15 Jobs That Are Easier To Get Today Than A Decade Ago

By ALISON GRISWOLD

In today's job market, it often feels like you can never have too many qualifications.

But it turns out that a surprising number of jobs actually ask for less education now than they did 10 years ago. Some positions have dropped their requirements from a Master's degree to a Bachelor's, while others have shifted from postsecondary awards to a simple high school diploma.

We worked with Laurence Shatkin, an occupational information specialist, to find the jobs that are easier to get into today (i.e., have lower educational requirements) than they were 10 years ago. To come up with the list, Shatkin compared U.S. Labor Department data on educational requirements for jobs in 2002 versus in 2012.

One factor that has likely contributed to lowered qualifications is technological development. "Especially for some already-low-skill occupations, technology has allowed the work tasks to be 'dumbed down,' so an even lower-skilled worker can handle the tasks," Shatkin said.

He also notes that the requirement differences could be due to changes in the perceptions of analysts at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, rather than the "realities of the workplace." For example, he said, the BLS used to consider a job in the clergy to require a professional degree, but subsequently realized that 24% of preachers have only a Bachelor's.

Below, check out some of the jobs that are easier to get into now than they were a decade ago:

Automotive service technicians and mechanics Education requirements in 2002: Postsecondary non-degree award Education requirements in 2012: High school diploma or equivalent Median salary in 2012: $36,610 

Clergy 
Education requirements in 2002: Doctoral or professional degree
Education requirements in 2012: Bachelor's degree
Median salary in 2012: $44,060

Commercial pilots 
Education requirements in 2002: Postsecondary non-degree award
Education requirements in 2012: High school diploma or equivalent
Median salary in 2012: $73,280

Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers  
Education requirements in 2002: Postsecondary non-degree award
Education requirements in 2012: Some college, no degree
Median salary in 2012: $36,620 

Environmental scientists and specialists, including health Education requirements in 2002: Master's degree
Education requirements in 2012: Bachelor's degree
Median salary in 2012: $63,570

Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors 
Education requirements in 2002: Postsecondary non-degree award
Education requirements in 2012: High school diploma or equivalent
Median salary in 2012: $31,720

Geographers Education requirements in 2002: Master's degree
Education requirements in 2012: Bachelor's degree
Median salary in 2012: $74,760

Insurance sales agents
Education requirements in 2002: Bachelor's degree
Education requirements in 2012: High school diploma or equivalent
Median salary in 2012: $48,150

Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers 
Education requirements in 2002: Postsecondary non-degree award
Education requirements in 2012: High school diploma or equivalent
Median salary in 2012: $35,350

Legal secretaries 
Education requirements in 2002: Postsecondary non-degree award
Education requirements in 2012: High school diploma or equivalent
Median salary in 2012: $42,170

Medical records and health information technicians 
Education requirements in 2002: Associate degree
Education requirements in 2012: Postsecondary non-degree award
Median salary in 2012: $34,160

Mental health and substance abuse social workers 
Education requirements in 2002: Master's degree
Education requirements in 2012: Bachelor's degree
Median salary in 2012: $39,980

Microbiologists Education requirements in 2002: Doctoral or professional degree
Education requirements in 2012: Bachelor's degree
Median salary in 2012: $66,260

Operations research analysts Education requirements in 2002: Master's degree
Education requirements in 2012: Bachelor's degree
Median salary in 2012: $72,100

Travel agents
Education requirements in 2002: Postsecondary non-degree award
Education requirements in 2012: High school diploma or equivalent
Median salary in 2012: $34,600

SEE ALSO:  15 Jobs That Are Harder To Get Today Than A Decade Ago

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/jobs-that-are-easier-to-get-today-2014-1#ixzz2sS8Pl3nQ