18 Hands-On Jobs That Pay Well and Require Less Than a Bachelor's Degree
Hands-on jobs are great for people who want to see direct results from their hard work. With that kind of job, you can feel like you've achieved something at the end of each day. That's probably why so many people with practical careers report feeling passionate, happy, and engaged in their jobs. Working with your hands can be fun, creative, and intellectually stimulating. And being responsible for fixing and building things, solving problems, or helping people can leave you feeling fulfilled and accomplished.
Choosing a hands-on career can also result in greater job security. That's because many jobs in this category can't be outsourced overseas. For example, communities will always need auto mechanics, nurses, and police officers. Additionally, many practical occupations don't require you to spend years in school preparing for them. In fact, a lot of hands-on jobs that pay well only require one or two years of training. So, it may not take you very long to prepare for an active career that provides great opportunities.
Healthcare and skilled trades are two of the best sectors in which to find well-paying, hands-on jobs, but they aren't the only ones. Other great sectors include beauty, design, law enforcement, animal care, and culinary arts.
Check out the categories below to discover 18 jobs that allow you to work with your hands. Find out what the annual pay range is for each position and take a look at the number of new job openings that are projected each year.*
Skilled Trades
1. Wind Turbine Technician
Can you picture yourself working directly with one of today's leading green technologies? That's exactly what you can do as a wind turbine technician. You may even have the opportunity to travel to install, service, and repair wind turbines across the country. You'll likely spend your days climbing wind turbines to conduct routine inspections. And you may get to troubleshoot problems and take care of issues like fixing hydraulic systems, repairing electrical issues, and replacing components. With just a short amount of schooling, you could soon be prepared to take on an active job and play a part in fighting climate change.
- Median annual salary: $61,770
- New job openings: 2,100
- Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate
2. Heavy Equipment Mechanic
Get your hands dirty by servicing and repairing heavy-duty machinery and equipment. Along with engines, you'll also work on fuel and brake lines, hydraulics, electrical components, and other systems and components of heavy machines like tractors, bulldozers, and railway engines. Heavy equipment mechanics perform a lot of fieldwork, so you'll likely travel around to worksites like farms, oil fields, coal mines, rail yards, and construction and logging sites. Heavy equipment mechanic training can prepare you to work as an independent contractor, for a company, or with the government (e.g., by servicing fleets and military equipment).
- Median annual salary: $61,000
- New job openings: 24,100
- Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate
3. Electrician
Most of the work completed by electricians is hands-on. Additionally, electrical work is one of the best-paid skilled trades with a high demand for qualified workers. Many aspiring electricians start out by taking a short electrician trade school program to develop essential skills. From there, they complete an apprenticeship that eventually leads to journeyman certification. Before you know it, you could be installing, servicing, and repairing electrical systems in residential, commercial, or industrial settings.
- Median annual salary: $61,590
- New job openings: 80,200
- Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate
4. HVAC Technician
Homes and buildings require climate control and airflow, especially in places that experience extreme temperature fluctuations in the winter and summer months. HVAC technicians work with crucial heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems to properly maintain temperatures. A short HVAC training program can prepare you to install, maintain, and repair a variety of residential and commercial HVAC systems so that people can reside or work in their buildings comfortably.
- Median annual salary: $57,300
- New job openings: 42,500
- Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate
5. Truck Driver
Society relies on the work of truck drivers to move goods around cities and states, as well as across the country. In fact, a large portion of the country's manufactured products are distributed to buyers and shipping docks via commercial trucks. You can take on the responsibility of safely hauling shipments to their destinations on schedule. You'll also get to take care of pre- and post-inspections and minor vehicle and trailer maintenance. After completing your formal commercial driver's license training, you can take your state's written exams and road tests to get your CDL.
- Median annual salary: $54,320
- New job openings: 240,300
- Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate
6. Welder
By using your hands and powerful welding equipment, you can manufacture metal products and structures of all types and sizes. Many different welding processes and methods are used for tasks like manufacturing cars and ships, building electronics, and constructing roads and bridges. A short welding training program can teach you how to use those methods, as well as how to read blueprints and maintain and repair welding equipment. Learning those vital skills can prepare you for hands-on careers in sectors like aerospace technology, automobile manufacturing, construction, mining, and shipbuilding.
