I live in a small, affluent, Midwestern city. Eighty percent of the local high school graduates intend to matriculate, with visions of a well-paying, professional white-collar job in a comfy air-conditioned office. Nationwide, that number is forty percent. Eighty percent or forty percent, most of these students are making a huge mistake. 

Supply (college grads) far exceeds Demand (available white-collar jobs). Nobody ever tells you that college is a competition. Do you recall your obnoxious classmates who always took the seats in the front row? “Call on me! Call on me!” They have a high school GPA of 3.5 or better. Seventy-two percent of them will graduate from college. Most of them are going to score one of the relatively limited number of “college” jobs available before their mortarboards hit the ground. That’s your competition, students who won the genetic lottery with high aptitudes in linguistics and math and who didn’t stay up all night playing video games, 

Sure, you can find a college or university that will accept you, and the federal government will “generously” offer to loan you money. That’s not the issue. You need to ask yourself, “Can I graduate from college and win that competition?” Seventy percent of those who matriculate don’t cross the finish line. 

There was a time in the U.S. when a teenager could graduate from high school and find work in a factory. Workers got married, bought a house, and had kids. On Friday night the family went out to dinner and attended their local high school football game. Those days are over. If you plan to make a decent living, it is going to take some form of post-secondary education. 

Here are ten ideas that have nothing to do with an expensive four-year college degree. 

New Collar 

There isn’t an agreed upon definition (as far as I know) of what constitutes a “breadwinner” job. From my perspective in the Midwest, I’m going to call it $30/hour or better—that’s a job in the top 17% of salaries. Here’s one way you can get there without an expensive degree or mega-student loans. 

In 2016 Dr. Kevin Fleming wrote a book, “(RE)Defining the Goal: The True Path to Career Readiness in the 21st Century,” explaining where well-paying jobs could be found: 

“The true ratio of jobs in our economy is 1:2:7. For every occupation that requires a master’s degree or more, two professional jobs require a university degree, and there are over a half a dozen jobs requiring a 1-year certificate or a 2-year degree, and each of these technicians is in very high-skilled areas in high demand.” 

Where Dr. Fleming came up short was in failing to come up with a “snappy” label for these jobs. The term “New Collar” jobs has emerged. New collar jobs are based on digital technology. There are four categories: health care, engineering, technology, and software. 

To see a list of more than two hundred boot camps and apprenticeships that lead to “new collar” jobs, go to your public library and get Ryan Craig’s book, A New U. You don’t need a bachelor’s degree to be considered for acceptance in most of these programs. 

IBM, my first employer out of college many years ago, has taken the lead in promoting the training and hiring of people with these skills. Between fifteen and twenty percent of their recent new hires have been new collar positions such as: 

• Application Developer 
• System Administrator 
• Data Center Technician 
• Software Engineer 
• Project Manager 
• Technical Support Representative 
• Security Analyst 

These jobs with IBM don’t require a bachelor’s degree. They may require a specific associate degree. 

Here are the fifteen best paying “new collar” jobs available. 

https://www.ziprecruiter.com/blog/the-best-paying-new-collar-jobs/ 

Going to college is risky today. It takes a lot of time and a ton of money. If you need student loans, that adds to the risk. 

The risk-reward ratio of the “new collar” jobs compared to college is much lower. Many of these jobs come with a tuition benefit, i.e. as an employee, you will be encouraged to continue your education. 

Associate’s Degrees That Lead to High Paying Jobs

Blue Collar 

Blue collar Baby Boomers are retiring in droves. For every five who hang up their toolbelts, there are only two workers to replace them. That’s a good sign for future salaries, and nobody is going to outsource these jobs to China. 

There are multiple opportunities to gain the necessary skills. Your local community college may offer two-year degrees and/or certifications. There are Career and Technical Education schools (CTE) and trade schools. Where I live, you can find paid apprenticeships. 

Public Safety 

In most communities you don’t need a college degree for a job in Public Safety. 

For example, in Ohio the basic requirement for becoming a police officer is Peace Officer Basic Training Academy. (You must be 21 by the time you graduate.) This training can be found at community colleges and CTE centers across the state. It doesn’t cost a lot of money. 

The “catch” to these jobs is: 

• They are not for everyone. 
• They are very selective. 
• You have to find a job in the “right” community. 

By “right” community I mean well managed, where they respect their public safety employees. If you get this right, in a few years you can be making $35 per hour plus overtime, with a pension, health care, and, possibly, a tuition benefit for your family. 

You will probably be limited from advancing beyond sergeant without that bachelor’s degree. (Where I live, that sergeant makes $45 per hour plus overtime.) 

Coding Bootcamp

 Coding boot camps are intense, short-term programs that train students for careers in software engineering and other technical fields. Students can choose coding bootcamps focused on specific tech job sectors. Popular emphases include full-stack development, data science, cybersecurity, UX/UI, web development, mobile app development, software engineering, and language specific development, e.g. Ruby, Python, etc. 

