interpret data, identifying trends or relationships.
• Developing Models : Create statistical models that depict the data in a way that is easy to understand and can predict future trends.
• Reporting Results : Communicate findings to stakeholders in a clear and actionable manner, often through detailed reports or presentations.
• Advising Policy/Decision Making : Provide insights to policymakers or business leaders to inform their decisions based on statistical evidence.
• Staying Current : Keep up with the latest statistical methods, software, and advancements in the field to continuously improve analysis.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, or a related field is required; a Master’s or Ph.D. is preferred for many positions.
• Analytical Skills : Strong ability to work with numerical data and apply statistical techniques to solve complex problems.
• Technical Proficiency : Proficient in statistical software (such as R, SAS, SPSS, or Python) and databases.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex statistical information into understandable terms for non-experts.
• Attention to Detail : Careful attention to accuracy and detail when analyzing data and drawing conclusions.

Statisticians have the opportunity to work in a variety of industries and sectors, as data analysis is fundamental to many business strategies and policy decisions.

With experience, statisticians can progress to senior analytical roles, become consultants, or specialize in specific industries, such as biostatistics or econometrics.

There is also potential for leadership roles in managing teams of analysts and decision support.

Cybersecurity Specialist

Cybersecurity Specialists protect and defend information systems by ensuring the security of data and network infrastructure.

This role is perfect for problem solvers who enjoy staying ahead of cyber threats and ensuring the safety of digital information.

• Analyzing Security Systems : Evaluate existing security measures, such as firewalls, password policies, and intrusion detection systems, to identify vulnerabilities.
• Implementing Protection Measures : Design and implement stronger defense mechanisms to protect data and network infrastructures.
• Monitoring for Security Breaches : Constantly monitor systems for any unusual activities that might indicate a security breach.
• Investigating Security Incidents : Respond to and investigate security incidents, performing forensic analysis to understand the cause and impact.
• Developing Security Strategies : Create comprehensive strategies for preventing future threats and improving overall security posture.
• Staying Current : Keep abreast of the latest cybersecurity trends, threats, and countermeasures.
• Technical Skills : Strong understanding of network infrastructure, encryption, ethical hacking, and secure coding practices.
• Problem-Solving Abilities : Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to address and mitigate security risks.
• Attention to Detail : Ability to pay close attention to detail to detect vulnerabilities and breaches.
• Communication Skills : Proficiency in communicating technical information to non-technical personnel and reporting on security readiness.

Cybersecurity is a field with high demand and potential for career growth.

Specialists can advance to roles such as Security Analyst, Security Engineer, or Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

With the rise in cyber threats, the importance of cybersecurity professionals continues to grow, offering a career path with numerous opportunities for advancement and specialization.

Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical Engineers combine principles of engineering with biological and medical sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software used in healthcare.

This role is perfect for problem solvers who are passionate about innovating in medicine and improving patient care.

• Designing Medical Devices : Create and improve medical devices such as artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation, medical imaging devices, and health management and care delivery systems.
• Developing Biomedical Software : Write and maintain software programs that are used for diagnosing and treating patients.
• Research and Development : Conduct research to develop new technologies for solving complex medical issues.
• Clinical Engineering : Work within clinical settings to install, adjust, maintain, repair, or provide technical support for biomedical equipment.
• Regulatory Oversight : Ensure that biomedical equipment and processes comply with regulatory standards.
• Training Healthcare Staff : Educate clinicians and other medical personnel on the proper use of biomedical equipment.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, or a related engineering field is required. A Master’s degree or Ph.D. can be beneficial for more advanced positions.
• Technical Skills : Strong understanding of engineering principles and proficiency in developing and working with complex medical systems and devices.
• Problem-Solving Abilities : Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to address challenges in healthcare and patient treatment.
• Interdisciplinary Knowledge : An understanding of biological sciences and medical practices, as well as the ability to work with professionals from these fields.
• Communication Skills : Clear communication skills for collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and explaining technical information to non-experts.

Biomedical Engineers have the opportunity to make significant contributions to patient health and well-being.

Career growth can lead to positions such as senior engineer, project manager, or director of engineering in hospitals, research institutions, or medical device companies.

Innovators in the field may also transition into entrepreneurial roles, starting their own companies to bring new medical solutions to market.

Urban Planner

Average Salary: $50,000 – $75,000 per year

Urban Planners develop and design policies and plans for the use of land and resources in towns, cities, and counties.

They focus on creating spaces that are efficient, sustainable, and conducive to community well-being.

This role is ideal for those who enjoy solving complex urban problems and are passionate about shaping the future of cities and communities.

• Developing Urban Plans : Create comprehensive plans to manage and develop infrastructure, housing, transportation, and public spaces in urban areas.
• Community Engagement : Engage with the public to gather feedback and incorporate community needs and desires into urban development plans.
• Conducting Research : Analyze demographic data, environmental studies, and market research to inform planning decisions.
• Policy Recommendation : Advise policymakers on zoning, land use, and urban design to promote sustainable and equitable development.
• Reviewing Proposals : Evaluate development proposals to ensure they align with long-term plans and regulations.
• Staying Informed : Continuously update knowledge on urban trends, best practices in urban design, and regulatory changes in the field.
• Educational Background : A Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, or a related field is highly preferred, though a Bachelor’s degree may be sufficient for some entry-level positions.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively convey planning concepts to diverse audiences.
• Problem-Solving Ability : Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to address complex urban challenges.
• Collaboration : Ability to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, developers, and the public.
• Technical Proficiency : Familiarity with GIS software, urban planning tools, and data analysis methods.

Urban Planners have the opportunity to directly impact the development and improvement of urban environments.

Career advancement can lead to senior planning positions, specialized roles in areas such as transportation or environmental planning, or leadership positions in planning departments or consultancy firms.

Planners can also contribute to academic research or become policy advisors, influencing regional or national urban development strategies.

And there you have it.

A detailed summary of the most rewarding jobs for problem solvers.

With a plethora of choices at your disposal, there is assuredly a role for every problem solver out there.

So, chase your ambition of taming complex issues and finding solutions every day.

Remember: It’s NEVER too late to mould your knack for resolving problems into a thriving career.

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The Editorial Team at InterviewGuy.com is composed of certified interview coaches, seasoned HR professionals, and industry insiders. With decades of collective expertise and access to an unparalleled database of interview questions, we are dedicated to empowering job seekers. Our content meets real-time industry demands, ensuring readers receive timely, accurate, and actionable advice. We value our readers' insights and encourage feedback, corrections, and questions to maintain the highest level of accuracy and relevance.

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The 20 best jobs for people who love to solve problems

Some people are natural-born problem solvers. Others develop the skill over time. Either way, there are several jobs that are perfect for this group of people, where day-to-day tasks involve tackling information and problems head-on to devise solutions.

We filtered through data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) , a US Department of Labor database that compiles detailed information on hundreds of jobs, to find 20 that place high importance on "making decisions and solving problems ." We also checked out the average annual salary and  projected percent change in employment from 2014 to 2024  for each job on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website .

O*NET judges how important " a nalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems " is in any job, assigning each a score between one and 100. Positions that involve more problem solving, like  physician assistants and chief executives,  rank higher — while jobs that don't require much problem solving, like tour guide and waiter, rank lower.

Check out the 20 best jobs for problem solvers below:

No. 20. Hospitalist

Average annual salary (2015): $197,700*

Problem-solving importance level:  93

What they do: Provide inpatient care, including medications and treatments in intensive-care units, medical wards, rehabilitation facilities, and nursing homes.

Education requirements:  Bachelor's and master's degrees, followed by a PhD or an MD

Projected growth through 2024:  14%

*BLS includes this occupation under "Physicians and Surgeons, All Other."

No. 19. Administrative law judge, adjudicator, or hearing officer

Average annual salary (2015):  $93,140

What they do:  Conduct hearings to review claims and determine liability for government-related matters and programs. 

Education requirements:  Bachelor's and master's degrees, usually followed by a JD.

Projected growth through 2024: -1%

No. 18. Obstetrician or gynecologist

Average annual salary (2015):  $222,400

What they do:  Provide medical care to women during pregnancy and childbirth. 

Education requirements:  Bachelor's and master's degrees, followed by an MD.

Projected growth through 2024: 14%

No. 17. Education administrator, elementary and secondary school

Average annual salary (2015):  $92,940

What they do:  Typically referred to as elementary- or secondary-school principals whose job is to enforce discipline and attendance policies for students and teachers.

Education requirements:  Bachelor's and master's degrees, sometimes followed by a PhD.

Projected growth through 2024: 6%

No. 16. Midwife

Average annual salary (2015):  $93,610

What they do:  Provide prenatal care to mothers and assist with childbirth and infant care.

Education requirements:  Bachelor's degree, and master's degree as an advanced-practice registered nurse (APRN).

Projected growth through 2024: 31%

No. 15. Actuary

Average annual salary (2015):  $110,560

What they do:  Analyze statistical data regarding mortality, accident, sickness, and disability to predict the probability of future risk and liability.

Education requirements:  Bachelor's degree and must pass a series of certified exams.

Projected growth through 2024: 18%

No. 14. Respiratory therapy technician

Average annual salary (2015):  $49,720

Problem-solving importance level:  94

What they do:  Work with patients in need of respiratory care in emergency rooms, neonatal or pediatric intensive care, or surgical-intensive care.

Education requirements:  Most jobs in this area require vocational-school training.

Projected growth through 2024: 12%

No. 13. Social and community-service manager

Average annual salary (2015):  $69,430

What they do: Plan, direct, coordinate, and oversee social-service or community-outreach programs and organizations. Includes job titles like social worker and adoption-services manager.

Education requirements:  Bachelor's degree, sometimes a master's degree.

Projected growth through 2024: 10%

No. 12. Preventive-medicine physician

Average annual salary (2015):  $197,700*

What they do:  Assist and aid nurses, physicians, or statisticians in the prevention of disease, injury, or death.

Education requirements:  Bachelor's and master's degrees, followed by a PhD or an MD.

*BLS includes this occupation under Physicians and Surgeons, All Other.

No. 11. Physician assistant

Average annual salary (2015):  $99,270

What they do:  Assist physicians by conducting patient physicals, treatment, and counseling.

Education requirements: Bachelor's and master's degrees.

Projected growth through 2024: 30%

No. 10. Chief executive

Average annual salary (2015):  $185,850

Problem solving importance level:  94

What they do:  Provide overall direction and implement policies of a company. Typical job titles include chief executive officer, chief operating officer, and executive vice president.

Education requirements:  Bachelor's and master's degrees.

No. 9. Judge, magistrate judge, or magistrate

Average annual salary (2015):  $116,100

What they do:  Preside over a court of law with the ability to sentence defendants in criminal cases and determine defendant liability in civil cases. May also perform wedding ceremonies.

Education requirements:  Bachelor's and master's degrees, followed by a JD.

No. 8. Ophthalmologist

Problem-solving importance level:  95

What they do:  Conduct eye exams and vision correction, like optometrists, but are also trained to perform eye surgery, including cataracts and glaucoma.

No. 7. Anesthesiologist

Average annual salary (2015):  $250,100

What they do:  Physicians who administer a sedative drug called  anesthesia before surgery, and monitor patients during and after surgery.

Projected growth through 2024: 14%*

*BLS includes this figure under "Physicians and Surgeons, All Other."

No. 6. Air-traffic controller

Average annual salary (2015):  $118,740

Problem-solving importance level:  96

What they do:  Control, authorize, and regulate airplane traffic at and in between airports.

Education requirements:  Bachelor's degree or work experience totaling three years, in addition to exams and a Federal Aviation Administration academy course.

Projected growth through 2024: -9%

No. 5. Nurse anesthetist

Average annual salary (2015):  $160,250

Problem-solving importance level:  97

What they do:  A dminister  anesthesia, monitor patient vital signs, and oversee patient recovery after surgery.

No. 4. Radiologist

Average annual salary (2015):  $197,700*

Problem-solving importance level:  98

What they do:  Examine and interpret the results of a patient x-ray and communicate diagnostic information regarding diseases or disorders to patients and physicians.

*BLS includes this occupation under "Physicians and Surgeons, All Other.

No. 3. Neurologist

Average annual salary (2015):  $197,700*

What they do:  Physicians who diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and disorders of the brain and central-nervous system.

No. 2. Sports-medicine physician

Average annual salary (2015): $197,700*

What they do: Diagnose, treat, and help prevent sport-related injuries in athletes.

Education requirements: Bachelor's and master's degrees, follow by PhD or an MD.

Projected growth through 2024:  14%*

No. 1. Government-property inspector or investigator

Average annual salary (2015): $55,100*

Problem-solving importance level: 100

What they do:  Inspect government property to ensure that things are in order with contract agreements and government regulations.

Projected growth through 2024:  8%

*BLS includes this occupation under "Construction and Building Inspectors (state government)."

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25 in-demand jobs that require critical thinking and problem-solving skills  .

One of the most important competencies employers seek for a new hire is critical thinking/problem solving. According to a NACE job outlook survey, employers found their new hires were actually more proficient in competencies other than critical thinking in jobs that require problem solving.

Survey respondents rated the importance of critical thinking/problem solving as 4.62 on a scale of 5, with teamwork and professionalism ranking second and third at 4.556 and 4.46 respectively.

As a percentage, 99.2% of employers surveyed considered critical thinking as an essential skill, but rated just over half (55.8%) of their employees as proficient.

To become more proficient in critical thinking , here’s some advice on Indeed.com and other resources :

• Only accept new information after evaluating it thoroughly. Focus on primary sources and look for objective, quantifiable truth.
• In considering the source and any underlying agendas and biases/motivation that may be at the foundation.
• Ask the right questions , and know what kind of answers you are looking for.
• Learn the art of active listening with eye contact and appropriate body language.
• Save your follow-up questions for when the speaker is finished, and say thanks for the speaker’s time and attention.
• The Ultimate Guide To Critical Thinking
• Is Critical Thinking A Soft Skill Or Hard Skill?
• 5 Creative and Critical Thinking Examples In Workplace
• 10 Best Books On Critical Thinking And Problem Solving
• 12 Common Barriers To Critical Thinking (And How To Overcome Them)

Table of Contents

Applying for jobs that require critical and creative thinking

So, when applying for jobs that require critical thinking and problem-solving skills, your résumé and cover letter should highlight the following:

• Your observation skills—Observation skills are important to critical thinking, because observation is the way you receive and objectively process information.
• How well you can evaluate and analyze—That includes your skill to review information and draw educated inferences through technical review.
• How well you communicate—When you can clearly communicate your strategies and ideas, you can perform better at your job and strengthen your team.
• Your problem-solving skills—When you can objectively identify a problem or issue, you can arrive at solutions and outcomes.