- Median annual salary: $48,940
- New job openings: 45,800
- Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate
7. Automotive or Diesel Mechanic
When discussing hands-on jobs, mechanical work is often one of the first things brought up. With the number of cars and trucks on the roads today, it's no surprise that auto and diesel mechanics are in such high demand. You can prepare for one of those positions and become a certified mechanic in only about two years. That's a small investment to make for a chance at getting a practical job you'll love. In 2023, the median annual pay for diesel mechanics was $58,970, and $47,770 for automotive mechanics. You can develop your expertise with either gas or diesel engines and learn how to use the latest tools and technology to service and repair many different makes and models of vehicles. Depending on your school, you may gain additional qualifications. For instance, diesel technology programs sometimes include a truck driving component, leading to further job options should you want to explore a different industry area.
- Median annual salary for diesel mechanics: $58,970
- Median annual salary for automotive mechanics: $47,770
- New job openings for diesel mechanics: 25,600
- New job openings for automotive mechanics: 67,800
- Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate
Law Enforcement
8. Police Officer
One of the highest-ranking hands-on jobs is police work. You can take on an active role in law enforcement to catch lawbreakers and help keep your community safe. You may spend your days patrolling the streets or investigating specific crimes. Many police officers join specialized units that are responsible for handling crimes like money laundering, drug trafficking, murder, or fraud. And, as long as you meet the criteria, it doesn't take long to become a police officer. Upon doing so, you may enjoy many interesting possibilities related to beginning and advancing your career.
- Median annual salary: $74,910
- New job openings: 63,000
- Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate and police academy training
Healthcare
9. Dental Hygienist
People who are interested in high-paying, hands-on jobs may want to consider careers as dental hygienists. With as little as two to three years of post-secondary schooling, you can start carrying out various tasks that involve working with patients and assisting dentists. A typical day could involve performing oral exams, cleaning and caring for teeth, and taking and developing X-rays. Although dental hygienists may have a few administrative responsibilities, the largest part of the work is hands-on. Dental hygienist schooling typically takes from two to four years.
- Median annual salary: $87,530
- New job openings: 16,400
- Typical entry-level education: Associate degree
10. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Ultrasound technicians spend most of their days working with their hands. They perform diagnostic procedures using sonography to help doctors and other medical professionals detect, diagnose, and track conditions and diseases. Completing a diploma or associate degree program can prepare you to work as a diagnostic medical sonographer or ultrasound technician.
- Median annual salary: $84,470
- New job openings: 9,400
- Typical entry-level education: Associate degree
11. Occupational or Physical Therapy Assistant
Many hands-on jobs exist in the medical field, but occupational and physical therapy assisting jobs are known to be good-paying and growing in number. Even better, you can prepare for careers such as occupational therapy assistant or physical therapy assistant in as little as two years. Physical and occupational therapy are both forms of treatment that help people rehabilitate from injuries and illnesses. However, physical therapy treats the actual injury or condition, whereas occupational therapy focuses on improving patients' functional abilities. So, although the fields overlap, the therapies have different purposes and goals.
As an occupational therapy assistant, you may work with patients to help them recover, rehabilitate, and adapt so that they can continue to function in their everyday surroundings. In a physical therapy setting, you may provide treatments to patients and guide them through activities to help them recover, regain movement, and manage their pain. In either role, you could also assess and educate patients and manage their records.
Occupational Therapy Assistants
- Median annual salary: $67,010
- New job openings: 7,200
- Typical entry-level education: Associate degree
Physical Therapy Assistants
- Median annual salary: $64,080
- New job openings: 20,800
- Typical entry-level education: Associate degree
12. Vocational or Registered Nurse
Preparing for a good-paying, in-demand, hands-on healthcare job in less than two years is possible if you want to enter the nursing field. In just a short time, you could gain the skills and certifications needed to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse (RN).
