The Best Non-Corporate Jobs for Avoiding an Office

The traditional office is under siege. Increasingly, professionals across industries are seeking remote opportunities, ditching cubicles for the comfort of home. Businesses have rushed to revamp their offices as fun and comfortable spaces, adding upgrades such as gyms and snack bars. To many experts, these workplace perks are just a ploy to keep employees engaged — and entangled in the corporate lifestyle.

You’re not fooled by the privileges, no matter how many free granola bars they offer, these offices involve the same old grind. You want something more exciting than a standard corporate gig. But if you’re determined not to get stuck at a desk, which careers are both fulfilling and financially rewarding enough to meet your needs?

We’ve got you covered, helping you think outside the box when it comes to your career. We’ve compiled a list of appealing and rewarding jobs that will spare you from the corporate slog.

Our suggestions range across multiple industries, and some require more training than others, but if you’re determined not to become a cog in the corporate machine, one of these careers could be the perfect alternative.

It’s no secret that there’s money in medicine. Physicians dominate the list of the best-paying professions — not to mention the deeply gratifying nature of their healing work. If you have the time and money to attend medical school, becoming a doctor is an excellent way to avoid decades stuck behind a deck.

However, you don’t need to be an M.D. to find a fulfilling (and lucrative) career in medicine or health. Many essential medical personnel require substantially less training but perform key roles in dynamic clinical environments. Here are some great non-corporate professions to consider in the field of health and medicine.

• Radiation Therapist: These professionals endure daily battles with cancerous tumors, using targeted radiation to halt their growth. People in this career are rewarded handsomely for their important service, with a median salary of $82,879, and it only requires an associate degree.

• Diagnostic Medical Sonographer: Using ultrasound technology, sonographers help detect important developments in tissues and organs. Their services can be essential in identifying and tracking medical conditions, and they make a healthy paycheck in the process. There’s a more upbeat side to the job as well. By using sonograms to reveal fetal development, you’ll witness many parents’ first time seeing their infant.

• Dental Hygienist: Cleaning teeth certainly isn’t for everyone, but in a role that requires just an associate degree, dental hygienists pull in a median salary of $77,810. Plus, the work is crucial in sparing patients from pain. Hygienists perform routine cleaning and care that can prevent the need for more extensive procedures.

Some people see jobs in the hospitality industry as a precursor to another career. They wait tables while in school or while plotting their next professional move, but the world of food and accommodation includes many career professionals who are passionate about making great experiences possible.

If you love the energy of the restaurant world, you can build a role for yourself in this field. You may need to put in time in entry-level positions, moving up the ranks and into high-end establishments. If you’re willing to make an effort, your daily experience will definitely keep you on your toes — and away from a desk. Here are some appealing careers in the world of hospitality.

• Restaurant Manager: Any establishment that serves food has multiple moving parts, and managers are accountable for all of them. Although duties differ from one restaurant to another, managers are responsible for coordinating staff, ordering and tracking supplies, and resolving problems. Salaries range widely, with the median average annual salary falling around $60,000. Chain restaurant managers can make a healthy living as well.

• Culinary Chef: The chef’s life is not a glamorous one. You may have to work grueling hours in high-stress conditions, but for people passionate about food, these sacrifices are well worth it. The environment and pay depend on the establishment in which you’re employed, but top-earning chefs bring in over $75,000 a year. Plus, the side-hustle options are out there, from food trucks to private cooking gigs, and even catering engagements.

• Food Photographer: In the age of Instagram, the culinary industry is image-driven. Food photographers help fuel the hype, generating the mouthwatering visual content that every restaurant needs. Getting started can be difficult — especially on a freelance basis — and many food photographers make a relatively modest living. If you’re willing to forego a massive salary, the gig is pretty great.

If you like the idea of donning a lab coat every day, plenty of science-centered jobs await you. Scientists and researchers often work in the field, rather than in sterile lab environments, and if you associate science with arcane pursuits, you might be surprised by just how compelling and practical these potential careers can be.

True, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in many science-centric roles. On the other hand, you probably won’t need a doctorate to do interesting and important work. Here are some of the best non-corporate options for science and research careers.

• Geoscientist: People with geological expertise can pursue many career avenues, from developing environmental protection regulations to locating natural resources. Expect to get out in the field, conduct tests, and collect samples in the environment you wish to study. With a median annual salary of $83,680, geoscientists are compensated nicely.

