Not all jobs require extensive experience or years of education. Some entry-level jobs require little or no experience, pay reasonably well, and many offer paid on-the-job training or apprenticeships too.
We reviewed data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to create this list of 10 entry-level jobs.
Mostly, these positions have modest on-the-job training requirements and are growing.
No Formal Credentials Required
These jobs require no formal certificates, degrees, or licenses. However, most require at least some on-the-job training or apprenticeship work.
1. Security Guard
People with a clean criminal record and decent physical fitness can qualify for this job. And there’s plenty of opportunity. According to the BLS, more than 1.1 million security guards currently work in U.S, and 33,000 new spots are projected by 2029.
In fact, security guards earn relatively low pay but while working they can pursue a college degree while gaining a few years’ experience. So, this provides an opportunity for future law enforcement work.
2. Delivery Driver
With tips and base pay, you can earn good money – upward of $20 per hour during peak periods – for a job that required no skills or experience apart from the ability to drive and a valid driver’s license.
Package delivery drivers – people working for FedEx, UPS, and small courier firms – often do even better. And recent growth in app-based restaurant and grocery delivery, like DoorDash, Instacart, and Postmates, means that earning a decent living as a full-time food delivery driver is doable.
Delivery driving is one of the most popular jobs. Barriers to entry are low: a high school diploma or equivalent and a few days of on-the-job training.
3. Restaurant Server
Restaurant service is the most abundant job on this list. According to the BLS, more than 2.6 million people work as servers in the United States, with nearly 100,000 more by the end of the decade. Though servers are increasingly under threat from automation –full-service restaurants will still need human wait staff for the foreseeable future.
Server compensation – of which tips comprise a substantial share – increases as you ascend the menu-price ladder, along with employer expectations around service quality and menu knowledge. Fancy restaurants often require servers to complete menu courses and exams before waiting on customers.
Servers whose job duties include providing alcoholic beverages may be required to complete “responsible serving” courses, depending on local law and employer policy.
4. Sales Representative
Sales is a varied occupation with diverse training requirements, but education and employment prerequisites; if you have a high school diploma or GED, a personable manner, and a willingness to learn about the product, isn’t needed in an entry-level sales position.
There is a wide salary range up to six figures dependent on commission in the compensation package.
5. Flooring Installer
Flooring workers divide into multiple subcategories, including “Flooring Installers and Tile and Marble Setters” and “Carpet Installers.” This field offers decent pay with little or no experience required.
Entry-level flooring installers generally train on the job under an experienced foreman or crew chief. Depending on the specialty, it can take months or years to learn the ropes. Formal, paid apprenticeships are common.
6. Hazmat Removal Worker
Asbestos and lead are the most common hazardous materials, but most environmental contaminants deemed hazardous count as Hazmat. Some Hazmat removal jobs require no more than a high school diploma and a readiness to wear heavy protective gear, while others require pre-hire training or OSHA-mandated safety coursework.
If your job involves transporting hazardous materials, you’ll need additional training and likely a special state-issued license in addition to a commercial driver’s license. Because working with these materials is hazardous to your health, this job prefers detail-oriented workers willing to follow safety protocols.
7. Insurance Claims Adjuster
Claims adjusting is one of several entry spots in the insurance industry that require little or no experience. This is a great first job to build financial competence and to work on customer service skills.
There are several related insurance industry positions in this broad category which is expected to see modest employment declines through 2029, a result of continuous automation. However, specific insurance roles, including claims adjusting, may do better.
8. Administrative Office Assistant
Automation continues to make inroads into repetitive clerical tasks with significant employment declines expected through 2029. But the administrative assistant role persists in the white-collar workplace.
Employers continue hiring administrative assistants, but the roles are converting to fully remote, all-digital creating opportunities for organized, self-motivated professionals with flexible schedules and natural hustle.
Virtual assistants perform a variety of administrative functions from home like Online Proofreaders who ensure their employers’ written communications are clear, legible, and accurate.
For most nonspecialized roles, new assistants can be completely competent in a few weeks of informal on-the-job training. Capable workers have sufficient opportunities for growth, such as rising to office manager after a few years or obtaining a paralegal certificate to take on more specialized duties.
9. Construction Laborer
This is a great in-demand position if you like working outdoors. Construction laborers are not skilled and have little or no experience. Thus, they earn entry-level compensation. The work is often project-based, which frequently results in job site switches.
But there’s plenty of opportunity for advancement. Many laborers become apprentices in skilled trades, while others advance to foreman or site supervisor after years of experience.
10. Landscaper
This position is in demand; according to the BLS. More than 1.3 million U.S. people work as grounds maintenance workers, with more than 130,000 new positions expected by 2029.
In warm climates, work is available year-round; in colder climates, things slow down when the growing season ends.
Entry-level landscaping jobs require no credentials and very little or no experience; a week under the tutelage of a supervisor is sufficient for most. Note that grounds maintenance workers in more specialized settings, such as golf courses and formal gardens may require more training or credentials, which can usually be obtained, often with the employer’s assistance, while working full-time. Positions with greater responsibility may demand extensive botanical knowledge.
Conclusion
Whether you are seeking your first role or are a veteran worker looking for a new opportunity, contact Flexicrew Staffing team today.