While close to 75% of jobs in the U.S. that pay more than $35,000 a year require a college degree, only 38% of Americans have a bachelor's degree, says Lisa Gevelber, Google's chief marketing officer for the Americas on Lin. Google Trends Data also shows that searches for "no degree jobs" reached an all-time high this year in the U.S., as shared with CNBC Make It.
As Google determined the top "how to become. . ." queries people searched in the US, it goes to show that Americans are likely drawn to flexible, college-free careers with six-figure salaries and are most excited about jobs that offer ample travel opportunities, flexible work schedules and a clear path to becoming your boss.
Here are the top 3 most Googled jobs of 2023 in the U.S. as of November:
Real Estate Agent
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of real estate agent and broker jobs is projected to increase by 4% between 2020 and 2030, which is slower than the average for all occupations. Most real estate agents and brokers don't earn a salary. Instead, they make money through commissions, which are usually a percentage of the selling price of the property, or, less frequently, a flat fee.
In general, commissions are paid only when you settle a transaction. Ultimately, this means that you could work hard for days, weeks, or even months without taking home any money at all. Like other commission-based jobs, it can be feast or famine.
Notary Agent
A notary is a publicly commissioned official who serves as an impartial witness to the signing of a legal document. Document signings where the services of a notary are generally necessary are real estate deeds, affidavits, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, bills of sale, or other official transactional documents. The main reason a notary is used is to deter fraud.
Income depends on the type of Notary Public. Notaries fall into two general categories: stationary and mobile. Geographic location has a significant impact on the salaries of all types of professions. This is because pay rates are directly influenced by the cost of living for a specific community, city, or state. A Notary Public is no different and you will find variances in the average Notary Public salary depending on the job location.
Travel Agent
If you're someone who spends your days scanning flights, loves hotel rewards points, and in general, is a fervent traveler, you've probably wondered how to become a travel agent. While some four-year colleges, community colleges, and trade schools offer tourism certifications, it is not a requirement for those trying to become travel agents. Certificates of tourism can be very helpful, but so can previous training in marketing, hospitality, or even event planning. Ultimately, your knowledge of destinations, sales, itinerary planning, and booking software will be crucial for your career as a travel agent.
Traditionally, agents were paid on commissions from the suppliers. If an agent sold an airline ticket to a client, the airline would pay them a commission on that plane ticket. More recently, some agents have started to charge fees directly to the clients for their services as well.
While all three of these roles require at least a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED), there are no formal education requirements beyond that.
Most travel agents require at least a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Agents can also choose to acquire certifications with different transit associations, such as the Cruise Lines International Association or the International Air Transport Association, which enables them to book travel for clients on airlines and cruise lines.
Compensation is a major consideration for job seekers looking for no-degree jobs. Within Google searches for jobs without a degree, "high paying jobs without a degree" was a top search in 2023.
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