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The outdated belief that you need a college degree to be successful is no longer the norm. While it can open many doors in the corporate field, employers often hire for skills, portfolios, and certifications. You just need to look for the right opportunity – we’ll cover realistic and achievable methods to help you learn how to make good money without a degree.
College education shouldn’t define your job – here are 5 ways to earn money online without formal education.
Digital skills are the backbone of today’s economy, and they’re often self-taught. Employers don’t ask for your transcript because they want to see results. Some of the most popular digital skills include web development, digital marketing, and data analytics.
If you’re interested in getting a full-time job in these fields, here’s everything you need to know.
| Skill | Time to get job-ready | First-year pay (median, US) | Resources and online courses to get started | Portfolio project ideas |
| Web development | 6-9 months | $83,000 | freeCodeCamp, CS50 | Build a website for a local business |
| Digital marketing | 3-6 months | $60,000 | Google Digital Garage | Run paid advertisements for local businesses |
| Data analytics | 6-9 months | $84,000 | Google Career Certifications | Analyze a public dataset, i.e., demographics |
Portfolios hold a lot of weight in a successful hiring process. They demonstrate your professional ability to apply your knowledge to solve real-world issues for clients. You don’t need a bachelor’s degree in computer science to build a functioning website. It’s your inner drive and practical experience that matter.
The tech industry is still getting hit by layoffs, but it offers many jobs that don’t require a degree. What you can do to break into the industry is focus on AI roles such as QA tester, AI engineer, AI product owner, and more.
Companies often provide opportunities to learn on the job for people without a college degree. What defines success in this field is how quickly you can adapt to the ever-changing tech environment. If you want to get started or consider a career change, consider these key points.
| Role | Pay for junior roles | Pay for mid roles | Key skills learned | Free resources |
| QA tester | $44,000 | $74,000 | Bug tracking, Jira, scripting basics | Free QA bootcamps |
| AI software engineer | $84,000 | $136,000 | Machine learning, development, scripting | HubSpot Academy, Coursera, Microsoft Community |
| AI product owner | $152,000 | $184,000 | Machine learning, project management, Jira | HubSpot Academy, Coursera |
| Automation engineer | $63,000 | $102,000 | Jira, scripting, automation tools | HubSpot Academy, Coursera |
These careers allow you to build digital skills while you earn money and build a solid portfolio. Pay close attention during your training, keep up with industry trends, and continue to look for other remote jobs for a successful start.
Sales is one of the most popular fields that you can work in without a degree. If you can sell, you can succeed and make money.
Entry roles include:
If you want to get started selling homes, insurance, or other goods and services, you should:
Many professional junior sales representatives without a college degree earn around $70,000 but can exceed six figures within a few years. Your career growth depends more on results than on education or degrees.
Also, focus on building good relationships with your clients. While college degrees aren’t a determining factor in your salary, a good reputation and excellent services will set you apart in this business.
However, make sure to manage your work-life balance, as commission-driven sales can feel overwhelming at first. You won’t have set hours compared to a traditional job, and the workload can get intense.
There is a lot of talk about online side hustles, but not all of them are as simple as people make them out to be. For example, dropshipping might be a good starting point when you’re learning how to earn money without investment. However, you need strong marketing skills to make sales.
If you’re looking for legitimate and realistic side hustles or starting your own business, consider these key points.
| Side hustle | Startup cost | Effort level | Potential annual income (first year) | Potential annual income (second year) |
| Blogging | <$100 | High | <$100 | <$3,000 |
| Dropshipping | $100-$200 (depends on your dropshipping website) | Medium | $0-$37,000 (salary depends on sales, seasons, and other factors) | $0-$58,000 (salary depends on sales, seasons, and other factors) |
| Selling digital products | <$100 | Low | $0-$10,000 (salary depends on sales, seasons, and other factors) | $0-30,000 (salary depends on sales, seasons, and other factors) |
| Tutoring | None | High | $31,000 | $56,000 |
Keep in mind that side hustles are supposed to supplement your income due to their unpredictability. Always set money aside for emergencies in case you make no sales or see no success in your field.
Also, you should test each side hustle to see if it fits your lifestyle and financial goals. A degree might open more opportunities for you in certail businesses like tutoring services.
If you want quick, low-barrier cash flow, free money-making apps are a smart option. There are also secret websites to make money, including JumpTask and Amazon MTurk. They don’t require a college degree or advanced skills. Also, you can start earning money in days, instead of months.
| Platform | Time to get the first payout | Average earnings | Skill needed |
| Honeygain | Days | $20–$50/month | None |
| JumpTask | Days | $5–$100/month | Basic online use |
| Amazon MTurk | Weeks | $10–$50/week | Attention to detail |
Apps like Honeygain let you earn money online by sharing unused internet bandwidth, which is truly passive, with no upfront investment. It’s a solid option if you’re looking for how to make money without a college degree.
When searching for “make money without a degree,” scams are everywhere. Be extra careful when reading materials on money-making schemes without a degree.
Some red flags to watch out for include:
5-step checklist to verify an opportunity:
Are you ready to start working on your portfolio and land a job in your dream company? Here’s a simple 4-week plan anyone can follow:
| Week | Action step | Goal |
| Week 1 | Pick one income path and work on it for 1 hour daily | Focus |
| Week 2 | Complete a small project or course module | Proof of skill |
| Week 3 | Apply to 10 jobs or pitch clients | First opportunities |
| Week 4 | Deliver a paid/volunteer project, request feedback | Build credibility |
Repeat this monthly and track your progress to keep on track with your goals. Also, adjust your focus if needed. Sometimes a degree can provide more opportunities in certain businesses, so consider all possible learning paths.
This roadmap should give you a clear outline of how to get started. However, you should adapt it to your chosen career path as each field requires different levels of commitment and deliverables.
For example, if you want to become a web developer, you should build a strong portfolio. For data analysts, a mock-up project is required. Don’t forget to go the extra mile and provide your insights, suggestions, and any other valuable comments. Remember – making a lasting impression on the hiring managers can help you get hired quicker.
If you want to achieve a successful career without formal education, you’ll need to free learning opportunities. You can choose beginner, intermediate, or expert levels and polish your skills with pre-made exercises. Keep in mind that businesses like to see the proof of your skills and services, so focus on building a strong portfolio.
Check this list for free or low-cost resources:
Yes. Fields like digital marketing, sales, and trades are a great career start for people without a degree. However, you must have proof of your skills, so building a solid portfolio, getting certifications, and proven experience can significantly increase your chances of getting hired.
Commission sales roles usually pay within weeks. Freelance gigs (design, writing, data entry) offer project-based or hourly pay if you’re looking for how to earn money without a traditional job.
It varies depending on your chosen career path. However, expect 6–18 months of preparation and work before earning enough to cover essential expenses. Roles in trades and sales can have a shorter period, but blogging or digital products take longer to pay off.
Yes. Honeygain is GDPR-compliant, transparent, and widely used. It’s a safe way to earn small amounts passively by sharing unused internet bandwidth. However, other apps might not have such strict security measures, so always do your own research.