Good Careers that Don’t Need Excessive Education

“The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn.” – Gloria Steinem

The four-year degree has recently been called in to question due to the large amounts of those with them who can’t find a job. Thousands of recent college graduates are now without work, and are still suffering from the burden of high student loans. Many of those graduates attended college under the pretense that they would be able to obtain a career after graduation.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case anymore.

The once sought after college degree isn’t as important as it once was – especially if it is a liberal arts degree. Employers now want individuals with specific training and actual experience – and usually two year programs do a better job at fitting this bill than 4 year colleges do. Great two year programs that are generally more useful include:

Web Designer

There is no doubt that the need to web designer is only going to continue to grow as more and more businesses move to the web. Most community or two-year colleges offer web designing programs, and after graduation, you can expect a salary of $50,000 or more if you get hired.

Medical Coding and Billing

Medical coding and billing is becoming a highly sought after position as the need for just about every type of healthcare position has increased as the baby boomer generation ages. The average medical billing and coding specialist can expect to spend their days being the translator between medical facilities and insurance companies, and make on average $38,000 or more a year.
Physical Therapist Technician

Also increasing because of the aging baby boomer population is the need for physical therapist technicians. Techs work in either hospital settings or in a physical therapist’s private office, and aid the therapist with exercises and clerical work. They can expect to make around $50,000 a year.

Executive Assistant

Although not as lucrative as some of the other fields, executive assistants are still in high demand. Becoming an executive assistant also allows you the ability to climb the ranks of whatever company you work for while learning all the tricks of the trade. The average salary for an executive assistant is around $35,000 to $40,000.

Radiation Technician

Out of all the two year degree career, radiation technicians tend to fair the best. A radiation technician will be responsible for taking x-rays, ultrasounds, CAT scans, MRIs, and mammograms throughout the day, and on average make around $57,000. Upward mobility is also very high in the field of radiation technology.

If you are looking for a career change or are just starting out on your journey to finding a career, consider not wasting your time with a four-year degree and going with a two-year program instead. If you acquire the appropriate education and training, most of these degrees pay the same, if not more, than 4-year degree careers – and you won’t have to waste as much time and money.

Good luck in your search.

Author: CareerAlley

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.