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The following career examples don't require much post-secondary education. In a lot of cases, all you need is a simple two-year associate's degree. And for some of them, a diploma or certificate is enough to get you started, which can often be earned in a matter of months.
National salary and job growth data is taken from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment in each of the 15 careers below is projected to increase at a rate that's above the average of seven percent for all occupations between 2014 and 2024.*** Salaries are based on estimates from May 2015. Keep in mind that what you can earn might vary depending on which part of the country you work in and how much experience you have.
1. Dental Hygienist
Cleaning teeth, inspecting mouths for signs of disease, and educating patients about proper oral care are the primary duties for people with this career.
- Median pay—$72,330
- Top pay—$98,440 or more
- Job growth—19 percent
These healthcare technicians use special ultrasound technology to capture images that help doctors correctly diagnose and treat their patients.
- Median pay—$68,970
- Top pay—$97,390 or more
- Job growth—26 percent
With just an associate's degree, you can enter the world of providing and coordinating essential care for patients in places like hospitals, nursing facilities, and other healthcare settings.
- Median pay—$67,490
- Top pay—$101,630 or more
- Job growth—16 percent
Building attractive and functional websites requires plenty of technical skill but not necessarily much schooling, especially if you already enjoy teaching yourself new tricks.
- Median pay—$64,970
- Top pay—$116,620 or more
- Job growth—27 percent
Many people need professional care to help breathe effectively, which is where these health pros come in. The work can vary from facilitating life support to working in small clinics to assist people with asthma and other respiratory ailments.
- Median pay—$57,790
- Top pay—$80,440 or more
- Job growth—12 percent
These specialists perform tests, take ultrasound images, or provide assistance during surgery for heart-related conditions.
- Median pay—$54,880
- Top pay—$87,170 or more
- Job growth—22 percent
A little vocational schooling and a short apprenticeship is usually enough to enter this trade that lets you wire buildings for electrical power and communications.
- Median pay—$51,880
- Top pay—$88,130 or more
- Job growth—14 percent
With a short amount of formal trade school or apprenticeship training, you can specialize in installing and repairing pipes and related equipment.
- Median pay—$50,620
- Top pay—$89,720 or more
- Job growth—12 percent
This type of tradesperson works underwater in special scuba gear to help build, repair, or remove large structures or equipment.
- Median pay—$50,470
- Top pay—$88,470 or more
- Job growth—37 percent
Supporting lawyers by taking care of responsibilities like legal research, administrative tasks, or document drafting is what these well-paid professionals are trained for.
- Median pay—$48,810
- Top pay—$79,010 or more
- Job growth—Eight percent
These tradespeople install, maintain, and repair the systems that heat and cool our homes, businesses, and other buildings.
- Median pay—$45,110
- Top pay—$71,690 or more
- Job growth—14 percent
Preparing operating rooms, organizing surgical equipment, and assisting surgeons during operations are a few of the main roles for this kind of healthcare technician.
- Median pay—$44,330
- Top pay—$63,410 or more
- Job growth—15 percent
This skilled trade involves controlling big construction machinery used for building roads or major structures.
- Median pay—$44,600
- Top pay—$77,490 or more
- Job growth—10 percent
No degree is required to get into this level of nursing, which lets you work alongside doctors and other health professionals after a quick vocational education.
- Median pay—$43,170
- Top pay—$59,510 or more
- Job growth—16 percent
People in this occupation collect fluid and tissue samples from medical patients and perform basic diagnostic tests using special lab equipment.
- Median pay—$38,970
- Top pay—$60,810 or more
- Job growth—18 percent
In addition to the above careers, the following options can also pay well and are expected to have some job growth. And they can often be started without a degree or with just a short amount of formal training or certification preparation.
16. Computer Programmer
Although many programmers have bachelor's degrees in computer science, a lot of other successful people in this field are able to begin their careers with under two years of formal training in software coding or mobile app development.
- Median pay—$79,530
- Top pay—$130,800 or more
You don't need a college degree to fly charters or to get paid for things like aerial photography or firefighting missions. But you do need certification from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), which can be prepared for at an aviation school that offers short pilot training.
- Median pay—$76,150
- Top pay—$147,890 or more
Looking after the day-to-day needs of an organization's data communications systems is what this technology-based vocation is all about.
- Median pay—$77,810
- Top pay—$124,090 or more
With the success of the video game and other entertainment industries like film and TV, the need for those with artistic talent and 2D or 3D computer animation skills is always present.
- Median pay—$63,970
- Top pay—$113,600 or more
Helping engineers develop and test equipment and devices related to things like computers, health monitoring, communications, or navigation is what this kind of specialist does.
- Median pay—$61,130
- Top pay—$90,570 or more
Although requirements vary from agency to agency, in a lot of cases you can become an attractive candidate for police academy training by being in good physical shape and having a little bit of criminal justice schooling.
- Median pay—$58,320
- Top pay—$96,110 or more
The exciting trade of repairing and maintaining airplanes or helicopters can be learned by getting short FAA-approved training from an aviation school.
- Median pay—$58,370
- Top pay—$89,050 or more
With a quick associate's degree in this field, you can begin assisting mechanical engineers with the development, testing, and manufacturing of things like industrial machines, engines, and tools with moving parts.
- Median pay—$53,910
- Top pay—$81,010 or more
Using computer-assisted design and drafting (CADD) programs, these professionals turn the ideas of architects into plans and blueprints that can be used for the actual construction of buildings.
- Median pay—$50,710
- Top pay—$77,450 or more
Infrastructure projects like bridges and highways have their beginnings in the design and planning stage, which is what these professionals assist with.
- Median pay—$49,260
- Top pay—$75,550 or more
Visually communicating ideas through graphics and illustrations that inform people and capture their attention is what this occupation is all about. Plus, career advancement in this field can be very rewarding since art directors, depending on their experience and particular industries, can make over $169,000 in some locations.
- Median pay—$46,900
- Top pay—$81,320 or more
In this automotive trade, the focus is on inspecting, repairing, or overhauling large vehicles with diesel engines such as trucks, buses, and rolling machinery used in mining or construction.
- Median pay—$44,520
- Top pay—$66,940 or more
27 of the Highest-Paying Jobs Without a 4 Year Degree - 2016
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