So, with critical thinking and problem-solving skills, you will be in high demand in the post-pandemic economic recovery. There are thousands of jobs out there, and most require critical thinkers, who are ready to embark on a fulfilling career with great pay and opportunities for growth and advancement.

Read More: How To List Skills That I Taught Myself On Resume

A sampling of 25 jobs that require critical thinking and problem solving

The following is a sampling of jobs that require critical thinking listed in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook :

In-Demand Jobs that require critical thinking that have undergone “much faster than average” growth rate (The average rate of growth for all occupations is 8%):

Nurse practitioners.

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 393,300/45%

Entry-level education required: Master’s Degree

2021 Median pay: $123,780

Critical thinking skill for nurse practitioners: Working in a variety of healthcare settings, nurse practitioners provide a full range of health care in settings from hospital wards to local clinics. This is one of those high-stress jobs that require critical thinking.

Home health and personal care aides

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 4,600,600/33%

Entry-level education required: High school diploma or equivalent

2021 Median pay: $29,430

Critical thinking skill for home health and personal care aides:  Monitor the health condition of people with chronic illness or disabilities and assist them with their daily activities.

Statisticians

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 59,800/33%.

2021 Median pay: $95,280

Critical thinking skill for statisticians:  Analyze data and use computational techniques to solve problems. This is another one of the low-stress jobs for problem solvers.

Logisticians

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 247,400/30%           

Entry-level education required: Bachelor’s Degree

2021 Median pay: $77,030

Critical thinking skill for logisticians: Analyze, coordinate, and suggest improvements in an organization’s supply chain. This is an example of a group of low-stress jobs for problem solvers.

T our and travel guides

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 56,800/29%

Entry-level education required: High School Diploma or Equivalent

2021 Median pay: $29,780

Critical thinking skill for tour and travel guides:  Plan, organize, and arrange tailored vacation plans and sightseeing tours for clients.

Coaches and scouts

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 313,800/26%

2021 Median pay: $38,970

Critical thinking skill for coaches and scouts: Evaluate and teach amateur or pro athletes the skills they need to succeed and improve on past team performance.

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 34,500/24%

2021 Median Pay: $105,900

Critical thinking skill for actuaries: Use math and statistics to analyze risks and economic costs. Put this job in the category of best jobs for over-thinkers.

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 402,600/23%

2021 Median pay: $48,520

Critical thinking skill for substance abuse counselors: Diagnose substance abuse, behavioral disorders, and mental health problems and counsel patients accordingly.

Athletic trainers

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 37,000/23%

2021 Median pay: $498,420  

Critical thinking skill for athletic trainers: Prevent, diagnose, and treat muscle and bone injuries and illnesses.     

Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 2,257,400/22%        

2021 Median pay: $110,140

Critical thinking skill for software developers, etc.: Identify problems with software applications and report/correct defects.

Phlebotomists

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 158,400/22%

Entry-level education required: Postsecondary nondegree

2021 Median pay: $37,800

Critical thinking skill for phlebotomists: Draw blood from patients with attention to detail and empathy towards patients who may be uncomfortable.

Broadcast technicians

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 168,300/21%

Entry-level education required: Associates Degree

2021 Median pay: $49,050

Critical thinking skill for broadcast technicians: Set up, operate, maintain, and troubleshoot equipment for media programs .

Market research analysts and marketing specialists

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 904,500/22%

2021 Median pay: $63,920    

Critical thinking skill for market research analysts: Study market conditions and examine potential sales and service opportunities and upgrades.

Preschool teachers, except special education

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 556,000/18%           

Entry-level education required: Associates and Bachelor’s Degrees

2021 Median pay: $30,210

Critical thinking skill for preschool teachers:  Attend to the needs of younger children prior to their entering kindergarten.

Social and human service assistants

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 487,100/17%

Entry-level education required: High School Diploma or equivalent

2021 Median pay: $37,610

Critical thinking skill for social and human service assistants: Provide clients with tailored services to assist people in therapy or rehabilitation settings.

Financial managers

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 799,900/17%

2021 Median pay: $131,710

Critical thinking skill for financial managers: Create detailed financial reports and plan for the organization’s long-term financial goals.

Audiologists

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 15,800/16%

Entry-level education required: Doctoral or professional Degree

Number of jobs projected through 2030

2021 Median pay: $78,950

Critical thinking skill for audiologists:  Diagnose, manage, and treat patients experiencing hearing and balance problems.

In-Demand Jobs with a “faster than average” growth rate and jobs that require creativity and problem solving

Veterinarians.

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 101,300/17%

Entry-level education required: Doctoral or professional degree

2021 Median pay: $100,370

Critical thinking skills for veterinarians: diagnose, treat, and provide care for animals.

The foregoing is but a sample of high-demand jobs that require critical thinking. In fact, most jobs that require critical thinking and problem solving are in high demand.

Management analysts

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 1,032,000/14%

Entry-level education required: Bachelor’s degree

2021 Median pay: $93,000

Critical thinking skill for management analysts: Recommend ways for an organization to improve its operation and efficiency.

Education administrators, all other

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 56,900/13%

2021 Median pay: $90,560

Critical thinking skill for education administrators: Manage, administer, and prepare budgets and education syllabi in a variety of educational settings.

Postsecondary Teachers

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 1,433,600/12%

Entry-level education required: Master’s Degree or Ph.D.   

2021 Median pay: $79,640

Critical thinking skill for postsecondary teachers:  Prepare class syllabi and lesson plans with assessment methods to test student learning.

Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 168,700/11%           

Entry-level education required: On-the-job training and FAA approved technician training programs.

2021 Median pay: $65,550

Critical thinking skill for aircraft mechanics: Troubleshoot, repair, and perform scheduled maintenance on aircraft engines and supporting equipment.

Computer and information systems managers

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 534,700/11%           

2021 Median pay: $159,010

Critical thinking skill for computer systems manager:  Plan, coordinate, and oversee IT related activities in a variety of organizations.

Construction managers

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 499,400/11%

2021 Median pay: $98,890

Critical thinking skill for construction managers: Coordinate, plan, budget, and oversee construction projects from inception to completion.

Dietitians and nutritionists

Number of jobs projected through 2030/percent growth from 2020: 73,000/11%

2021 Median pay: $61,650

Critical thinking skill for dietitians: Plan and implement food service and nutritional programs in a variety of settings .

• How To Promote Critical Thinking In The Workplace
• Critical Thinking vs Problem Solving: What’s the Difference?
• What Is The Role Of Communication In Critical Thinking?  
• Brainstorming: Techniques Used To Boost Critical Thinking and Creativity
• 11 Principles Of Critical Thinking  
• 21 High-paying Jobs Nobody Wants
• The Truth About Working in Finance (And the Common Misconceptions)

Jenny Palmer

Founder of Eggcellentwork.com. With over 20 years of experience in HR and various roles in corporate world, Jenny shares tips and advice to help professionals advance in their careers. Her blog is a go-to resource for anyone looking to improve their skills, land their dream job, or make a career change.

Further Reading...

How To Identify A False or Unfair Performance Improvement Plan (and How To Respond)  

36 Career Tips and 180 Career Inspirational Quotes to Unlock Your Success

Feeling Insecure After Career Switch? Here’s How to Deal With It

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Is Critical Thinking Overrated?  Disadvantages Of Critical Thinking

Brainstorming: techniques used to boost critical thinking and creativity  .

13 Best Jobs for Problem Solvers (High Paying)

• September 27, 2023

Searching for high-paying jobs that let you flex your problem-solving muscles?

We’ve got a collection of exciting careers that not only pay well but are all about tackling challenges head-on. If you love solving problems and want a hefty paycheck, these jobs are for you.

What Makes a Good Job for Problem Solvers?

We narrowed down jobs that:

• Involve analytical thinking and strategy
• Have a work setting where every day is different
• Require quick decision-making in high-stakes situations
• Let you work on projects from conception to completion
• Give you a say in shaping the outcome

Best Jobs for Problem Solvers

Sure, some of the jobs on this list might ask for a college degree but don’t fret if you’re missing that piece of paper. Many of these jobs offer great pay, even if you’ve gained expertise through experience or certifications.

So, enough chit-chat. Let’s dive right into our top picks for jobs perfect for problem solvers.

1. Air Traffic Controller

Average salary: $67,020

An Air Traffic Controller directs and organizes the flow of aircraft on the ground and in the sky, ensuring safe operations.

Job duties:

• Coordinate aircraft takeoffs and landings
• Monitor and direct flight paths
• Provide real-time updates to pilots
• Handle emergency situations
• Manage air traffic within control zones

Job requirements:

• FAA Air Traffic Pre-Employment Test
• At least 3 years of progressively responsible work experience
• Age under 31 when applying
• U.S. citizenship
• Ability to prioritize tasks rapidly
• Quick decision-making under pressure

2. Sales Engineer

Average salary: $77,247

A Sales Engineer, also known as a Solutions Engineer or Technical Sales Engineer, combines technical knowledge with sales skills to provide advice and support on a range of products.

• Explain complex technical concepts to customers
• Develop and deliver product demonstrations
• Collaborate with sales teams
• Create customized solutions
• Analyze market trends and customer needs
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field
• 2-5 years of experience in a technical role
• Familiarity with CRM software
• Strong negotiation skills
• Ability to explain complex concepts clearly
• Strong presentation skills

3. Ethical Hacker

Average salary: $106,617

An Ethical Hacker, also known as a White Hat Hacker or Penetration Tester, intentionally probes computer systems for security vulnerabilities.

• Identify security flaws in systems
• Conduct penetration tests
• Simulate cyber attacks
• Report findings
• Offer remediation strategies
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) or Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
• 2+ years experience in cybersecurity
• Familiarity with programming languages like Python or C++
• Strong understanding of networking
• Good report-writing skills

4. Quality Assurance Manager

Average salary: $107,316

A Quality Assurance Manager, sometimes just called a QA Manager, oversees the quality of products or services in a company.

• Inspect products for defects
• Manage QA team
• Enforce quality standards
• Audit processes
• Report to higher-ups
• 3+ years of QA experience
• Strong grasp of QA methodologies
• Ability to manage a team
• Strong attention to detail

5. Business Intelligence Analyst

Average salary: $102,648

A Business Intelligence Analyst, also known as a BI Analyst, translates data into actionable insights for a company.

• Analyze business data
• Create data visualizations
• Forecast trends
• Generate reports
• Recommend strategies
• Proficiency in SQL
• 2+ years in data analysis
• Familiarity with BI tools like Tableau
• Good communication skills

6. Product Manager

Average salary: $165,818

A Product Manager, sometimes abbreviated as PM, drives the strategy, roadmap, and execution of a product.

• Define product goals
• Develop product roadmap
• Prioritize features
• Coordinate with dev teams
• Analyze user feedback
• 2+ years in product management
• Familiarity with Agile methodology
• Strong leadership skills
• Good problem-solving abilities

7. Logistics Coordinator

Average salary: $42,690

A Logistics Coordinator manages the supply chain, from vendor relationships to product delivery.

• Track shipments
• Coordinate deliveries
• Liaise with vendors
• Monitor inventory
• Resolve shipping issues
• Familiarity with logistics software
• Time management skills

8. Acoustic Consultant

Average salary: $120,619

An Acoustic Consultant analyzes sound and vibration to optimize acoustics, often for construction or entertainment settings.

• Measure noise levels
• Analyze data
• Recommend changes
• Develop sound profiles
• Consult with clients
• Bachelor’s degree in Acoustical Engineering or Physics
• Experience with acoustic measurement tools
• Data analysis skills
• Basic understanding of construction or architectural design
• Good listening skills

9. Fraud Investigator

Average salary: $67,347

A Fraud Investigator looks into suspicious activities to identify and prevent fraud; also known as a forensic investigator.

• Collect evidence
• Interview suspects
• Write reports
• Collaborate with law enforcement
• Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice or related field
• Experience in investigative work
• Basic accounting skills
• Strong communication skills
• Solid attention to detail

10. UX Designer

Average salary: $95,572

A UX Designer focuses on user experience design to make products more user-friendly.

• Sketch wireframes
• Develop prototypes
• Conduct user tests
• Analyze feedback
• Collaborate with developers
• Portfolio showcasing UX design work
• Familiarity with design software like Sketch or Figma
• Understanding of basic HTML and CSS

11. Disaster Recovery Specialist

Average salary: $78,723

A Disaster Recovery Specialist plans and implements strategies for dealing with emergencies and natural disasters, sometimes known as crisis management professionals.

• Assess risks
• Create plans
• Train staff
• Coordinate drills
• Manage emergencies
• Update recovery strategies
• Professional certifications in disaster recovery
• Knowledge of federal and state regulations
• Strong leadership abilities
• Ability to make quick decisions
• Good at multitasking

12. Private Investigator

Average salary: $54,578

A Private Investigator, often called a PI or detective, conducts surveillance and gathers information for clients.

• Conduct surveillance
• Gather evidence
• Interview people
• Verify facts
• Handle confidential data
• State-issued license for private investigation
• Prior experience in a similar role
• Basic tech-savvy skills for data retrieval
• Strong observational abilities
• Good written and verbal communication
• Adaptability to varied work environments

13. Technical Writer

Average salary: $76,519

A Technical Writer translates complex technical language into easily digestible documents, also known as documentation specialists.

• Research topics
• Write manuals
• Edit drafts
• Collaborate with tech teams
• Update existing documents
• Review quality
• Experience with specific industry jargon
• Basic understanding of the technology being documented
• Good research skills
• Ability to work under tight deadlines
• Teamwork and collaboration skills

See, There Are Careers for Problem Solvers!

From Air Traffic Controller to Business Intelligence Analyst, this roster is packed with rewarding opportunities for those who love tackling challenges.

Got a favorite on the list? We’d love to hear your thoughts, so drop a comment.

