NextChapter

Occupations needing no college degree with the most open jobs

Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel has the most open jobs of the occupations that typically need no college degree (a high school diploma or less): 8,206 jobs in our data.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel, High school diploma or equivalent: 8,206 jobs
  • #2 Transportation, storage, and distribution managers, High school diploma or equivalent: 3,247 jobs
  • #3 Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive, High school diploma or equivalent: 1,792 jobs
  • 36 occupations ranked across all occupations
  • Data as of November 2026
  1. 1Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel High school diploma or equivalent8,206 jobs
  2. 2Transportation, storage, and distribution managers High school diploma or equivalent3,247 jobs
  3. 3Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive High school diploma or equivalent1,792 jobs
  4. 4Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products High school diploma or equivalent1,227 jobs
  5. 5First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers High school diploma or equivalent1,160 jobs
  6. 6Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators High school diploma or equivalent948 jobs
  7. 7Retail salespersons No formal educational credential874 jobs
  8. 8Property, real estate, and community association managers High school diploma or equivalent817 jobs
  9. 9First-line supervisors of production and operating workers High school diploma or equivalent729 jobs
  10. 10Food service managers High school diploma or equivalent634 jobs

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel (8,206 jobs) is well clear of Food service managers at #10 (634 jobs).
  • Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel is the largest market in the top ten, with 8,206 open jobs behind its figure.
  • Occupations with fewer than 100 open jobs are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

Behind every education level is a list of specific jobs. Ranking occupations by open jobs shows which ones the employers we track are hiring for most at a given level of schooling.

How to use it

If you are planning a move into a new occupation, start with the ones near the top: more openings means more employers to approach. Check the pay and growth beside each before you commit.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel High school diploma or equivalent

    8,206 jobs

    Open jobs
    8,206
    Median posted pay
    $130k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +2.7%
    Workers in the occupation
    1,272,700

    Based on 8,206 openings.

  2. 2

    Transportation, storage, and distribution managers High school diploma or equivalent

    3,247 jobs

    Open jobs
    3,247
    Median posted pay
    $140k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +6.1%
    Workers in the occupation
    228,100

    Based on 3,247 openings.

  3. 3

    Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive High school diploma or equivalent

    1,792 jobs

    Open jobs
    1,792
    Median posted pay
    $62k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −6.0%
    Workers in the occupation
    1,889,800

    Based on 1,792 openings.

  4. 4

    Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products High school diploma or equivalent

    1,227 jobs

    Open jobs
    1,227
    Median posted pay
    $80k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −0.9%
    Workers in the occupation
    1,279,400

    Based on 1,227 openings.

  5. 5

    First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers High school diploma or equivalent

    1,160 jobs

    Open jobs
    1,160
    Median posted pay
    $120k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +0.1%
    Workers in the occupation
    1,506,100

    Based on 1,160 openings.

  6. 6

    Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators High school diploma or equivalent

    948 jobs

    Open jobs
    948
    Median posted pay
    $80k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −5.5%
    Workers in the occupation
    376,100

    Based on 948 openings.

  7. 7

    Retail salespersons No formal educational credential

    874 jobs

    Open jobs
    874
    Median posted pay
    $78k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −0.3%
    Workers in the occupation
    3,998,100

    Based on 874 openings.

  8. 8

    Property, real estate, and community association managers High school diploma or equivalent

    817 jobs

    Open jobs
    817
    Median posted pay
    $108k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +3.7%
    Workers in the occupation
    460,400

    Based on 817 openings.

  9. 9

    First-line supervisors of production and operating workers High school diploma or equivalent

    729 jobs

    Open jobs
    729
    Median posted pay
    Not enough pay data
    Projected growth to 2035
    +1.8%
    Workers in the occupation
    679,900

    Based on 729 openings.

  10. 10

    Food service managers High school diploma or equivalent

    634 jobs

    Open jobs
    634
    Median posted pay
    $85k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +5.8%
    Workers in the occupation
    344,300

    Based on 634 openings.

