What Is an Entry-Level Job? | Coursera

在這個單身日致力於職業發展。 享受全年的 Coursera Plus，享受 40% 的折扣。
An entry-level job can look different depending on your industry, but in general, it is the first job that you get when starting out on a career path.
An entry-level job typically refers to a role that requires little to no experience or education related to the position.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national mean wage for full-time work is $67,920 per year [1].
When seeking an entry-level job after earning an associate or bachelor’s degree in a certain field, you can attach search terms such as “assistant,” “coordinator,” and “specialist” to your job title.
You can highlight previous hands-on projects during your interviews with hiring managers.
Discover more about entry-level jobs, including potential requirements, how much you can earn, and methods for finding these positions. If you’re ready to enhance your job-ready skills, enroll in the Strategic Leadership: Impact, Change, and Decision-Making Specialization from Dartmouth College. In as little as two months, you can learn about collaboration, emotional intelligence, professional networking, organizational leadership, and more.
An entry-level job is typically one you can perform without any prior education or experience. Entry-level jobs may have you performing tasks that are more foundational and less strategic, and you might be shadowing or assisting someone who is more senior on your team, at least at the beginning, as you gain familiarity with how your team operates.
Entry-level jobs can be either part-time or full-time. For some people, this may be their very first job, while career switchers with several years of experience may look for entry-level roles in their new field to gain experience before advancing to mid-level or leadership positions.
Depending on the position, you will likely receive some amount of on-the-job training to succeed in your tasks and projects. In fields like cybersecurity or data analysis, your employer will likely expect you to have some knowledge of the work as well as the qualifications to do it.
A growing number of entry-level jobs require experience, according to an analysis from Zippia. As of 2026, 38.4 percent of entry-level job postings required at least three years of experience [2]. That’s especially true for many corporate careers, such as user experience (UX) design, web development, information security, social media marketing, and product management. On average, it’s common to see one to three years of experience required, as well as a bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Read more: What Is a Bachelor’s Degree? Types, Cost, and Application Requirements
There is usually a distinction between education and experience when applying for jobs. However, some education coursework might involve hands-on projects or a job-shadowing component that you could emphasize in your conversations with hiring managers.
It’s worth noting that more companies have been dropping degree requirements in recent years [3]. In fact, Indeed announced that the number of job postings that didn't include a formal education requirement reached 51 percent in 2026 [4].
Don't have a degree? Don't worry. Search for lists of the latest companies that have dropped educational requirements. If any interests you, look at their “Career” page for roles that sound like a potential or interesting fit.
The mean hourly wage for all occupations in the US was $32.66 an hour as of May 2024, according to the BLS [1]. Measured for full-time work, the mean wage amounts to $67,920 per year [1]. You can find entry-level work that exceeds the median wage in a number of industries, though many such roles require either an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree.
*All median annual salary data from the BLS as of March 2026
While the BLS states that the roles detailed above do not require any experience, you may find that job listings state a different preference. Postings tend to serve as a company wishlist. You should apply for jobs where you may not meet all the qualifications, but it’s a good idea to highlight the job skills you do have that might help you succeed in the role.
With no education or experience: Thanks to the robust nature of internet search algorithms, you can conduct a search for phrases like “jobs no experience,” “jobs without degree,” or "full-time entry-level jobs" and come across a number of relevant listings. While these listings may not be location-specific, they can provide helpful insight into the titles you may want to search for in your area or the types of work you can explore.
With education and experience: If you have an associate or bachelor’s degree in a specific area and would like to work in that industry, it’s a good idea to research relevant entry-level roles. Common entry-level job titles include indicators like “assistant,” “coordinator,” and “specialist,” though these can vary by industry and company. Use job search sites to look for similar titles in your area, or conduct broader searches to find out more about career options with your specific degree.
It’s important to understand what you’re hoping to achieve with an entry-level job, whether that’s experience, connections, skills development, or a certain minimum salary. These are just a few examples, and you don’t need to have only one in mind. Create a list of your priorities, ordering them from most to least important, so you can vet the entry-level job postings you come across based on your criteria. The best entry-level job will be the one that helps you achieve the priorities you’ve outlined.
Let’s go over a few reasons why people take entry-level positions and why focusing on these factors may be helpful.
Growth potential: Experts recommend staying at least one year in an entry-level job, a timeframe that will help you gain the necessary experience before moving on. But some companies invest resources into fostering talent and promoting internally. Finding a job at a co