While college is a viable path for many and certainly can open doors, it’s not for everyone. Although it may have been easier years ago to find a job without a degree (or even a high school diploma), there are still plenty of career opportunities for you without having to step foot on a college campus. Whether you’re looking for a new career or just getting ideas for post-graduation, consider these cool jobs you can get without a four-year degree.
Commercial Pilot
Have you ever dreamt of traveling all over the world for a living? Commercial pilots do just that. How many other jobs do you know that could place you on three different continents in a week? There are many ways to become a commercial pilot, and while you could go to school to get a degree in aviation, it is not required.
Massage Therapist
While you will have to go through a training program to become a massage therapist, you can complete this course in about five months instead of four years. This can be an enriching career, as you soothe people’s aches and pains. As well, the starting pay rate averages above $50,000, which is great for someone just out of high school or looking to switch fields.
Firefighter
Firefighting is the riskiest of any of these cool jobs you can get without a four-year degree, but it can also be one of the most fulfilling. Risking your safety to rescue trapped and scared people is possibly the noblest profession of all. Training to become a firefighter takes about three months but can be grueling. This is a perilous career path, and they want to be sure everyone that goes through training is well-equipped to handle any situation they could encounter.
These three jobs are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to great careers you can have without needing to go to a four-year university. While they all require extensive training, these training periods are a fraction of how long college takes—and significantly cheaper.
