So you’re planning to drop out of college? In that case, we have good news for you: there are plenty of jobs available that require no higher education. Most of these jobs do call for a lot of manual labor or the ability to work with basic tools. For someone who isn’t afraid of a little bit of hard work and long hours to make a good living, these jobs may be the ideal situation.

Construction Worker

Every time a new building or house goes up, a construction worker is involved in some way shape or form. From the foundation, to the roof, and everything in between a construction worker has done the work. Many people work for a company doing construction work while others freelance (work on their own offering their services for a fee). Pay is based on skill, speed and sometimes per job. Pay may be by hour or according to the job at hand.

Sanitation Worker

While not glamorous by any means, sanitation workers provide a much needed service. Picking up garbage is a necessity if one doesn’t want to have it strewn all about. Those who drive the trucks must have a type of commercial drivers license and drivers will make slightly more than the person who jumps off of the truck and picks up trash cans to dump.

Painters

There are many types of painting that pay very well. House painters, commercial building painters both make good money. As in most fields of industry, the longer one has been painting, the more one will make.

Mining

Mining is perhaps one of the highest paying jobs for unskilled workers. If someone is honest and committed and willing to work long hours away from their loved ones and the comfort of home, they can make a lot of money. Many mining operations offer free flights from home to work throughout the year and provide lodging and free food in return for part of the pay. Promotions are offered as people work up in their positions and gain more skills. Onsite training/apprenticeships will also help the employee earn more money. Altogether career in mining might not be a bad idea for earning a good amount of money.

Oil Rigger

The oil fields are booming and if an employee is willing to relocate many of these job positions provide on the job training. As employees learn more skills they can move upward with the company or transfer to other companies around the world and according to CNN Money they can earn up to $100,000 a year.

Commercial Fisherman

For someone who isn’t afraid of the water and rough seas, this job can provide a healthy income. Seasonal and requiring a lot of physical work this job position will start out as the low man on the totem pole but for those who are good at it upward mobility is easy to attain.

Heavy Equipment Operators

Heavy equipment operators must pass a certification course. Many companies provide this on the job and after so many hours and a test is passed employees can move upward quickly. Heavy equipment operators can work on construction sites and with road crews as well as a variety of other positions.

Welder

Another job position requiring training, this job usually offers training on the job site. Those who work with oil rigs or underwater will make more money than those who don’t.

Bounty Hunter

Bounty hunters provide a much needed service to police departments and communities. Locating people who have jumped bail or are fugitives in exchange for reward monies this job position is part detective and part law officer. Many coming out of a military background or police background will seek this sort of job.

Unskilled workers can take heart and find high paying jobs if they are willing to relocate and seek out the good jobs.