There are some jobs that typically require a degree, and becoming an accountant is one of those. But that doesn’t mean you need to go the distance for every job in the accounting industry. If you are looking for finance or accounting jobs without a degree, you have a few options.
These jobs are going to give you some flavor of what it’s like to be in the finance and accounting industry. They will also let you get your feet wet and understand what an accountant does every day. While you won’t actually be handling the clients directly, you may get enough to know if going on for a full finance or accounting degree is right for you.
Keep in mind you should always be thinking about how you can upgrade your level of education. That will almost always lead to higher-paying jobs even if you get a little schooling. Some certificates and associate’s degrees are very affordable and can have a significant impact on earnings.
Related: High Paying Medical Jobs
Table of Contents
How Much Can I Make in Finance or Accounting Without a Degree?
The opportunity is obviously larger the more education you have. Take for example that a Personal Financial Advisor makes a median wage of $88,890 per year. That’s close to double the best paying job on this list. The return on investment for college is clear in cases like this, especially if you attend a community college or value college that is more affordable. But if you don’t have the time, there are plenty of jobs listed here that come in way above the national medial wage without having to earn a degree.
We recommend using these jobs as a gateway to the financial industry. Get your feet wet, and learn the business while making some money at the same time. If financing is the reason you can’t get your degree right now, start taking some courses online or at night in the finance and accounting fields. A degree will help to significantly increase your earnings potential and job opportunities.
Related: Find a New Career at 40
Bill and Account Collectors
If you have ever been late on a payement for a credit card or other bill, you might be familiar with this job. Bill and account collectors often work in call centers and spend their time trying to collect on overdue bills.
How much do they make? According the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), bill and account collectors have a median base pay of $37,000 per year. That’s pretty good when compared against the national median of $31,000.
What education do I need? High school diploma or equivalents
Who would be good at it? This can be a stressful job since you are talking with people who are often in financial distress. You might not need a degree but having good people skills and patience are critical skills for this type of work.
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
This is a great job that doesn’t require you to have a degree, but still has a good salary. Bookkeeping and accounting clerks review financial information and and check financial documentation for accuracy.
How much do they make? In this profession you can expect to make a median salary of $41,230 according to the BLS. That means there are plenty of people in this job making even more, which is good pay for a job that requires no degree.
What education do I need? Some college, no degree
Who would be good at it? Being great with numbers, and having attention to detail is critical. You will also need to feel comfortable reviewing basic financial documents. This job is a great stepping stone for someone who is considering moving onto to more formal accounting school.
Related: Fast Growing Trade Jobs
New Account Clerks
This job is spread across many different financial based industries. A new account clerk helps people looking to open accounts across an array of financial products. These include products related to credit, insurance, brokerage accounts, investments, and many others.
How much do they make? The median wage in $35,260 for this job, once again topping the national median by a decent percentage.
What education do I need? High school diploma or equivalent
Who would be good at it? This is a people person job since you’re not only giving information, but you’re selling a product. People who are good at closing deals can thrive in this position.
Pro Tip: Optimize your resume with Jobscan. A tool that gives job seekers an instant analysis of how to improve their resume for a specific job.
Financial Clerks
As with many financial and accounting related jobs, financial clerks often work in an office setting. They are typically tasked with helping keep financial records, and in some cases financial transactions.
How much do they make? At $40,540 this is one of the better paying jobs that only requires an high school degree.
What education do I need? High school diploma or equivalent
Who would be good at it? As with many of these jobs, being good with number and having good attention to detail will serve you well. For those jobs that have a customer service component, great people skills is a necessitiy.
Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and clerks
Most of us have had our credit checked at some point in our life. People in this profession are the one’s doing the checking. You may find yourself interviewing people, processing applications and in general determining if people are worthy of a credit line.
How much do they make? The median annual pay is $37,290.
What education do I need? High school diploma or equivalent
Who would be good at it? You’ll spend a lot of time at a desk doing this job, so it isn’t for someone looking to move around much. That said, this job can give you a chance to help people get approved for much needed financing so can be a fulfilling job.
Brokerage Clerks
If you like the thought of dealing with stocks and securities, this might be the job for you. Not only does it not require a degree beyond high school, but it has great earnings potential. In fact it tops the list in that department
How much do they make? The median annual wage is $52,750 for a Brokerage Clerk. That’s almost 40% higher than the national average.
What education do I need? High school Diploma or Equivalent
Who would be good at it? More than just accounting and numbers, this job is best for someone with a keen sense of the stock market. If you are a whiz when it comes to stocks, bonds, and the like, then you should consider a job in the this profession. Not to mention having knowledge in this area can greatly benefit you personally via better investing strategies.
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
People in this profession help companies track employee time and payroll information.
How much do they make? The median wage is $46,180 which puts them near the top of the list in this category.
What education do I need? High school diploma or equivalent
Who would be good at it? This is another job best suited for someone with great accounting skills. If you enjoy working with numbers and have good attention to detail, look into these job opportunities.
Billing and Posting Clerks
In this position you will find yourself preparing billing and accounting data for the purposes of billing customers. You will find these positions commonly in the medical, enterprise management, and office administration fields.
How much do they make? The median wage is $36,860.
What education do I need? High school diploma or equivalent
Who would be good at it? This is a great job for someone who wants to get started in the accounting industry before spending the money for a degree.
Loan Interviewers and Clerks
If you have ever gotten a loan you know the mass amount of information you are required to handover. Well, someone is on the other end of that information, and a loan interviewer or clerk is that person. They help to collect, analyze, verify, and create documentation related to these loans
How much do they make? The median is $40,640
What education do I need? High school diploma or equivalent
Who would be good at it? Loan interviewers not only need to be good with customers, but also with numbers. You will be dealing with a large number of both these things, so good personal skills is a must along with the financial sense.
The Bottom Line
Let’s start with the reminder that post-secondary education is critical to maximizing earnings potential in today’s world. And not all degrees require you to be in school for the 4-years it takes to get a standard bachelor’s degree.
But if you don’t have the time or money to get a degree at the moment, the finance and accounting jobs on this list provide a means to get started in the industry. Not only that, but all of them also have annual wages above the national median wage in the U.S.
If you decide to continue in one of these careers without getting a degree, you still have significant upside potential. Regardless of the job, if you prove yourself once in an organization, you can end up with earnings far greater than the median wages listed in this article