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High-Paying Careers Without a Degree

A college degree is an investment in one’s future. However, this is not necessarily the right educational path for every student as not everyone can afford the cost of a university degree. The good news is that even if you don’t have a degree, you can still get a well-paying job. 

There are many companies that offer high-paying jobs to applicants with only a high school diploma, GED, or training certificate. To qualify for these jobs, all you need is the right skills and experience. In this article, we will discuss the best careers you can access without a degree .

Find your bootcamp match

What skills do you need to land a high-paying career without a degree, business knowledge.

Business knowledge comes in handy regardless of the career path you choose. Understanding the needs of the customers and how you can use your skills to meet them is crucial. To design and implement the best products and services, you must also be familiar with common business practices in your industry. Likewise, you must be aware of the internal and external factors that may impact the company and be ready to adapt to them.

Technological Savviness

Even if you are not in the tech industry, understanding software, hardware, and the Internet is necessary for most jobs. Companies rely on a wide range of technology solutions to operate and this means that their employees must be comfortable using computers and other hardware to communicate with colleagues and complete other tasks.

Communication

Verbal and written communication, as well as listening abilities, are key assets for any modern employee. Excellent communication skills help you express your thoughts clearly and concisely, avoiding confusion and misunderstanding with your colleagues. Recruiters look for these skills in most job candidates.

Organization and Multitasking

Being able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and complete them on time is another skill that will put you above other candidates. Candidates that are adept at setting priorities, meeting deadlines, and achieving project goals have a much higher chance of getting the job.

Likewise, recruiters look for employees with leadership and team management skills. If you are able to develop an effective plan of action and can resolve problems quickly, you are much more likely to be offered the job.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 

Critical thinking entails making sound judgments and devising solutions for any problem at hand. In most workplaces, you are likely to encounter unexpected situations that require advanced analytical skills. It is critical that you are aware of your surroundings, ask pertinent questions, and can come up with creative solutions.

What Education Do You Need to Get a Good Career?

A higher education, such as obtaining a master’s degree or a doctorate, will open the door to high positions across a wide range of industries, including engineering, medicine, healthcare, and education. 

Luckily, you don’t have to spend years in school or pay exorbitant tuition fees to secure your future. There are many great job opportunities that don’t require a university degree, particularly in tech, customer service, and hospitality, among other industries. These positions provide a competitive salary, good benefits, and professional development.

To access many of these jobs, all you need is the right combination of technical skills, expert knowledge, and work experience. Below, we show you a few of these profitable careers that do not require a four-year degree.

Why College Is Not for Everyone

The most common reason students are unable to attend college is financial constraints. While there are many financial aid options and scholarships available to help young people afford college, some choose alternative educational paths for various reasons.

Some students may be interested in pursuing a career in sports, music, dance, or painting. Some rather invest their time and resources in developing and exploring their talents than obtaining a college degree. These people usually pursue their passion while working part-time to support themselves.

Although college is a good way to prepare for your future career, it is not for everyone. Every student has different educational needs, and for some attending college is simply not the right option. The good news is that even without a four-year degree, you can still have a stable job and a good life. There are numerous education alternatives that can help you get a lucrative and rewarding job.

Can a Coding Bootcamp Help Me Get a Lucrative Career?

Enrolling at a coding bootcamp can be a stepping stone to some of the best careers out there. Many tech industry professionals don’t have a college degree. In fact, hiring managers in this sector often prioritize proven hands-on experience in the field over educational credentials. Coding bootcamps can be the ideal avenue to secure this hands-on training.

Seventy-four percent to 90 percent of coding bootcamp students get a job within six months of graduation. This is a very high job placement rate and makes coding bootcamps an attractive option for anyone looking to join the workforce fast. 

How to Get a High-Paying Job with a GED

Enhance your skills.

The skills you bring to the table will determine whether or not you get the job. Your skills should prove to the recruiters that you are the best fit for the position you are applying for. Enrolling in short courses, bootcamps, or certificate programs can help you learn and acquire the necessary skills. Look for training centers that offer programs in the field you want to work in. 

Get Work Experience

Employers are looking for candidates with demonstrated hands-on experience, particularly for job postings that do not require a specific degree. Internships and apprenticeships can provide you with hands-on experience. You can also apply for entry-level positions to gain work experience.

Prepare Your Application Documents

To apply for any job, you will need to put together a strong resume and cover letter. Depending on the position, you may also need to submit certifications and a portfolio of your work. Your portfolio should include your best projects in the field to demonstrate that you are the best candidate for the job. 

Grow Your Network

Your professional network can open many job opportunities. As you advance in your career, it is important to connect with different professionals and companies to grow your network. Classmates, teachers, instructors, and former colleagues can all be part of your professional network.

Look for a Job

After acquiring the required skills and growing your professional network, you are finally ready to begin applying for jobs. Job boards such as Glassdoor and Indeed are excellent places to look for openings. Before submitting your application, read the job description carefully.

High-Paying Careers Without a College Degree

*Figure taken from the BLS page for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers

Best Careers That Don’t Require a Degree: A Closer Look

Web Developers

Web developers create, program, update, and maintain websites to ensure they are reliable, functional, and secure. To be a good developer, you should be well-versed in web development and have hands-on experience with programming languages such as HTML, Python, JavaScript, and CSS.

The demand for web developers is increasing as more businesses use websites for advertising and product promotion. A bachelor’s degree is not always required for this position, but practical experience is highly desirable. You can learn the programming languages used in web development by enrolling in the best coding bootcamps .

Administrative Assistants

Administrative assistants perform tasks such as data entry, file sorting and management, answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, and responding to customer inquiries. Some of the most popular admin assistant positions are executive assistants and virtual assistants. Employers often require excellent communication skills, organizational skills, computer skills, and time management skills.

Most companies that hire administrative assistants require a GED or a high school diploma, but some prefer applicants with associate degrees. You can also obtain certificates from training programs to improve your chances of getting hired.

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For those who are passionate about writing, there are numerous opportunities available. Companies hire writers to create content that promotes their products and services. Some of the duties and responsibilities of writers include researching and gathering appropriate information for content, as well as writing, editing, and proofreading articles, and creating user guides.

Writing job postings typically require at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication or Journalism, but employers will consider applicants with strong writing skills even if they do not have a degree. A strong portfolio and a blog site that showcases some of your best work will be extremely beneficial in your job application.

Real Estate Agents

Real estate agents work with real estate brokers to assist their clients in marketing, selling, or purchasing a property. They must have strong marketing skills, excellent communication skills, and active listening skills, as well as integrity and a strong work ethic. A bachelor’s degree is not required to be a real estate agent, but you must obtain your license. Real estate agents are usually paid in commissions.

Software Developers

Software developers design and develop software programs such as mobile apps and games. They create software solutions to meet the needs of the clients. The software development industry is growing in popularity, and many companies are looking for software developers. To qualify for this position, you must have strong knowledge of software engineering and hands-on experience with programming languages such as C and Python. 

Employers often require a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology or Computer Science for this position, but some recruiters prefer applicants with relevant experience. You can learn software development by enrolling in the best coding bootcamps that offer a variety of short courses and training. With strong skills, you can earn over 80K without a degree in this role.

Digital Marketers

Digital marketing uses the internet to promote products or services. This can be social media marketing, email marketing, and content marketing. More companies are taking advantage of technology to advertise their products. To become a successful digital marketer , you must have strong marketing and research skills, as well as creativity and tech-savviness.

Although a bachelor’s or graduate degree in marketing or a related field may be required for this position, you may still be qualified if you have digital marketing skills. To make your job application stand out, you must use your portfolio to showcase your skills and best experiences.  Digital marketers earn an average annual salary of $54,672, according to ZipRecruiter. 

DevOps Engineers

DevOps engineers create and implement development tools for process automation. They should be knowledgeable in automation with excellent programming skills and have an eye for detail and experience working with operating systems such as Linux. They should also have strong problem-solving skills. DevOps job growth continues to rise as more companies hire DevOps engineers.

According to PayScale, DevOps engineers earn an average annual wage of $97,090. Recruiters typically require a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering or similar fields, but a certificate of training from a coding bootcamp or short courses can be considered. Even if you don’t have a degree, you can still learn DevOps principles by enrolling at bootcamps.

Agricultural Managers

Agricultural managers run agricultural facilities. They supervise farmers and keep financial records and other important documents. They are also in charge of marketing and sales and ensure that the farm complies with government health and safety policies. Agricultural managers earn an average annual salary of $61,897, according to ZipRecruiter.

While careers in this industry often require a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering, agricultural managers do not have specific qualifications and can be hired with only a high school diploma. The most critical requirement for this career is that applicants have prior experience working in local farms.

Health and Personal Care Aides

Personal care aides or health aides assist and help patients with disabilities or chronic illnesses with their daily activities. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, this career is in high demand in the healthcare industry, with a job outlook of 33 percent. 

A high school diploma and a personal care assistance (PCA) training certificate are frequently required for this career. Personal care aides are typically employed in nursing homes or at the patient’s residence.

Electronics Repairers

Electronic repairers are primarily responsible for troubleshooting and repairing electronic devices or electrical equipment. Electronics repairers must be well-versed in electronics, have extensive knowledge of hardware tools, and have strong analytical and problem-solving skills. They earn an average wage of $32,947, according to ZipRecruiter. This position requires at least an associate degree or a diploma from a vocational school. 

Companies That Offer Entry-Level High-Paying Jobs

• Amazon . This company offers a wide range of entry-level jobs from multiple industries such as information technology, software development, operations management, content writing, finance, and marketing. 
• IBM . IBM has many career opportunities for beginners such as developers, data scientists, designers, marketing professionals, and product managers. 
• RingCentral. You can apply for an entry-level position at RingCentral in different industries such as marketing, business development, and software engineering. 
• Spectrum . This company offers entry-level jobs in customer service, sales management, and technician positions. 
• Epsilon . If you want to work remotely, you’ll find many job opportunities at Epsilon. This company hires software engineers, developers, and analysts. 

Where to Find the Best Careers That Don’t Require a Degree

This job site has many job openings from all over the world that do not require a degree. Indeed advertises jobs in various industries, including engineering, information technology, business, healthcare, and customer service.

Employers also take advantage of social media to find the best candidates. Facebook has also grown in popularity as a platform for job posting. Many Facebook groups post job openings and assist job seekers in connecting with potential clients.

Freelance Websites

Freelancing and remote work have become more common nowadays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Freelancing provides a variety of high-paying jobs that are ideal for professional development. Remote jobs include software engineer, writer, web developer, and customer support representative.

Consider a College Degree Later in Your Career

Even if you don’t have a degree, many career opportunities are available to you. All you need to do is work hard to develop the skills required for the type of job that you are interested in. Many employers nowadays place a higher value on skills and experience than academic qualifications.

You can always consider enrolling in a college degree later in your career, once you have saved enough to afford the costs associated with a university degree. Earning a college degree later in your career will give you access to higher positions and a bigger salary. Fortunately, nowadays there are many online degrees that adapt to your schedule, no matter how busy it is. 

Best Careers Without a Degree FAQ

Yes, you can qualify for a good job as long as you have the skills that employers are looking for.

To get a job without a degree, you need to improve your skills and gain experience in the field. You should also make sure you have a strong resume and portfolio.

Yes, it is hard to get a job without a degree. Even people with advanced degrees struggle to find a job. However, if you have the right skills and experience, you should be able to land a job in your field with enough effort and determination.

No, you don’t need a degree to enter the tech industry. Many tech jobs require skills and experience that can be obtained through bootcamps and short courses.

About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication .

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Software Developers, Lawyers, and 11 Other Occupations That Demand Frequent Problem-Solving

May 4, 2023

Only about 14% of civilian workers have to solve problems on a daily basis, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics . But some jobs are all about problem-solving.

Looking at the BLS 2022 data, ClickUp found that software developers, executives, and lawyers are among the top 13 jobs that demand the most frequent problem-solving. Occupations on the list are ranked by the estimated percentage of workers in each job who had to solve problems more than once per day.

Over 100 jobs were reviewed in the analysis, and only those where more than half of the workers problem-solved multiple times daily made the rankings. Nearly half of the jobs on the list involve management responsibilities. 

Management positions come with many problem-solving requirements because of the need to oversee people and processes; define goals and break them down into smaller, assignable tasks; and make resource management decisions based on theory and data.

Employers value problem-solving in the workplace because workers with these skills are better able to overcome challenges independently, suggest new ideas and improve processes , and save the company and its customers time and money.

Focusing on and developing advanced, nuanced, and quick-reaction problem-solving skills might even help insulate, to a degree, some knowledge-based professionals from the most disruptive effects of artificial intelligence and automation technologies.

The MIT Sloan Management Review found the most likely skills to be automated are those that can be “standardized and codified.” The research noted that tasks requiring physical or real-time resolution typically had lower automation rates. That was due to the fact that creating tools that can handle the unpredictability of those tasks is either too expensive, involves too much work, or may not yet be technologically achievable.

Problem-solving is a skill that can be practiced and honed. There is a wide array of literature and coursework available for learning established methods of problem-solving, with specialties in topics like parallel thinking, decomposition, research, and analysis. Even practicing word and logic puzzles as a leisure activity can help hone problem-solving skills.

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO RESOURCE ALLOCATION Understand the ins and outs of resource allocation to maximize productivity and efficiency with this handy guide.

13. Electrical engineers

12. transportation, storage, and distribution managers, 11. computer and information systems managers, 10. architectural and engineering managers, 9. k-12 education administrators, 8. natural sciences managers, 7. software developers, 6. physicists, 5. chief executives, 4. nurse practitioners, 3. personal financial advisors, 1. podiatrists, enhance your problem-solving skills and boost your management efficiency with clickup.

• Share of workers who problem-solve more than once per day : 51.7%
• Nationwide employment : 186,020 (1.32 per 1,000 jobs)

Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and maintain electrical systems and components. They may identify problems, design circuitry and other parts, and create prototypes to test their solutions. And they can encounter surprises.

For instance, in 1945, Percy Lebaron Spencer, an electrical engineer for Raytheon, was working on radar equipment and noticed a candy bar in his pocket melted. Applying critical thinking and problem-solving skills, he devised a series of tests, observations, and experiments, ultimately inventing the microwave oven.

