It's no secret that the American economy is not at its best and hasn't been in a while. The job market is tough, even for finding average jobs with a middle-of-the-row pay rate. University student tuition is at the highest it has ever been, and student loan debt has been a topic bouncing around the walls of political houses.

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Photo by Austrian National Library on Unsplash
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So, I found some careers that can earn Kentucky residents a six-figure annual payout, without a degree. Several of these may require training and some vocational courses for skill development. The majority of them require no educational prerequisites as far as a college degree goes. These may seem like lofty and out-of-reach paths to take and may not have a high demand in each field, but these may inspire some to look into these career options!

Real Estate Broker

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Do you have a slight obsession with HGTV's House Hunters? Well, me too! While the average annual payout for this gig lands somewhere between $65,000- $98,000, there are areas where the earning opportunities increase, upwards of $148,500, according to ZipRecruiter. Check out this gorgeous high-dollar home in Louisville! I wonder what the commission pay would be for this!

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Air Traffic Controller

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This job is as important as it sounds and does require a fair amount of training or apprenticeship to become FAA-certified, without requiring a college degree. The preference is between 2-4 years of training and then on to the certification exam conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The average median yearly pay across the country is right around $148,000.

Court Reporter

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Court reporters take down the testimonies that appear in courts of law, and remain one of the highest demanded titles in the legal field. While the median salary in Kentucky usually falls around $65,000- $103,000 a year, there are higher-paying locations, such as California, where you can make an annual income of around $116,000.
If you have fast typing skills and keen hearing this might be a great option. Most Court reporters can type around 225 words per minute. You can enter into this career with a high school diploma, and to complete the certification program.
A Bowling Green woman was recognized in 2021 for her courtroom skills by being inducted into the Kentucky Worker's Compensation Hall of Fame.

 

Construction Management

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Becoming a construction manager can be considered a lengthy and challenging task for those looking to step foot into this side of the workforce.

According to the Indeed.com article, the best way to pursue the construction management title is to start by being a contractor and gaining experience over time doing lead work, managing, and site planning.

Take into consideration, becoming certified this will lead to a larger job market. OSHA has certification programs such as the Outreach Training Program. There are four major varieties of construction, such as industrial, commercial, infrastructure, and residential.

 

Owner- Operator Driver

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There are a lot of pros and cons to being an owner-operator, as there are in other careers. I was able to seek out some of these from a close friend in the industry and see what he had to say.

"Virtually you are your own boss, and you've got the freedom to customize your truck! You'll have the freedom to choose what you are hauling, from hazmat to standard freight. Some companies you might drive for will have a regulation in place of your truck not being older than five to ten years old, especially for hazmat drivers. As an independently contracted driver, you indeed make more money, however, you have to keep track of your tax deductions. " NightRider73 (CB name) says about the industry.

Read More: What Truck Drivers Want the Rest of Us to Know

"However, that being said, the owner-operator is responsible for the rig from headlight to taillight. That means all of the expenses that come with keeping the truck on the road. Gas, tires, all maintenance, and insurance.  The industry is known to be a feast or famine ordeal, this is substantially more true as an owner-operator. As a driver the job is deeply impacted by politics, why? Because if the stock market isn't doing well places just aren't going to be shipping goods, there is a slowdown if not halt in production." 

The national average salary is calculated to be about $200,000, but as NightRider73 says, you have to take into account the expenses also associated with the work. The national average is based on an Indeed.com article updated in April 2024.

Kentucky TikTok Accounts You Should Follow

Love these folks! Keep scrolling to see some of their videos.

Gallery Credit: MKAT

 

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