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Find a Good Paying Job -
Without a College Degree

While all of the jobs up ahead offer good starting salaries without a sheepskin, many have the added benefit of being solid, recession-proof jobs since they often remain in high demand even as college grads go begging during an economic downturn:

Police Officer - Nationwide, average starting salaries range anywhere from $23,000 to $40,000 for fresh recruits. Requirements include police academy training, along with psychological testing and a clean criminal background check. Once on the job, you can work your way up to detective with a median average starting salary at $70,000 per year.

Court Reporter : Skip the degree and opt for training classes to get your typing speed up to 200 words per minute, which can translate into a $30 hourly rate and annual salaries upwards of $100,000 a year, depending on demand.

Transportation Manager : Responsibilities include moving millions of dollars worth of goods and equipment cross-country. Requirements include great organizational and people skills, plus the ability to read a map. Often truckers work their way up to this position and pick up some business classes along the way, but a degree is usually not necessary. Average starting salary: $50,000 - $66,000.annually.

Dental hygienist : A 2-year dental hygiene certificate or degree gets you in the door to this fast-growing, high paying non-college career promising flexible hours and an average salary rate of $30 an hour.

Mechanic : If you're a natural born tinkerer, begin by apprenticing at a local garage or repair shop and work your way up to starting salary range of $20,000 to $25,000. How much you make afterward depends on your skills and salesmanship. But for any good auto mechanic - with a reputation for honest workmanship - the sky's the limit.

Plumber, Electrician: Both careers usually require an apprenticeship and state licensing depending on location, but with average starting salaries ranging from $25,000 to $30,000, you can eventually be making twice that with good neighborhood referrals.

Web Designer - Start from scratch by first building up a portfolio of pro bono work for local churches or community organizations. Then combine your knowledge of html coding and a good eye for graphic design, and begin earning an average $40,000 to $50,000 annually on web design depending on clients and hours billed.

More about "no college" careers around the Web:

Great No-Degree Jobs - Forbes.com

Career One Stop - Employability Checkup

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