How to Make a Lot of Money Without a Degree (A Full Guide)

First and foremost, earning money is not the same as working full-time.

This must be stated because many people appear to mix the two.

To be clear, I am not implying that working and earning money are mutually exclusive.

For many people, earning money from a career that does not require a full-time degree is more appealing.

What is the reason for this?

You will begin making money without having to go to school for four years (and racking up student debt).

This is particularly true in today’s world, which is becoming increasingly reliant on the internet.

It can be difficult to find a full-time job without a formal education, but there are many online positions that can pay well even if you don’t have a college diploma.

My name is Daniel Umeh and I have been making money online consistently for the past 4 years, In this article, I will explain how you can make a lot of money without a degree.

Ways to Make Money Online without a Degree

Before I start listing ways to make money online, you should know that there are many sites where you can start freelancing, such as Upwork or Fiverr.

The positions I’ve highlighted below are “platform-neutral,” which means they can be found on almost any platform.

However, you might find that some jobs are more prevalent on one side (such as Upwork or Fiverr), while others are more prevalent on another (such as Freelancer or Guru), so it’s best to be familiar with both.

Although a college diploma isn’t needed for these money-making schemes, you will need common sense, a willingness to learn, and adaptability.

1. Make a living as a voice-over artist.

Your voice may not be the most melodious, but trust me when I say that it will not deter you from pursuing a career as a voice-over artist.

Since there are so many different types of voice-over work, there’s a good chance you’ll find one that fits your voice.

You may start doing easy voice-over jobs with good enunciation and a decent microphone (borrow one first).

Experiment with various voices and keep capturing the ones that work best for you—this will be your voice-over portfolio.

A freelancing site like Upwork will pay you up to $50 per minute of voice recordings at first.

You can join over 200,000 talented voice-over artists on a website like Voices.com after you’ve done enough jobs to be considered a pro.

Your per-minute rates could be anywhere between $200 and $300 at that point.

2. Designing Graphics

Why not try graphic design if you have an eye or a passion for the visual arts?

To begin taking small graphic design work, you don’t need high-end tools or a honed-to-perfection skill set.

Multimedia, web design, and logo design are some of the most popular graphic design works.

You can easily learn the necessary skills for most of these jobs by taking online classes, and you can get started for free with freeware like Inkscape.

Graphic design can be a high-paying career as compared to other occupations that don’t need a degree.

Graphic designers with experience can earn up to $150 per hour, but as a total beginner, you can need to start with jobs that pay as little as $10 per hour.

However, if you persevere and create a solid graphic design portfolio, you can comfortably earn up to $45 per hour, which was the average rate for freelance graphic designers on Upwork in 2019.

3. Create your own YouTube channel.

With so many famous YouTube channels to choose from, you may be wondering how you can create your own YouTube following.

Without a doubt.

In reality, content creators and influencers are increasingly focusing on videos, as more people choose to watch them rather than read text.

It’s one of the reasons why “how-to” videos are so common.

You don’t have to find the newest trending niche to become a popular YouTuber.

All you have to do is pick something you’re passionate about and know a lot about.

Choose a topic on which you believe you can create the best content and begin filming videos.

Important note: Don’t set lofty expectations for yourself.

Yes, there are kids who make millions on YouTube, but if you set your sights too high and get frustrated because you aren’t making as much money as they are, you will eventually become discouraged.

This is why it’s best to do something you enjoy so that you can feel happy even though you’re not making a lot of money.

Ads will earn you $18 on average for every 1,000 views your video receives, which isn’t bad.

Consider this: if one of your ten weekly videos receives over a million views in two and a half months, you’ve made around $18,000.

4. Unusual Positions

I may have accidentally shot myself in the foot with this title because it covers so much, but oddly enough, that’s exactly my point.

There are a plethora of ways to make money that require little or no technological expertise (apart from knowing how to use the computer and browse the internet, of course).

Consider the following example:

Swagbucks and other similar websites reward you with gift cards and cash for doing stuff you would normally do online.

You can gain SB points by watching videos, taking surveys, or purchasing items—all of these activities earn you SB points, which you can exchange for gift cards or cash.

Users usually receive between $50 and $125 per month.

You can earn money by doing simple online tasks with Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk).

It may be anything from editing photographs and videos to completing surveys to transcribing audio material.

If you’re willing to put in some physical effort, you can search for local gigs on Craigslist or Kijiji.

You may be able to make a decent living depending on the work available.

5. Writing Content

Writing as a career is available to almost everyone who has a strong understanding of language and communication.

You’ve been a writer since you were in elementary school and wrote history studies.

You will start writing content and working as a freelance writer if you have a good vocabulary and a good understanding of syntax and grammar.

If grammar and sentence structure aren’t your strong suits, tools like Grammarly can help.

Begin by registering for one (or more) of the following freelancing websites:

• Upwork
• Freelancer
• Fiverr

It’s a good idea to show off a few examples of your work, whether published or unpublished.