• Environmental Engineer: These professionals are tasked with finding solutions to current or potential environmental threats, including air pollution, contaminated water, and underlying climate change. Their work takes them into affected areas and communities, and they can often help people and the environment simultaneously. This role typically requires just a bachelor’s degree, but the median salary is $96,820 a year.

• Biochemist: Biochemistry is not for the faint of heart. You’ll need a passion for science and the focus to absorb complex subject matter, but if you find biological processes fascinating, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more lucrative area of research with a median salary of $102,270. Biochemistry jobs exist in the private sector and academia, but you’ll be conducting research rather than getting stuck in a cubicle.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: so-called “blue-collar workers” can still make the big bucks in America. Indeed, while young people often overlook opportunities in practical fields, they’re missing out on incredible opportunities.

Many high-paying skilled professions are suffering a shortage of workers, particularly young ones ready to take over from retiring baby boomers. These trades often offer more than a great hourly rate. They can entail union membership with all its associated benefits. For those concerned about the physical toll of these roles, management positions are available for late-career workers.

Best of all, you’ll have the satisfaction of working with your hands and solving practical problems. Here are some excellent professions to consider in skilled trades.

• Power Plant Operator: Keeping a community’s lights on isn’t always easy. You’ll need to manage the generation and distribution of electricity through multiple channels, but you can learn these skills through on-site training and certification programs, with no college degree necessary. Plant operators have a median annual income of $94,790 a year, so there’s plenty of money in this profession.

• Elevator Installer or Repairer: No one likes a nonfunctioning elevator — especially if you’re stuck inside of one. Elevator experts prevent this from occurring, drawing on a deep practical knowledge of hydraulics and electronics. Typically, installers and repairers undergo an apprenticeship that lasts approximately four years. After completing this training, these skilled professionals can expect to earn around $97,860 a year.

• Line Installer or Repairer: If you’re not afraid of heights and physical exertion, installing electrical lines can pay quite well. With a median annual wage of $74,530 and no college degree required, the job appeals to many. On-the-job instruction or an extended apprenticeship is typically required for this profession.

So you’re eager to avoid a corporate office, but a home office of your own sounds pretty appealing. Welcome to the world of freelance work, which includes an ever-growing number of professionals. Between 2014 and 2020, for example, 6 million Americans started freelancing, offering a wide array of skills on a contract basis.

Becoming an independent contractor has its pitfalls. Work may be inconsistent, and benefits are nonexistent. However, in terms of flexibility and independence, it’s tough to beat working for yourself. Plus, if you possess a specialized skill of some kind, you’ll have no trouble attracting clients. Here are some solid freelance and consulting careers to keep in mind.

• IT Strategy Consultant: Many companies need guidance when investing in and deploying new technologies. When their own IT folks are swamped, or they have no full-time technical staffers, businesses turn to experts. These pros charge an average of $165 per hour to help organizations design and implement tech strategically.

• International Accounting Standards Consultant: Plenty of companies conduct international business, but their accountants may not understand the intricacies of foreign trade and tax systems. If you’re well-informed about such matters and are willing to share your expertise, you can earn upward of $200 an hour doing so.

• Freelance Legal Entity Expert: Business founders don’t want to start their endeavors on the wrong foot. Accordingly, they turn to consultants to help determine which legal entity to establish, whether it be a sole proprietorship or a limited liability company. Freelancers in this line of work earn up to $255 per hour, but they typically possess extensive legal or accounting training.

Perhaps one of the professions discussed above is calling you. Maybe a few seem appealing, but you’d like to learn more. Maybe you’ve discovered your dream job on this list, but feel anxious about the difficulty of changing careers.

Whichever way you feel about these non-corporate positions, we hope that we’ve created a sense of possibility. Climbing the corporate ladder isn’t the only path to professional success or financial stability. If none of these jobs is a perfect fit for you, there are dozens of alternatives out there. Especially if you consider yourself more of an introvert, we have a list of more appealing non-office jobs you can find here.

It takes courage to break with tradition and build a professional life off the beaten path. In many respects, however, remaining in the wrong job can be much more difficult. So why not explore your options, gauging whether you’re in the right career? Whether you decide to make a change, there’s no harm in looking. Consider using this guide to find a remote temp job to get started.

At Joblist, we’re all about helping professionals search for something better. Our platform delivers customized listings based on your preferences, so it’s easier to find jobs that actually appeal to you. For corporate positions and all sorts of alternatives, we’re your source for great job prospects.