3 Best First Jobs That Only Require Certifications
Written by
Peter Burns
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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For many years, the narrative that the best jobs require college degrees flourished. While having a degree from a university helps many find high-paying work, only 25% of American adults say it’s very important to end up with a high income. And yet, according to Pew Research, U.S. workers between 25 and 34 without a bachelor’s degree have seen their earnings rise over the past 10 years.
With this trend set to continue, it’s good to know what types of first jobs you can get without taking on student loan debt. These are three high-paying jobs that only require a certification.
Real Estate Agent
A real estate agent’s earnings are only limited by the number of homes they can sell. Each state has requirements for becoming a real estate agent. Those in training to earn their license must complete a set number of classroom hours before moving on to the state-administered examination. After passing the exam, agents may need to complete post-license education requirements to keep up to date in their knowledge of the job.
For example, in Virginia, you must complete 60 classroom hours of prelicense education, pass the state and national portions of the salesperson exam and complete 30 hours of post-license education to renew your license.
The salary of a real estate agent can fall along a vast spectrum of numbers. With over 120,000 reported salaries in the U.S., Indeed finds that the lowest annual salary is $50,435 and the high end is $196,980, with the average coming out to $99,673.
Insurance Sales Agent
Selling insurance is another job where you can make a lot of money without getting a college degree. However, to become an insurance sales agent, you’ll need to complete courses and pass exams. The classes and exams you take will depend on your state and which type of insurance you’re going to sell, such as auto, health, life or property insurance. You’ll also need to fulfill a continuing education requirement to renew your license. Completing more certifications can boost your standing in the field and your paycheck.
If you want to sell auto insurance in the state of California, you must complete a prelicense insurance course certified by the California Department of Insurance and pass the California insurance license exam. You could take your career a step further by becoming a certified insurance counselor through taking a 16-hour instructor-led or self-guided course and passing the exam.
The average base salary of an insurance sales agent in the U.S. is $74,269. The amounts range from $26,708 on the low end up to $206,523. Factors like the state of employment and type of insurance will affect how much money you will make.
Computer Programmer
Computer programmers create and enhance software by writing, testing and updating code. Many colleges offer computer science degrees, but you can get a high-paying job without one. Coding is a skill-based job with many certificates that will showcase your skills.
There are several paths to getting a certificate. Learning a coding language like Python on your own with an online course or through a months-long boot camp can prepare you equally as well. Then, passing the 65-minute PCAP™ exam will award you a certified associate Python programmer certification, which can help you get a high-paying job that requires a Python programmer.
On average, programmers pull in a salary of $62,427 in the United States. This figure will change depending on your experience, which programming languages you know and your location. The low-end salary of a computer programmer comes in at $36,550, and it goes up to $106,622.
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