Money & The Economy

Top Jobs paying $20+ an hour that don’t require college

In the market for a job where you can make a good living without a college degree? CareerBuilder published a new hot list that might just be for you. This list is for you if you are looking for a job that:

pays ~$20 or more per hour
has grown over the last five years
is projected to grow over the next five years
doesn’t require a college degree

“The path to success is different for everyone,” said Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder and co-author of The Talent Equation. “You can build a lucrative career through apprenticeships, post-secondary certificates or on-the-job training. There is significant demand for workers in everything from skilled trades to technology and health-related fields, and you can get your foot in the door without a formal degree.”

The following includes historical and projected growth rates and average hourly earnings for in-demand occupations. It also provides the typical entry-level education requirement, though this may vary depending on the employer.

Occupation	Growth in Jobs 2013-2017	Total No. of Jobs in 2018	Total No. of Jobs in 2022	Growth in Jobs 2018-2022	Average Hourly Earnings	Required Education
Electricians	68,668 11%	705,858	743,451	37,592 5%	$26.33	High School Diploma & Apprenticeship
Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters	63,161 15%	498,239	525,038	26,799 5%	$25.76	High School Diploma & Apprenticeship
Computer User Support Specialists	63,822 10%	713,398	761,801	48,402 7%	$25.50	Some College
Industrial Machinery Mechanics	28,601 9%	361,122	390,328	29,206 8%	$24.87	High School Diploma & On-the-Job Training
Surgical Technologists	8,691 9%	112,614	120,104	7,490 7%	$22.68	Postsecondary Non-degree Award
Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers	49,487 17%	354,366	375,649	21,283 6%	$22.39	Postsecondary Non-degree Award & On-the-Job Training
Chefs and Head Cooks	17,585 13%	159,547	169,488	9,941 6%	$21.54	High School Diploma & On-the-Job Training
Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors	41,224 14%	333,923	354,473	20,550 6%	$20.23	High School Diploma & On-the-Job Training
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians	14,617 7%	216,651	231,394	14,743 7%	$19.96	Postsecondary Non-degree Award
Self-Enrichment Education Teachers	38,145 11%	404,029	436,063	32,034 8%	$19.91	High School Diploma

Projections based on Emsi’s Occupation Data, 2018.

Carl Fox

Carl Fox is the senior money and finance writer for Conservative Daily News. Follow him in the "Money & The Economy" section at CDN and see his posts on the "Junior Economists" Facebook page.