Hands-on experience and professional development help electrical engineers develop their analytical and critical thinking skills. Participating in professional associations can also assist in the development of their communication and teamwork abilities, allowing them to collaborate effectively with their colleagues and clients .

• Share of workers who problem-solve more than once per day : 52.6%
• Nationwide employment : 144,640 (1.027 per 1,000 jobs)

Transportation, storage, and distribution managers are involved in the planning, directing, and coordinating of transportation, storage, and distribution activities.

These logistics professionals must organize and manage the work of subordinates, effectively use analytical and inventory software, evaluate and act on data and reports, and communicate and collaborate with other departments.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a nonstop series of problems to solve for transportation, storage, and distribution managers, who have had to deal with demand spikes, driver shortages, and soaring warehouse costs. Now rising inflation and cooling demand are going to send their own series of problems through the pipeline in the reverse direction.

Staying on top of important data, such as changing regulations, weather, software innovations, and tariffs are some of the steps transportation, storage, and distribution managers take to be better prepared to problem-solve. Obtaining certificates and pursuing coursework in supply chain management and other related fields of study are also beneficial for practicing and developing key problem-solving skills.

• Share of workers who problem-solve more than once per day : 54.0%
• Nationwide employment : 485,190 (3.444 per 1,000 jobs)

Computer and information systems managers are responsible for the planning and coordinating of computer-related activities within their organization. High levels of technical expertise, as well as people management skills, are required to be effective.

Duties for computer and information systems managers can include managing all of the organization’s personnel who are relevant to its computer systems, as well as consulting with end users and stakeholders to ensure computing plans align with organizational goals.

Staying current with the latest research and technology is an important step in preparation for becoming a better problem-solver as a computer and information system manager so that you are up to speed on current best practices when it is time to make or advise a decision. 

Another way to improve problem-solving skills is to hold routine meetings and solicit team feedback as a way to work on communication skills and ensure expectations and issues are being clearly understood and acted on.

• Share of workers who problem-solve more than once per day : 54.6%
• Nationwide employment : 187,100 (1.328 per 1,000 jobs)

Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in the fields of architecture and engineering, according to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook . For instance, they might oversee a construction and renovation project, develop and present project proposals and bids, and oversee the recruiting of staff for design and engineering teams.

Architectural and engineering managers need to be able to effectively lead and inspire their teams. They must also strictly adhere to project deadlines and exhibit superior written and oral communication skills, all of which require advanced problem-solving abilities.

To be better prepared as a problem-solver, architectural and engineering managers attend design showcases to examine the work of other professionals, take advantage of continuing education opportunities, and seize opportunities to gain further field experience.

Bonus: Project Management Software for Engineering

SOFTWARE FOR MANAGING YOUR ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTS Discover the right project management software for architects to ensure smooth operation of your projects.

• Share of workers who problem-solve more than once per day : 54.8%
• Nationwide employment : 274,710 (1.95 per 1,000 jobs)

K-12 education administrators plan, direct, and coordinate the academic, administrative, or auxiliary activities of kindergarten, elementary, and secondary schools, according to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Whether managing teachers, helping students navigate curriculum challenges, or overseeing facility improvements, elementary administrators are constantly solving problems. And they’re expected to create “accurate, rapid, effective and accepted solutions,” depending on their visions “and school development programs,” according to a 2010 study .

Being an effective school administrator requires practice in building positive relationships, putting colleagues and families first, and using strategies to diffuse conflict and stressful situations. 

Participating in research opportunities, attending seminars and classes, and joining professional educational groups are all ways to stay current with the latest problem-solving tools and trends in the field.

• Share of workers who problem-solve more than once per day : 56.4%
• Nationwide employment : 74,760 (0.531 per 1,000 jobs)

Natural sciences managers are involved in supervising the work of scientists, including chemists, physicists, and biologists, according to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. These workers are in charge of activities that relate to research and development and coordinate testing, quality control, and production.

Natural sciences managers must use their highly developed research and scientific observation skills, and harness those of their direct reports, to uncover answers to complex technical issues.

Workers in this role are expected to perform functions like developing strategies and research projects; interviewing, hiring, and directing scientists, technicians, and support personnel; and administrative duties.

Because science moves so rapidly, natural science managers must constantly read and stay current with the latest developments so they have the knowledge and latest best practices to apply to their work. Attending health fairs, publishing papers, and working with a scientific mentor are some ways natural sciences managers build the skills and knowledge needed to be successful problem-solvers.

• Share of workers who problem-solve more than once per day : 58.4%
• Nationwide employment : 1,364,180 (9.683 per 1,000 jobs)

Software developers are in charge of analyzing users’ needs and designing and developing software to meet those needs, according to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. They design every part of an application or system and coordinate how each will work together.

Computer science itself is the study of problem-solving, so problem-solving skills are baked into all aspects of being a software developer. When designing and implementing code, troubleshooting and bug squashing, and communicating accurately and effectively within and between teams, software developers are problem-solving mavens.

Software developers hone their problem-solving skills through on-the-job experience, obtaining additional certifications and credentials, and staying current with rapid industry developments. Outside of their core job functions, they might contribute code to open source projects, participate in coding challenges and hackathons, or volunteer their time with nonprofit groups focused on building software solutions to civic challenges, such as Code for America.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AGILE Explore this hub of articles, guides and blueprints to understand Agile methodologies for software teams .

• Share of workers who problem-solve more than once per day : 60.3%
• Nationwide employment : 20,020 (0.142 per 1,000 jobs)

Physicists are scientists who study the interactions of matter and energy. Whether tackling climate change, hunting for new subatomic particles, or figuring out how to make a chocolate cake mix rise faster, physicists are solving problems all around us. 

From the epic to the everyday, physicists use step-by-step approaches, apply past solutions to new problems, diagram procedures, and verify results.

Physicists prepare themselves to be problem-solvers by drilling into the fundamentals of their field, learning and practicing problem-solving strategies, and participating in professional organizations. They may also tackle physics word problems and brain teasers in their free time and then share solutions and strategies with colleagues.

• Share of workers who problem-solve more than once per day : 61.8%
• Nationwide employment : 200,480 (1.423 per 1,000 jobs)

Top executives plan strategies and policies to ensure an organization meets its goals, according to the BLS, which includes coordinating and directing the company and organization activities.

Recognizing gaps between where an organization is and its goals—and devising and implementing solutions, often in real time—is core to the role of an executive. 

Putting structures in place to develop new products, overcoming budget shortfalls, keeping pace with the competition, navigating regulations, and managing the personalities and career growth of staff are all types of problems executives need to solve.

Executives take training and development programs to improve their problem-solving and management skills. They may volunteer their management expertise to a nonprofit or become a mentor to a more junior manager. Executives attend conferences and workshops and stay current on their industry news to expand their skills, including problem-solving.

• Share of workers who problem-solve more than once per day : 62.4%
• Nationwide employment : 234,690 (1.666 per 1,000 jobs)

Nurse practitioners diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a health care team, according to the BLS, and may focus on health promotion and disease prevention. They may be involved with ordering, performing, or interpreting lab work and X-rays, and can prescribe medication.

Nurses are called upon to apply their diverse knowledge to handle various situations during their shifts in a constantly changing environment. They might apply a solution from one set of patients to another. 

For example, one nurse described how a pain medication that worked for diabetic patients with neuropathy helped an amputation patient suffering from deep nerve pain who wasn’t responding well to traditional opioids.

Health care providers who stay on top of the most recent research report better patient outcomes. Nurse practitioners can use an evidence-based approach to apply a systematic process to review, analyze, and translate to the real world the latest health care and scientific evidence. Training, conferences, and social media also provide other sources of information to sharpen skills and knowledge.

• Share of workers who problem-solve more than once per day : 67.1%
• Nationwide employment : 263,030 (1.867 per 1,000 jobs)

Personal financial advisors assess their clients’ financial needs and advise them on investment decisions and navigating tax laws and insurance, according to the BLS. They help their clients with short- and long-term goals, like saving for college and retirement.

Saving for retirement in an environment with rising interest rates, coping with soaring college costs, and deciding what to do with the proceeds of a house sale are some of the issues that might come up for the clients of a personal financial advisor, which require tailored solutions.

In each case, personal financial advisors define their client’s problems, identify the causes, explore and decide on solutions , and implement them, according to Vesticor Advisors Managing Director Michael Sciortino.

Certifications—like certified financial planner, chartered financial analyst, or chartered financial consultant—or professional development courses can improve personal financial advisors’ hard skills and provide structured opportunities to learn and apply proven problem-solving strategies.

Participating in a pro bono program through a professional organization allows an advisor to apply their knowledge to help individuals, families, and communities in need while getting additional opportunities to practice tackling new and pressing problems.

• Share of workers who problem-solve more than once per day : 68.1%
• Nationwide employment : 681,010 (4.834 per 1,000 jobs)

Advising and representing individuals, businesses, and government agencies on legal issues and disputes are some of the main obligations of lawyers.

Lawyers must research and analyze legal problems and provide advice to their clients. They evaluate all manner of legal decisions—such as weighing the pros and cons of filing for a judgment versus offering a settlement in a case—negotiate contracts, and respond to cease and desist letters. Problem-solving is so key to the legal profession that it was placed at the top of an American Bar Association’s report on fundamental skills for lawyers, even before legal analysis.

Lawyers prepare to be problem-solvers by being active listeners, zeroing in on the details of a case, and reading up on the latest cases and legal strategies. Specialized problem-solving workshops, exercises, role-plays, and simulations— sometimes organized through professional societies —are other ways lawyers can develop their skills.

• Share of workers who problem-solve more than once per day : 85.5%
• Nationwide employment : 8,840 (0.063 per 1,000 jobs)

Podiatrists provide medical and surgical care for people with foot, ankle, and lower leg problems, according to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Patients come to their podiatrists presenting problems such as heel pain, bunions, ingrown toenails, and issues with gait and walking. Podiatrists listen to and diagnose the issue and prescribe solutions depending on what’s needed, such as orthotics, medical creams, or physical therapy.

Podiatrists sharpen their problem-solving skills by practicing and learning new and established methodologies for diagnosis and attending training sessions and conferences. They also practice regularly and seek feedback from patients and colleagues to improve their techniques and patient outcomes.

In today’s fast-paced business world, being an effective problem-solver is crucial for any role, especially management or leadership. Fortunately, there are various tools available to help you streamline your work and manage your tasks efficiently.

ClickUp, in particular, is an exceptional project management tool that can help you stay organized and achieve your goals. With ClickUp, you can easily track your progress, collaborate with your team members, and take corrective action whenever necessary.

Give ClickUp a try for free and take your management efficiency to the next level!

Guest Writer: Ben Popken

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The Hechinger Report

Covering Innovation & Inequality in Education

What if we hired for skills, not degrees?

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This story is a part of our Map to the Middle Class project, in which readers ask questions about educational pathways to financial stability and then we investigate. This question comes from Susanna Williams: Jobs don’t require college degrees. Employers do. Why do employers ask for college degrees as a qualification? To submit your question or vote on our next topic, click here .

BOSTON — Ryan Tillman-French sat at his seventh-floor desk early on a Thursday morning, the skyscrapers of downtown Boston crowding the windows behind him.

On a laptop in the nearly empty office, he worked on code for a webpage he was developing for his employer, the learning materials company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. In half an hour, he needed to join a conference call about changes to the company’s website.

He had been at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for four months. Coding he liked. Meetings, not so much.

“That’s one thing I wasn’t warned about when it comes to the corporate world,” he said. “So many meetings.”

Tillman-French, 26, grew up in a Detroit neighborhood where few people around him had jobs. He received an associate degree, hoping to eventually get a bachelor’s and work as a financial adviser. Instead, he bounced from one unfulfilling job to the next in the hospitality and restaurant industries. In the fall of 2017, he moved to Boston and enrolled in a community college, planning to transfer to a four-year program.

One day, a friend forwarded an email about Resilient Coders, a boot camp that trains people of color for web development and software engineering jobs. On a lark, Tillman-French went to a Resilient Coders hackathon, and the passionate staff there sold him on the opportunity. After he finished the 14-week program, he said, he had over two dozen interviews. Three employers asked him back. Only Houghton Mifflin Harcourt made an offer.

Several years ago, Tillman-French’s résumé would likely have ended up in the trash. Until last summer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt screened out web developer applicants who lacked a four-year degree.

“For decades, at many companies that I worked for, I wasn’t allowed to hire unless somebody had a four-year degree.”

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt wasn’t alone in that practice. The previous decade saw a spike in the number of job listings requiring a bachelor’s degree, even for so-called middle-skills jobs — think executive secretaries, production supervisors, IT help-desk workers — that have traditionally been filled by workers with an associate degree or less. Analysts say that this “degree inflation,” as they call it, has shrunk opportunities for upward mobility for Americans without four-year degrees.

But now some workforce organizations, researchers and regional civic leaders are pushing back — persuading companies to look beyond academic credentials and to instead hire people based on their skills. A growing number of businesses are listening. In the past few years, Apple, Google, IBM and other high-profile companies have stripped the bachelor’s degree requirement from many of their positions.

If this movement continues to gather steam, researchers say, it could aid not only individual job seekers but also the U.S. economy by helping businesses hold onto workers and by boosting the middle class.

Degree inflation

In 2014, the labor market analysis firm Burning Glass Technologies tried to capture the extent of degree inflation. The firm compared the percentage of people in a given occupation (say, executive assistant) who have a bachelor’s degree with the percentage of job listings for that occupation requiring a bachelor’s degree.

“Who you have working for you and who you want to have working for you in the future aren’t always the same,” said Burning Glass CEO Matthew Sigelman.

“Who you have working for you and who you want to have working for you in the future aren’t always the same.”

Sigelman found that 19 percent of current executive assistants had a bachelor’s degree, but that 65 percent of job listings for the position asked for one — a “credentials gap” of 46 percent. In surveying broader groups of occupations, Burning Glass found a credentials gap of 26 percent for management jobs, 21 percent for computer and math jobs and 13 percent for sales jobs.

In late 2017, a research project led by the Harvard Business School, a workforce organization called Grads of Life and the consulting firm Accenture concluded in a report, “Dismissed by Degrees,” that employers “appear to be closing off their access to the two-thirds of the U.S. workforce that does not have a four-year college degree.” The researchers estimated that 6.2 million jobs were at risk of degree inflation. They cited research showing that the proportion of job listings requiring a four-year degree increased by more than 10 percentage points from 2007 to 2010.

