This Can Help You Land a High-Paying Job — Without Going to College
When we think about post-secondary education, we tend to think about getting a degree from a two- or four-year college.
But certificate programs provide ways to learn essential skills and training in less time and with less expense.
ManpowerGroup’s latest Talent Shortage Survey surveyed over 42,000 employers and found 40% of them reported difficulty filling jobs due to a lack of skills and training — the highest level since 2007.
Skilled trades like electricians, welders and plumbers were the hardest roles to fill.
How Much Do These Jobs Pay?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the median salary for an electrician is $52,720 a year. An electrician training certificate can cost between $1,000 and $11,000, according to CostHelper.
The median salary for a welder is $39,390 a year. The cost of a welding program can range from $5,000 to $15,000.
The median salary for a plumber is $51,450 a year. A certificate program for a plumber could range between $1,250 and $3,000.
In contrast, data from the College Board says the cost of a two-year associate’s degree program averages out to about $3,520 a year and the cost of a bachelor’s degree program can range from about $9,650 to $33,480 a year, depending on whether the school is public or private and in-state or out-of-state.
The salary for degree program graduates can range widely based on what industry they specialize in, which major they choose and where they end up finding work.
What Other Jobs Can Certificate Programs Prepare You For?
Likewise, the types of certificate programs out there truly run the gamut. You could get certified as a nurse, paralegal, web designer, cosmetologist and much more.
In fact, we’ve written about how various professionals have earned success without a traditional college degree.
These three yoga teachers took training courses ranging from two weeks to six months long, costing from $2,000 to $4,000. One earned about $15 an hour teaching classes.
This woman became a doula earning about $35 an hour or $1,175 for birth-only packages.
We wrote about getting certified as a pet massage therapist and potentially earning $50 to $120 per hour.
This man made about $3,000 a week as a handyman, without even obtaining a certification!
If completing a certification program seems like the path for you, this post has six ideas of jobs you can get without a degree — plus a tip on finding a program that fits your interests.
Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.
