You've finally graduated. Now what? It's difficult to choose a career path directly out of high school, but it's important to start thinking about it long before you actually graduate. It's also worthwhile to look at a salary comparison to see how lucrative your choices are. Some people go right into college after high school, while others go into trade work, start their own businesses, or earn certifications like medical billing or LPN. Whichever path you choose, it's time to start thinking about it.
These six careers are both rewarding and can help you make a comfortable living. Most don't require college training, or minimal college training. Let's get started.
1. Medical Billing And Coding
A medical biller/coder takes healthcare information and translates it into standardized codes so that insurance companies can be billed properly. This is an important function in the healthcare industry, and one we don't really think about. It's a more behind-the-scenes-type job, but for the right person, it can be both rewarding and comfortable.
You'll be helping patients to get their medical bills paid, which is an important service in itself. It's no secret that healthcare isn't cheap, so having that insurance pick up part of the bill is a blessing for us all.
You can get a medical coding certification online through one of the many web-based programs out there. You can also pursue an associate's degree through a traditional university if you prefer that route, but either way, you'll still have to pass the exam and become certified to work in the field.
2. Nursing
Nursing is a popular option for people fresh out of high school or those simply looking for a career change. Nursing has many tiers of work that you can pursue, from a CNA (certified nursing assistant), whose main duties are to assist the nurses in patient care, all the way to RN (registered nurse). Nursing is a field that requires compassion, empathy, and dedication, but the career path doesn't always require a bachelor's degree.
A CNA certification can be obtained in under a year's time, and even an LPN (licensed practical nurse) certification can take under two years. If you want to become an RN, a bachelor's is often preferred, but not required. You'll need to pass the NCLEX exam, and will need to be registered with your state's medical board.
Nursing can offer a unique opportunity to make a good living while helping others, and the nursing industry is always growing as we add more facilities and more people become ill. Unfortunately, people will always be sick, so there's a certain level of security that comes with a job in healthcare.
3. Electrician, Plumber, Trade Work
The trades are still a viable career option, despite the focus on college degrees and post-graduate careers. Finding work in the trades will mean completing post-secondary training, but you won't have to spend thousands on a bachelor's degree to make a comfortable and fulfilling living.
Electricians and plumbers are in demand, and serve a vital function in our society. Other "trades" can include:
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HVAC operator
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Boilermaker
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Home Inspector
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Construction Manager
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Concrete mason
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Extraction Worker
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Paralegal
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Elevator Installer/Technician
These jobs all pay well, and, in some cases, you'll even receive paid training if you enter via an apprenticeship program. The possibilities are pretty much endless in the trades, and you'll be able to do hands-on work instead of sitting at a desk.
4. Air Traffic Controller
Air traffic controllers serve a vital function by directing air traffic, grounding and helping planes take off, and monitoring for potential threats. The position usually requires an associate's degree at the least, and you might be surprised to learn how much they can make. The typical salary for an ATC is about $122,000 per year!
The one drawback to this career path is that it's incredibly competitive. As of 2019, there were only about a total of 7,000 ATC jobs across the country. That's not much to choose from, and you can be sure that others are pursuing this high-paying, high-reward career path.
5. Graphic, Web, Or Art Designer
We'll always need graphics, websites, and other digital artwork for marketing, entertainment, and more. Becoming a graphic designer or web designer can offer you the opportunity to put your creative spirit to work generating a comfortable living doing something you enjoy. Web developers can make about $73,000 per year on average, with the potential to make more depending on their projects and workload.
Most of these positions don't require a degree, and, in a lot of cases, designers are self-taught. There are plenty of online courses available that can teach you design, but if you want to work in a professional setting like an office or design firm, you might want to go the college route.
6. Bookkeeper
Businesses and individuals alike need to keep their books balanced, and that's the responsibility of professional bookkeepers. If you like numbers, this is the job for you. You'll track financial transactions, balance the books, and keep things organized and easy to read. You can find work as a bookkeeper in just about any industry, without having a college degree.
Bookkeepers can make, on average, about $41,000 per year, and there were about one million of these jobs available last year.