That timespan should look familiar: The Great Recession lasted from December 2007 to June 2009 . Unemployment spiked, and employers stocked up on college graduates without having to pay a premium in wages. “Some of that is legitimate, where the job is getting more technical,” said “Dismissed by Degrees” co-author Joe Fuller, a Harvard Business School professor. But employers want more than technical skills; they want characteristics like attention to detail, problem solving, working with a team. “One of the major reasons degree inflation is so common is because employers use it as proxy for those kinds of soft skills,” Fuller said.

Related: Out of poverty, into the middle class

Using a four-year degree as a proxy for employability shuts out the most economically vulnerable job seekers. It hurts employers, too, Fuller and his Harvard colleague, researcher Manjari Raman, found in their report. Degree-holders command an 11 to 30 percent wage premium yet fail to justify that premium in productivity and other outcomes. It takes longer to fill jobs when filtering for four-year degrees, and degree-holders change jobs more quickly. Nonetheless, according to Harvard’s survey of 600 business and human resource leaders, 61 percent of respondents reported tossing resumes without four-year degrees, even if the applicant was qualified.

63 percent — Percent of business and HR leaders in a recent survey who had trouble filling middle-skills jobs

That survey also revealed that 63 percent of respondents had trouble filling middle-skills jobs. Andy Van Kleunen, CEO of the National Skills Coalition, attributed that trouble to public policies that push bachelor’s degrees as a one-size-fits-all solution rather than training workers for specific middle-skill positions. The National Skills Coalition, which lobbies policymakers and employers to invest in workers’ skills, wants federal Pell Grants to be available not just for students seeking degrees but also for workers who want to take short-term courses that they could apply on the job immediately.

But part of employers’ inability to fill middle-skills jobs can be attributed to degree inflation. Fuller’s report encouraged employers to push back against the trend: “Once the logic of resisting degree inflation takes root in an organization, it soon permeates different aspects of the organization’s culture — and eventually embeds itself at the heart of its strategy,” the report states.

A ‘1-percent market’

After years of being criticized for a lack of diversity, companies — especially in the technology world — are looking for ways to make their workplaces more inclusive. And a tight labor market — there were more than 7 million job openings in the U.S. as of February — has employers in many sectors scrambling for talent.

“For decades, at many companies that I worked for, I wasn’t allowed to hire unless somebody had a four-year degree,” said Trish Torizzo, the chief information officer for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. But today, she said, “supply is so low that people are almost being forced to think more creatively about how they operate.”

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt stripped the four-year degree requirement from information technology positions — including web developer — last summer, and the number of applications that made it through their initial screening doubled. To screen candidates, the company looks for a “tech stack”: a list of programming languages and tools a candidate knows.

7.1 million — The number of job openings in the U.S. in February 2019

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt then revisited hiring practices for sales positions, which are heavy on soft skills, at the urging of Roberta Rainville, the vice president for talent acquisitions.

Rainville knew it was time for a change when the company found itself unable to hire a great candidate for a sales position. “They interviewed splendidly,” she said, “and then it was, ‘Well, I want to hire them,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, you can’t.’ And they’re like, ‘Why not?’ And I’m like, ‘Because your job description says, “Bachelor’s degree required.”’ I said, ‘That’s got to go.’”

Related: Are apprenticeships the new on ramps to good jobs?

Rainville had to persuade 10 people from the sales leadership team before she could make the change. “Some folks were like: ‘We can’t take the bachelor’s degree off. We’re sending the wrong message to our teacher population that we’re selling to,’” she said. Ultimately everyone signed off, and in September the company stripped the four-year degree requirement from some of its sales jobs, and three months later did the same for software engineering jobs. Now, 11 percent of applicants who make it through the interview process for an entry-level sales position have no credential beyond a high school diploma; another 11 percent have an associate degree. Previously, all had bachelor’s degrees.

As the company retools its pipeline, it is working with organizations in Boston communities, hoping to attract job applicants it had previously failed to reach. So far, Houghton Mifflin’s relationship with Resilient Coders has resulted in the company hiring Tillman-French and another web developer. Resilient Coders’ founder David Delmar has offered to tailor part of the organization’s curriculum to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s needs.

Resilient Coders has already built a curriculum for Wayfair, a rapidly growing home furnishings company that generated $6.8 billion in revenue last year.

6.2 million — Estimated number of American jobs at risk of “degree inflation”

“A goal that we’ve set — something we think it’s reasonable to achieve in the next couple of seasons — is to have potentially as much as half of entry-level software developers come from boot camps, whereas historically it’s been 100 percent out of universities,” said Deborah Poole, Wayfair’s global head of talent acquisition.

In late March, Wayfair hosted researchers, employers and representatives of Boston’s  economic development office at an event called “Untapped” to release a research report on redefining hiring in the area.  The report is part of a regional effort to bring economic opportunity to Bostonians who lack a four-year degree — more than 50 percent of adults in the city. “There is a huge amount of talent in this market that we are not talking to,” Poole said.

When the time came for audience questions, the first to speak up was Delmar from Resilient Coders. He asked a panel including city leaders, researchers and executives a question that was met with silence followed by nervous laughter: “Is it time — will it ever be time — to ban the B.A. requirement from coding jobs?”

Closing the gap

With more than 20 four-year colleges and universities, Boston is known as “America’s college town.” But only 25 percent of the city’s black and Latino adults have a bachelor’s degree, and the Boston metro area ranks sixth in the nation for income inequality . The regional economy might be thriving, but many of its jobs are taken by people who come from outside Massachusetts. When it comes to the labor market, said Marybeth Campbell, executive director of Skillworks , a workforce group dedicated to low-income, low-skilled Bostonians, “our two-year community colleges are competing with our four-year schools, and those four-year schools are competing with three or four schools here: Harvard, MIT.”

The staff at Resilient Coders sees this racial and economic inequality up close. “If you’re looking for someone, you’re going to use your networks,” said Rouguiatou Diallo, chief of staff at Resilient Coders. “In a segregated America, your networks are going to be looking the same as you, most of the time.” The four-year degree requirement is a habit, Diallo said, but habits change. “So what if it becomes a habit that one of your pipelines is a boot camp program?”

61 percent — Percent of business and HR leaders in a recent survey who reported tossing resumes without four-year degrees, even if the applicant was qualified

Faisal Africawala, 29, a Cambridge resident who emigrated from India in 2010, worked for years at 7-Eleven convenience stores and a Whole Foods Market, making  $8.50 to $11 per hour. In 2018, he entered a free nine-month program at a workforce organization called Just-A-Start, training for the biomedical industry. Halfway through the program, a pharmaceutical manufacturer in the Boston suburbs hired him as a manufacturing technician on the second shift. He wears protective gowns and fills vials with medicine in sterile rooms, and is checked for microbes every time he goes through the door. Africawala said he earns $19.26 per hour and gets health insurance, life insurance and a retirement plan.

“I’m already looking to buy a house, which I never thought I would even have,” said Africawala, who takes what overtime he can get. “It’s only been six months, but I’ve managed to save ten thousand bucks.”

In a survey of its alumni dating  to 2004, Just-A-Start said the 143 respondents indicated that they have seen an average salary increase of $14,778 per year compared to their previous jobs. The program reaches out to employers and encourages them to consider candidates who don’t have four-year degrees, said Gina Plata, Just-A-Start’s director of education and training.

Related: Test prep to get into vocational education? Yup, it’s a thing

Newer programs have harnessed technology to draw employers’ attention to job candidates’ skills rather than their degrees. After coming across eye-tracking research showing that recruiters spend an average of just seven seconds skimming a resume, Grads of Life developed the “ 7 Second Resume ,” a video in which job seekers highlight one skill they can bring to a job. The developers of the job-listing portal Skillist encourage users to highlight their skills rather than degrees, and they persuade employers to shape their listings around skills. Wayfair and about 10 other employers have signed on.

New research shows that employers are recognizing that degree inflation can work against their interests, preventing them from finding the workers they need. Economist Alicia Sasser Modestino, an associate professor at Northeastern University, and two colleagues found that employers loosened educational requirements when the economy recovered following the Great Recession: From 2010 to 2014, the proportion of listings asking for a four-year degree dipped a quarter of a percentage point for every 1 percent drop in a region’s unemployment rate.

That raises a troubling question: If employers turn to skill-based hiring during a tight labor market, will they start hiring based on four-year degrees again during the next economic downturn?

“That’s the question that keeps me up at night,” Grads of Life principal Elyse Rosenblum said with a chuckle, “and why we are working so hard and so fast to try to instill these practices.”

The other lingering question is whether nondegree hires will stay and advance at their workplaces. “That is absolutely critical,” Rosenblum said.

The future is always on Ryan Tillman-French’s mind — both his own future and that of the community that raised him. He’s collecting backpacks to give out to children in his old Detroit neighborhood, and eventually he wants to buy a house there, even if he doesn’t move back right away. One day, he’d like to run his own company.

In the meantime, Tillman-French believes there’s a path for advancement at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. He already makes $65,000 a year, a rebuke to a culture and an economy that exalts a bachelor’s degree as the gold standard for upward mobility while young adults stagger under the weight of the nation’s record $1.5 trillion in outstanding student loan debt.

“My success is truly determined by me,” Tillman-French said. “How much work I put into this is how much success I’m going to get.”

This story about jobs without a college degree was produced by The Hechinger Report , a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for our higher education newsletter .

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No Degree, No Problem: High-Paying Jobs Without a Degree

By Ammar Ahmed

Published: January 16, 2024

Occupations & Careers

Ammar Ahmed

Writer & Career Coach

With college tuition skyrocketing and student loan debts becoming a widespread concern, the traditional path to a four-year degree is being reassessed by many. But does forgoing a degree mean compromising on a high-paying career? Certainly not. 

This article is designed to introduce you to a world of opportunities — high-paying jobs without a degree, giving you a glimpse into prosperous careers that don’t demand that formal education certificate.

The Changing Landscape of Employment

Today’s job market reflects an evolving landscape where the emphasis on degrees is dwindling. In fact, the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce notes that there are over 30 million jobs in the United States alone that offer an average salary of $55,000 annually without the need for a bachelor’s degree.

This shift underscores the growing preference of employers for skills and hands-on experience rather than just formal education. The rise of online courses, apprenticeships, and vocational programs testifies to this changing paradigm, offering flexible yet in-depth training for specific industries and roles. Such platforms are equipping aspirants with practical knowledge and expertise that are often directly applicable in the job market.

Furthermore, many employers are now adopting a more progressive approach. It’s becoming increasingly common for individuals to start in assistant or trainee roles, gaining experience and proving their mettle on the job. In several industries, pursuing an associate degree, which typically requires two years of study, is deemed sufficient, providing a quicker route into the workforce compared to the traditional four-year bachelor’s program.

This transformation in the employment sector highlights an optimistic message: opportunities abound for those willing to learn and adapt, even if their journey doesn’t follow the conventional academic route.

Our Criteria for Selecting High-Paying Jobs Without a Degree

The modern job market is teeming with lucrative opportunities that don’t require the traditional four-year college degree. Our selection process hones in on jobs that align with the evolving landscape of employment, offering robust salaries and growth potential.

Here’s the framework that guided our selections:

• Industry Recognition: We focus on sectors acknowledged for well-paying roles attainable without a degree. These industries value skills and hands-on experience, offering substantial salaries reflective of the expertise required.
• Growth Opportunities: Our list includes jobs with clear paths for advancement. In these roles, skill development and practical experience can lead to increased earning capacity, often rivaling or surpassing their degree-requiring counterparts.
• Accessibility: The jobs we’ve chosen are recognized for their accessibility to those without a degree. They may require certification, training, or apprenticeships, which are typically shorter and more specific compared to traditional college programs.

In shaping this list, we aim to provide tangible proof that the absence of a degree doesn’t close the door to financial success. Instead, it opens up a different path where ambition, skill, and the willingness to learn and grow can lead to rewarding careers.

Top High-Paying Jobs Without a Degree

The job market is more diverse and accommodating than one might think. Contrary to popular belief, numerous sectors offer high-paying jobs without a degree. These range from healthcare and wellness to the booming tech industry, traditional trades, renewable energy operations, and even the real estate sector. For those exploring alternative career paths, the following categories shed light on professions that prioritize skills and experience over formal education.

Healthcare & Wellness Jobs

The healthcare and wellness industry offers a variety of roles that don’t always demand formal degrees. Explore these positions that allow you to make impactful contributions while enjoying a stable career without extensive academic prerequisites.

1. Respiratory Therapists

Respiratory Therapists are essential healthcare professionals who specialize in the assessment and treatment of respiratory issues. They play a pivotal role in assisting patients with breathing problems, be it from chronic respiratory diseases, trauma, or surgeries, ensuring optimal lung function and well-being.

• Primary Duties: Respiratory Therapists evaluate patients’ breathing, administer oxygen and aerosol medications, perform pulmonary function tests, and manage mechanical ventilators to assist patients who cannot breathe on their own. They collaborate with doctors to devise individualized care plans and monitor patients’ progress.
• Skills Required: Proficiency in the use of medical equipment like ventilators, strong patient care skills, understanding of physiology and cardiopulmonary diagnostics, and the ability to respond swiftly in emergencies.
• Career Pathway: While some roles might allow on-the-job training, many respiratory therapists begin with a diploma or associate degree in respiratory therapy, followed by professional certification. Full bachelor’s degree programs are available but not always required.
• Average Salary: Respiratory Therapists can expect an average annual salary of approximately $70,540 .

2. Dental Hygienist

Dental Hygienists are vital players in the dental care industry, working closely with dentists to provide comprehensive oral healthcare. They emphasize preventive care and education, ensuring patients maintain good oral hygiene and healthy teeth and gums.

• Primary Duties: Dental Hygienists clean teeth by removing tartar, stains, and plaque, apply protective agents like sealants and fluorides, take and develop dental X-rays, and educate patients on effective oral hygiene practices. They also assess the health of their patients’ gums and teeth.
• Skills Required: Manual dexterity to handle tools, interpersonal skills for patient interaction, keen observational skills, and a thorough understanding of dental health practices and procedures.
• Career Pathway: While a bachelor’s degree is not mandatory for this profession, dental hygienists typically require an associate degree in dental hygiene. Most states also mandate licensure, which usually entails passing a written and practical examination.
• Average Salary: Dental Hygienists can expect an average annual salary of $81,400 .

