Americans are losing their love for jobs that require bachelor’s degrees and turning their attention to flexible, college-free careers with six-figure salaries.
On Google, searches for “jobs without a degree” reached an all-time high in the U.S. this year, according to Google Trends data shared with CNBC Make It.
Nearly 75% of jobs in the U.S. that pay more than $35,000 a year require a college degree, but only 38% of Americans have a bachelor’s degree, says Lisa Gevelber, Google’s chief marketing officer for the Americas.
This pay gap is a “big problem” for understaffed companies and workers suffering from inflation, Gevelber adds.
Google research shows that people are most excited about jobs that offer ample travel opportunities, flexible hours, and a clear path to their own boss.
Here are the three most Googled jobs of 2023 in the US (as of November):
Google determined the ranking based on the most common “How to become…” queries that people in the US searched for
While all three of these roles require or recommend at least a high school diploma or a GED, there are no formal educational requirements beyond that.
Instead, to work as a notary or real estate agent, you must obtain a certification or official license from the state in which you work. Depending on where you live, this process can take anywhere from 1 to 9 months, according to the National Notary Association and Indeed.
Most travel agents require at least a high school diploma and some on-the-job training. Agents may also choose to earn certifications with various transportation associations, such as the Cruise Lines International Association or the International Air Transport Association, which allow them to book travel for airline and cruise line customers.
Compensation is an important consideration for job seekers looking for jobs without a degree. When Google searches for jobs without a degree, “high paying jobs without a degree” was a top search in 2023.
Average salaries for these positions vary: According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for travel agents in the United States is $39,955, while real estate agents earn an average of $86,356 per year and notaries earn $129,717.
However, the top 10% of real estate agents and notaries earn well over $100,000 and $200,000, respectively.
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