What if I don't want to go to college. Are there any high paying jobs that don't require a college degree?
I don't think I want to go to college #college
2 answers
Theresa’s Answer
Of course there are! And I don't have a degree either. But you don't start there. First, what do you love to do and are skilled at? Those are more pressing questions. Even if you haven't developed yourself yet, half the battle is knowing yourself well. Myself, I have always liked working with my hands. Yes, there are a thousand career paths where I could implement this desire and along the way I have become competent doing many things but had to become a pro in one area. I am a professional painter now.
I didn't consider painting as a career until I was in my mid thirties. I have 4 daughters so parenting was first, but I was always making signs for school and church or painting gifts to save money, etc. While I was busy enjoying and living life I became a competent painter. I wish I'd started earlier.
Since I turned 40 I have been the Paint Shop Manager of an Exhibits Shop, Painted multi-million dollar exhibits, and currently paint only in large theaters and museums as well as restorative painting and faux finishing. I just kept at it. I couldn't finished college (Art Major) but have been in my own painting school most of my life. I learn what each job requires and am always, always always as prepared as possible.
People refer you and only care about results, ethics and attitude. It is your steadfast passion coupled with a humble attitude that makes you good and marketable. Learn your trade, do free-bees at first, then charge according to your skill. And yeah, you will be doing all sorts of odd jobs to get out there and survive. Just goes up from there. And make friends with a few failings but work through them. I was a 're-painter' for a few years.
Nicole’s Answer
Understandably, the act of "going to college" could be a scary one, especially for those of us that aren't quite sure what we "want to be when we grow up". There is a lot of responsibility that comes with traveling that path and sometimes there can be anxiety about not wanting to "mess it up".
Certainly there are examples of instances where people can and do get paid fair wages/a salary even if they don't have a college degree. In my experience, a college degree is a bit of a marker. In other words, it can used by job-seekers as a way to mark, or market themselves. In truth, whether the job-seeker has a degree or not, they have to be able to convince the employer that they are capable of doing the work that the job requires. In some cases, some of that convincing includes sharing whether the job-seeker has a degree, in what field, etc. Employers may also use a college degree as a mark to assess whether or not the job-seeker could have the skills they are looking for.
More generally though, a college degree can be helpful when a job-seeker begins to build their desired career path. In my view, a college degree can be helpful when individuals decide how they want to grow their careers...and many, many job-seekers decide that they want to go back to get their degree and have lots of success in doing so.
Hope you find this answer helpful and best of luck to you!