Not everyone is fortunate enough to stay in high school. Life can sometimes get in the way, and if you drop out of school then there’s a chance that you might end up in a place where jobs are scarce.
Luckily, there are still many high paying jobs for high school dropouts within the United States. When you are on the lookout, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.
First of all, when searching for the best options, consider the location of where you’re looking. If you’re looking for jobs in New York, then that might not be the best idea. You will find better opportunities for jobs in other locations within the United States.
If you’re looking to relocate to a different state it might be useful if you start with a lower-paying job. This way when your resume lands on someone’s desk, they won’t get too excited about hiring you based on your salary alone.
Finally, when considering the best options for jobs, make sure that your goal is to work for a large company. If you’re looking to work for a large company then they will typically require more from their employees, which means that there is more room for growth within the company. This also means that there is a lower chance of being laid off or getting fired.
You don’t want to be stuck in a situation where you have little room for growth and where your resume could get tossed onto someone’s desk at any time with little notice.
High Paying Jobs for High School Dropouts
1. Construction Manager
If you’re looking for a construction job, then it might be time to consider becoming a Construction Manager.
You will typically need at least a high school diploma, but it’s not nearly as bad as you might think. If you have any experience in construction then this could be a great option for you. Construction managers work with the funds of their clients to make sure that money is being spent in the right places.
You will also be responsible for making sure that the construction team is working on the right tasks and that they are doing it correctly. This job usually requires some experience, so if you didn’t finish high school then consider getting some hands-on experience before applying for this role.
The average salary for a construction manager is $86,434, with top earners getting paid as much as $137,380 per year. This makes it one of the high paying jobs for high school dropouts in the United States.
2. Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurship is one of the high paying jobs for high school dropouts. As an entrepreneur, you can start a business and make some money while learning how to be a business owner.
If you are looking for a low-paying job, then entrepreneurship should be on your list of ideas. If you are looking to establish your new company in an area where there are companies who might want to hire you, then this could be another great option for you.
Job opportunities in entrepreneurship are pretty comparable to the experience that a high school dropout would have just by working at their parents’ company.
The average salary for an entrepreneur in the United States of America is $98,950. One can make as much as $208,067 depending on how aggressive he or she is.
3. Cab Driver
Whether or not you’re planning to be a criminal, you can always consider becoming a cab driver. As a cab driver, you will be driving people around to where they need to go so they can get there in time.
To become a cab driver, it is ideal if you have some experience driving. High school dropouts often don’t have the patience needed for driving for long distances as well as paying close attention while they are doing it.
This probably isn’t the best job for you if you’re thinking about becoming a high school dropout. You must learn how to drive before getting into this field.
The average salary for a cab driver in the United States of America is $43,587. However, this figure can go up if you work past your normal working hours.
4. Florist
If you’re looking for a job that doesn’t require a lot of education then consider becoming a florist. As a florist, you will be working with flowers to make them look more attractive.
This isn’t necessarily the best job for you if you are planning on becoming a high school dropout, as there is some pretty good competition when it comes to this type of job.
However, this is still an option worth considering if you have experience working with flowers before getting into this field and want to establish your own company.
The average salary for a florist in the United States of America is $36,501 per year.
5. Cashier
As a cashier, you will be running around to different stores and telling people what they can and cannot bring back into the store. You might be doing this in a supermarket, or perhaps you will be at a department store.
Either way, this is an option that you should consider if you’re looking to become a high school dropout.
The average salary for a cashier in the United States of America is $32,896 per year.
6. Carpenter
Carpenters will typically need at least a high school diploma if they want to perform any tasks that involve math. If you’re looking for a job that doesn’t require you to have a high level of technical skills, then carpentry might be a good option for you.
It takes some time and effort to become a carpenter, but this is an option worth considering.
The average salary for a carpenter in the United States of America is $60,336, but this figure can go up to $90,970 per year.
7. Bartender
Bartenders can make some pretty decent money as long as they know how to get customers coming in and out of the bar each day. This typically involves knowing what your customers want and being able to provide it to them.
If you’re looking for a job that will not require a college education or anything particularly technical, this might be a good option for you. The only thing that you don’t want to do is work in an area where there are already bartenders who know what they are doing better than you.
This isn’t the best idea if you’re planning on starting your bar, but it might be worth contacting some local bars in your area about an opening.
The average salary for a bartender is $48,096. The highest-paid professional in this career pockets $93,377 per year. It is also one of the fun remote jobs that pay well in the United States.
8. Cosmetologist
If you’re looking for a job that will be a little more reliable in the future and gives you some decent money at the same time, then consider becoming a cosmetologist. Cosmetologists are required to have at least some education, but it isn’t nearly as difficult as it seems.
If you have the right amount of experience behind your resume and tons of qualifications then this could be a great option for you if you’re looking to become a high school dropout.
The average salary for a cosmetologist is $53,015, and one can earn up to $114,980 per year. This makes it one of the high paying jobs for high school dropouts in the United States.
9. Plumber
Plumbers are responsible for fixing problems that could lead to damage to your property. If you’re looking for a job that doesn’t require a lot of education, then this might be the option for you. It is possible to complete your years at high school and become a plumber at the same time, but it will take time.
You will need some experience behind your back before you can get into this field, so it might be a good idea to start looking in another direction if you don’t have any experience in plumbing yet.
Plumbing is also one of the low-stress jobs that pay well without a degree in the United States. The average salary for a plumber is $57,320 per year.
10. Mechanic
Mechanics are responsible for fixing things that most people don’t even realize need to be fixed. If you have an interest in fixing these things then this is a job for you. This might not be the greatest option for cash, but it will give you something to do while learning how to become a better mechanic.
Many mechanics have made their own business out of this, so it isn’t too difficult to get into this field if you have the right amount of experience and patience.
The average salary for a mechanic is $59,619 per year, making it one of the high paying jobs for high school dropouts that pay well in the United States.
11. Sales Representative
This is one of the best paying jobs for high school dropouts that is very common. As a sales representative, you will be selling products to people and trying to get them into your store. This is possibly one of the better jobs for high school dropouts because it doesn’t require a lot of technical experience.
It can take a little bit of time before you can establish your own business, but this will give you something to do while you’re learning how to become a good salesperson. This can be an excellent option if you have been working with customers in any capacity before getting into this field.
The average salary for a sales representative in the United States of America is $73,223, with the top-paid getting $145,581 per year.
12. Security Guard
If you’re looking for a job that doesn’t require a lot of education then consider becoming a security guard. Security guards are responsible for watching over buildings at night so that no harm comes to them.
This is probably not your best option if you are planning on becoming a security guard in an area where there are already lots of good security guards, but it might be the best way to get into this field if you don’t have any experience and want to become more experienced.
You can always start as a security guard in a big city and make some decent money before getting into this field within the area where you wish to work.
The average salary for a security guard in the United States of America is $38,350 per year.
13. Pool Technician
Pool Technicians are responsible for maintaining pools that people use. If you’re looking for a job that doesn’t require a lot of education then consider this option. It is possible to work as a pool technician while going to school, but it will take some time and effort to establish your own business within this field.
It is worth looking into if you have always wanted to work with water in some capacity and you don’t want to get into anything technical before getting into this field.
The average salary for a pool technician in the United States of America is $43,481 per year.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the best jobs for high school dropouts. It takes some time and work to get into any of these fields, but it’s well worth the effort. Sometimes you can find a job that pays well and doesn’t require any extra schooling, so take advantage of these opportunities if they exist in your area.