Highest Paying Jobs That Will Train You With No Experience

Are you ready to make money that will do more than just barely cover the bills at a job that offers benefits and possibly even bonuses? You can do this without having to go back to school for two to four years.

It’s easy enough to find jobs that require no experience and that will train you on the job, but most of them pay minimum wage to about  $15 an hour. Grossing under $2,500 a month at best, or $30,000 a year, is enough to get by, but if you’re trying to pay off debt or save, you’ll need to increase your income.

You have the option of taking a second job, working overtime if it’s available, or working in the gig economy, but the far more sustainable option is to find a full-time job that will pay you more that won’t require you to go back to school first.

Here are 10 of the highest paying jobs that will give you the training you need on the job.

1. Administrative Assistant

All you need to be an administrative assistant are a high school diploma or GED and some professional-looking clothes to get started.

As an administrative assistant, you’ll make anywhere from $26,880 to $67,510, with a median income of $40,990. After just a few weeks of training on the job, you’ll be ready to work remotely or in an office supporting a single executive or a department.

The administrative assistant role is likely to evolve and change over the next decade, so get ready to consider virtual assistant jobs as well as in-person ones. Be open to a wide range of responsibilities that may include billing, proofreading and editing, answering customer service calls, transcribing audio files, and managing emails and/or social media.

Additionally, after a few years, you may be able to move into an office manager position or command a higher salary thanks to your experience.

2. Floor Installer

With no formal education required, a floor installer is a great position that can pay anywhere from $27,000 to $76,000 a year, with a median salary of $43,210. Job growth looks good for floor installers, with a range of areas for specialization, from tile installation, marble setting, and carpet installation to hardwood floor installation.

The one catch is that this job requires more than just a few weeks of moderate training. Instead, those who are new to the job will be required to train with experienced crew members for months, depending on the specialty.

Because many areas have unions, it may be necessary to undertake a paid apprenticeship that could take a few years to complete, but more experienced floor installers get paid more and have the opportunity to become a crew manager and foreman.

3. Hazmat Removal Worker

Thanks to the level of risk associated with removing hazmat materials like asbestos, nuclear waste, or lead from work sites and buildings, hazmat removal workers require only OSHA safety training certifications, specific state licenses, and certifications on a case-by-case basis — all of which can be acquired on the job.

Salaries range from $30,500 to $76,570 with a median salary of $45,270 for hazmat removal workers, and the growth outlook for the industry is strong over the next decade.

This job is perfect for those who like to get out of the office, take on dangerous situations, and are very detail-oriented. It’s important not to forget the little things when it comes to proper handling of hazardous weight.

Taking more training sessions or spending a few years at a single company can prepare you to move up as well, becoming a job site foreman or other specialist related to hazardous materials.

4. Commercial Truck Driver

Do you like driving long distances and working on your own? If so, becoming a commercial truck driver may be a great choice for you.

All you need is a high school diploma or GED and a commercial driver’s certificate, which may require a trucking school course. Some companies offer to help you pay for this training or will pay you back if you agree to work for them for a certain number of years. Then, they’ll give you the on-the-job training you need to learn the ropes, usually asking that you sit in the passenger seat with an established driver.

Salaries for a commercial truck driver range from $30,660 to $69,480, with a median salary of $47,130, but higher pay may apply if you are transporting hazardous waste.

Now is a good time to get in on the ground floor in this industry. If you jump in now, you can move up in a company thanks to your experience or apply your driving skills to another form of delivery driving.

5. Masonry Workers

Working with concrete is an art form as well as a utilitarian skill. New masonry workers can enter the field with nothing more than a high school diploma, though applicable vocational coursework may help you to secure a job if there is competition. Additionally, there will be extensive on-the-job training as you learn how a company works and what services they specialize in.

Get ready to earn anywhere from $31,580 to $79,640 with a median salary of $47,710. The longer you spend getting to know the job and honing your skills, the more money you will make.

Even better, many companies will pay for the vocational work you need and may combine that with your apprenticeship so you are learning and earning at the same time. The key is to specialize as much as possible so you become sought after for your work. Your rates will reflect your expertise.

