Trade jobs provide people with high-paying careers that don’t require a college degree. Student debt is at an all-time high, and with the cost of living also on the rise, many young people are exploring alternatives to the traditional career path. Below are four of the top trade jobs that you can train and apply for without a degree.

Trucker

Truckers need to complete training at a certified trucker’s school and earn a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Truckers drive long distances delivering supplies and materials for companies. Potential drivers also have to pass a drug and alcohol tests and a physical exam.

Once they’re ready to hit the road, truck drivers earn an average salary of $43,680.

HVAC Technician

HVAC techs service, repair, install and maintain residential and commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. To become an HVAC tech, you’ll have to complete an HVAC training program, which typically takes six months to one year, and work an apprenticeship for three to five years.

HVAC technicians earn approximately $47,610 per year. An HVAC staffing union can help you find a career when you’re ready.

Carpenter

If you like working with your hands, then being a carpenter could be the right field for you. Carpenters build and repair building frameworks and craft furniture from wood and other materials. There is opportunity to specialize your skills and work with a particular medium you enjoy, such as drywall or ceiling repair.

Carpenters must undergo training and complete an apprenticeship before they can work on their own. The median annual income for a full-time carpenter is $46,590.

Auto Mechanic

Service techs and mechanics can earn over $40,000 a year without having to attend college. In fact, many high schools offer vocational programs that allow students to begin studying for their trade before they even graduate, setting them up to enter the work-force immediately upon graduating.

Stay Hopeful as You Explore

It’s important to stay positive and focus on the opportunities to grow as you pursue a new career path. Many people get discouraged, especially when they begin to read job listings and feel like they aren’t qualified for anything. This can quickly spiral into feeling not good enough, so make sure that you continue to work on yourself during this time.

As you prepare for a new career, embrace all the changes that wait ahead and the chances to build upon your best skills and develop new ones.