15 high-paying online jobs that do not require university degrees

BUSINESS DAY

In today’s job market, online recruiters are increasingly embracing a skills-based hiring approach rather than focusing solely on formal education. This shift recognizes that practical skills and hands-on experience can often outweigh traditional academic credentials.

Although a university degree might not be a prerequisite for many high-paying online jobs, acquiring relevant skills through online training remains crucial. Platforms like Coursera, with its financial aid options, Udemy, and Alison offer valuable resources to help you build expertise and stay competitive.

According to Upwork, here are 15 high-paying online jobs that do not require a university degree

Virtual assistant

If you have diverse skills and enjoy working closely with individuals, becoming a virtual assistant might be a great fit for you. Many CEOs, entrepreneurs, and other professionals seek remote assistance for tasks ranging from email management to social media posting. While virtual assistant roles typically don’t require a degree, additional training may be necessary depending on your specific task. Common tasks include scheduling, managing emails, booking travel, updating spreadsheets, creating presentations, overseeing social media, handling databases, reporting, and ghostwriting. The average pay for virtual assistants ranges from $18 to $35 per hour.

Administrative support professional

Administrative support professionals share similarities with virtual assistants but offer their services to a broader range of employees rather than focusing on just one individual. While virtual assistants often support high-profile figures, administrative support professionals are typically involved in human resources and office management, covering a variety of roles. Depending on the specific tasks, such as bookkeeping or using specialised company software, additional training may be required. Responsibilities may include bookkeeping, managing spreadsheets, handling payroll, responding to phone calls and emails, invoicing, coordinating meetings, filing, and expense reporting. The average pay for administrative support professionals ranges from $10 to $20 per hour.

Graphic designers

Graphic designers can earn between $40 and $75 per hour. Although a degree in graphic design can be beneficial, it’s not strictly necessary if you have a strong portfolio and the right skills. Graphic designers create visual content for companies and clients using tools like Adobe Photoshop and InDesign. Whether it is designing a logo, crafting social media graphics, or developing marketing materials, your work will often be guided by a company’s brand style. You can either self-teach graphic design or enrol in online courses to master popular design software and techniques.

Project managers

With an average pay of $19-$45 per hour, project managers play a vital role in guiding teams across various industries to achieve their goals. Although a university degree is not necessary for this role, gaining expertise in project management software like Asana through online courses and certifications is beneficial. Additionally, developing soft skills such as leadership, communication, and time management is essential for success in this field.

Digital marketers

You do not need a degree to become a freelance digital marketer, with an average pay of $15-$45 per hour. By teaching yourself the necessary skills and earning certificates through online courses, you can enter this dynamic field. Digital marketers help businesses build brand awareness and generate leads through various online channels such as social media, website content, and email. Their role includes managing both paid and organic marketing campaigns to drive traffic and engagement. Typical services offered by digital marketers involve Search Engine Optimization (SEO), social media marketing, content creation, blogging, digital ads, analytics, trend forecasting, affiliate and influencer marketing, and marketing automation.

Writer

Companies often hire writers without degrees for various niches, whether it is creative content for branding and marketing or technical writing. Writers can produce everything from short-form articles to long-form reports. In freelance writing, your portfolio and client reviews are crucial, showcasing your skills and versatility. Gaining experience and adding certificates to your resume can help you stay competitive in the field. With an average pay of $30-$40 per hour, writing offers a flexible and rewarding career path.

Translator

Translation offers an appealing opportunity with an average pay of $15-$45 per hour and doesn’t require a degree. As a translator, you convert written content from one language to another, ensuring the text remains grammatically correct and true to its original meaning. Specialising in fields like marketing or technical content can add complexity, requiring you to not only translate but also adapt the material to fit cultural contexts. Popular languages for translation include English, Portuguese, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, Arabic, German, Italian, and French.

Transcriber

Transcribers convert audio, video, PDFs, and written notes into text documents. While a degree is not required to become a transcriptionist, specialised fields like medical or legal transcription often require specific certifications. Key skills for a transcriber include fast and accurate typing, along with the ability to edit and proofread as needed. There are various types of transcription jobs available, including roles as a court reporter, captioner, law enforcement transcriber, legal transcriber, medical transcriber, and real-time captioner. The average pay for transcriptionists ranges from $17 to $22 per hour.

Social media manager

Many companies and individuals look for assistance with handling their social media presence, from creating content and managing ads to engaging with followers—all tasks that can be performed remotely. A degree is not necessary to excel as a social media manager; many people in this role are self-taught and enhance their skills with online courses and certifications. Typical responsibilities for a social media manager include planning content calendars, crafting posts or overseeing designers and copywriters, scheduling content, running social media ads, managing community interactions, responding to messages and comments, analysing performance metrics, and organising influencer marketing campaigns. The average pay for social media managers ranges from $14 to $35 per hour.

Bookkeeper

Bookkeeping, a key aspect of accounting, is a flexible work-from-home job that does not require a degree. To stand out in this field, you can take courses and earn bookkeeping certificates. Essential skills for bookkeeping include attention to detail and proficiency with numbers and spreadsheets. Companies typically hire bookkeepers to maintain accurate and organised financial records. Responsibilities in this role can include managing payroll, overseeing financial transactions, maintaining ledgers, preparing financial statements, handling invoicing, updating account balances, data entry, and managing accounts payable. The average pay for bookkeepers ranges from $11 to $25 per hour.

Voice-over artist

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