slides: Oregon’s 20 Best Jobs That Don’t Require A College Degree

Saturday, December 06, 2014

Joanna Evoniuk, GoLocalPDX Contributor

A lot of jobs that don’t require a four-year college degree pay better than you might think: a firefighter in Oregon has a higher hourly wage than an accountant, while an electrician can make more than a wildlife biologist, according to analysis by the Oregon Employment Department.

Jobs that require technical education, apprenticeships, on the job training, or even no training at all make an average of 24 dollars per hour in Oregon. Some positions can average over 35 dollars an hour and 67,000 dollars a year.

Slideshow Below: Oregon's 20 Best Jobs that Don't Require a College Degree

“The pay and benefits [for trade and apprentices jobs] is equal to or exceeds what many four year degrees are able to make,” Rick Willebrand, the department chair for Portland Community College trades industry said. “And you get the pride of working in what is now, and continues to become, highly technical and highly skilled jobs.”

Within the next eight years, some of these professions will have over 5,000 or even 6,000 new jobs available. Willebrand said PCC trade programs are constantly getting calls from employers looking for workers in these fields.

One reason for the projected job growth is the nature of the work. Erik Knoder, an economist with the state of Oregon, said most of non-degree jobs are safe from being replaced by new technology, unlike other entry-level jobs.

“A lot of these jobs you have to be on site,” Knoder said. “It’s hard to imagine a computer taking over a firefighter’s job.”

Willebrand explained the low cost of training is why many people chose trade or apprentice professions.

For example, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) union will pay apprentices that work in their training programs, Willebrand said.

Companies usually pay for books and tuition if their employees are in trade or apprentice programs. Even if a student pays their own way, it is cheaper than student loans for a four year degree, Willebrand said.

Knoder said many people don’t take the time to look into trade-career alternatives to college, but would be surprised if they did.

“It can make really make a difference for a person to know what they can make and what some options for training are,” Knoder said. “You don’t want to end up with a job paying 10 dollars an hour when you could end up with 30 dollars instead.”

Related Slideshow: Oregon’s 20 Best Jobs That Don’t Require a College Degree

There are many high-paying jobs in Oregon that don't require a four year college degree. The Oregon Employment Department looked at the average wages and future openings of these jobs. Check out what people can make without a degree.

slides: Oregon’s 20 Best Jobs That Don’t Require A College Degree

Related Slideshow: Oregon’s 20 Best Jobs That Don’t Require a College Degree

#20

Executive Secretaries & Admin. Assistants

#19

Supervisors & Managers of Office and Administrative Support Workers

#18

Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurses

#17

Sheet Metal Workers

#16

Operating Engineers & Other Construction Equipment Operators

#15

Industrial Machinery Mechanics

#14

Supervisors & Managers of Production and Operating Workers

#13

Supervisors & Managers of Transportation/Material-Moving Vehicle Operators

#12

Wholesale & Manufacture Representatives

#11

Correction Officers & Jailers

#10

Insurance Sales Agents

#9

Supervisors & Managers of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

#8

Property, Real Estate, & Community Association Managers

#7

Postal Service Mail Carriers

#6

Supervisors & Managers of Non-retail Sales Workers

#5

Firefighters

#4

Police & Sheriff Patrol Officers

#3

Plumbers, Pipers & Steamfitters

#2

Carpenters

#1

Computer Occupations

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