While it helps to have some sort of formal education when searching for paid work, it’s not essential, and there are many jobs that don’t require a high school diploma.
Some employers will give on-the-job training. Others, like those in the freelance sector, allow you to learn as you go, and you can show you know what you’re doing with a portfolio of results you’ve achieved for past clients.
So, don’t fret if you never got the chance to get a high school diploma or college degree; there are many employment options for you to explore, which we’ll talk about today.
Let’s get going!
Freelance Jobs that Don’t Require High School Diploma
Freelance positions don’t require you to have a high school diploma, and as long as you have the skills needed, this type of work can be high-paying with experience.
1. Freelance Writer
Freelance writing is one of the best jobs to get without an official education.
However, this career path will require you to have excellent writing skills, great spelling and grammar skills, and the ability to work to deadlines.
And, being self-employed, you’ll have to take care of your own invoices and taxes, plus take the time to promote yourself and secure paying jobs.
If you don’t have prior experience, you’ll most likely have to take on some jobs that don’t pay much when you start out.
But, once you get a few happy clients and testimonials under your belt, you can raise your rates and go after higher-paying jobs.
Different types of writing jobs include:
- Blog writing
- Ghostwriting
- Technical writing
- Social media writing
- Product description writing
- Website copywriting
Check out these freelance copywriter rates to have an idea of what you should be charging as a beginner.
How to Get Started: Set up freelance writer profiles on Fiverr, Upwork and LinkedIn. Learn how to be a copywriter and check out the best sites for freelance writers to secure consistent work.
2. Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistance is another great freelance job that doesn’t require you to have a high school diploma or college degree.
Virtual assistants (VAs) perform similar tasks to office secretaries, with the only difference being you can work from anywhere!
This type of work can be done full-time or part-time, with tasks you may be expected to do including:
- Bookkeeping
- Data entry
- Managing emails
- Scheduling appointments
- Answering customer queries
- Blog and social media management
VAs can work for large businesses or solo clients, and if you secure specialized skills, you can charge more for your services.
How to Get Started: Promote your services on freelancer platforms and apply for these virtual assistant jobs for beginners.
3. Graphic Designer
Graphic design work offers high-paying job opportunities that you can get without a high school diploma.
But, you will need other niche skills, such as the ability to use Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, plus a strong knowledge of design principles.
To secure decent pay, you’ll need a strong portfolio that shows clients you know what you’re talking about.
Graphic designers work on jobs like:
- Creating logos
- Website graphics
- Social media graphics
- Marketing materials
- Infographics
- eBook design
How to Get Started: Spend time building your portfolio to show clients. Apply for work on niche graphic design job boards such as Dribbble and DesignJobsBoard.
4. Data Entry Worker
Entry-level jobs, like data entry, don’t require a high school diploma or college degree for you to be successful.
This type of work can be done by anyone and is in high demand because many businesses and entrepreneurs don’t have time to do these small tasks themselves.
Data entry job tasks include:
- Processing invoices
- Updating databases
- Transferring info from paper to spreadsheets
- Creating spreadsheets and running reports
If you’re looking for a job that requires zero formal education and that you can start quickly, data entry could be ideal.
How to Get Started: Make sure you have the basic tools such as a laptop or computer, fast internet, and experience with Microsoft Office and spreadsheets. Apply for jobs on these data entry-earning sites.
5. Affiliate Marketer
Affiliate marketing is promoting a product or service you love, and when you get a sale through your link, you earn a commission.
This type of work doesn’t require a high school diploma or a college or GED certificate, but you may require additional training to learn more about specific roles.
There are different ways to earn from affiliate marketing, such as:
- Start your own blog and promote affiliate products
- Promote affiliate products on social media
- Become an affiliate marketing manager
- Write affiliate marketing content for different people
How to Get Started: Take a look at these best affiliate marketing jobs and where to find them.
Gig Economy Jobs that Don’t Require High School Diploma
There are many gig economy jobs that don’t require high school diploma or formal education.
6. Food Delivery Driver
If you have a car, van, scooter, or bicycle, you can become a delivery driver without a high school diploma.
Food delivery has become a big business, allowing people to get restaurant-quality food delivered to their homes.
A few of the best food delivery companies you can work for include:
The work requires you to pick up food from a restaurant and deliver it to a location in your city or town.
While demand and, therefore, the amount of work available will be higher in larger cities, many of the apps work in smaller towns.
How to Get Started: Apply for work on the main food delivery apps such as Uber Eats and Doordash.
7. Complete Tasks on TaskRabbit
Do you have handy skills around the home, such as home repairs, gardening, furniture assembly, picture mounting, painting, or something else?
If so, working as a Tasker on a site like TaskRabbit is one of the best jobs that don’t require a high school diploma.
