Many people think a bachelor’s degree is the key to a high-paying career. In fact, one of the most common concerns among job seekers without a four-year degree is that they’re unqualified to apply to roles calling for degree requirements. Past surveys have even revealed that respondents without a four-year degree tend to be the least satisfied with their professional life.
But hiring has changed significantly over the past several years, and while education is still important, it isn’t everything.
Due in part to the rise of remote and hybrid work, which ushered in new ways of working and hiring, more employers are also embracing recruiting styles that place greater value on a candidate’s aptitude, training, and relevant experience over formal education.
According to recent reports, 70% of companies adopted skills-based hiring methods in 2023, indicating the willingness from employers to accept––and even seek out––skills over education for a variety of jobs spanning career categories, levels, and salary ranges.
Here are five examples of high-paying, remote-friendly jobs that generally don’t require a four-year degree:
1. Salesforce Developer Average salary: $93,679
Salesforce developers design, create, test, and deploy software solutions within the Salesforce platform. Because they serve as a project manager for the program, the role generally requires proficiency in Salesforce development tools and general web development experience. Cross-collaboration and effective communication skills are also a plus, as they often work with programmers and other IT team members to analyze, develop, and maintain projects and release cycles.
2. Product Manager Average salary: $94,709
Product managers oversee a product’s lifecycle and are responsible for directing product strategies, conducting market research, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and making data-driven decisions to meet customer needs and business goals. Generally, the role requires strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, as well as experience in project and data management.
3. Data Engineer Average salary: $96,427
Data engineers design and develop scalable data processes, models, and pipelines that enable the storage of large volumes of data. Because they’re primarily responsible for data accuracy, quality and completeness, knowledge of programming languages, strategic thinking, and strong problem-solving and analytical skills, as well as hands-on experience in software development and data engineering tools, are essential.
4. Mortgage Underwriter Average salary: $73,244
Mortgage underwriters evaluate and assess loan applications to ensure their customers meet all necessary requirements. A thorough understanding of mortgage industry regulations, effective communication, strong analytical skills, and attention to detail are all key qualifications of the role.
5. Executive Assistant Average salary: $63,110
An executive assistant is responsible for providing administrative support to an executive or manager. Because it can be a demanding and fast-paced role, being detail-oriented and having strong organization and communication skills are necessary for handling the various job tasks, including managing schedules, preparing correspondence, overseeing customer inquiries, and providing support during meetings and events.
Given the vast majority (95%) of workers are pursuing a flexible role, the highlighted jobs also offer ample remote and hybrid work options. And as the demand for remote work pushes on, flexible job opportunities for professionals across all education levels are likely to continue expanding as well. This has already been the case with product managers and executive assistants, which were among the top five most in-demand remote job titles in the FlexJobs database throughout 2023.
How to land a high-paying remote job
Although career searching still comes with challenges, it’s important to remember that in today’s job economy, it’s not just about certificates or diplomas. To stand out as a candidate, the trick is to play up hard skills, experience, and strengths, and seize every chance to showcase your abilities. As a career expert specializing in remote and hybrid work, I also point professionals to three key tips to boost support in their job search:
1. Don’t be deterred by degree requirements
If you have the skills and experience, but the job description mentions a general “bachelor’s degree” or “college degree,” apply anyway and don’t let it be a deterrent. Job seekers often hold themselves back from applying if they don’t match the majority of the job requirements. But remember that a job description is just a wishlist from an employer. They’ll almost never wind up hiring someone who meets all of the qualifications.
2. Talk up skills and remote experience on your résumé
One way to get your candidacy noticed is with a tailored résumé. Ensure your application materials showcase abilities that align with the opening and any remote work experiences. Use the job description as the roadmap to customizing your résumé, highlighting specific skills and experiences that make you the perfect fit.
In the “Education” section of your résumé, add a line stating something like, “More than five years of experience in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.” This will ensure that the “bachelor’s degree” keyword will be seen by any applicant tracking systems. In your cover letter, thoroughly explain how you meet many of the other requirements. Especially for a highly competitive role, you want to show recruiters you’ve got exactly what they’re looking for, degree or not.
3. Explore the hidden, high-paying job market
Jobs that don’t make it to public job boards are considered part of the “hidden job market,” and they can be goldmines for high-paying positions that don’t require a degree. The best way to tap into these types of roles is by connecting with other professionals and attending industry events––which can also offer a sneak peek into the latest and greatest in your field.
Whether it’s virtual or in-person, being in the room where trends and insights are shared can be a career game changer. It’s your chance to learn, connect, and be seen, so stay curious, ask questions, and explore companies. Because these under-the-radar positions primarily come through internal referrals or word of mouth, it’s about being in the right place at the right time.
Just as how, when and where we work has changed, so has how and what is valued in the hiring process. With companies prioritizing a workforce with transferable skills and a willingness to learn, not having a four-year degree is no longer a barrier to a successful, fulfilling and rewarding professional career path.
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