  11. 11

    Bill and account collectors High school diploma or equivalent

    564 jobs

    Open jobs
    564
    Median posted pay
    $61k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −10.4%
    Workers in the occupation
    160,200

    Based on 564 openings.

  12. 12

    Insurance sales agents High school diploma or equivalent

    475 jobs

    Open jobs
    475
    Median posted pay
    $75k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +3.3%
    Workers in the occupation
    572,600

    Based on 475 openings.

  13. 13

    First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers High school diploma or equivalent

    456 jobs

    Open jobs
    456
    Median posted pay
    $103k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +4.1%
    Workers in the occupation
    629,000

    Based on 456 openings.

  14. 14

    Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants High school diploma or equivalent

    410 jobs

    Open jobs
    410
    Median posted pay
    $78k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +0.0%
    Workers in the occupation
    489,300

    Based on 410 openings.

  15. 15

    Detectives and criminal investigators High school diploma or equivalent

    346 jobs

    Open jobs
    346
    Median posted pay
    $122k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +0.2%
    Workers in the occupation
    120,500

    Based on 346 openings.

  16. 16

    Tax preparers High school diploma or equivalent

    336 jobs

    Open jobs
    336
    Median posted pay
    $109k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +4.7%
    Workers in the occupation
    95,800

    Based on 336 openings.

  17. 17

    First-line supervisors of retail sales workers High school diploma or equivalent

    325 jobs

    Open jobs
    325
    Median posted pay
    $82k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −3.7%
    Workers in the occupation
    1,419,800

    Based on 325 openings.

  18. 18

    Legal secretaries and administrative assistants High school diploma or equivalent

    272 jobs

    Open jobs
    272
    Median posted pay
    $89k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −5.2%
    Workers in the occupation
    157,600

    Based on 272 openings.

  19. 19

    Brokerage clerks High school diploma or equivalent

    264 jobs

    Open jobs
    264
    Median posted pay
    $80k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −7.6%
    Workers in the occupation
    36,900

    Based on 264 openings.

  20. 20

    Billing and posting clerks High school diploma or equivalent

    263 jobs

    Open jobs
    263
    Median posted pay
    Not enough pay data
    Projected growth to 2035
    −0.1%
    Workers in the occupation
    418,000

    Based on 263 openings.

  21. 21

    Merchandise displayers and window trimmers High school diploma or equivalent

    205 jobs

    Open jobs
    205
    Median posted pay
    Not enough pay data
    Projected growth to 2035
    +2.7%
    Workers in the occupation
    164,800

    Based on 205 openings.

  22. 22

    Procurement clerks High school diploma or equivalent

    204 jobs

    Open jobs
    204
    Median posted pay
    Not enough pay data
    Projected growth to 2035
    −8.1%
    Workers in the occupation
    56,900

    Based on 204 openings.

  23. 23

    First-line supervisors of security workers High school diploma or equivalent

    187 jobs

    Open jobs
    187
    Median posted pay
    $209k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +3.7%
    Workers in the occupation
    82,700

    Based on 187 openings.

  24. 24

    Payroll and timekeeping clerks High school diploma or equivalent

    177 jobs

    Open jobs
    177
    Median posted pay
    $95k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −15.9%
    Workers in the occupation
    159,600

    Based on 177 openings.

  25. 25

    Insurance claims and policy processing clerks High school diploma or equivalent

    175 jobs

    Open jobs
    175
    Median posted pay
    Not enough pay data
    Projected growth to 2035
    −1.9%
    Workers in the occupation
    239,100

    Based on 175 openings.

