Career Options

Great opportunities abound in St. Louis, college degree or not.

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While a traditional four-year college degree can be an invaluable asset, it’s not the only way to land a well-paying job with benefits and career-growth potential in St. Louis. Some of the region’s fastest-growing industries—healthcare, trades, manufacturing, and technology—offer a high wage and don’t require a four-year degree. And many of the employers in these fields have on-the-job training and apprenticeships, and they assist with transportation and childcare costs.

It’s a point emphasized by STL.works, an initiative launched by the Regional Business Council, St. Louis Community College, and some of the area’s top healthcare and trades employers (BJC HealthCare, SSM Health, PARIC, McCarthy Building Companies, Emerson Electric) to connect job seekers with quality jobs. While entry-level salaries in these four industries can range from $35,000–$55,000, there’s often potential to grow those salaries to more than $100,000.

“With a short-term technical program, people can secure jobs with sustaining wages and significant opportunity for career mobility in a high-demand field,” says Justin Raymundo, director for regional workforce strategy at BioSTL, a nonprofit devoted to supporting St. Louis’ ever-expanding role in agriculture, medicine, healthcare, and other technology areas. In fact, a recent study found that approximately half of the current biosciences openings in St. Louis do not require a four-year college degree, including positions in manufacturing and sales.

At the same time, BioSTL and other organizations are working to provide equitable access to STEM learning and employment opportunities through local consortium STEMSTL. In spring 2022, for instance, STEMSTL helped kick off STEM Celebration Week with a STEM Signing Day, sponsored by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in which high school seniors who committed to pursuing STEM careers would receive a $1,000 scholarship toward their studies. This summer, the Missouri Chamber also hosted a weeklong program sponsored by the Regional Business Council for St. Louis educators to raise awareness about vocational and skilled jobs in such organizations as Ameren Missouri and Spire, as well as BJC HealthCare.

“We want to make sure that every high-school graduate understands that there are high-paying jobs with benefits available where you don’t need a college degree,” says Kathy Osborn, president and CEO of the RBC.

Many jobs can be accessed with an associate’s degree or certificate program, an apprenticeship, or a combination of post-secondary courses, notes Phyllis Ellison, associate vice chancellor for  St. Louis Community College’s Workforce Solutions Group. In fact, 71 percent of employers surveyed for the college’s 2022 State of the St. Louis Workforce report said they had job openings that only required short-term training. Such jobs run the gamut from IT to global security, healthcare to heating and air conditioning. “All the major industries in the St. Louis region—health care, skilled trades, manufacturing, accounting/finance, business, and IT—have a significant number of jobs available that can be filled by low-skill or middle-skill applicants, which require less than a four-year degree,” says Ellison.

ALL THE MAJOR INDUSTRIES IN THE ST. LOUIS REGION HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF JOBS THAT CAN BE FILLED BY LOW-SKILL OR MIDDLE-SKILL APPLICANTS.

The same is true for those seeking a culinary-related job. “The jobs outlook for culinary is quite strong,” says Ellen Piazza, chair of the hospitality studies department at St. Louis Community College, Forest Park. “Preparation will vary depending on the position, but most entry-level positions will require very little prior training. Our programs do not require an internship, but we do have the ability to assist with finding a quality position if the student is not already in industry.” According to the Missouri Restaurant Association, restaurant and foodservice jobs make up 10 percent of employment in the state, or 300,300 positions, a number that’s projected to grow by 9.3 percent by 2029.

Meanwhile, local companies and nonprofits are providing paths to continuing education.

Many corporations offer training and incentives. “Employers are building new pipelines and helping people acquire skills to get that training certificate, a job, and promotion,” says Vijay Chauhan, the lead of GlobalSTL, an initiative of BioSTL to attract high-growth companies from around the world to St. Louis. Google’s online career certificate programs, Chauhan notes, are one helpful resource for those interested in data analytics and other tech-related fields. The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis also has a variety of training programs, including computer and administrative skills.

Employers and state government are being mindful of other considerations, such as childcare and transportation. In spring 2022, the Missouri legislature passed a budget that would allow employers to receive grants of up to $250,000 for innovative childcare proposals. “Businesses across Missouri are struggling to find workers,” observed Missouri Chamber president and CEO Daniel P. Mehan, “and it’s clear that the state’s growing childcare crisis is at the center of the problem.”

Although the cost of transportation can be a hurdle for prospective employees, more than 100 area employers offer Metro Transit Passes as a monthly workplace benefit, according to the Metropolitan St. Louis Transit Agency. Some employers may also have programs that offset the cost of Uber or Lyft to entice new workers.

Whether helping St. Louisans overcome everyday hurdles or carve new paths to well-paying jobs, Chauhan observes, “There are increasing opportunities to meet people where they are.”

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