Your published work may be as easy as a recipe for pancakes on the website of your local bakery.

Beginners typically start by working for $1 per 100 (or 200) words.

However, the more you work, the larger your writing portfolio will become.

For a six-word slogan, experienced authors will charge hundreds of dollars.

6. Blogging

Try starting a blog or website if you can write well.

It doesn’t have to be your main source of income, but if you can build up a respectable following, your blog can bring in some serious cash.

Here are a few examples of how you can benefit from your blog:

• Advertisements
• Affiliate programs
• sponsored post
• As a resource for finding freelance clients.

According to Glassdoor, a blogger’s estimated annual income is more than $33,000.

Use this as motivation to start blogging as a side hustle.

The longer you stick with it, the more money you’ll be able to make, as long as you keep enhancing your content and keeping on top of trends.

7. Development of websites and apps

Hardcore programmers used to be the only ones who could build web and mobile apps.

That is, thankfully, no longer the case.

With a variety of online resources, you can start building websites after only a few weeks of dedicated study.

App development may necessitate a deeper dive into programming, but it’s not nearly as difficult as it’s made out to be.

According to Indeed.com, the average salary for a web developer is $74,450.

You won’t make this much in your first year, but with a few ventures under your belt, you’ll get there.

8. Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants, or VAs, make money online by assisting companies and individuals with a variety of tasks that can be performed remotely.

Depending on the needs of your clients, you will be required to speak on the phone for certain activities.

To work as a virtual assistant, you don’t need any credentials.

There is no requirement for a college diploma.

You can apply for VA jobs that enable you to perform tasks based on your skills and interests if you are a VA.

Depending on the VA’s expertise and the needs of their clients, typical VA tasks include responding to emails, arranging meetings and appointments, scheduling blog and social media posts, proofreading or editing blog posts, designing graphics, searching the internet, and much more.

Here are some of the best places to look for virtual assistant jobs:

• Boldly
• Fancy Hands
• Zirtual
• Belay
• Upwork
• Freelancer
• PeoplePerHour
• Fiverr

You may provide general VA services or focus on a specific region.

As a Pinterest VA, for example, you can have specialized VA services.

You can earn anywhere from $10 to $100 per hour as a virtual assistant, depending on your qualifications and the needs of your clients.

You can receive anywhere from $50 to $100 per hour or more if you are an experienced VA or specialize in a specific niche. 

9. Become a Social Media Manager

Are you well-versed in social media?

You could work as a social media manager if you have extensive knowledge of any major social media platform.

If you know how to use Facebook, for example, you can get paid to write and schedule engaging posts, react to comments, run Facebook Ads, and other tasks for other people’s accounts.

You will assist an organization in gaining followers and increasing brand recognition as a social media manager.

Companies, especially small businesses, and even individuals are increasingly hiring social media managers to operate and manage their social media platforms.

Some businesses that regularly recruit for or mention social media manager positions include:

• 99 Dollar Social
• BELAY
• ModSquad
• Upwork
• PeoplePerHour
• Freelancer
• Fiverr

When you see a work ad, you can also apply directly to the company or employee.

Depending on your experience, you can earn $15-$45 per hour as a social media manager.

However, if you know how to run and manage effective advertising campaigns, you can earn more.

You could earn anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 or more per month, depending on how many clients you have. 

10. Transcriptionist

Transcription jobs can be a great work-from-home option if you have fast and accurate typing skills, good listening skills, and a keen eye for detail.

Listening to audio recordings and typing up what you hear is what transcription work entails.

You could transcribe letters, college lectures, discussions, medical dictations, and other things depending on the job and your skills.

To get started, most medical transcription and legal transcription jobs require relevant experience and certification.

General transcription jobs usually don’t necessitate much, if any, prior experience.

Here are a few of the best transcription companies or websites that frequently hire for home-based transcription jobs:

• TranscribeMe.com
• Scribe.com
• TranscribeAnywhere.com
• Rev
• Quicktate.com
• DailyTranscription

Before you can receive transcription jobs that pay, most online transcription companies or sites will require you to pass a short writing test.

Transcription jobs are usually paid per audio hour, and pay rates differ from one company to the next.

Depending on the company, you can expect to earn anywhere from $5 to $25 per audio hour.

As a transcriptionist, you can earn around $10 per hour if you can type quickly and accurately.

You can negotiate your rates for your services with your clients if you work directly with them.

Conclusion

Consider one of the aforementioned jobs if you want a new career but don’t want to go back to school for several years.

Making money without a degree is possible, but your success will be determined in part by the field or area in which you specialize.

Choose a skill or a hobby that you enjoy and turn it into a business.

You can write a blog about it, create videos or podcasts about it, or even create a basic website about it.

You’ll most likely be able to connect with a clientele who enjoys your take on the niche you’ve chosen.