Coding bootcamps offer a fast and affordable alternative to earning a college degree. The bootcamps provide short-term, intensive training focused on building job-ready skills. Enrollees explore coding fundamentals, learn industry-standard tools and software, and complete multifaceted coding tasks and projects. Coding bootcamps attract beginners interested in breaking into tech and experienced professionals looking to enhance their skills. 

The bootcamps require several months of intense, practical, project-based training. Enrollees will encounter in-person, online, hybrid, full-time, and part-time formats, delivered synchronously and asynchronously. Unlike massive open online courses, coding bootcamps provide a scheduled, highly structured learning environment with experienced instructors guiding you from start to finish. 

Most programs offer full-time and part-time enrollment options, and you can often enroll online or in person. While most boot camps are recognized by employers, keep in mind that they aren’t accredited. Costs vary by program, but boot camps are typically much more affordable than a traditional college degree.

Most bootcamp applicants need little or no prior coding experience. When bootcamps require skills testing, they typically offer bootcamp prep courses designed to fill these knowledge gaps. An applicant may also need to complete an interview to discuss whether a coding bootcamp suits their personal and professional aspirations. 

There are more than 500 independent providers and university-affiliated programs providing coding bootcamps. The bootcamps offer a variety of delivery methods, in-person, online, and hybrid.  

 Charity Work 

While you may have put in some hours after school volunteering, taking time after high school to really dedicate yourself to a cause is something worth considering. Some possibilities are: 

• Research organizations that are doing important work in the areas you care most about. Fighting for that cause and being surrounded by professionals in the field can help give you more direction as you think about your future.  
• Helping at-risk youth.  
• Helping women get access to free healthcare.  
• How about seeing what you can do to protect the environment at a local level?  
• With the elections coming up, this may be the time for you to try on your political hat and see if that is an avenue worth exploring.  

Get involved in your community and see where it takes you. 

On-the-Job Training 

Some high school graduates choose to directly enter the workforce after receiving their diploma. Some high school graduates choose to enter the workforce directly after receiving their diploma. The problem is that a high school diploma doesn’t carry much weight these days in the job market. 

However, there are companies that offer on the job training programs. For example, there is a medical group practice where I live that specializes in Optometry and Ophthalmology. They offer employes with a high school education a series of credentials that lead to high paying jobs as technicians. 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careers/on-the-job-training-prevails-as-students-disinterest-in-college-grows/ar-BB1jNMzz?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=cc507348c5db4d848ced323cbcaf14bd&ei=24 

Military 

While the Military can be a rewarding, lifelong career for many servicemembers, it can also serve as the foundation for a civilian career. Employers need skilled workers who can meet the challenges of today’s work environment and are increasingly turning to military veterans to make it happen. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the unemployment rate for veterans fell to 4.4% in 2021. Clearly, more companies are recognizing the unique traits that U.S. veterans can bring to the civilian workforce. 

Below are ten of the top civilian careers for veterans. Each of the following positions values the skills and experience that former servicemembers can bring to the civilian workforce from their time in the military: 

• Financial advisor 
• Information security analyst 
• Management consultant 
• Nurse practitioner 
• Operations research analyst 
• Sales manager 
• Software developer 
• Mental health counselor or psychologist 
• Logistician 
• General and operations manager 

Employers are looking for the problem-solving ability, strong work ethic, leadership, and self-confidence that veterans bring to the workplace. 

Certification Programs

Certifications are becoming a big thing. There are dozens of certifications—maybe hundreds. You need to look for ones that qualify you for an entry level job. Here are a few ideas to get you started. These certifications take months not years and cost hundreds not thousands of dollars.

• Google Project Management
• Google Data Analytics
• Google IT Support
• Meta Front-end Developer
• Meta Back-end Developer
• IBM Data Science
• SEO Specialist
• Project Management Professional
• Data Analytics
• Cybersecurity
• Business Analytics
• Real Estate Broker
• Digital Content Creator
• Chemical Operator

Some sources for marketable certifications are IBM, Google, Cisco, Meta, and Microsoft.

Fellowships  

If you are confident you have a great idea, see if there are other people out there who agree. Seek out fellowships that offer an alternative to college. These are competitive, but that’s how you know if someone is willing to invest in you and your idea. The time after high school graduation may be the moment to test your vision. With the support of a fellowship, you will have the financial backup, and often the mentorship, necessary to succeed. 

The most publicized fellowship is the Thiel Fellowship, founded by the iconic entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel. This is a two-year program for young people who want to build new things. The fellowship is intended for students aged twenty-two or younger and offers them a total of $100,000 over two years. as well as guidance and other resources, to pursue their interests, which could involve scientific research, creating a startup, or working on a social movement. Selection for the fellowship is through an annual competitive process, with about 20–25 fellows selected each year. 

Online Entrepreneur 

Getting a fellowship isn’t the only path to entrepreneurial success. You can bootstrap your own business, and there are limitless online business opportunities. Have a knack for fashion and marketing? Consider starting an online store with Shopify or create an eBay empire. 

Are you artistic or crafty? You can make your own wares and sell them on Etsy. Are you an amazing writer with a lot of opinions? You could start a blog and monetize it with ads. Or you could start a YouTube channel to showcase your passion. Who says you can’t be the next big YouTube star?