6. Plumber

If you have your high school diploma, you can get on-the-job training that will get you ready to be a plumber and potentially set you up with skills in welding, systems design, and safety that are transferable across industries.

Plumber’s apprenticeships can last up to five years. In that time, your pay could start at around $33,000 a year, but it will have the potential to grow up to $100,000 or more. The median salary for a plumber is $56,330 with higher rates available for those who specialize.

Strong growth is expected in this industry. There’s always the opportunity to step out on your own and make a great living from making house calls as needed.

7. Sales Representative

With a high school diploma and a positive, extroverted personality, you can do well as a sales representative, earning a median salary of $65,420 but as much as $130,000 or more if you get really good at your job.

Commissions, bonuses, and incentive prizes are all designed to encourage you to make the sale. The more you believe in the product and your company, the more likely you are to earn at higher levels.

On-the-job training will vary depending on what you’re selling, but it will usually only take a few weeks. The real learning curve begins once you’re left to do your job on your own. Then, it will just take time to get comfortable with the scripts and staying on top of a conversation so it’s productive and serves both parties.

8. Insurance Claims Adjuster

Though taking some coursework on the insurance industry will help you understand what is expected, the forms, the standards, and other on-the-job requirements, you can begin your journey as an insurance claims adjuster with nothing more than a high school diploma or GED.

Most large employers will have employee training courses that help you to make sure you follow recommended standards and learn the company’s way of doing things. They’ll pay you along the way while you train.

Additionally, you’ll earn anywhere from just under $42,000 all the way up to $100,000+ with a median salary of $68,270 as an insurance claims adjuster. The higher rates go to those with more experience or who are extremely adept at their job and take on side work in the industry.

On one hand, insurance claims adjusting is not expected to see great growth in the coming decade, but on the other hand, it’s one of a few great ways to enter the industry and start climbing the ladder to even bigger salaries and better benefits.  

9. Flight Attendant

Ready to meet lots of people, travel for work, and land a great-paying job with a high school diploma or GED?

As a flight attendant, you’ll make anywhere from $31,000 to $80,000 a year (the median salary for flight attendants is $59,050), and you’ll undergo on-the-job training after you are hired.

As long as you’re comfortable with being away from home for several nights a week, an airline will train you to serve customers, handle emergencies, and keep up with airline requirements. -A relatively simple training takes place on the job and won’t take more than a few weeks at most.

Bonus: The airline industry is expected to grow by about 17% in the next 10 years, so if you enjoy the industry and do the job well, you should be able to keep it for at least the next decade.

10. Elevator Installer or Repairperson

An elevator installer is one of the highest paying jobs available to those who begin their career with nothing more than a high school diploma or equivalent.

Some state licenses will be required and a four-year apprenticeship that includes more than 2,000 hours of paid, on-the-job training will mark the beginning of the journey. Though apprentices make less than journeymen, the earning potential is high: anywhere from $45,950 to $128,500 with a median salary of $88,540.

It is a dangerous job and requires doing work in tight spaces, but the pay reflects the risk. Many are willing to get the job done thanks to the high rate of pay. Like other serviceman trades, becoming an elevator installer or repair person can lead to other managerial positions in the industry, and you’ll be well prepared with lots of hands-on experience.

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References

Occupational Outlook Handbook: Administrative Assistant. (November 2021). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Occupational Outlook Handbook: Floor Installer. (September 2021). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Occupational Outlook Handbook: Hazmat Removal Worker. (September 2021). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Occupational Outlook Handbook: Commercial Truck Driver. (September 2021). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Occupational Outlook Handbook: Masonry Worker. (September 2021). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Occupational Outlook Handbook: Plumber. (September 2021). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Occupational Outlook Handbook: Sales Representative. (October 2021). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Occupational Outlook Handbook: Insurance Claims Adjuster. (May 2020). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Occupational Outlook Handbook: Flight Attendant. (September 2021). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Elevator Installer. (September 2021). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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