Both types of nurses directly care for patients in various medical settings, but RNs tend to have higher-level responsibilities, which results in higher pay. Advancement opportunities in nursing are often excellent, so many people start by becoming LPNs and then move up the career ladder as they gain more education and experience.
- Median annual salary for registered nurses: $86,070
- Median annual salary for licensed practical and vocational nurses: $59,730
- New job openings for registered nurses: 194,500
- New job openings for licensed practical and vocational nurses: 54,000
- Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary diploma
13. Paramedic
Place yourself on the front lines of the emergency medical field by becoming a paramedic. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) often have meaningful careers by providing the first point of care in emergencies. In a quick paramedic training program, you'll likely learn how to manage an emergency scene, assess shock, give rescue breathing, provide IVs, and offer other life-saving treatments to care for patients until you reach the hospital. Consider the EMT/paramedic field if you want a hands-on occupation that is purposeful and valuable.
- Median annual salary: $53,180
- New job openings: 5,300
- Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate
14. Massage Therapist
Begin a career where you use your hands to help people feel better. Massage therapists offer treatments that help their clients recover from injuries, manage pain, relieve stress and tension, and simply relax. A short massage therapy program can prepare you to offer a variety of massage techniques. In less than two years, you could become a registered massage therapist (RMT) and start your own practice or work in settings like spas, clinics, resorts, and cruise ships.
- Median annual salary: $55,310
- New job openings: 22,800
- Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate
Animal Care
15. Veterinary Technician
You may want to consider a career as a veterinary technician if you can't thank of a better way to spend your days than working directly with animals. A short one- to two-year veterinary technician program can prepare you to work alongside vets to care for pets and other animals of all types and sizes. Your daily responsibilities could include administering emergency first aid, assisting during surgeries and other procedures, collecting lab samples, giving medications, performing lab tests, providing nursing care, and taking X-rays. You can find job opportunities at vet clinics, animal hospitals, and other animal care settings.
- Median annual salary: $43,740
- New job openings: 15,400
- Typical entry-level education: Associate degree
Beauty and Cosmetology
16. Skincare Specialist
In less than a year, you could be ready to jump into a hands-on beauty career that offers many amazing benefits like ample job opportunities and good earning possibilities. You can also enjoy the satisfaction that comes from helping your clients feel and look incredible. You can spend your days offering skincare services like facials, waxing, body wraps, aromatherapy, exfoliation, and acne and eczema treatments. Most people begin their careers in salon, spa, and resort settings, where they not only gain valuable experience but also have the opportunity to earn tips from satisfied clients. Additionally, you may find rewarding opportunities with medical-based establishments that offer a different client interaction dynamic. Many beauty school programs include esthetics and skincare training.
- Median annual salary: $43,200
- New job openings: 12,800
- Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate
Culinary
17. Chef
Can you picture yourself using your hands and tapping into your passion for cooking to create mouthwatering meals in a professional setting? If so, then consider the exciting possibility of becoming a professional chef. In less than two years, you can obtain the culinary skills needed to start out in a commercial kitchen. By gaining some experience, you could work your way up to a head chef position. Or you could open your own restaurant and put your innovative and creative ideas into practice every day.
- Median annual salary: $58,920
- New job openings: 24,600
- Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate or diploma
18. Restaurant Manager
Why not place yourself among the exciting hustle and bustle of a busy restaurant? You can work directly with customers and restaurant staff to ensure that everything runs smoothly. You may be responsible for overseeing the kitchen and dining areas, ordering and organizing supplies, handling employee and customer problems, staffing, scheduling, and budgeting. Depending on the size and type of restaurant, you could oversee every detail, from the daily drink specials to the table décor. Restaurant management training can prepare you for career opportunities in all kinds of settings, from locally owned cafes to large corporate franchises.
- Median annual salary: $63,060
- New job openings: 44,500
- Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate or diploma
* Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Some careers listed may be part of a combined occupation profile (visited September 20, 2024).