This type of work doesn’t require you to have a GED certificate or bachelor’s degree, but you will need to spend time creating a profile on the platform and replying to task requests.
The benefits of getting jobs through TaskRabbit include:
- Be your own boss
- Set your own rates
- Work the hours that suit you
- Only take on the jobs you want to do
- Get access to a ton of new clients that need your services
Potential Earnings: You can set your own hourly rate and monthly earnings will depend on how many jobs you take on each month.
How to Get Started: Register for a TaskRabbit account, build your profile, verify your eligibility, and set your own schedule and work area to start accepting jobs.
8. Rent a Room on Airbnb
Are you lucky enough to have a spare room that’s gathering dust?
Then why not turn it into an income stream and start renting it out on sites like Airbnb?
Room rental doesn’t require you to have any formal education as this would be your own business, and you can choose to rent it out on the dates that suit you.
You will need to keep the room clean for each new renter and take the time to manage your Airbnb profile and respond to new customer inquiries.
Potential Earnings: Depends on where your property is located. If you’re close to tourist attractions, you can charge more.
How to Get Started: Click on the Airbnb Set Up tab and follow the host process.
Check out this course on becoming an Airbnb host for tips on how to get started.
9. Charge Electric Scooters
Over the last decade, many new modes of transportation have popped up, with electric scooters being one of them.
Charging electric scooters is a flexible gig economy job that doesn’t require you to have qualifications, as you’ll receive on-the-job training.
Find work with these electric scooter companies:
How to Get Started: Download the scooter app and follow the juicer sign-up process.
10. Dog Walking and Pet Sitting
Do you prefer hanging out with animals rather than humans?
If so, working as a dog walker or pet sitter could be your ideal career path, as you can play with fur babies and get paid for it!
You don’t need any formal education to get this type of work, but showing you have experience looking after pets will help.
Find pet-sitting jobs on sites like:
Potential Earnings: You can set your own rates for pet sitting and walking.
How to Get Started: Sign up to be a sitter or walker on the website by creating a profile detailing what services you offer.
Traditional Jobs that Don’t Require High School Diploma
Take a look at the best traditional jobs that don’t require high school diploma or GED certificate.
11. Security Guard
If you don’t mind working unsociable hours, working as a security guard is worth looking into.
While you don’t need a high school diploma for this work, you may be given on-the-job training, such as how to de-escalate stressful situations and how to enforce regulations.
How to Get Started: Apply for a Security License in your area and pass a criminal background check.
12. Construction Worker
It’s possible to get construction jobs without a high school diploma.
Plus, the skills you learn in this type of work can also help you start your own business and make money on the side with other building jobs.
How to Get Started: Some construction workers learn on the job and through an apprenticeship. Others go to trade school and learn a specific trade.
13. Professional Cleaner
Cleaners generally get on-the-job training and are not required to have a high school diploma or GED.
There are various types of cleaning jobs you could do, such as:
- Office cleaning
- Home cleaning
- Window cleaning
- Janitor
- Carpet cleaning
Each job requires certain skills that you can learn pretty quickly, and you can offer freelance cleaning services in your area or apply for work at a cleaning company.
How to Get Started: Apply for jobs with cleaning companies or set up your own freelance cleaning business. Check out our article on how to start a cleaning business for help to get started.
14. Gardener
Are you green-fingered and love nurturing the plants in your own garden?
If you have a passion for gardening, you could get work as a freelance gardener or tending to community green spaces in your local area.
This is one of the best jobs that don’t require high school diploma, and you’ll be expected to:
- Nurture flowers and plants
- Plant new seeds
- Pull up weeds and tidy up old leaves
- Control pests and damaged plants
- Mow lawns and trim hedges
How to Get Started: A professional groundskeeper will receive on-the-job training.
15. Restaurant Server
Restaurant servers are tasked with welcoming customers, taking food and drink orders, and delivering food to tables.
To succeed in this role, you’ll need great interpersonal skills, be efficient at taking orders, and have a basic understanding of the food and drink you’re serving.
While the work can be tough and not that exciting, you’ll be able to secure a job without a high school diploma.
How to Get Started: Most restaurant server roles get on-the-job training. Apply for work via the restaurant website.
Final Thoughts on Jobs that Don’t Require a High School Diploma
Now you know the best jobs that don’t require high school diploma, it’s over to you to make your next career a reality.
As you can see, there are many career options that are entry-level, and that don’t require you to have formal qualifications.
While the traditional jobs are lower paid, some of the freelancer roles pay extremely well, as long as you can show you know what you’re doing.
So, build up that portfolio, and you’ll secure yourself a high-paying job in no time at all!
Want more ways to earn money with no qualifications?
Take a look at this list of work-from-home jobs that require no experience.
