Jobs
Five in-demand jobs you don’t need a college degree to pursue
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Fewer Americans are enrolling in traditional four-year colleges and more are seeking affordable routes to a career.
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Many careers that don’t require a degree offer a livable wage but require an apprenticeship or training program for technical skills.
USA TODAY explored some of the careers the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics says are growing in demand. Here is a glimpse at some of those fields and what it takes to pursue them.
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Elevator and escalator installation and repair
People who can install and fix elevators and escalators are in demand, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Most states require these employees to obtain a license.
People interested in this job can enroll in four-year apprenticeship programs to learn the necessary skills.
Training programs offered by unions teach about safety, elevator and escalator parts and electrical and digital theory among other skills, according to the bureau’s data.
As of May 2023, the average median wage for these workers was $102,420.
This job often requires employees to “work in cramped areas inside crawl spaces and machine rooms” or at heights in elevator shafts and it may require overtime work, according to the bureau’s data.
Subway and streetcar operators
The U.S. workforce needs people who can operate subways and trains that transport passengers. People who do this job earned an average median wage last year of $84,270, federal data shows.
To obtain the skills to operate a subway or streetcar, you should prepare for a few months to a year of on-the-job training, according to a description provided by the career website O*NET OnLine.
People in the training program learn how to drive and control the vehicles, operate the controls that open and close doors and regulate the speed of trains. They also learn about safety precautions, according to the career website’s description.
Costume attendants
Demand for costume attendants is also on the rise.
The role could be a good fit for people interested in helping “select, fit and take care of costumes for cast members and entertainers” in plays and performances, according to the bureau’s job description.
Work in this field does not typically require formal training or an apprenticeship.
People often learn skills for these jobs while working for a performance arts company, high school or college drama or film department, or in the motion picture, television or video industries.
Professional costume attendants earned a median wage of $52,370 last year, according to federal data.
Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
Forest fire prevention and inspection is another lucrative field for people without a college degree. The skills for this job include detecting fire hazards, identifying fire prevention measures and investigating the cause of fires.
The first step is to get experience as a firefighter. People who pursue these careers typically get on-the-job training after they’ve been hired, according to the bureau’s data. Certification may also be required.
Last year forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists made an average of $71,420, data shows.
Airline operations specialists
Airlines are also looking for people to help ensure commercial planes have safe takeoffs and landings.
Airline operations specialists help with “maintaining flight records and applying knowledge of weather information,” according to the bureau’s description of the role.
To learn the skills for the job, people usually need to complete an apprenticeship program in airfield management or operations resource flight or jump management, according to a description provided by the career website O*NET OnLine.
These workers made a median annual wage of $51,140 in May 2023, federal data shows.
Contact Kayla Jimenez at kjimenez@usatoday.com. Follow her on X at @kaylajjimenez.
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