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The Global Insight

What jobs require only a high school diploma?

Author

John Hall

Updated on March 22, 2026

Top jobs you can get with only a high school diploma

  • Dispensing optician. National average salary: $15.49 per hour.
  • Community health care worker. National average salary: $15.90 per hour.
  • Pharmacy technician.
  • Gaming manager.
  • 5. Mail carrier.
  • Power plant operator.
  • Audiovisual technician.
  • Ironworker.

Can I still get a job without a high school diploma?

With hard work and training, you can get a high-paying job without a high school diploma. No high school diploma jobs allow you to begin your career and build for the future. These jobs provide you with valuable work experience that you can use to expand your current skill set and develop new skills.

Do jobs ever ask for high school diploma?

Employers do not routinely require job applicants to prove that they have earned their high school diploma or GED. However, some employers may request that you furnish a copy of your high school diploma or GED in order to save them time and money on conducting education verification for all applicants.

What course has the highest salary?

Petroleum Engineering. Average Salary: $102,300 to $176,300.

  • Actuarial Mathematics. Average Salary: $60,800 to $119,600.
  • Nuclear Engineering. Average Salary: $67,000 to $118,000.
  • Chemical Engineering.
  • Electronics and Communications Engineering.
  • Computer Science Engineer.
  • Aerospace Engineer.
  • Electrical Engineer.
  • Are there any jobs that don’t require a high school diploma?

    Skills or experiences that are in high demand and that you can leverage in other jobs. The more of these a job has, the better. For instance, a dental receptionist job may have decent pay and not require a diploma, but there isn’t a clear path out of that job and on to better things.

    Can you get a high school diploma with a GED?

    As an alternative to a high school diploma, a GED certificate is a measure of language arts, math, social studies and science aptitude. You will need to review the GED requirements in your area and pass the exam. Upon passing the exam, you earn a high school equivalency credential, which is like getting a high school diploma.

    When do they talk about the Education required for jobs?

    When the center talks about the education levels “required” for jobs, it determines that not by the actual skills that might be required but whether employers are paying premium wages to people with that level of education.

    What makes a job a bachelor’s level job?

    In other words, the center considers a position a bachelor’s-level job if most of the people with that job have a bachelor’s degree and they get paid more than those who don’t have the degree. Also, as Smith reminded me, even the broad trends can be misleading.