Good jobs and careers which do not require college

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Friday, August 16. 2013

Good jobs and careers which do not require college

I can think of a few good ones, just for starters.

Gunsmith
Cabinetmaker
Oil rigger
Actor
Musician

I'm sure there are hundreds. Add your ideas below.

Posted by The Barrister in Education, Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 13:22 | Comments (27) | Trackbacks (0)

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Electronic technician. A couple years in the military and you will be offered plenty of jobs, at least here in California. Pay is about 90% of an EE.

#1 Dr. Everett V. Scott (Link) on 2013-08-16 13:44 (Reply)

I was on the IRC a few nights ago and saw a copy of that long rant you left here last week. Seriously, you need to seek professional help.

#1.1 KJW on 2013-08-16 16:11 (Reply)

Amen to that. I saw the original. Get help, "Dr.", please.

#1.1.1 Ginny on 2013-08-16 18:09 (Reply)

Ginny,

I'm sorry your restaurant is on the ropes. But don't take it out on others.

#1.1.1.1 Dr. Everett V. Scott (Link) on 2013-08-17 03:25 (Reply)

KJW,

What rant?

#1.1.2 Dr. Everett V. Scott (Link) on 2013-08-17 03:26 (Reply)

There was a local cabinet maker, a skilled hard worker who charged reasonable prices. He couldn't make a go of it in competition with the factory made stuff. Eventually he went to work for one of the local manufacturers. Custom cabinetry isn't much in demand, at least around here.

#2 chuck on 2013-08-16 13:53 (Reply)

Brick/block mason

These guys can be their own boss and make real money if they are good.

JG

#3 jg on 2013-08-16 14:15 (Reply)

CEO of high tech company. Or any company for that matter.

However, to get this job you most often must start the company.

#4 JKB on 2013-08-16 14:16 (Reply)

Glass block masons are hard to come by around here. There are companies that will put 'glass' blocks in your basement windows, for instance, but they put the blocks in a frame then put the frame in the window opening and mud that in [or whatever you call that].

My wife needed/wanted a walk-in shower and decided on glass block walls. Had a hard time finding a guy and then had a hard time getting him here to actually do the work. Got paid well, though.

#5 JorgXMcKie on 2013-08-16 14:20 (Reply)

Merchant Marine

Although they've made it hard to get a license without a degree these days but unlicensed (non-officer) positions don't require one. In fact, entry level doesn't even require (legally) literacy but it's near impossible to find a school that will accommodate that for the training these days.

#6 JKB on 2013-08-16 14:33 (Reply)

I suppose this doesn't 100 percent count b/c a course of some kind is required. However, there will be a HUGE need for medical coders who can do the new coding system that is being implemented. Courses are filling up right and left. For someone who is interested in medical stuff and likes to type and do computer work, the pay is supposed to be over $20/hour. Not bad!

#7 MissT on 2013-08-16 14:42 (Reply)

When I went into the service with an MOS of wireman (telephone) as you went through training you could also go to lineman school (electric power) if you graduated as one of the top two in your class. You may be able to go straight to lineman school this day and age. Fortunately I had much bigger ideas. I went to airborne school which, don't ya know, has an absolutely huge demand in the civilian market. Especially when you're crosstrained to radioman because airborne has no use whatsoever for lineman. So rather than pay to go through lineman school at a vocational school why not got to school for free and get paid for it...and most electric utility companies accept military training when hiring and even gave preference to ex military.

#8 indyjonesouthere on 2013-08-16 15:53 (Reply)

When I worked at a large electric utility, linemen were considered the princes of labor.

I have to agree that it takes both smarts and balls to do the work and live to cash the paychecks.

Any one that can bare-hand a live500 kV transmission line while dangling from a helicopter has my respect! Plus, they put in long hours following an earthquake or big fire, getting power back to an often unappreciative public.

Another great job here in the Bay Area is stone mason. Finding one with a good eye is almost impossible.

