- The country will experience a shortage of 3.4 million technical workers without four-year degrees, according to a new September 2019 report from the National Science Board.
- These jobs include web developers, maintenance workers, civil engineers, and medical information technicians.
- But four-year degree holders still out earn the rest of the workforce.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Some of the country's most in-demand jobs don't require a college degree.
The country will experience a shortage of 3.4 million technical workers, or those in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), by 2022. A report from the National Science Board says there will be 1.3% more job openings for technical careers than people qualified to perform them.
The news comes as CEOs like Tim Cook and Elon Musk question how much four-year colleges really train grads for a job. "I don't consider going to college evidence of exceptional ability," Musk said during a fireside chat on Monday at the Satellite 2020 conference.
Musk said he never required Tesla job applicants to have college degrees.
As the cost of college continues to rise and student loan debt tops $1.5 trillion, skipping a four-year degree can save families hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The majority of technical, non-four-year degree workers are in installation and maintenance (27%). Healthcare has 21% of these workers, construction 18%, and production 16%. The rest are in math, architecture, and other fields
But there are caveats to skipping college: while some jobs that only require an associate's degree pay six-figures, four-year degree holders still out earn dropouts on average.
Here are 9 high-demand technical jobs in STEM you can get without a four-year degree, described by NSB:
General maintenance and repair workers earn $38,300 per year.
Job description: General maintenance and repair workers fix machines and mechanical equipment. They can also repair flooring, plumbing, and electrics.
Degree requirement: High school
Medical records and health information technicians earn $40,350 per year.
Job description: Health information technicians organize medical data both online and on paper. They must use classification systems to code and categorize patient information onto different databases.
Degree requirement: Postsecondary nondegree award
Aerospace engineering and operations technicians earn $67,010 per year.
Job description: Aerospace engineering and operations technicians operate aircraft and spacecraft equipment. They run computer simulations, perform quality assurance, and operate advanced technology.
Degree requirement: Associate's degree
Civil engineering technicians make $52,580 per year.
Job description: Civil engineering technicians help civil engineers to plan, design, and build highways, bridges, and other infrastructure projects.
Degree requirement: Associate's degree
Web developers earn $69,430 per year.
Job description: Web developers create and design websites.
Degree requirement: Associate's degree
Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians earn $36,690 per year.
Job description: Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians make devices such as dentures, eyeglasses, and prosthetics.
Degree requirement: High school
Environmental engineering technicians earn $50,560 per year.
Job description: Environmental engineering technicians carry out the plans that environmental engineers develop.
Degree requirement: Associate's degree
Medical assistants earn $33,610 per year.
Job description: Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities.
Degree requirement: Postsecondary nondegree award
Boilermakers earn $62,150 per year.
Job description: Boilermakers assemble, install, maintain, and repair boilers or other vessels that hold liquids and gases.
Degree requirement: High school
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