8 Government Jobs You Can Get With No Experience Or Degree

A job as a librarian is a rewarding career within education and the public sector.

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If you’re seeking to future-proof your career in a relatively stable sector, earn a decent salary and benefits with potential for growth, and serve your nation with honor in a role that exists to benefit humanity, a career within the government would make an excellent choice for you.

While there are many positions within government agencies or services that necessitate a degree and some prior experience, the good news is that there are other roles that do not require these at all. Rather, many of them require specialized training, on-the-job-learning, physical fitness, and competencies such as strong problem-solving skills, excellent communication, leadership ability, and confident expert decision-making in high-pressure environments.

Here are some potential roles you may want to consider if you are seeking to forge a rewarding career in government.

(Please note that the roles and salaries listed are for the U.S. only. Specific job titles, salaries, and entry requirements may vary depending on your country. Specific requirements may also vary depending on your state or municipality. Salaries listed are taken from salary comparison sites Glassdoor, Zip Recruiter, and Salary.com.)

Deputy Sheriff

Deputy sheriffs enforce state and municipal laws and are responsible for overall community safety. They undertake duties such as patrolling, responding to emergencies, attending court to provide testimony, and investigating and deterring crimes. To be a deputy sheriff, you will need to meet minimum requirements which include being over 18, holding US citizenship, having good fitness aptitude and physical stamina, possessing a high school diploma/GED, and completing relevant training.

Average salaries for this role tend to hover at $64,379 per annum.

Court Reporter

As a court reporter, your daily duties would include recording legal proceedings and creating accurate transcripts for court and government hearings, while acting as a liaison for attorneys and the court. Some of the required skills include accuracy and strict attention to detail, clear writing skills, understanding of legal and medical terminology, a firm grip on English grammar, and strong listening skills. You must also be able to operate a stenographic machine at 200 wpm, and depending on the state, possess a high school diploma or associates degree, or other form of post-secondary education.

Court reporters earn $62,212 per annum on average.

US Army Soldier

Specific entry requirements vary depending on rank, however for an enlisted soldier, you will need to be at least 18 years of age, hold US citizenship and a high school diploma or equivalent, and have the strictest health and fitness standards, in addition to a stable financial history and a crime-free record. More information can be obtained from the US Army’s recruiting website. Enlisted soldiers have potential for career progression as they study, train, and continue to work up the ranks in leadership.

Average salary per annum is $77,659.

Census Taker

Census takers collect economic and demographic data on behalf of the U.S. Census Bureau. This data feeds into reports such as those produced by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, which demonstrates key information related to economics and job outcomes that are important for confident analysis, decision-making and policy-creation. To be a census taker you will need to pass a background check and have a clean record, have U.S. citizenship, be available for the times required, and undergo training for the role. You will also need to possess skills such as excellent communication and interpersonal skills to conduct interviews, and have good time management while being a self-starter.

Census takers earn an average of $37,071.

Admin Assistant

Administrative assistants perform clerical duties to ensure the smooth operation of office-related tasks, including filing documents and important information, data entry and retrieving data, being the face of the office for guests and enquiries, and organizing and scheduling appointments and meetings. This requires you to have extensive organizational and multitasking skills, clear communication, and have a knack for building rapport and relationships. You will also need technical proficiency in admin-related software and at the very least hold a high school diploma or equivalent.

You can expect to earn $43, 415 on average in this role.

Lifeguard

Lifeguards protect the public in settings such as beaches, resorts, and leisure parks where there are bodies of water. They actively scan and guard the pool at all times it is in use, and respond to emergencies or accidents, while identifying risks and maintaining its usability. To be a lifeguard, you’ll need to hold a first-aid qualification and emergency response certifications, participate in a lifeguard training program, be able to swim at specified levels, and have physical stamina.

Average salary per annum is $26,993.

Firefighter

Similarly to lifeguards, this uniformed role protects the public safety through extinguishing and controlling fires, responding to safety incidents and emergencies, and inspecting scenes where a fire has occurred to unearth relevant findings. To be a firefighter you will need training such as EMT, First Aid, CPR, and firefighter training, in addition to passing background checks, holding a high school diploma, and having physical fitness.

Firefighters earn $60,000 per annum on average.

Library Assistant

Library assistants play an integral role in society, serving the educational and career development needs of the local community. They provide educational resources, serve as administrators of the library, and host informative events. To be a library assistant you will need strong organizational skills, as you will need to stack books in a set sequential order, following the library cataloguing system known as the Dewey Decimal Classification. You will also need engaging interpersonal skills, clear communication, research skills, and be able to work independently as well as in a team.

On average, library assistants earn $38,540.

If you have identified a role above that you might be interested in, conduct some further research and speak to others who have experience working in those roles, so you can gain a better understanding and have well-informed expectations. This will also help you understand what the career progression trajectory looks like for the role in question. While prior experience or qualifications may not be a necessity, you can certainly gain a competitive edge in the hiring process through gaining relevant voluntary experience, studying a related field, and demonstrating your enthusiasm and commitment to the role of serving the public.