The 10 Best Jobs For College Dropouts

So you decided to drop out of college, and you’re feeling worried about what kind of jobs you’ll be qualified for. Don’t worry; college isn’t for everyone.

Whether you have a hobby you want to turn into a career or are simply looking for a high-paying gig, there are quality jobs out there for college dropouts. You can easily make more than $40,000 per year (and you’ll owe a whole lot less in student loans).

Luckily, we’ve done some digging to find the top ten jobs for college dropouts, so you can be confident in your new career.

With these in mind, let’s dive into the top ten jobs for college dropouts:

1. Auto Mechanic Jobs (Overview)

2. Solar Panel Installer Jobs (Overview)

3. Massage Therapist Jobs (Overview)

4. Sommelier Jobs (Overview)

5. Millwright Jobs (Overview)

6. Insurance Agent Jobs (Overview)

7. Photographer Jobs (Overview)

8. Lodging Facilities Manager Jobs (Overview)

9. Sales Representative Jobs (Overview)

10. Real Estate Broker Jobs (Overview)

Top 10 Best Jobs For College Dropouts

1. Auto Mechanic

   Average Salary: $36,000 per year
   Current Jobs Available: 56,081
   Job Growth Rate: -1%

   If you know a thing or two about cars, becoming an auto mechanic is a great career choice for any college dropout. On top of the fact that the average auto mechanic makes $19.29 per hour, a considerable 38% only needed a high school diploma to land a job.

   Of course, because this job requires you to repair and maintain vehicles, vehicle knowledge is essential. You’ll need knowledge of car parts, how to change oil/tires, state and manufacturing regulations, and hopefully customer service.

   However, if you have two years of relevant experience or are able to undergo some vocational training, you can get into this line of work relatively easily.

   Find Auto Mechanic jobs near me.

2. Solar Panel Installer

   Average Salary: $42,384 per year
   Current Jobs Available: 9,563
   Job Growth Rate: 63%

   With an average hourly income of $20.38, combined with an insane job growth rate of 63%, becoming a solar panel installer is a great choice if you’re looking to drop out.

   For the work they do (installing and maintaining solar panels), you might be surprised to learn that the majority of solar panel installers only have a high school diploma.

   That means this job can be incredibly easy to get into, even if you lack experience or higher education. Plus, insane levels of job growth mean that over 6,000 new jobs will be added to this field over the next few years.

   Find Solar Panel Installer jobs near me

3. Massage Therapist

   Average Salary: $45,742 per year
   Jobs Available: 35,881
   Job Growth Rate: 22%

   Do you know what’s more relaxing than midterms? Becoming a massage therapist.

   These professionals earn a respectable $22 per hour on average, working on clients’ muscles and soft tissues. Whether you decide to work in your home or at a spa, you’ll spend your days surrounded by soothing music and lulled clients.

   Plus, getting into this line of work only requires a bit of dedication. Generally speaking, you only need 500 hours of postsecondary education study and experience, and 27.7% of current massage therapists only have a high school diploma or certificate. With that in mind, it wouldn’t take you long to become one, even if you drop out.

   Find Massage Therapist jobs near me.

4. Sommelier

   Average Salary: $46,000 per year
   Jobs Available: 1,110
   Job Growth Rate: 6%

   If you’re an expert in wine and also have some interpersonal skills, becoming a sommelier might just be a good fit for you. These individuals usually work in fine restaurants and specialize in all aspects of wine, whether that’s pairing it with the right food or educating other staff members about it. Unlike your typical waiter, sommeliers make an average of $22.49 per hour.

   Of course, expertise in wine doesn’t come without some training. Experience as a waiter, manager, or sales associate is beneficial, and there are also online courses you can take to learn essential skills.

   Find Sommelier jobs near me.

5. Millwright

   Average Salary: $48,293 per year
   Jobs Available: 49,535
   Job Growth Rate: 5%

   Millwrights repair factory equipment and other industrial machinery. They earn an average of $23.22 per hour. If you like working with your hands, you’ll be able to spend all day installing, dismantling, repairing, reassembling, and moving machinery around factories, power plants, and construction sites.

   While this career path is male-dominated, it’s an excellent choice for college dropouts. A considerable 45% of those who work in this field have a high school diploma as their highest level of education. In general, all that’s needed to get into this line of work is technical training, such as an apprenticeship program.

   Find Millwright jobs near me.

6. Insurance Agent

   Average Salary: $49,118 per year
   Jobs Available: 58,902
   Job Growth Rate: 10%

   Insurance agents are a particular type of salespeople who specialize in selling cars, rentals, health, and other types of insurance. The average insurance agent makes around $23.61 per hour, and this job is experiencing a healthy 10% job growth.

   Like other sales positions, succeeding as an insurance agent is all about customer service and interpersonal skills, combined with knowledge of the product. Luckily, almost 15% of insurance agents earned their jobs with only a high school degree, and many jobs in this field provide on-the-job training for promising candidates.