3. Massage Therapist

Massage Therapists are practitioners specializing in the manual manipulation of muscles and soft body tissues to enhance health and well-being. They cater to a range of clients, from those seeking relaxation to those requiring therapeutic treatment for muscle injuries or tension.

• Primary Duties: Massage Therapists assess clients’ soft tissue conditions, muscle strength, and range of motion. They then plan and execute targeted massage techniques, ranging from Swedish to deep-tissue to specialized modalities like hot stone or reflexology.
• Skills Required: Strong interpersonal and communication skills, deep understanding of human anatomy and physiology, manual dexterity, and a compassionate approach to clients’ needs.
• Career Pathway: Most states regulate massage therapy, which means practitioners often need to complete an accredited massage therapy program and pass an exam. The programs typically require hands-on practice, but a bachelor’s degree is not necessary.
• Average Salary: Massage Therapists can anticipate an avera g e annual salary of $62,230 .

4. Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy Technicians play a crucial role in pharmacies, assisting pharmacists with medication dispensing and providing an essential link between healthcare providers and patients.

• Primary Duties: Pharmacy Technicians help pharmacists dispense prescription medications to customers or health professionals. They manage and organize drug inventory, prepare medications by counting, bottling, and labeling them, and handle customer inquiries.
• Skills Required: Attention to detail, organizational skills, proficiency in managing and recording medication data, and good interpersonal skills for customer interactions.
• Career Pathway: A high school diploma is generally required, followed by on-the-job training or a post-secondary vocational course. Certification, while not mandatory in all states, can be beneficial for job prospects.
• Average Salary: Pharmacy Technicians can expect an aver a ge annual salary of $37,790 .

5. Surgery Technologist

Surgery Technologists, often referred to as surgical techs or operating room technicians, are integral members of operating room teams. They assist surgeons and nurses in ensuring that surgeries run smoothly and efficiently, maintaining a sterile environment to safeguard patients’ health.

• Primary Duties: Surgery Technologists prepare operating rooms by setting up surgical instruments and equipment, maintaining sterile conditions throughout procedures, passing instruments to surgeons during surgeries, and counting supplies like sponges and instruments to ensure that nothing is left inside a patient.
• Skills Required: Strong attention to detail, understanding of sterile techniques, quick reflexes to respond to surgeons’ requests, and the ability to handle high-pressure situations in the operating room.
• Career Pathway: Most surgical technologists pursue a postsecondary certificate or associate’s degree program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Certification, though not always mandatory, is often preferred by employers.
• Average Salary: Surgery Technologists can anticipate an average annual salary of around $56,350 .

Trade professions provide practical and hands-on opportunities for those who prefer tangible results in their work. Explore these trade jobs that promise substantial earning potential, without the need for a traditional degree.

6. Electrician

Electricians are trained professionals who install, maintain, and repair electrical systems in homes, factories, businesses, and other places. They ensure that electrical systems are safe and operate efficiently, playing a crucial role in powering our modern world.

• Primary Duties: Electricians read blueprints, install and maintain wiring and lighting systems, inspect electrical components, troubleshoot malfunctions, and replace or repair parts as needed. They also ensure that their work complies with state and local building codes.
• Skills Required: Proficiency in understanding electrical circuits, manual dexterity, problem-solving skills, and a solid knowledge of safety procedures and regulations.
• Career Pathway: Typically, electricians start with a high school diploma, followed by an apprenticeship, which combines classroom instruction with hands-on training. Licensing is required in most states and can be obtained after a set number of hours of work experience.
• Average Salary: Electricians can expect an average annual salary of approximately $60,240 . 

Plumbers are essential technicians who install and repair piping systems in homes, factories, and businesses. They ensure that we have access to clean water, efficient heating systems, and proper waste disposal, all of which contribute to our health and comfort.

• Primary Duties: Plumbers read blueprints and specs to determine the layout of plumbing systems, install and repair pipes and fixtures, inspect plumbing systems to identify and fix problems, and ensure compliance with local codes.
• Skills Required: Mechanical aptitude, problem-solving skills, physical stamina, precision, and understanding of plumbing codes and safety.
• Career Pathway: Aspiring plumbers typically begin with a high school diploma, followed by an apprenticeship program. This allows them to gain hands-on experience while also attending classroom instruction. Most states also require plumbers to be licensed, which involves passing an exam.
• Average Salary: Plumbers can anticipate an average annual salary of $58,629 . 

8. Carpenter

Carpenters are skilled craftsmen who construct, repair, and install building frameworks and structures using wood and other materials. Their work is fundamental to the construction industry, spanning everything from residential homes to commercial buildings.

• Primary Duties: Carpenters measure, cut, and shape wood, plastic, and other materials. They construct building frameworks, including walls, floors, and doorframes, install structures like windows and molding, and may also assist with the finishing touches of a construction project.
• Skills Required: Proficiency in using carpentry tools, keen attention to detail, strong mathematical skills for precise measurements, and a comprehensive understanding of blueprints and building plans.
• Career Pathway: Carpenters often learn through on-the-job training, either informally or through formal apprenticeships that combine classroom instruction with hands-on experience. A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required.
• Average Salary: Carpenters can expect an annual average wage of approximately $51,390 . 

9. HVAC Technician

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Technicians, specialize in the installation, maintenance, and repair of heating and cooling systems. They play a vital role in ensuring that homes and businesses remain comfortable and air quality stays healthy.

• Primary Duties: HVAC Technicians install and maintain HVAC systems, troubleshoot and repair system malfunctions, test parts and systems to ensure proper functionality, and ensure that installations comply with local codes.
• Skills Required: Understanding of HVAC systems and their components, problem-solving abilities, familiarity with tools and equipment specific to the trade, and knowledge of local HVAC codes.
• Career Pathway: Most HVAC technicians start with either a postsecondary educational program in HVAC or an apprenticeship. Many states and localities require HVAC technicians to be licensed, which may involve passing an exam.
• Average Salary: HVAC Technicians can anticipate an average annual salary of $68,283 . 

10. Construction Manager

Construction Managers, often known as project managers or site managers, oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of construction projects. They ensure that construction activities are on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with both specifications and regulations.

• Primary Duties: Construction Managers plan construction projects, budgeting time and resources; coordinate and supervise the work of contractors and staff; ensure legal requirements, building and safety codes, and other regulations are met; and address and resolve work delays or emergencies on the site.
• Skills Required: Strong leadership abilities, proficiency in project management software, understanding of architectural plans, excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills, and deep knowledge of construction methods and regulations.
• Career Pathway: Although not always required, a bachelor’s degree in construction management, construction science, or a related field is becoming more standard. Relevant work experience, often gained through internships or on-the-job training, is also valuable.
• Average Salary: Construction Managers can expect an average annual salary of approximately $101,480 .

The tech industry, known for its rapid evolution and innovation, also presents opportunities for those without a formal degree. Discover these tech roles where skills and experience can outweigh traditional educational credentials.

11. Computer Programmer

Computer Programmers are professionals who write and test code, enabling computer applications and software programs to function efficiently. Their expertise ensures that software behaves as intended, meeting the needs of users and businesses.

• Primary Duties: Computer Programmers write code using various programming languages, debug and troubleshoot software applications, collaborate with software developers to design and refine software projects, and update existing programs to improve performance.
• Skills Required: Proficiency in one or more programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, C++), logical thinking and problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and an understanding of software development methodologies.
• Career Pathway: A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field is common, though not always required. Some programmers learn their skills through coding boot camps or community college courses.
• Average Salary: Computer Programmers can anticipate an average annual salary of around $97,800 .

12. Web Developer

Web Developers are digital architects who design, create, and modify websites to provide an optimal user experience. From the layout to the overall function, their work is crucial to the online presence of businesses and individuals alike.

• Primary Duties: Web Developers write code for websites, ensuring mobile responsiveness and cross-browser compatibility. They collaborate with clients or project managers to determine website specifications, integrate graphics, audio, or video elements, and debug sites to optimize performance.
• Skills Required: Proficiency in coding languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript; familiarity with content management systems (e.g., WordPress); understanding of responsive design principles; and strong problem-solving skills.
• Career Pathway: While many web developers hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field, others may be self-taught or complete specialized courses or boot camps. A strong portfolio often holds as much weight as formal education in this field.
• Average Salary : Web Developers can expect an average annual salary of around $82,032 .

13. Graphic Designer

Graphic Designers are visual storytellers who create compelling graphics to convey messages and ideas effectively. Their creations can be found in various media, including websites, advertisements, product packaging, and more.

• Primary Duties: Graphic Designers meet with clients or art directors to determine design goals, create visuals such as logos and original images, choose the layout and colors, and present design concepts to clients or team members for feedback.
• Skills Required: A keen eye for aesthetics and details, proficiency in design software like Adobe Creative Suite, understanding of color theory, typography, and layout design, as well as strong communication skills to translate client needs into visual concepts.
• Career Pathway: A bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related field is common, but not always necessary. A strong portfolio showcasing a range of design projects is often more crucial in securing job opportunities.
• Average Salary: Graphic Designers can anticipate an average annual salary of around $57,990 .

Renewable Energy Operations, Maintenance and Utility Jobs

The renewable energy sector is at the forefront of sustainable advancements and offers numerous roles for hands-on enthusiasts. Explore positions in operations, maintenance, and utilities within this burgeoning field where a degree isn’t always a prerequisite, but the potential for growth and impact is significant.

14. Wind Turbine Technician

Wind Turbine Technicians, commonly referred to as “wind techs,” specialize in the installation, maintenance, and repair of wind turbines. As the renewable energy sector grows, wind tech’s role becomes increasingly vital in ensuring that wind turbines operate efficiently and safely.

• Primary Duties : Wind Turbine Technicians are responsible for the regular inspection of wind turbines. They perform routine maintenance, diagnose mechanical and electrical issues, and rectify any malfunctions or faults. Additionally, they might assist in the erection of turbine towers and the installation of turbine components.
• Skills Required: A solid foundation in mechanical and electrical diagnostics is crucial. Wind Turbine Technicians should be comfortable working at significant heights and in confined spaces. Proficiency with hand and power tools, along with a comprehensive understanding of safety protocols in the wind energy domain, is vital.
• Career Pathway : While some wind techs have a two-year program degree related to wind energy, many technicians learn their skills through apprenticeships or on-the-job training. Several technical schools offer courses on wind turbine repair and maintenance.
• Average Salary: Wind Turbine Technicians can expect an annual salary of around $57,320 .

15. Nuclear Power Reactor Operator

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators manage the systems that generate power in nuclear power plants. Their role is critical to ensure that reactors operate safely, preventing potential hazards and responding to any anomalies.

• Primary Duties: These operators are tasked with monitoring reactors, adjusting control rods, and ensuring the optimal generation of power. They diligently record operational data, promptly respond to any irregularities in the system or equipment, and initiate emergency procedures if necessary.
• Skills Required : A profound understanding of nuclear physics and the intricacies of reactor operations is essential. Additionally, operators need sharp attention to detail, the ability to make decisions swiftly, and excellent observational skills to detect operational deviations or potential issues.
• Career Pathway: Nuclear power reactor operators must have a high school diploma and undergo rigorous on-the-job training and periodic training and refresher courses. They must also pass a challenging examination from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to be licensed.
• Average Salary: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators can expect an average annual salary of approximately $82,662 . 

16. Oil and Gas Rotary Drill Operator

Oil and Gas Rotary Drill Operators play a central role in the extraction of vital energy resources. They operate equipment that drills into the earth to access oil or gas reserves. With the world’s continued reliance on fossil fuels, their expertise ensures the efficient and safe retrieval of these resources.

• Primary Duties : Rotary Drill Operators set up and operate drilling rigs, monitor the drilling operations for any signs of issues, ensure the correct use of drilling fluids, and oversee the installation of necessary machinery such as well screens or casing. They also coordinate with other crew members to obtain samples of subsurface materials.
• Skills Required: A firm understanding of drilling machinery and techniques, physical stamina to handle the demanding nature of the job, keen attention to detail to identify potential issues, and a robust understanding of safety protocols specific to the oil and gas industry.
• Career Pathway : A high school diploma or equivalent is typically the minimum requirement. However, most Rotary Drill Operators receive extensive on-the-job training. Some technical schools or community colleges offer courses in oil and gas drilling, which can provide a foundational understanding.
• Average Salary : Oil and Gas Rotary Drill Operators can expect to earn a median annual salary of around $60,450 .

17. Electrical Powerline Installers and Repairers

Electrical Powerline Installers and Repairers, often called “line workers,” play a pivotal role in ensuring that homes, businesses, and essential facilities receive uninterrupted electrical power. Their work is paramount to the construction, maintenance, and repair of power infrastructure that stretches across cities and rural areas alike.

• Primary Duties: Line workers are responsible for installing and maintaining high-voltage and low-voltage distribution and transmission lines and systems. This includes erecting utility poles, installing overhead and underground cables, identifying and repairing faults, and ensuring the safe removal of hazardous materials like damaged lines or equipment.
• Skills Required : Physical strength and endurance, as the job often involves climbing and lifting heavy equipment; a keen understanding of electrical systems and safety protocols; precision and attention to detail; and problem-solving skills to diagnose and address power disruptions.
• Career Pathway: While some start with a high school diploma, many line workers complete a technical program or an apprenticeship in electrical systems or a related field. On-the-job training is common, and in some regions, certification or licensing might be required.
• Average Salary : Electrical Powerline Installers and Repairers can expect an average annual salary of around $82,340 .

Real Estate Jobs

The dynamic world of real estate is not solely confined to those with formal education. Delve into these real estate roles where your skills, networking abilities, and on-ground experience can be more valuable than a traditional degree.

18. Property Manager

Property Managers are pivotal figures in the real estate sector, ensuring the smooth operation and optimal value of rental and real estate properties. Their expertise bridges the gap between property owners and tenants, making sure that properties are well-maintained, tenancies are managed effectively, and owners’ investments are protected.

