Jobs for Ex-Felons with No Degree

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Having a job is crucial, especially for those who are ex-felons. When you have a job it helps you to be a part of the community, contributing to society. It also helps you to be able to live and pay your bills. Whether you have spent time in prison or jail or not, there are plenty of jobs for ex-felons with no degree, so don’t worry. Finding one that will pay you the amount you need to survive each month is key, and it can be done.

Many people make a good living today without a degree. There are plenty of fields that pay well without having a degree, especially if you are willing to do manual labor. The jobs that require people to do manual labor typically do not require a degree, and many of them pay a good wage. It’s a good idea to first start your search by making a list of things you are interested in doing and what skills you have.

Jobs for Ex-Felons with No Degree

There are some employers that require their employees to have a degree, and some that will not hire ex-felons. But there are plenty of places that will hire people who do have a criminal history and that do not have a degree. You just need to keep looking until you find what it is that you are looking for, and find a position that will pay you what you need to make ends meet.

Whether or not you need a degree and whether or not the place will hire an ex-felon is often a case-by-case situation. One employer may be fine hiring someone with a criminal history, while another may have a rule against it. You will need to keep applying and reaching out to employers until you find one that will hire ex-felons. They are out there, but it’s up to the individual company if they want to hire ex-felons, so you have to keep applying until you find the ones that will hire ex-felons.

Here are some job fields for ex-felons with no degrees:

• Those who work in landscaping do not need any type of college degree, and many landscaping companies will hire ex-felons. This is also a business you can easily start yourself. A landscaper will make $15-20 per hour, depending on where they live, their experience, etc.
• If you can paint things, such as the interior or exterior of a house, you can be hired as a painter. It is a job that does not require any college education, pays $15-20 per hour, and is something you can typically learn on the job. Painters are in high demand, especially in areas where there are a lot of middle to higher income families living in homes.
• Tree Trimmer. This is another type of landscaping job, but the person focuses only on the trees. You would go to homes and businesses and get paid to trim the trees. This is a job that is especially popular in places where they get warmer weather all year long, such as Florida.
• If you have automotive skills you could get hired in an auto shop. These jobs pay well, don’t require a college degree, and often times the employer will hire ex-felons. There are also other auto jobs to consider, including those who work in oil change places, tire centers, car wash places, and more. If you like working around and with cars, you may want to consider getting a job working in an automotive center.
• Trash Collector. Millions of homes around the country need their trash picked up each week. The waste management companies in cities around the country need to hire a lot of people to ride around in the trucks and pick up the trash all week. The jobs pay anywhere from $15-30 per hour, depending on the area you live in, and the companies will usually hire ex-felons.
• There are cleaning companies around the country that are regularly hiring people, and some will hire ex-felons. If you don’t mind doing the work, you can make a decent wage, and some will even pay you in cash. Cleaning companies hire people to clean homes, businesses, stadiums, etc. Contact local cleaning companies to see which ones are hiring, what they pay, and if they hire ex-felons.
• Warehouse Worker. Check with warehouse jobs in your area, because some of the companies will hire ex-felons, and most warehouse jobs do not require you to have a college degree. Warehouse jobs are often available with three shifts to choose from, offer full time work, and usually pay a decent wage.
• Restaurant Worker. There are restaurants everywhere around the country and they cannot exist without people to work in them. Many of them will hire ex-felons, you do not need a college degree to work at them, and they will often train you for the position. Some of the positions you can check into at restaurants include being a waiter, busboy, dishwasher, cook, kitchen helper, pizza maker, etc.
• This is a field that pays well and does not require a college degree. Many companies that hire truckers will also accept those who are ex-felons. Trucking jobs are in demand and available around the country. You can get a trucking job that has you drive over state lines, as well as those that have you stay right in your city.

Moving Forward

There are additional options to consider which may take a little training. Things such as being an apprentice become a welder or plumber are options to consider. The fields pay well, don’t require a college degree, are in demand, and are open to ex-felons. You just need to go through a training program in order to move into the field and be a plumber or electrician. Contact your local union office to see what opportunities for apprenticeships there are in your area.