You’re constantly hearing that you need a college degree to make real money in this world. The truth? It’s a myth, and with every passing year, there are more great no-degree jobs out there than ever before—and they don’t require you to spend tens of thousands of dollars getting the needed training.

If you’re willing to work hard and invest in your profession, you can get on the path to success in a range of outdoor industries no matter where you are in your career. The problem is knowing where your skills and experience can be applied in outdoor jobs that pay well without a degree. This can be challenging—and where do you start?

The answer is: right here. We’ll discuss five great career paths you can explore without spending six figures on a college diploma, and how to work your way up to the top.

1. Outdoor Heavy Equipment Mechanic

Mechanics don’t just work in garages. Lots of heavy equipment is far too big for any workshop, and it all needs maintenance and repair done on-site. The average salary is about $70,000 a year, though obviously if you’ve got top-flight skills and are willing to travel, you'll be on the higher side.

If you’re great with your hands, this is definitely one of those outdoor jobs that pay well without a degree. And if you have some experience, most companies will invest in giving you the additional skills you need. All you have to bring is a great attitude and a willingness to work hard.

If you don’t have experience, this career could take up to four years to really start earning you the big bucks. The first two years will be spent performing on-site training to familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of heavy equipment and its maintenance. Years three and four will be spent building up the work experience necessary for you to work independently.

2. Marine Welder

Good welders are in need everywhere, and the marine industry is no exception. The average salary is about $57,000, and this will involve working on boats and marine infrastructure—much of which must be done with the sun on your back. Certified welders earn more, but that just takes passing the certification exams, not formal schooling.

There are many ways for marine welders to be employed, but one of the most common and lucrative is in manufacturing. Whether it’s pontoon boats, fishing boats, or large yachts in both aluminum and steel, there’s no shortage of highly skilled precision cutting and welding that needs to take place to get them ready for the open water.

3. Electrician

Most electrician jobs require a GED and some form of technical training, and although some schools offer an associate’s degree, this level of education is not necessary. People think of electricians as stuck working in buildings, but this is far from the only scenario. There are tons of outdoor jobs that pay well without a degree in this field:

• Marine electrician: $60,900/yr.
• Solar installer: $62,000/yr.
• Wind turbine technician: $68,000/yr.
• Electrical foreman: $70,000/yr.
• Linesman: $75,000/yr.

Some positions (such as electrical foreman) will require climbing the ladder over time, but in many cases, your skills are the determining factor.

4. Salesperson

While you cannot avoid spending time behind a desk as a salesperson, you’re also outdoors quite a bit selling your product. Marine products, RV’s, and many other types of large equipment dealerships maintain inventories that are stored (and sold) outdoors. And if you love the open water, selling boats will also net you a lot of time demonstrating your products.

If you’ve got the gift of gab, you need very little pre-employment training to sell outdoor recreational products, making these among the best outdoor jobs that pay well without a degree. Let’s take a look at a few different average earnings by sector:

• Marine: $73,000/yr.
• Heavy equipment: $64,000/yr.
• Motorcycles: $50,000/yr.
• RVs: $81,000/yr.
• Cars: $125,000/yr.

5. Outboard, Powersports & RV Service Technician

If you’re looking for a great career that doesn’t require a college degree, working as a technician in the recreational and powersports industries is one of the best bets on the market today. With some experience, professional certification, a strong work ethic, and a desire to succeed, you’ll find that great employers will be dying to give you a chance to make an excellent life for yourself.

Why is this such a talent-friendly environment? There are several reasons, and they’re why there’s never been a better time to consider these opportunities:

• A large percentage of the workforce is aging out.
• Technology improving at a rapid rate and new certifications and know-how in areas like 4-stroke, electronic propulsion, etc. pay well.
• Dealers who need talented employees will invest in the right people they can send to factory training for certifications.
• Because these jobs are often in desirable parts of the country with great outdoor access, you will have a lot of options for matching your career and desired lifestyle.

It’s important to remember that these employers are also operating in relatively niche fields that require candidates they’re comfortable investing in. They often work with dedicated industry recruiters, and you’ll want to match yourself with one of these agencies for the best chance to land a job.

Get the Inside Track on Outdoor Jobs That Pay Well

Without a degree, there are still plenty of great careers that let you spend many or most of your working hours in the great outdoors. The trick is finding these jobs. It can be hard to sort through the ocean of announcements out there, and to make matters worse, many jobs aren’t even advertised! They’re filled through insider connections like internal hires or word-of-mouth.

Working with a professional outdoor industry recruiting partner like V20 Recruiting can give you a huge advantage over your competition. Our recruiters have decades of combined experience, we know our industries inside and out, and we have a great track record and relationship with the people running the top companies.

And the best part? We don’t charge job seekers to work with us. If you’re the talented go-getter our clients need, we’re looking for you!

Because marine, powersports, firearms, and RV businesses have been using us for years to find the very best applicants, they’ll often ask us for candidates first before advertising their best positions. This is the ‘hidden job market” you’ve read about, the one you’re going to need access to in order to find the best outdoor jobs that pay well without a degree—and V20 Recruiting has the insider connections and track record to get you in front of the right people when the actual decisions are being made.

Contact our office today, or reach out directly to one of our top recruiters serving your industry. If you’re willing to work hard and invest in your future, we want to help you build the career of your dreams.