• Primary Duties: Property Managers oversee the daily operations of properties. They collect rent, respond to maintenance requests, screen tenants, and ensure compliance with housing laws and regulations. They also manage budgets, maintain records, and provide regular updates to property owners.
• Skills Required: Strong interpersonal skills for interacting with tenants and owners; organizational capabilities; a foundational understanding of property maintenance and real estate market dynamics; and knowledge of relevant local, state, or national housing regulations.
• Career Pathway : While a high school diploma might suffice, many property managers have a bachelor’s degree in business administration, real estate, or a related field. Some states also require property managers to have a real estate license. Additionally, experience in real estate or property management can be beneficial.
• Average Salary : Property Managers can expect to earn a median annual salary of around $54,549 . Those with a portfolio of high-end properties or with extensive experience often command higher salaries.

19. Real Estate Agent

Real Estate Agents act as navigators in the intricate world of property transactions, guiding clients through the processes of buying, selling, or renting homes and other real estate properties.

• Primary Duties: Real Estate Agents showcase properties to potential buyers or tenants, evaluate client needs and financial abilities to propose solutions, mediate negotiations between buyers and sellers, and ensure legal and contractual compliance in all transactions. They also stay updated on current market trends and real estate regulations.
• Skills Required : Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills; a keen understanding of local property markets; the ability to market and promote properties effectively; and a thorough understanding of property law and contracts.
• Career Pathway: Generally, a high school diploma is required, followed by state-approved pre-licensing courses. After completing education requirements, prospective agents must pass a state licensing exam.
• Average Salary : The mean average income for real estate agents is approximately $110,365 , and that’s not even including commission-based earnings.

Other High-Paying Jobs Without a Degree

The job landscape is vast, encompassing various sectors and roles that do not always require formal education. This segment highlights positions across different industries where the emphasis is on skill and experience, rather than a traditional degree, yet they still offer competitive compensation.

20. Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are the visionaries and risk-takers of the business world, often spearheading new ventures, products, or services. They bring innovative ideas to life, navigating the complexities of the marketplace while seeking to create value and make a meaningful impact. Their drive, passion, and adaptability set them apart as they shape industries and redefine consumer expectations.

• Primary Duties: Entrepreneurs identify market opportunities, conceptualize and develop business ideas, source funding, build teams, establish a brand presence, and oversee the day-to-day operations of their ventures. They are also responsible for strategy development, financial planning, and ensuring the sustainability and growth of their businesses.
• Skills Required : A strong vision coupled with determination; adaptability to change; problem-solving and decision-making abilities; leadership and team-building skills; a deep understanding of the targeted market; and financial acumen.
• Career Pathway: While there’s no formal education requirement to become an entrepreneur, many possess degrees in business, marketing, finance, or related fields. Often, the most valuable education for entrepreneurs comes from hands-on experience, mentorships, and continuous learning from successes and failures.
• Average Earnings: The financial outcomes for entrepreneurs vary widely, but the average salary is $63,757 . Entrepreneurship is risky but rewarding, with successful entrepreneurs seeing big returns.  

21. Executive Assistant

Executive Assistants are the unsung heroes of the corporate world, playing a crucial role in ensuring the smooth functioning of executive offices. They work closely with top-tier management, providing administrative support and often acting as the first point of contact between executives and internal or external stakeholders.

• Primary Duties : Executive Assistants manage schedules, coordinate meetings and events, handle correspondence, prepare reports, and conduct research on behalf of executives. They may also liaise with other departments or organizations, manage travel arrangements, and handle confidential information with discretion.
• Skills Required: Strong organizational and multitasking abilities; excellent verbal and written communication skills; proficiency in various office software tools; discretion with sensitive information; and a keen understanding of company operations and industry specifics.
• Career Pathway: Typically, a high school diploma is the minimum requirement, but many executive assistants hold bachelor’s degrees in business administration, communications, or related fields. Relevant work experience, combined with on-the-job training, is crucial for mastering the role’s intricacies.
• Average Salary : Executive Assistants can expect an average annual salary of around $55,497 . However, those assisting top-tier executives in large corporations or high-demand industries often command higher salaries.

22. Postmaster

Postmasters are the backbone of local postal operations, ensuring that mail and packages are efficiently processed, sorted, and delivered to recipients. Overseeing a post office, they play a critical role in maintaining the communication lifeline in a community, balancing both administrative duties and public service commitments.

• Primary Duties : Postmasters manage the daily operations of a post office, which includes supervising staff, ensuring mail is correctly sorted and dispatched, handling customer complaints and inquiries, managing the office’s finances, and maintaining records.
• Skills Required: Strong organizational and management skills; an understanding of postal operations and regulations; excellent customer service skills; the ability to handle conflicts and resolve issues; and a knack for working under time constraints, especially during peak mail seasons.
• Career Pathway : Most postmasters start with a foundational role within the postal service and gain hands-on experience before moving up the ranks. They also complete formal training programs and on-the-job learning to prepare for the managerial aspects of the role. Some regions or countries might also have specific qualification exams for postmasters.
• Average Salary : Postmasters earn an average annual salary of $54,663 .

23. Patrol Officer

Patrol Officers, often the most visible representatives of law enforcement agencies, play a pivotal role in maintaining public safety and order. They are on the front lines, safeguarding communities, responding to emergencies, and ensuring that laws are upheld.

• Primary Duties: Patrol Officers monitor designated areas, either on foot or in vehicles, respond to emergency calls, issue citations for violations, make arrests when necessary, investigate suspicious activities, and attend to accident scenes. They also compile reports on incidents and might be called upon to testify in court.
• Skills Required: Strong observational and situational awareness skills; effective communication and interpersonal abilities; physical fitness and agility; knowledge of laws and regulations; and the ability to make rapid decisions in high-stress situations.
• Career Pathway: To become a police officer , you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and complete rigorous training at a police academy. Continuous training is required as laws and policing techniques evolve.
• Average Salary : The average annual salary for Patrol Officers is around $48,212 . 

24. Sales Representative

Sales Representatives are the driving force behind a company’s revenue generation, serving as the direct link between products or services and the consumers or businesses that need them. Whether working in B2B (business-to-business) or B2C (business-to-consumer) environments, their persuasive skills, product knowledge, and ability to build relationships are crucial for closing deals and achieving sales targets.

• Primary Duties: Sales Representatives identify potential clients, present and demonstrate products or services, answer queries, negotiate prices, and close sales. They also maintain relationships with existing clients, gather feedback, and relay client needs to the company.
• Skills Required: Strong interpersonal and communication skills; a deep understanding of the product or service being sold; negotiation abilities; resilience and persistence, especially when facing rejection; and proficiency in CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tools or relevant sales software.
• Career Pathway: A high school diploma is usually required, but a bachelor’s degree is preferred in some fields. On-the-job training is common, and some industries require specific certifications or training programs.
• Average Salary: Sales Representatives have a varied pay structure, often comprising a base salary plus commissions. The mean average salary for a professional is $62,328 , but this can fluctuate depending on industry, location, and individual performance. 

High Paying Work From Home Jobs Without a Degree

In today’s digital age, the traditional workspace is transforming. Remote work is becoming more prevalent, offering flexibility and independence that typical office jobs can’t match. A degree, while beneficial in many professions, isn’t always a necessity to secure high-paying remote roles. The gig economy and the boom in online platforms have democratized access to a plethora of job opportunities. Freelancing, in particular, is a promising avenue, enabling individuals to leverage their skills and set their own rates.

Social Media Assistants

Businesses recognize the power of social media , and skilled social media assistants can make good money by managing accounts, curating content, and growing an online presence for brands or influencers. Understanding platforms and audience engagement is key.

From blogging and copywriting to scriptwriting and technical documentation, the written word offers numerous profitable niches. With a strong command over language and the ability to cater to different audiences, writers can carve out successful careers online .

Every piece of content, be it a book, article, or website copy, benefits from a thorough review. Editors ensure clarity, coherence, and correctness, making them indispensable in the content creation process.

Translators

As businesses expand globally, the demand for translators soars. Proficiency in multiple languages can open doors to numerous opportunities, translating documents, videos, or even providing real-time interpretation.

Virtual Assistants

Organized individuals can offer administrative services remotely by becoming virtual assistants . The role includes handling tasks like email management, calendar scheduling, and even basic financial tracking for businesses or busy professionals.

For those keen on diving deeper into lucrative remote opportunities, our list of the top 10 remote jobs that pay well provides comprehensive insights. The digital landscape is vast, and with dedication and skill, there’s potential to build a thriving work-from-home career, degree or no degree.

Challenges Faced by Non-Degree Professionals

While pursuing careers without a traditional degree offers many advantages, it’s essential to acknowledge the challenges faced by non-degree professionals. Recognizing these obstacles can better equip individuals to navigate the professional realm confidently.

Here are some points to consider:

Still Costs Involved

While bypassing the costs of a four-year degree, there are still financial investments to consider. Technical schools, certification exams, and licensing fees can come with their own set of expenses. These costs, although generally lower than traditional college tuition, are essential for certain professions and can add up.

Limited Career Advancement and Credential Barriers

In some industries or companies, there might be a “glass ceiling” for those without a degree, limiting access to upper management or specific roles that mandate a formal education credential. Navigating promotions can become trickier without that degree on your resume.

Salary Disparities

Even in high-paying jobs that don’t require a degree, there might be a wage gap between degree and non-degree holders. Over time, this disparity can result in a significant difference in lifetime earnings.

Possible Skill Gaps and Continuous Education Effort

Without a structured educational foundation, there might be gaps in knowledge or skills. Non-degree professionals often need to invest extra time in self-education, workshops, or courses to stay competitive and updated in their fields.

Perceived Lack of Credibility

Fair or not, societal perceptions sometimes favor degree holders. A non-degree professional might face doubts regarding their expertise or experience, even if they are equally or more competent than their degree-holding counterparts.

In the face of these challenges, it’s crucial for non-degree professionals to continuously hone their skills, build a robust professional network, and showcase their expertise and accomplishments to overcome potential biases or limitations.

About the Author

Read more articles by Ammar Ahmed

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15 Work-From-Home Jobs That Don't Require a College Degree

Experience can trump education when it comes to these remote positions.

Kenneth Terrell,

Among the millions of job openings available nationwide, employment opportunities are growing for workers without degrees. Many of those jobs even offer the potential to work from home, a condition older workers strongly prefer. According to an  AARP Research survey  of people 40 and older, 44 percent of respondents said they work from home at least some of the time.

FlexJobs , a website that specializes in remote work opportunities (full access to the website costs $2.95 for a 14-day trial), combed through the job postings on its site to identify fields with the most openings that don’t require a degree. Many of these positions could be a match for the skill sets older adults have.

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“Remote jobs that tend not to require a college degree do typically require a decent amount of experience, which is why they’re a great fit for someone with a longer career history,” says Brie Reynolds, a career development manager and coach at FlexJobs. “Especially if you’ve had the experience of working remotely over the last year and you can demonstrate to employers that you excel in a remote environment or have remote-friendly professional skills like communication, self-management and a proactive approach to your work, you’re well positioned for these types of remote jobs.”

The following jobs are examples from the FlexJobs list. Clicking on the “Find jobs” link will take you to a list of job openings, either on  AARP’s free Job Board  (not all of the openings are for remote work) or the FlexJobs website. You may click on  this link  for a search of all work-from-home jobs available on the AARP Job Board. Average pay is taken from data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other industry sources.

1. Accounting clerk

• Average pay: $22.05 per hour
• Find  accounting clerk jobs

If you have an eye for detail and are good with math, you might do well in this position. Accounting clerks examine bank statements, invoices, accounts payable documents and other reports to ensure that all of the numbers add up correctly.

2. Executive assistant

• Average pay: $29.27 per hour
• Find  executive assistant jobs

Job opportunities as an executive assistant (or an administrative assistant) were shifting to remote work before the COVID-19 pandemic, and they have continued to trend in that direction. The responsibilities — managing schedules, coordinating meetings, communicating with clients — can often be done from home.

3. Bookkeeper

• Average pay: $22.81 per hour
• Find  bookkeeper jobs

This job requires strong skills with numbers. Many employers place a higher value on experience than on a college degree. Work at Home Vintage Experts, which specializes in placing older workers in remote jobs, typically has several openings available for this role.

4. Client services

• Average pay: $24.62 per hour
• Find  client services jobs

If you’re good at managing professional relationships, you could put your skills to use in this field. Client services managers serve as liaisons between a company and its clients, ensuring that communication is clear and projects meet expectations. This field also offers opportunities for contract assignments.

5. Customer service

• Average pay: $18.16 per hour
• Find  customer service jobs

If you have good communication and problem-solving skills, a job as a customer service representative could be the right fit for you. Most companies provide extensive training to prepare workers for the important role of being the person their customers turn to when they need help. Some companies will also provide the technology necessary to respond to requests by phone, email or chat.

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6. Data entry

• Average pay: $18.26 per hour
• Find  data entry jobs

This kind of clerical work usually means typing information from various file forms and reports into a computer system. Accuracy and typing speed are essential, but the hours can be quite flexible.

7. Mortgage underwriter

• Average pay: $31.60 per hour
• Find underwriter jobs

Though the housing market has cooled down, there still are some work-from-home opportunities in this profession. Roughly half of the job postings in this profession do ask for a bachelor’s degree, according to Indeed research. Relevant work experience or a certificate in the field often are enough to get hired.

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8. Online tutor

• Average pay: $21.55 per hour
• Find  tutor jobs

When schools closed to in-person classes during the pandemic, many families turned to online tutoring services to help their kids learn. That demand has created job opportunities for older adults, many of whom already have some experience in these professions.

9. Project manager

• Average pay: $48.85 per hour
• Find  project manager jobs

If you have experience guiding large projects from concept to completion, companies may be willing to hire you even if the job posting asks for a college degree. Baylor Scott & White Health was recently looking for several project managers able to work remotely. So was the UnitedHealth Group.

10. Social media coordinator

• Average pay: $19.04 per hour
• Find  social media jobs

In these jobs, you take on the responsibility for a company’s interactions with people through its official accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other platforms. You’ll need experience producing posts that are engaging to help you reflect the voice and values of your employer.

11. Tech support specialist

• Average pay: $26.68 per hour
• Find  tech support jobs

If you have a knack for helping your coworkers solve problems with their laptops or other office technology, this job could appeal to you. Experience troubleshooting with networking technologies is generally a requirement for these positions.

