Student loan debt has become a national crisis, far surpassing even auto or credit card debt. And more and more young adults are trying to find ways to make a decent living without saddling themselves with it. Fortunately, in today’s economy, many people are able to earn respectable wages in trades and self-employment.
Ranking in the top 20 for the highest-paying jobs in the U.S. are, not surprisingly, noble professions like surgeons and dentists. But also on that list are certain computer professionals and airline pilots, which don’t usually require as much education. Of course, that doesn’t mean someone who owns their own construction business can never earn a ton of money. In fact, the great thing about being self-employed or working in a lot of trades is that there is no ceiling. The harder you work, the more you can make. On that note, here are just a few different paths to success you can take after high school.
Buy a franchise
Owning your own business can be a great path to financial freedom, but the logistics can be overwhelming. You’ll need to research the market, plan a marketing strategy, design logos, and do many other things that go along with opening a successful business. Or instead, you can look into franchising an already established business.
An essential business franchise opportunity will offer everything you need to get started. Experts have already done the market research, so they have a good idea of where their store will do well. In fact, they have everything you need in order to make your business successful as long as you’re willing to put in the work. Some of the most profitable franchises available are UPS, McDonald’s, Great Clips, and Sonic.
Sell real estate
Real estate is almost always a good career choice, and the path to get there usually takes less than a year. As an agent, you’ll show properties to potential buyers and work for the sellers to earn a commission. But you don’t have to stop at selling. Many agents go on to get their broker’s licenses so that they can own their own real estate companies. These professionals don’t just earn commissions on their own sales, but also on the sales of the agents in their firm.
One of the great things about the real estate business is that it’s something you can do part-time to start out. This is especially appealing if you’d like to continue your education to see what else is out there for you.
Work in the beauty industry
There are so many things you can do in the $500 billion + beauty industry that will never bore you. You can cut and style hair at your salon or someone else’s. You can do makeup and hair for television shows. You can teach other people beauty tips and techniques. You can even become an influencer on social media where the sky’s the limit as far as income potential.
A career in beauty usually starts with attending a good cosmetology school. Here, you’ll learn how to style hair, do manicures, and apply makeup. Afterward, you can continue to hone your skills to go as far in the field as you wish.
Work with cars
If you’re the mechanical type, you might enjoy a career in mechanics. People who receive automotive and diesel certifications often go on to have great careers. And you don’t have to be stuck in a dinky garage your whole life if that’s not what you want to do. You might work in a dealership, teach at a college, run your own business, or service race cars for Nascar. There’s truly no limit to the possibilities.