Full ranking

All 36 occupations that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankOccupationScoreSample
1Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel High school diploma or equivalent8,206 jobs8,206
2Transportation, storage, and distribution managers High school diploma or equivalent3,247 jobs3,247
3Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive High school diploma or equivalent1,792 jobs1,792
4Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products High school diploma or equivalent1,227 jobs1,227
5First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers High school diploma or equivalent1,160 jobs1,160
6Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators High school diploma or equivalent948 jobs948
7Retail salespersons No formal educational credential874 jobs874
8Property, real estate, and community association managers High school diploma or equivalent817 jobs817
9First-line supervisors of production and operating workers High school diploma or equivalent729 jobs729
10Food service managers High school diploma or equivalent634 jobs634
11Bill and account collectors High school diploma or equivalent564 jobs564
12Insurance sales agents High school diploma or equivalent475 jobs475
13First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers High school diploma or equivalent456 jobs456
14Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants High school diploma or equivalent410 jobs410
15Detectives and criminal investigators High school diploma or equivalent346 jobs346
16Tax preparers High school diploma or equivalent336 jobs336
17First-line supervisors of retail sales workers High school diploma or equivalent325 jobs325
18Legal secretaries and administrative assistants High school diploma or equivalent272 jobs272
19Brokerage clerks High school diploma or equivalent264 jobs264
20Billing and posting clerks High school diploma or equivalent263 jobs263
21Merchandise displayers and window trimmers High school diploma or equivalent205 jobs205
22Procurement clerks High school diploma or equivalent204 jobs204
23First-line supervisors of security workers High school diploma or equivalent187 jobs187
24Payroll and timekeeping clerks High school diploma or equivalent177 jobs177
25Insurance claims and policy processing clerks High school diploma or equivalent175 jobs175
26Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers High school diploma or equivalent172 jobs172
27Office clerks, general High school diploma or equivalent149 jobs149
28Production, planning, and expediting clerks High school diploma or equivalent144 jobs144
29Lodging managers High school diploma or equivalent143 jobs143
30Customer service representatives High school diploma or equivalent118 jobs118
31Real estate brokers High school diploma or equivalent118 jobs118
32Stationary engineers and boiler operators High school diploma or equivalent114 jobs114
33Maintenance and repair workers, general High school diploma or equivalent113 jobs113
34First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers High school diploma or equivalent105 jobs105
35Personal service managers, all other High school diploma or equivalent105 jobs105
36Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers High school diploma or equivalent103 jobs103

How this ranking works

An occupation is a standard occupation (SOC) code, and the group is the typical entry-level education the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists for it: here, no college degree (a high school diploma or less). An occupation's score is the number of its open professional roles.

A posting does not state a degree. Each is matched to its standard occupation, and the education shown is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists as typical for entering that occupation. Some employers ask for more or less, and about one posting in a hundred has an occupation we could not match, which is left out. Only occupations with at least 100 open jobs are ranked.

Sample bar: occupations with fewer than 100 openings are not ranked.

Sources: NextChapter job data: open professional roles, matched to standard occupation (SOC) codes; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-35: typical entry-level education and projected employment change by occupation. Data as of November 2026.

Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.

Questions

Which occupation ranks first: occupations needing no college degree with the most open jobs?
Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel has the most open jobs of the occupations that typically need no college degree (a high school diploma or less): 8,206 jobs in our data.
How many occupations are ranked?
36 occupations have at least 100 open jobs, so the list has 36 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
An occupation is a standard occupation (SOC) code, and the group is the typical entry-level education the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists for it: here, no college degree (a high school diploma or less). An occupation's score is the number of its open professional roles. A posting does not state a degree. Each is matched to its standard occupation, and the education shown is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists as typical for entering that occupation. Some employers ask for more or less, and about one posting in a hundred has an occupation we could not match, which is left out. Only occupations with at least 100 open jobs are ranked.
How often is it updated?
Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.

More rankings

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Occupations needing no college degree with the most open jobs,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/occupations-needing-no-college-degree-with-the-most-open-jobs

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/occupations-needing-no-college-degree-with-the-most-open-jobs">Occupations needing no college degree with the most open jobs (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.

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