#8.1 Whitehall on 2013-08-17 23:27 (Reply)

Plumber.

#9 Sam L. on 2013-08-16 16:49 (Reply)

Apparently, POTUS fits, since no one seems to be able to prove he ever graduated.

#10 alanstorm on 2013-08-16 16:50 (Reply)

Machinist, electrician, mill wright, plumber all pay well but require tech school/apprenticeships.

Straight out of high school, urban trapper/pest control, stevedore (apprenticeship needed but even that pays well), heavy equipment operator, septic tank pumper/installer, fireman (lots of ojt and fire academy), crane operator, short order cook, asbestos remover, haz mat clean up, forest ranger, and the list goes on.

#11 walt moffett on 2013-08-16 17:09 (Reply)

Good jobs and Careers which do not require college:
Oil rigger
The rig count in the US went from 4530 in 1981 to ~450. It is now at 1791. Take those numbers into consideration.

#12 Gringo on 2013-08-16 17:32 (Reply)

Most IT work doesn't require a college degree.

#13 AnonMuse on 2013-08-16 18:04 (Reply)

I almost forgot [and I grew up next to the Mississippi River] about "boat hand" or whatever they're calling today. Working on the barges that carry stuff on the big rivers. Usually 30 days on and 30 days off. Little or no training necessary

Also, cook on the barges. It's pretty hard work, because the hands eat pretty much around the clock. Also 30 on/30 off.

Same for Great Lakes boats I think.

And there really does seem to be a shortage of diesel truck drivers here in Michigan anyway.

#14 JorgXMcKie on 2013-08-16 18:21 (Reply)

I spent the last 15 years before retirement working in chemical plants, power plants, refineries.......as a Instrument technician. The job was exciting, state of the art in control of flow, level......temperature.....data acquisition....in those facilities. It's not for the faint of heart. If you were motivated you could knock down six figures. I worked for two companies......Raytheon and Alstom.....two great companies.

#15 bartdp on 2013-08-16 18:53 (Reply)

Borrow some $ and buy a dry-cleaning store.

#16 Bird Dog on 2013-08-16 19:04 (Reply)

We should note that almost no job requires a degree beyond the somewhat arbitrary requirements of government licensing or the controlling cartel.

College can be a indicator that an individual has been exposed to a body of knowledge but it really isn't a good indicator that they have a firm grasp of that knowledge. It is a best a filter employers use to focus their selection process or that cartels, such as the ABA, to limit competition in their job market.

College, at least in those terrible "vocational" majors can accelerate a student's exposure to a needed body of knowledge thus avoiding the wasted time figuring out what is needed on their own.

#17 JKB on 2013-08-17 00:25 (Reply)

Computer programmers don't need college.

Sign painter

Baker/donut maker (hard work, odd hours)

Buffalo rancher

#18 DrTorch on 2013-08-17 11:10 (Reply)

Pops said, "Nothing happens until someone sells somebody something." I took it to heart and made my fortune in sales. "Retired" at age 44 and work for myself managing my investments these days.

I had a degree but didn't need it to get hired. After that it was all about making the numbers. The worst reps I ever had were the over-credentialed ones who felt life owed them a living because they graduated with honors.

#19 Mr. Dart (Link) on 2013-08-17 13:08 (Reply)

Saw this ad in the local newspaper the other day. Purina Mills in Lancaster, PA maker of pet foods is wanting applicants for the position of "Pet Food Taster". No high school education needed for this position...

#20 Robert A. Caughie (Link) on 2013-08-17 16:54 (Reply)

Farmer, rancher, commercial fisherman

#21 Bill on 2013-08-17 17:43 (Reply)

Ha, ha, you're all wrong.

As per Derbyshire, "get a government job".

Great pay, 100% security, you can order the rest of us around, you'll probably have your own swat team and your work involves no actual work.

#22 Fred Z on 2013-08-19 09:47 (Reply)

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Friday, August 16. 2013

Good jobs and careers which do not require college