   Find Insurance Agent jobs near me.

7. Photographer

   Average Salary: $49,482 per year
   Jobs Available: 8,300
   Job Growth Rate: -6%

   Like any artistic job, becoming a successful photographer has many different avenues you can take. You can have your own business, take commercial photography, take wedding photography, or fill any number of other niches.

   You also might be surprised to know that the average photographer makes over $23 per hour, which is far from the “starving artist” cliche you might imagine.

   This freedom makes photography a wonderful line of work for anyone looking to drop out of college. As a photographer, you can expect to experience making beautiful places, people, animals, and things, which sounds a whole lot better than statistics class.

   The only major downside to pursuing photography is the learning curve, as you’ll need to study techniques before you become a professional. This, combined with slow job growth, can make it difficult to compete with other photographers.

   However, 39% of photographers are successful with only a high school degree and some college, which means your skills will matter a whole lot more than your formal education.

   Find Photographer jobs near me.

8. Lodging Facilities Manager

   Average Salary: $54,348 per year
   Jobs Available: 147,169
   Job Growth Rate: 6%

   Earning an impressive $26.13 per hour, lodging facilities managers ensure their hotel (or any other accommodating establishment) is run efficiently and profitably. They also check in with guests, as positive guest experiences are a top priority. With that in mind, interpersonal and customer service skills are a must for this role.

   You’ll also be facing little competition, with nearly 150,000 jobs available and a 6% job growth rate in the U.S.

   While this line of work does require some experience in managerial positions, as well as preferably experience in the leisure and hospitality industry, college dropouts can still land a job. At least 15% of those who work in this industry only have a high school degree and can earn their jobs through experience alone.

   Find Lodging Facilities Manager jobs near me

9. Sales Representative

   Average Salary: $56,106 per year
   Jobs Available: 169,231
   Job Growth Rate: 2%

   Sales representatives are in the business of selling products and making new customers. And unsurprisingly, being in the business of making companies money comes with a healthy average salary of $26.97 per hour.

   And this role is in high demand, with a staggering 169,231 jobs available in the U.S. alone. In fact, there are so many sales representative positions available that you can find job offers that require little experience or education. As long as you’re a good salesman, some companies will teach you everything you need to know.

   That’s why at least 20% of these professionals only have a high school diploma. Therefore, if you like the idea of working with clients and making a good sales pitch, this is one of the best jobs for any college dropout.

   Find Sales Representative jobs near me.

10. Real Estate Broker

    Average Salary: $102,423 per year
    Jobs Available: 22,010
    Job Growth Rate: 7%

    Nothing screams success quite like a college dropout who makes almost $50 an hour. Though this might seem like insanity at first, it’s actually possible if you become a successful real estate agent.

    Real estate agents are somewhat similar to sales representatives, with their specialty being to help people buy and sell houses. Of course, this line of work requires charisma, punctuality, follow-through, and in-depth knowledge of the American housing market.

    Despite the high salary, up to 27% of real estate agents only have a high school diploma or some college. Instead, the most important thing for these professionals is to acquire a real estate license in the state/s they wish to work in.

    Do keep in mind that competition can be fierce for real estate agents, meaning that while the barrier of entry might be low, it’ll take willpower and investment to become successful.

    Find Real Estate Broker jobs near me.

Things to Keep in Mind When You Drop Out of College

Did you know that over 60% of U.S. jobs don’t require a Bachelor’s degree? Plus, a good portion of those pays well enough to make a living off of.

When you drop out of college, it’s always important to remember that this decision won’t “end your life” in any way. You can still find a lucrative career, gain valuable experience, and more.

Overall, here are some things to keep in mind when you’re deciding to drop out:

• Do you need a degree for the job you’re interested in? You might be surprised to learn that many worthwhile careers don’t require a college degree. This list will name the top ten, giving you an opportunity to examine if you can get a job you want without needing a degree.

• Consider the risks. While dropping out is a valid option, you should also consider a few factors before you decide to drop out. For instance, if you only have a semester or a year left, maybe it’s worth sticking through to earn your degree. Plus, if your dream career requires a degree, it might be worth pushing through for that too.

• You can get a degree in the future. Luckily, deciding that college isn’t for you right now doesn’t mean you can’t get your degree in the future. While it can be difficult to transition from a working schedule back to a college schedule, this option will always be open to you.

• Know yourself. Lastly, don’t drop out or stay in college because others are influencing you to do so. In the end, examine what you want/need, and make an educated decision.

Final Thoughts

If you know in your heart that dropping out of college is the right decision for you, take comfort in knowing there are tons of quality jobs out there you can still be qualified for. When in doubt, look for careers that offer apprenticeships, vocational training, on-the-job training, or that only need a certificate/license to get started.

Additionally, remember that even if you don’t start with as high of a salary as you want, many of these jobs will continue to offer higher and higher pay as you become more experienced.

Author

Jack Flynn

Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.