If you think you won’t be able to earn well without a four-year college degree, think again. There are many great jobs that do not require a four-year college degree or even a two-year associate’s degree. Among them are: Certified Nursing Assistant, customer service, security, and truck driving.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (U.S. BLS) the salary for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) ranges from $24,000 to $44,000 per year. Training for CNAs does not require a bachelors or associate degree but instead requires 120 hours of training and prepares the recipient for further training if the future CNA wishes to advance in the medical field. Full-time employed CNAs may qualify for employee benefits including health insurance, life insurance, paid vacation time, and retirement plans. CNA is an emotionally rewarding job that requires teamwork and has the benefit of room for further training and advancement in the medical field.
Customer service is a great job requiring a high school diploma or equivalent and some on the job training. It is a great job for people who enjoy interacting with and assisting others. The average yearly income for customer service is $37,000 (U.S. BLS). A great thing about the customer service field is that it is a part of nearly every industry. It is a career with room for growth. Most positions are full-time and may take place in a call center, in the administrative area of a large business, or even from the employee’s home.
Security guards have an average yearly range of salary from $23,000 to $50,000 (U.S. BLS) and work in a variety of locations including residences, corporate offices, schools, hospitals, casinos, and financial institutions. Many full-time security guards receive employment benefits as well as room for growth in the company. Certification to become a security guard in Chicago requires a minimum of 20 hours of training which can be taken at a security firm or through a community college.
To become a truck driver one must obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and complete a certain number of training hours of driving with a truck driving school. Depending on the type of truck and distance (interstate versus local) the average earnings for truck drivers range from $30,000 to $70,000 and can exceed six figures. Truck driving can be a very lucrative profession and if it is interstate trucking, involves travel to various locations throughout the country.
If you are considering seeking job training and embarking on a new career consider one of these professions: CNA, customer service, security, or truck driving. We can connect you with the job training you need, job placements, and paid apprenticeships or internships that will advance your career.
Contact us [https://aacfworks.org/contact-us/] to learn more and to register for our workforce development programs ongoing right now.
Wage ranges taken from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (U.S. BLS) [https://www.bls.gov]