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12. Transcriptionist

• Average pay: $19.02 per hour
• Find  transcriptionist jobs

These jobs require you to listen to audio recordings — of meetings, TV shows, podcasts, etc. — then type up what was said so people can read it later. In many cases, the hours are flexible, and workers choose which files they want to transcribe, getting paid once the assignments are complete. The technology company Rev was one of several employers recently seeking remote transcriptionists.

13. Translator

• Average pay: $25.79 per hour
• Find  translator jobs

If you’re fluent in a language in addition to English, employers could be looking to hire you. Your typing and editing skills will need to be strong.

14. Travel agent

• Average pay: $18.43 per hour
• Find  travel agent jobs

Years of staying at home because of the pandemic have made people eager to travel. Many travel agencies are hiring workers to help them handle clients’ needs. Employers typically ask that applicants have some experience in the field, but a degree is rarely required.

15. Virtual assistant

• Average pay: $19.62 per hour
• Find  virtual assistant jobs

This occupation got a boost during the pandemic as employers turned to gig workers and short-term freelancers when everyone was working remotely. You generally won’t need a college degree, but you should have experience using software such as Microsoft Office, PowerPoint and QuickBooks.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article was published on June 16, 2021. References to job losses during the COVID-19 pandemic have been changed for relevance and wages have been updated.

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20 Highest-Paying Jobs Without a Degree in 2024

You don't need a four-year degree to land one of the highest-paying jobs, such as special effects artist, security analyst or airline pilot.

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In certain industries, relevant work experience, internships, training and certifications are just as important, if not more important, than graduating with a four-year degree. 

Job applications usually have a minimum educational requirement — some college, an associate degree or a bachelor’s or master’s degree. But with student loan debt topping $1.77 trillion (an increase of 66% over the past 10 years), according to the Federal Reserve , you may ask if a four-year college degree is worth it. 

The answer will likely depend on your career choice. Some professions — medical and healthcare providers, lawyers, teachers, nuclear engineers — all require a degree (or degrees). However, some underrepresented career fields welcome applicants who never attended college or didn’t graduate with a four-year degree, and some of these careers pay very well. 

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There are plenty of in-demand careers with a salary higher than $56,420 (the median U.S. annual salary), according to 20 Highest Paying Jobs Without a Degree, a report from the leading career resource platform, Resume Genius. The list spotlights well-paying jobs and their accompanying educational requirements, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . 

Here are the highest-paying jobs that don't require a degree this year:

1. Airline and commercial pilot

• Median annual salary: $148,900 
• Number of jobs: 142,600
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 4%
• Educational requirements: Vocational training or Associate’s degree
• Work experience: None, but FAA certifications and flight hours are required

2. Information security analyst

• Median annual salary: $112,000 
• Number of jobs: 168,900
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 32%
• Educational requirements: High school diploma or vocational training
• Work experience: None, but relevant certifications are beneficial

3. Elevator and escalator installer and repairer

• Median annual salary: $99,999 
• Number of jobs: 25,100
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 1%
• Educational requirements: High school diploma or GED
• Work experience: Apprenticeship

4. Special effects artist and animator

• Median annual salary: $98,950
• Number of jobs: 89,300
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 8%
• Educational requirements: High school diploma or vocational training 
• Work experience: Portfolio of work. Certifications can be beneficial

5. Transportation, storage, and distribution manager

• Median annual salary: $98,560
• Number of jobs: 14,600
• Educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent; certification programs beneficial
• Work experience: Five years in a related field 

6. First-line supervisors of police and detective

• Median annual salary: $96,290 
• Number of jobs: 4,300
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 3%
• Educational requirements: High school diploma, police academy training
• Work experience: Several years in the police force

7. Radiation therapist

• Median annual salary: $89,530
• Number of jobs: 15,900
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 2%
• Educational requirements: Associate’s degree
• Work experience: Clinical experience/certification

8. Subway and streetcar operator

• Median annual salary: $88,260
• Number of jobs: 300
• Educational requirements: High school diploma
• Work experience: On-the-job training

9. Electrical power-line installer and repairer

• Median annual salary: $82,340 per year
• Number of jobs: 122,400
• Educational requirements: High school diploma. Technical training preferred

10. Dental hygienist

• Median annual salary: $81,400
• Number of jobs: 219,400
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 7%
• Educational requirements: Associate’s degree in dental hygiene
• Work experience: Licensing (varies by state)

11. Web developer

• Median annual salary: $80,730
• Number of jobs: 216,700
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 16%
• Educational requirements: Ranging from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree (education requirements vary by employer)
• Work experience: None. 

12. Medical sonographer

• Median annual salary: $78,210
• Number of jobs: 142,800
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 10%
• Educational requirements: Vocational school, associate's degree
• Work experience: Licensing (varies by state) and clinical experience

13. Police and/or detective

• Median annual salary: $69,160
• Number of jobs: 808,700
• Educational requirements: High school diploma, police training academy for an entry-level position. Detective work might require some college coursework or a degree
• Work experience: Police academy and on-the-job training

14. Flight attendant

• Median annual salary: $63,760
• Number of jobs: 111,100
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 11%
• Educational requirements: High school diploma, flight attendant training program. International routes may need fluency in a foreign language
• Work experience: Experience in customer service
• Medical/physical requirements: Must have vision that is correctable to at least 20/40 and often need to conform to height requirements set by the airline

15. Lodging manager

• Median annual salary: $61,910
• Number of jobs: 50,800
• Work experience: Experience in various hotel operations, from front desk to housekeeping

16. Property, real estate, and community association manager

• Median annual salary: $60,670
• Number of jobs: 429,600
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 5%
• Educational requirements: High school diploma and licensing (varies by state)
• Work experience: Several years of work experience in a related occupation, such as real estate brokers and sales agents 

17. Electrician

• Median annual salary: $60,240
• Number of jobs: 762,000
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 6%
• Work experience: Apprenticeship program and licensing (varies by state)

18. Telecommunications technician

• Median annual salary: $60,190
• Number of jobs: 299,300
• Educational requirements: High school diploma and a certificate or an associate’s degree (varies by employer)
• Work experience: None

19. Industrial machinery mechanic

• Median annual salary: $59,470
• Number of jobs: 507,900
• Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 13%
• Educational requirements: High school diploma, associate’s degree in industrial maintenance for some positions

20. Computer support specialist

• Median annual salary: $59,660
• Number of jobs: 914,110
• Educational requirements: High school diploma and some IT knowledge
• Work experience: Certification and some college coursework (varies by state)

Skills-based hiring

Given the soaring cost of college and an explosion in online learning and certificate courses, it's no wonder that students and employers are both looking for non-traditional ways to join the labor force. 

“A college degree doesn’t mean quite what it used to, and we're witnessing a significant shift towards skills-based hiring," explains Eva Chan, a career expert at Resume Genius. "This change is creating more accessible opportunities, including a range of lesser-known yet well-paying roles."

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For the past 18+ years, Kathryn has highlighted the humanity in personal finance by shaping stories that identify the opportunities and obstacles in managing a person's finances. All the same, she’ll jump on other equally important topics if needed. Kathryn graduated with a degree in Journalism and lives in Duluth, Minnesota. She joined Kiplinger in 2023 as a contributor.

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Why Can’t College Grads Find Jobs? Here Are Some Theories — and Fixes.

By Peter Coy

Opinion Writer

Many new college graduates are having an awful time finding jobs, as I wrote in April and in early May . I’ve been trying to understand why, and I think I’m getting closer to more answers.

There’s lots of anecdotal evidence that something is wrong. Please take a listen to a new episode of “The Opinions” podcast I did with John York, a 24-year-old with a master’s degree in math from New York University who grabbed my attention when he wrote me that “it feels like I am screaming into the void with each application I am filling out.” Derek Arthur, the producer of the podcast, interviewed other young graduates, including one who said he had sent out over 500 applications with no luck.

At first blush, stories like York’s seem like outliers, since the unemployment rate is still pretty low — 3.9 percent in April. But a report this week by Elsie Peng, an economist at Goldman Sachs, shows that the anecdotes point to something real.

Digging into Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Peng found a recent decline in the job-finding rate of new entrants to the labor force. Fresh college grads make up a big chunk of that group.

The chart above, which I made from Goldman’s data, shows that the hiring rate for new entrants to the labor force is below its average since mid-2000, even as the hiring rate for experienced workers remains well above its average.

This next chart shows that the hiring rate for people with a bachelor’s degree or more (not just new grads) has fallen off recently, while the rate for people with less than a bachelor’s degree has stayed high.

I asked Goldman’s economics team why finding a job has gotten harder for new entrants and college grads (and presumably especially hard for new entrants who are college grads). In an email, the team wrote that “we have not looked into the specific drivers” but said there are several potential reasons. Among them:

For 2024 grads, studying remotely during Covid “may have affected their training, networking, and human and social capital accumulation.”

There are still some worker shortages, but mainly for low-skilled jobs.

The labor market may simply be “moving into better balance,” allowing employers to become more selective.

Some people with student loan debt who weren’t working may have been forced back into the labor market by the need to resume payments on their loans, adding to competition for jobs.

I also spoke to a lot of people in and around the hiring business who helped me understand at ground level why the college-to-job transmission belt is working poorly.

“We see a lot of caution and uncertainty” from employers, Karin Kimbrough, the chief economist of LinkedIn, told me. They’re uncertain about the outlook for interest rates and consumer demand, she said, “making them very cautious” about hiring.

Even though the unemployment rate is low, fewer people are quitting, so fewer jobs are becoming available, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. LinkedIn’s estimate of the national hiring rate was down 9.5 percent in April from a year earlier.

One point I heard over and over is that simply tossing your résumé and cover letter into a company’s job portal has a low probability of success, especially now. It’s so easy to submit applications that companies are being bombarded with thousands of them. Human beings can’t possibly review all of them, so they’re reviewed by computers, which simply search for keywords. They don’t understand in any deep way either the applicant’s qualities or the employer’s needs.

“The better writer you are, the greater your chance of getting rejected, because you won’t use keywords” the way the evaluation algorithm wants, Nick Corcodilos, a recruiter who runs the website Ask the Headhunter, told me. Personal contact is crucial, he said. Rather than spraying applications far and wide, he recommends focusing on a handful of companies, researching them in depth and contacting a wide range of people connected with them, even their suppliers and customers.

College work experience can make a difference too, according to Jane Swift, a former lieutenant governor and acting governor of Massachusetts who’s now the president of Education at Work, a nonprofit that helps students get internships related to their chosen fields while they’re still in school. Those college jobs, she wrote to me, “enhance prospects for a good first job and a career filled with purpose and passion.”

Fixing the college-to-job transmission belt should be partly employers’ responsibility, not just applicants’. That’s especially true for applicants from groups whose potential tends to be underestimated, such as single mothers, Joan Lynch, the chief content and programming officer of WorkingNation, a media nonprofit that promotes ways to fix unemployment and underemployment, told me. “It takes opening their eyes and saying, ‘Oh, this is a valuable employee,’” she said.

The bad news is that more and more evidence suggests that getting a good job right out of college is really tough. The good news is that a lot of people are aware of the problem and striving to do something about it.

The Readers Write

You wrote that people dislike inflation — Japan is no exception. Everyone is so frustrated. However, in this country the central bank is not fighting inflation, as the Policy Board members think deflation is bad. The annual change in the Consumer Price Index has been above 2 percent for more than two years, but economic growth has been weak in real terms. Targeting higher inflation is a bad policy; they should focus on real growth.

Hiroshi Utsumi Ogaki, Gifu, Japan

Every time I go into a supermarket, my visceral first thought is, “When will this inflation end so prices can go back to normal?” Mind you, that’s after having taught macroeconomics for 40 years, so I know that inflation is the change in prices, not their level. My second thought is, “Well, you flunked again.”

Brent Kigner Kufstein, Austria

I was surprised that you did not mention the unwinding of the negative supply shock as a reason for the reduction in inflation without an increase in unemployment. Indeed, most news reports that I read solely focus on the Fed, assuming that it alone is responsible for the decreased inflation, when actually I think it has played a secondary role thus far.

However, the things that have limited the Fed’s effect on aggregate demand (and, hence on inflation and unemployment), such as an aggregate wealth effect from financial markets, increased real wages and residual effects from the expansion of government programs, have a limited shelf life. And soon, I fear, the Fed increases to date will start to really bite. I believe they are making a big mistake not lowering rates sooner rather than later.

One other point. As someone who was a Federal Reserve economist during the Volcker years, I think that the current Federal Open Market Committee has taken the wrong message from those fraught times. They seem to believe that credibility comes from “being tough” on inflation and biasing their decisions toward austerity. That is seriously mistaken. Instead, credibility comes from people believing that the Fed will make the correct decisions at the right time and explain why those decisions were made. I have yet to hear a coherent explanation from the Fed as to why they think they have played a major role in reducing inflation and why they need to keep rates high, other than vague references about the strength of the labor market and actual inflation. Given the lags in policy effects, this is a recipe for disaster. I am afraid this does not end well.

Robert DeFina Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for your thought-provoking article, “No, Americans Are Not Completely Stupid About Inflation,” in The New York Times. As the rights holder and trustee of the estates of the influential civil rights leaders W.E.B. Du Bois, Shirley Graham Du Bois, and David Graham Du Bois, I was particularly pleased to see you conclude the piece with a powerful quote from W.E.B. Du Bois.

Your discussion of the possibility of reducing inflation without inducing a recession through effective coordination and credibility aligns with the forward-thinking approach championed by Du Bois. Moreover, your inclusion of Du Bois’s quote, “Either the United States will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy the United States,” serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of education, understanding and open discourse in addressing societal challenges.

Odell Murry Toluca Lake, Calif.

Regarding your newsletter on Red Lobster: Please tell the whole story about the role of private equity in taking apart the business. Endless shrimp aren’t the main reason for the company’s bankruptcy filing.

Ruth Rodriguez Denver

Peter here: Many readers argued this. I thought I had fresher things to write about the Endless Shrimp promotion, but I should have touched on other accusations against Red Lobster’s owners.

Quote of the Day

“The idea that the poor should have leisure has always been shocking to the rich.”

— Bertrand Russell, “In Praise of Idleness,” Harper’s Magazine” ( 1932 )

Peter Coy is a writer for the Opinion section of The Times, covering economics and business. Email him at [email protected] . @ petercoy