This Pennsylvania Spot Helps You Escape the Daily Grind

If you're looking to escape the daily grind and live off-the-grid, then you're not alone. The good news is that one Pennsylvania county has been named one of the best to escape the daily grind in America, according to experts. It's a trend, too, for Americans to want to live the simpler life. Some Americans are choosing to move away from big cities to smaller towns and live as off-the-grid as possible.

Nothing beats a small, relaxing town, away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Don't get me wrong. I love big city life. But, I also love being on farmland and taking in nature. Well, the experts at BusinessElectric.com have put together a study on the best cities to move to if you want to live off-the-grid.  "The allure of off-grid living continues to grow in the U.S. as more people seek to escape the daily grind and embrace a simpler, more self-sufficient lifestyle," they state. They note that some places, such as interior Alaska, are especially conditioned for "hunting, fishing, and living close to nature," and they offer "an ideal backdrop for those looking to reconnect with the environment." But, you don't have to move to Alaska to experience living that helps you escape from the daily grind. Nothing against Alaska, but thank goodness we can find that closer to home. To conduct this study, BusinessElectric.com surveyed 3,000 people throughout America.

The No. 1 best place in America to escape daily stresses is Wasco County, Oregon. "The county gained significant attention as the setting for the Netflix series 'Wild Wild Country,' which documents the controversial Rajneeshpuram community led by Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh in the 1980s," BusinessElectric.com notes. No. 2 is Hot Springs County, Wyoming, which they say offers a "a rural environment enriched with natural hot springs, rivers, and mountains." It's very remote and peaceful. That sounds perfect to me.

Which Pennsylvania spot has been named one of the best to escape the daily grind? It's Potter County, coming in at No. 63 on the roster. It's a small county, as according to the 2020 census, the population is around 16,000, making it the fifth smallest county in the state. Also on the tally is Cameron County at No. 68 and Tioga County at No. 69. I'm so happy to see the great Keystone State make the cut for places that will help you destress.

The traditional bachelor's degree just isn't for everyone. In fact, there are a big group of people who opt to skip the traditional college route and still make very good money. There are plenty of jobs out there that don't requite a four-year bachelor's degree but still make $100K or more per year. No, it's not too good to be true. Let's get into some of these high-paying jobs that pay over $100K without a degree.

Before we get into those high-paying jobs, let's talk about how to land your dream job. Indeed.com has a great checklist of things to do when you're on the job hunt. One major thing is to create a good resume. They suggest to tailor that resume to every job to which you're applying, so that it fits the job perfectly. Make one "master" copy of your resume, and then use that as a template to create special resumes for each of the jobs for which you're applying. So, how do you tailer for resume? "When deciding what to include in your resume, choose actionable items that would capture an employer's interest," they suggest. "Along with including qualitative results in your work experience section, you can also add in some quantifiable data." They also say that numbers and statistics and numbers look good on a resume, so include those.

FlexJobs.com suggests to "research companies, rather than jobs." They say to "pursue companies that mirror your values to narrow your search, and to, "seek out organizations with a strong culture fit and a mission that aligns with yours." That's a great tip so that you're finding a company with the same values and ethics that you possess. Of course, it doesn't hurt to look for actual jobs on search sites such as FlexJobs.com and Indeed.com, too. Keep an eye out for opening at your desired company that pop up.

Now, let's get into some high-paying jobs that pay over $100K without a degree.

Careerkarma.com has Technology Sales Manager listed as the job without a college degree that makes the most money. Average salary is $161,920. Sound good, right? Minimum job requirements are, "Experience as a sales representative and a high-school diploma."

Another high-paying job without a degree, according to Careerkarma.com, is a Computer and Information Systems Manager. They make an average of $159,010 a year. You need computer science knowledge and 5 to 10 years of management experience, they state.

Here's an interesting one. A fire chief is on Indeed's list of high-paying jobs without a degree. They state, "Fire chiefs are responsible for overseeing and managing fire departments, which involves supervising personnel, developing budgets and planning emergency responses." National average salary is $105,287 per year.

Another job on Indeed list of high-paying jobs without a degree is Product Manager. So, what is that? "They may develop and implement the large and small business strategies that fuel the product development process and manage the launch of the product's features," they explain.

This is a really interesting one: Professional Sports Referee. The top salary per year is $210,000. But, they can make as little as $21,000 per year, too, as that's the average salary. So, you have to get a bigger gig to make more than 100K for this job. This is according to Resumeviking.com. They state, "No academic background is necessary, apart from obtaining a referee certification in the sport you want to referee. The stakes are high, but so is the return if you have the nerves for putting it all out there with no guarantees of ever gaining enough recognition to join in on this multi-billion-dollar industry!"

The national salary for a Senior Real Estate Manager is $133,076 per year," according to Indeed. They state, "Senior real estate managers oversee the daily operations of a property like an apartment complex or commercial building. They typically manage maintenance teams, ensure tenants pay rent on time and fill vacancies." They suggest to "gain experience in entry-level positions and work your way up to this job."

A Court Reporter makes an average salary of $103,270, according to Careerkarma.com. The job is to take notes on legal proceedings in court. "To land a court reporter job with no degree, you’ll need to take the exam for Registered Professional Reporter certification," they note. "This requires good listening skills, the ability to type quickly, and some knowledge of common legal terms."

Executive Assistant is No. 1 on US News and World Report's list of the highest-paying jobs without a degree. "Executive assistants support high-level executives in public offices and private companies," they state. "They may manage the executive’s schedule, make travel arrangements, prioritize the executive’s emails, and sometimes act as a receptionist or gatekeeper, serving as the liaison between the executive and anyone who wishes to meet with them."